Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Acting Principal Pianist Tomoko Kashiwagi, Associate Concertmaster Zsolt Eder, Principal Second Violin Miho Oda Sakon, and Principal Viola Jesse Collett, and Principal Cello Kari Caldwell at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
“The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas will record a quintet by Little Rock-born composer Florence Price (1887-1953) in the Great Hall at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, to be released Feb. 25 as a virtual concert,” writes Stephanie Smittle in Thursday’s (2/4) Arkansas Times. “Price … left Arkansas to pursue her career as a composer in Chicago…. The rediscovery in 2009 of a trove of Price’s manuscripts in an abandoned house in Illinois rekindled interest in her work. Here in Arkansas, work by violinist/professor Er-Gene Kahng and others has helped get Price’s music into the ears of classical music fans who might not have otherwise encountered Price’s work. ‘It’s hard to overstate how excited we are about this recording,’ SoNA music director Paul Haas said.… ‘Despite extraordinary barriers for success in classical music faced by black women, despite living through the Great Depression, and despite many other challenges in her life, Florence Price never ceased being a visionary artist and a fierce advocate for her music,’ SoNA Executive Director D. Riley Nicholson said…. ‘What is most remarkable is the music itself—even if you don’t know Price’s story, you will be captivated by her music’s vibrance, accessibility, authenticity and originality.’ ”
