Author: bfc-admin

“There are very few places Renee Howard and her family of five can go together,” writes Amy Poulter in Friday’s (11/21) Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA). “She and her husband, Stanley, have three children…. 7-year-old son, Jackson … equal parts curious, energetic and affectionate… was born with Down syndrome. ‘Typically, either I or my husband will stay at home with Jackson while the other takes the girls out. It’s hard, but sometimes we just don’t know what the environment will be like for Jackson.’ On Nov. 2 at Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson for the Performing Arts, the Howard family enjoyed a major first together: a trip to the symphony. Thanks to an $80,000 [American Orchestras’ Futures Fund] grant from the League of American Orchestras, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra hosted the first concert of its newly-developed sensory-friendly series. Each show in the series will accommodate people with sensory sensitivities and those on the autism spectrum…. Musical pieces are carefully selected to provide a more even-paced experience, and the house lights are only slightly dimmed. Nearby, a comfy room is set up to provide a break from the noise…. All of these changes are meant to make all guests feel comfortable, VSO vice president of orchestra activities Christy Havens explained.”

Posted November 26, 2019

“At the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony’s InsideOut concerts, you can sit at an oboist’s elbow, perch beside a piccolo or take a chair by a cellist,” writes Barbara Hoffman in Friday’s (11/21) New York Post. “The group turns 20 this year…. Conductor David Bernard says his unpaid, 80-member ensemble of teachers, doctors, engineers and finance people are ‘high-achieving, serious players’ who make music for the sheer love of it. So far, they’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, toured nine cities in China, recorded all of Beethoven’s symphonies and [in 2007] had Whoopi Goldberg narrate their performance of ‘Peter and the Wolf.’ … Lesley Rosenthal, a lawyer who works with both the Juilliard School and the New York Bar Foundation when she’s not playing second fiddle … says that making music with others brings joys that ‘a positive quarterly earnings report or a good trial result’ never do. The audience seems to agree. ‘It was so amazing!’ Colleen Wolfe says of her first InsideOut concert … last year.… ‘We sat by the cellists, then by the first violins,’ says Wolfe…. ‘You could hear the music just coming off the bow. There’s music near you and behind you. It’s like ‘surround sound’!”

Posted November 26, 2019

“Four musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra, just off a full orchestra tour of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, [arrived] in Shanghai to teach and play at ShanghaiTech University along with musicians from the Shanghai Philharmonic,” writes Trudy Rubin in Saturday’s (11/23) Philadelphia Inquirer. “Could music still survive as an apolitical bridge between citizens of two countries that have become strategic competitors and view each other with rising suspicion? When it comes to the Philadelphia Orchestra—the answer is yes…. That’s because the orchestra’s rock-star status in China offers it unique possibilities for bridge-building. [Since] 1973, it … has made 11 full visits.… The latest ties include a planned a three-way, three-year partnership with the Shanghai Philharmonic and ShanghaiTech.… ‘We do avoid politics, but we are very aware of what is going on,’ [Philadelphia Orchestra President and CEO Matias Tarnopolsky] says. ‘We believe music can make some basic human connections that are pretty well absent from other forums.’ … At a time of rising paranoia in both countries, it would be dangerous if cultural and educational ties were severed. Given its stellar brand—and music’s universal language—the Philadelphia Orchestra stands a strong chance of bucking the trend.”

Posted November 26, 2019

In photo: Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Meng Wang coaches Yuqing Yao, a member of ShanghaiTech’s student orchestra. Photo by Trudy Rubin

The first-prize winners of the 2019 Young Concert Artists International Auditions are Steven Banks, saxophone (U.S.; 26); Martin James Bartlett, piano (Britain; 23); Albert Cano Smit, piano (Spain; 22); and the Quartet Amabile, a string quartet (Japan; violinists Yuna Shinohara, 26 and Chihiro Kitada, 23; violist Ms. Meguna Naka, 26; cellist Tatsuki Sasanuma, 24). The winners were chosen following a final audition round on November 17 at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The musicians will join the roster of Young Concert Artists, which will provide management services for three years, concert engagements including debuts in New York and Washington, D.C., publicity, and career guidance. Jury members at the Finals audition were Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Gary Graffman, Jerome Lowenthal, and Ilana Vered, piano; Lois Hicks-Wozniak, saxophone; Ida Kavafian, violin; Peter Oundjian, violin/conductor; Jorge Mester, conductor; Lorraine Nubar, voice; Randall Scarlata, baritone; Fred Sherry, cello; and Susan Wadsworth and Daniel Kellogg, co-chairs.

