“The Allentown Symphony Association has extended its cancelation and/or postponement of in-person events at Miller Symphony Hall through the end of 2020,” reads an unsigned article in Wednesday’s (9/16) Morning Call (Allentown, PA). “Six events scheduled between now and the end of the year have been canceled, although some may be re-imagined in 2021…. The ASA previously had announced cancelations and postponements through Aug. 31…. ‘Music Director Diane Wittry and the ASA team are working to re-imagine events,’ … Executive Director Al Jacobsen said… ‘The fall season and beyond will present 60-70 minute, intermission-free concerts featuring smaller orchestra and chamber music ensembles, a socially-distanced hall with new safety protocols in place for in-person events, new virtual content … and the ability for our patrons to view concerts at the hall from home. El Sistema Lehigh Valley, an important education program of the ASA, continues in full force.’ … Private rental events at Miller Symphony Hall are being handled on a case-by-case basis. The ASA … also announced a ‘Classic Cars & Concerts’ drive-in theater fundraising event on Oct. 1 [which] will feature the Allentown Symphony Orchestra … talks with musicians, Wittry’s interviews with guest artists, and more.”
Author: Joanna Bettelheim
Ohio’s Firelands Symphony heads to parks, wineries for free outdoor concerts
“The Firelands Symphony Orchestra is announcing a series of new shows, and everyone’s invited,” writes Tom Jackson in Tuesday’s (9/15) Sandusky Register (Sandusky, OH). “The full orchestra will perform an outdoor pops concert in Norwalk on Oct. 4, and there will be seven additional concerts throughout the area by smaller ensembles [from] the orchestra…. All of the concerts are free. The rescheduled free annual Summer Pops concert by the orchestra … at the Norwalk Reservoir … will be led by its conductor, Carl Topilow…. The first free concert by … Firelands String Quartet will [be] Sept. 20, at Steele Memorial Bandstand at Lakeside Chautauqua in Ottawa County. The quartet consists of FSO Concertmaster Ron Brooker on violin, Alice Weiss on violin, Rosalind Soltow on viola, and Brian Shifflett on cello. They’ll be playing music by composers Handel, Vivaldi and Bach along with Irish music and songs by the Beatles.” Chamber concerts on September 24, 25, 27 and October 11 and 24 will take place at Sandy Ridge Vineyards in Norwalk, Vermilion Valley Vineyards in Wakeman, and the Steele Memorial Bandstand at Lake Chautauqua. Carl Topilow will perform on clarinet with his jazz combo on October 8 at Paper Moon Vineyards in Vermilion.
Monterey Symphony creates a concert space: the balcony of its new offices
Will Baker, the Monterey Symphony’s principal bass trombone, performs at an August 28 “Balcony Sessions” concert on August 28, 2020.
With its 2020-21 season postponed due to the pandemic, the Monterey Symphony’s recent move to new offices in Carmel “has inspired a new way to share their music in a safe environment,” writes Barbara Rose Shuler in Wednesday’s (9/16) Monterey Herald (CA). “ ‘We found this wonderful place … which has a lovely balcony that overlooks the courtyard,’ … Executive Director Nicola Reilly said. The office balcony inspired a new series of musical performances featuring Symphony musicians, which continues Friday with a performance by violinist Genie Wie and assistant principal cellist Adelle Akiko-Kearns. The Balcony Sessions are live-streamed and seats are available for a small audience of 12 [sponsors and donors] in the courtyard…. ‘We wanted to find a way to support our artists, as well as the creative people behind the cameras—videographers, graphic designers, backstage crew,’ Reilly says…. Kearns and Wie will play works by Scott Joplin, Mozart, Carlos Gardel and Jacob Gade. All of the artists of the Balcony Sessions are creating their own programs.” The orchestra is continuing its youth education program, has appointed John Wineglass as composer in residence, and is seeking a music director to replace Max Bragado-Darman, who stepped down earlier this year.
U.S. team studying COVID-19 transmission and mitigation in the performing arts releases preliminary report
Initial findings in a study of aerosol rates and accumulation from wind instruments and voice have been released, providing preliminary guidance on returning to in-person rehearsals while mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19. The research is being conducted at the University of Colorado and the University of Maryland and is commissioned by an international coalition of performing arts organizations including the League of American Orchestras. While the findings have yet to be validated, the results so far explore aerosol flow and emissions for the clarinet, oboe, flute, trumpet, horn, low brass, and voice; provide measurements for different mitigation techniques; provide initial modeling of COVID-19 particle concentrations in indoor and outdoor scenarios; and offer general considerations for safer rehearsal practices. The research team cautions that these preliminary results have not yet been tested or peer reviewed; final results will be available in December. Learn more here.
New online resource: Black Music Library
A new online archive of resources about Black music has launched online, titled the Black Music Library. The library, curated by New York City-based music journalist Jenzia Bourgos, features links to books, articles, documentaries, series, podcasts, and more about the Black origins of traditional and popular music dating from the 18th century to the present day. Resources are organized chronologically and by genre, including classical, rock, punk, reggae, blues, jazz, disco, and hip-hop, and can be searched by journalist, historian/musicologist, and website. The site’s “about” page states, “This digital library was born out of a need to make resources about Black music history as comprehensive and accessible as possible. It contains well over one thousand entries (and counting) in the form of books, articles, documentaries, series, radio segments, and podcasts about the Black origins of popular and traditional music, dating from the 18th century to the present day. These materials range from informal to scholarly.”
