Tag: Musicians

American Classical Musicians Post Statement of Concerns About Trump Administration’s Treatment of Free Speech

Posted on May 12, 2025 by - News Briefs

Friday’s (5/9) Violin Channel reports, “Undersigned by over 600 industry professionals, including orchestral musicians, music educators, soloists, conductors, and administrators, an open letter and petition titled ‘Musicians for Democracy’ is criticizing the changes being made by President Trump and his administration. Among the undersigned are Jonathan Biss, Joyce DiDonato, Midori, Alisa Weilerstein, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Gabriela Diaz, Eugene Drucker, Miriam Fried, Clara Kim, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Jonathan Swensen, and countless others,” including musicians with several American orchestras. As of Monday morning, May 12, the petition has 948 verified signatures. The letter reads in part: “We, the undersigned, are American classical musicians. Our passion and mission are making music and, in doing so, offering listeners the possibility of deepening their experience and understanding of the world. We are not politicians: We are working citizens who are drawn to music because of its capacity to bridge different viewpoints and cultures, and to connect us through our shared humanity. We are speaking out now because we are alarmed by the many actions targeting free speech that are being forced on our country, our colleagues and our institutions by President Trump and his administration…. The freedom to explore and share [different] perspectives, explicitly guaranteed by our constitution, is in grave danger.”

Williamsburg Symphony to Close 40th Season with Homage to Native American Culture

Posted on May 12, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Saturday’s (5/10) Daily Press (Norfolk, Virginia), James W. Robinson writes, “The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra closes out its 40th anniversary season next week with a tribute to Native American culture. The Wednesday night performance will feature world-renowned Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai … The three-segment concert will feature Nakai performing ‘Inner Voices’ and ‘Kokopelli Wind,’ as well as his rendition of ‘Amazing Grace.’ The Leah Glenn Dance Theatre will perform to the world premiere of Grammy-nominated composer Dawn Avery’s new piece: ‘Secrets: Remembering the Brafferton Indian School.’… The Symphony will close the show with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.’ An aspect of the piece was Dvořák’s interest in representing Native American music influences as he understood them in the late 19th century, according to WSO music director Michael Butterman. Butterman called it an honor to work with Nakai … The dance company, meanwhile, will perform to a piece of original music about the Brafferton Indian School, an 18th century school [in Virginia] … While working on residential school healing with her tribe [Mohawk], as well as with the Haudenosaunee tribe in Ontario, Canada, Avery said she became interested in Brafferton due to a lack of awareness of Native American schools in the U.S. The composition’s title refers to the secrets of the school due to the time period, while honoring the students who studied there.”

Sheku Kanneh-Mason on the Joys and Challenges of the Classical Music Scene

Posted on May 8, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Friday’s (5/2) Guardian (U.K.), Charlotte Higgins writes, “It is hard to believe Sheku Kanneh-Mason is still only 26: he is touring with some of the best orchestras and conductors in the world, has an MBE, is a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and, for the estimated hundreds of millions who watched, is the young cellist who played at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding. He is also the most celebrated young Black musician in Britain, famously one of seven talented musical siblings … In his debut book, The Power of Music … he writes about playing in a way that is so grounded, joyous and straightforward that anyone who has had the good fortune to make music with others … will feel … In his telling, his upbringing was less of a hothouse environment than one in which music was as much part of life as eating or playing football…. And yet, [he and his siblings] were often the only Black children in the room, or concert hall, or masterclass…. He writes: ‘The dominant image of a classical musician when I grew up did not look like me. It was difficult to find a projection of who I might be if I became a professional cellist …’ Now, his presence helps to change that for others.”