Posted November 25, 2019

“Sir Stephen Cleobury, who directed the choir at King’s College Cambridge for nearly four decades, has died aged 70,” reads an unsigned obituary in Saturday’s (11/23) BBC.com (U.K.). “The British conductor, organist and composer presided over the world-famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast live on BBC radio on Christmas Eve…. Sir Stephen died in his hometown, York, on Friday after a long illness, King’s said. The college will host a memorial service for him later in the academic year. Sir Stephen retired as director of music at King’s just two months ago after 37 years in the role. The musical director helped to build the world-renowned Christmas Eve carol service held in King’s College Chapel, founding the tradition of an annual new commissioned carol…. Sir Stephen also introduced the annual festival Easter at King’s, and a series of performances throughout the year, Concerts at King’s…. Prior to Sir Stephen’s tenure at King’s, he held key posts at Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral…. King’s College choir … founded by King Henry VI in 1441 … comprises the conductor and 16 boy choristers … as well as 14 choral scholars and two organ scholars…. The choir’s Christmas Eve performance was introduced in 1918.”

Posted November 25, 2019

“The Metropolitan Opera has run small deficits for the past two years and faces rising capital expenses—including for the repair of its white travertine exterior—prompting S & P Global Ratings to announce on Wednesday that it was keeping the company’s ‘A’ credit rating but revising its outlook to negative, from stable,” writes Michael Cooper in Wednesday’s (11/20) New York Times. “The Met recorded a $1.9 million deficit in 2018, and the company said it expected it to report a $1.1 million deficit on a budget of $312 million in the 2019 fiscal year…. Both recent deficits are small compared with the $22 million shortfall the Met incurred in 2014 [but] ‘in our view do not offset the weak available resources,’ the S & P report said.… The agency said that the Met’s strengths included its good reputation; active board; healthy annual fund-raising … and strong management. It praised the Met’s Live in HD cinema simulcasts for ‘significantly expanding its revenue base and audience.’ But … it called the Met’s endowment, valued at $284 million in 2018, ‘low for an organization of its scope’—and raised concerns about its reliance on large contributions to break even each year.”

Posted November 25, 2019

“Beethoven may be (happily) spinning in his grave,” writes David Patrick Stearns in Friday’s (11/21) Philadelphia Inquirer. “His symphonies are a surprise hit at City Fitness in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood, where a classical music spin class set to his works is a consistent sellout on Sunday mornings. Every stationary bike saddle is occupied by 10:30 a.m. as instructor Steve Schatz sets his Symphonic Spin class off on a high-intensity, Beethoven-accompanied journey that he narrates…. ‘The vibe of the class is completely different to me than any other spin class I’ve been to,’ said Kristen Treegoob, 34…. ‘Given that it’s Beethoven and not T. Swift screaming at me, you can close your eyes and feel like you really are alone, climbing up the hills’ of bucolic locales…. Schatz has the class spinning to a complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies in the coming weeks, one Sunday at a time…. Beyond the Beethoven cycle, his classical range is wide—and thoughtful…. The Brahms Symphony No. 4 is too austere, but his Symphony No. 3 is a keeper. In the final movement, Schatz imagines trying to reach home during a nighttime thunder storm, ending with ‘the sunshine and early morning dawn.’ ”

Posted November 25, 2019

“Carlos Izcaray is an advocate for new music, conscious programming, and the education of young musicians,” writes Natalie Calma in Tuesday’s (11/19) icareifyoulisten.com. Izcaray is music director of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the American Youth Symphony (AYS). “Q: What sparked your desire to work with young musicians? Izcaray: During my formative years, I always gravitated toward mentors who excelled both as performers and educators. I found this to be very noble and inspiring. Q: Why is it important to integrate new music into the repertoire of a youth orchestra? Izcaray: Many of our [AYS] musicians will fill the ranks of top professional orchestras…. They will also record for motion pictures, video games, and other studio work. So no matter what path they might choose, or which job they land, the ability to perform new music is an important part of their training. Q: Is there any piece of advice regarding a career in the arts that you wish you had received? Izcaray: Learn languages. Master … the art of public speaking. Learn the business side of your art. Embrace technology. Study your field outside national boundaries…. Practice a lot, but also include life experiences.”

Posted November 25, 2019

“The executive director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and The Burg community magazine are the recipients of the 2020 Arts Awards from Theatre Harrisburg,” writes Chris Mautner in Friday’s (11/22) PennLive. “Jeffrey Woodruff, who has spent the past 17 years as the HSO’s executive director, will receive the ‘Award to an Individual’ for having overseen the expansion of the orchestra and for being an advocate for the arts in general, according to a press release from Theatre Harrisburg. Woodruff announced in August that he plans to retire at the end of the 2019-2020 concert season. Founded in 2008 and co-owned by publisher Alex Hartzler and editor Lawrance Bindawill, The Burg will receive the ‘Award to an Organization, Company or Group’ for its coverage of the Harrisburg region and its support of events like 3rd in the Burg and partnership with Sprocket Mural Works. Theatre Harrisburg has been awarding the Distinguished Service to the Arts in the Capital Region for 27 years, with each iteration of the awards being given to one organization and one couple or individual who have advanced the cause of the arts in the Harrisburg region. The awards ceremony will be held May 31.”

Posted November 25, 2019