German researchers suggest possible return to full capacity at classical concerts; organization’s leaders balk, urge caution
“As classical music halls begin to reopen their doors in Germany, orchestras have been playing to largely empty concert halls to minimize the spread of COVID-19,” writes Eve Bennett in Monday’s (8/17) The Local (Germany). “But according to new recommendations published by leading epidemiologists at the Charité Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology and for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, however, classical concerts held at full-capacity may be possible. In a statement given to the broadcaster RBB (Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg), the Institute suggested that all seats could be occupied, provided that every audience member wears a face covering…. However, the Executive Board of the Charité distanced itself from the published paper… ‘It does not reflect the position of the Charité Executive Board. The proposals do not consider current trends in infection rates and the risks associated with this. The paper is therefore not to be seen as a proposal for action, but rather as the basis for further critical discussion within the framework of the Berlin testing strategy.’ Berlin Senator for Culture, Klaus Lederer, also expressed his surprise at the announcement…. There are around 2,200 seats available for [Berliner Philharmonic] concerts until the end of October, around 25 percent of normal capacity.”
Baltimore Symphony’s thank-you video to frontline workers, via Holst’s “The Planets”
“On Thursday, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra released a video in support of the heroic work of Baltimore’s frontline workers,” reports Tiffany Watson on Thursday (8/20) at WBFF-TV (Baltimore). “The video, created in collaboration with Baltimore personalities including chef Duff Goldman, Orioles infielder Hanser Alberto, actor André De Shields, artist Amy Sherald, chef Cindy Wolf and BSO Music Director Marin Alsop, includes an excerpt from Holst’s ‘Jupiter’ from The Planets performed virtually by the BSO. Known for its heroic melody, ‘Jupiter’ is the BSO’s standing ovation to essential workers, who continue to support our community during the pandemic. The music was performed and recorded by BSO musicians from their homes and edited by BSO Audio Engineer Chuck LaMar and Rob Brubaker.” The video is included in the article and can also be viewed at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s website.
Southern California orchestral musicians: in the studio, streaming, performing drive-in concerts
“On July 14, Marc Sazer, one of Los Angeles’s premier studio musicians (president of the Recording Musicians Association and violinist with the Pasadena Symphony) went to work for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut down live recording sessions,” writes Jim Farber in Tuesday’s (8/18) San Francisco Classical Voice. “The Reopening Protocol for Music, Television and Film Production: Appendix J went into effect on June 12.” The document prescribes rules concerning masks, social distancing, and other safety guidance for musicians. “A surprising side effect … was that … the rules … that applied to for-profit studio recording musicians could now be applied to nonprofit musical institutions … It is this designation that has allowed the Los Angeles Philharmonic to record two full orchestral programs (and their final rehearsals) on the vast stage of the Hollywood Bowl [to] be streamed (possibly as pay-per-view) at a date to be announced…. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has been producing a series of free livestream ‘SummerFest’ concerts from the stage of the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall…. San Diego’s Mainly Mozart … series of bi-weekly, outdoor drive-in chamber music concerts … has proved so successful and popular that Mainly Mozart is currently planning a pair of multi-day live festival performances … in September and October.”
Alabama’s Tuscaloosa Symphony to stream fall 2020 concerts
“The Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra will present an unconventional fall concert series beginning in September, which will feature recorded concerts by small ensembles that patrons can watch from the comfort of their homes,” writes Ryan Phillips in Thursday’s (8/20) Patch.com (Tuscaloosa, AL). “The series will be a mixture of musical ‘favorites’ and can be viewed online with a minimum $5 donation. TSO Executive Director Jenny Mann described the upcoming series as … ‘something special for not just Tuscaloosa, but music lovers across the Southeast,’ Mann said. ‘It is our mission to serve our thriving community. This concert series will be the most unique undertaking in our 41-year history and something you won’t want to miss.’ The Fall Concert Series will begin Sept. 21, with other dates set for Oct. 19, Nov. 23, and Dec. 21. TSO says the virtual concert series will focus on small ensembles performing hand-picked pieces from classical, popular and holiday favorites.”
Obituary: Randall Fleischer, music director of orchestras in Alaska, New York, and Ohio, 61
Randall Craig Fleischer, music director of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in Alaska, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra in Ohio, and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in Poughkeepsie, New York, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 19 at his home in Los Angeles. Fleischer “was 61 years old and from the Canton area,” states a report on Thursday’s (8/20) television station WKBN in Youngstown, Ohio. “His wife said he was fine all day, but then told her he wasn’t feeling well and a half-hour later, she found him dead. So far there’s no cause of death, but an autopsy is planned…. Just yesterday, 10 or so hours before Fleischer passed, [a reporter] interviewed him about the Youngstown Symphony’s latest event, the DeYor Livestream Gala…. Fleischer had put together a virtual gala concert and show that he was to narrate live Saturday evening on the orchestra’s website…. the show will go on as planned, but with no host…. The musicians are working on a way to honor their conductor.” In addition to his music directorships, Fleischer led orchestras in the U.S. and internationally, including repeat engagements with the Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, and others.