Susie Ibarra Wins 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music with “Sky Islands”

Posted on May 7, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Wednesday’s (5/7) Classic 107 (Winnipeg), Chris Wolf writes, “Filipino-American composer and percussionist Susie Ibarra has been awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her groundbreaking work Sky Islands, a composition that blends environmental consciousness with rich musical heritage. Commissioned by the Asia Society [in NYC] and premiered on July 18, 2024 … Sky Islands is inspired by the distinct rainforest ecosystems of Luzon in the Philippines. The piece explores themes of biodiversity, climate change, and community practices through the lens of traditional Philippine sounds … At the premiere, audiences were introduced to a striking new sound world, featuring … sculptural gongs that served as both instruments and visual centerpieces. The eight-piece ensemble, including Ibarra herself, flutist Claire Chase, pianist Alex Peh, and members of the Bergamot Quartet, showcased a vibrant fusion of improvisation and structure. The Pulitzer Board praised Sky Islands for ‘[challenging] the notion of the compositional voice by interweaving the profound musicianship and improvisational skills of a soloist as a creative tool.’… Ibarra has performed around the globe and collaborated with artists such as Pauline Oliveros, John Zorn, and Yo La Tengo. Her past works have been presented at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Museum of Modern Art…. Raised in Houston by Filipino parents and trained in both Western classical and Philippine kulintang traditions, Ibarra’s career spans avant-garde jazz, opera, electronic music, and theatre.”

Review: Arkansas Symphony Concludes Mainstage Season with Expanded Orchestra for Mahler 7

Posted on May 6, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Sunday’s (4/4) Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock), Eric E. Harrison writes, “Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 … isn’t the composer’s most massive work. It doesn’t quite overwhelm a stage as does his Symphony No. 8, the so-called ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ … But it’s pretty colossal—80 minutes, no intermission, and well north of 90 players (extended string sections to balance Mahler’s ‘all hands on deck’ wind and brass groupings, counting two harpists, a tenor horn and a mandolin player, but not counting Music Director Geoffrey Robson) formed the Arkansas Symphony Saturday night at Little Rock’s Robinson Center Performance Hall for the gangbuster finale of its 2024-25 … Masterworks season. Among its other triumphs, this performance shows how much the orchestra has grown … in recent years, and particularly under Robson’s baton. The musicians have proven that if they can handle this, they can handle just about anything…. All sorts of solo moments, more than I can detail, are worthy of mention, as is the horn choir in the second movement and the very busy percussion section … Robson maintained tight control throughout of the enormous forces.”

Catching Up with the Community-Based Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey

Posted on May 5, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Friday’s (5/2) PHL 17 (Philadelphia), an unsigned article states, “Founded in 1991, the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey (PSNJ) is a distinguished 85+ member symphony orchestra dedicated to bringing high-quality classical music to audiences across Southern New Jersey and the Delaware Valley. For over three decades, PSNJ has delivered exceptional live orchestral performances that are accessible, inclusive, and engaging for listeners of all ages. As the largest all-volunteer orchestra in the region, we unite passionate musicians from diverse backgrounds—performing to more than 1,200 patrons at multiple sold-out concerts each year. Our members, ranging from professionals to devoted community members, come together each week driven by a shared love of music, culture, and service.” A video features Music Director James Allen Anderson and Board President Elura Nanos, who also plays piccolo in the orchestra.

Keith Lockhart Marks 30 Years at the Helm of Boston Pops—with More to Come

Posted on April 30, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Tuesday’s (4/29) New York Times, David Allen writes that every year, “The Boston Pops gets itself into … its annual Holiday Pops marathon, which takes up most of December at Symphony Hall. Last year, this orchestra played essentially the same program, with a few tweaks for family shows, 42 times in a bit less than three weeks…. The musicians of the Pops—essentially the Boston Symphony Orchestra without most of its principals… had enough ho, ho, ho in them to wear a seasonal hat or even dance onstage. Musical standards remained admirably high. At the center of it all is Keith Lockhart, who is marking 30 years with the Pops this season. Hosting and conducting almost all of the dates in December, he often led three a day, sometimes following a pair of gigs at Symphony Hall with an evening concert at the helm of the freelance Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, in places as far afield as New Hampshire or Connecticut…. He shows little sign of flagging…. The Boston Pops has spent 140 years figuring out how to offer popular entertainment that is artistically meaningful, with an orchestra of quality at its heart…. Lockhart … recently extended his contract through 2027 … Lockhart is … deeply rooted in his community … even its baseball team speaks highly of him”

Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Musicians Agree on New Contract

Posted on April 29, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Monday’s (4/28) Wichita Business Journal (Kansas), Shaheer Naveed writes, “The long-standing Wichita Symphony Orchestra has agreed on a new contract with Wichita musicians. The orchestra, established in 1944, announced Monday it has completed negotiations with the Wichita Musicians’ Association, local union No. 297 of the American Federation of Musicians, and reached an agreement on a contract that will run … through June 2028. ‘We are incredibly pleased with this outcome, which will further enhance our orchestra’s artistic quality and provide important stability for the years ahead,’ Tim Storhoff, executive director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, said … Forty-five union members unanimously approved the contract, which will cover around 80 orchestra musicians….  The new contract includes structured wage increases over three years, improved rehearsal pay policies and refined language around artistic evaluations and musician protections … Storhoff said a major feature of the contract was the change from hourly pay to a flat service rate for all musicians participating in rehearsals… Brent Mead, principal trombone player and chair of the union’s orchestra committee, said … ‘This new agreement supports our artistic and professional goals while strengthening our partnership with Symphony management.’ ”

Violinist Esther Abrami: New Album Spotlights Music by Contemporary and Historic Women Composers

Posted on April 29, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Monday’s (4/28) National Public Radio, Olivia Hampton writes, “The first time Esther Abrami saw a violin, she was just 3 years old. Little did she know at the time, it would be the start of a lifelong love affair.” Abrami’s new album Women, recorded with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, “features the world-premiere studio recording of Irish composer Ina Boyle’s Violin Concerto (1935) … Boyle has largely been forgotten, something she shares with several of the 14 composers and songwriters on the album, including Brazil’s Chiquinha Gonzaga (1847-1935) and Venezuela’s Teresa Carreño (1853-1917)…. The works on the album are conducted by Irene Delgado-Jiménez, who recently completed a two-year fellowship in the conducting incubator led by Marin Alsop … Among the living composers on the album are Oscar winners Rachel Portman and Anne Dudley … Miley Cyrus via an arrangement of ‘Flowers,’ and Yoko Shimomura … After completing her studies when she was 25, Abrami realized ‘in all those years, I’d learned hundreds of pieces, but not a single one of them had been written by a woman,’ said Abrami, now 28. ‘I started kind of doing my own journey and my own research, and it was like opening the door of a hidden treasure.’ ”

Obituary: Robert Bell, Musician and President Emeritus of Toledo Symphony, 86

Posted on April 22, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Sunday’s (4/20) Toledo Blade, Mike Sigov writes, “Robert ‘Bob’ Bell, a music performer, teacher, administrator, and president emeritus of Toledo Symphony, died Tuesday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio … He was 86. The family did not report the cause of death…. Zak Vassar, president and CEO of the Toledo Alliance for Performing Arts and a lifelong friend, said, ‘Nobody can have a conversation today about the Toledo Symphony without also having a conversation about Bob.’… Mr. Bell retired as the symphony’s president and CEO in 2010 after several years on the job. Previously, he for many years was the managing director of the orchestra, where he was first hired in 1957 as a musician…. The musicians, staff, and board of the Toledo Symphony said they had lost ‘a beloved colleague, visionary leader, master timpanist, and the heart and soul of our institution for nearly 70 years….’ Born Dec. 2, 1938, in Oakwood, Ohio … he attended Woodward High School, where in 1953 he became a percussionist in the school band … Mr. Bell played in both the band and school orchestra and at the same time at the Toledo Youth Orchestra … After that came studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music…. He later studied music at the University of Michigan and then was hired at Toledo Symphony [as musician and administrator] … He was also a member of the music faculty at the University of Toledo.”