Metropolitan Youth Symphony Wraps Up 50th Season with Special Guest and Alum Esperanza Spalding
Tag: Students
Music Academy of the West to Convert Santa Barbara Building into Center for Music
In last Wednesday’s (6/4) Santa Barbara Independent (California), Nick Welsh writes, “The Music Academy of the West has purchased the long-vacant Forever 21 building located at 901 State Street with the aim of turning it into a downtown extension of the academy…. The buildings located on the Music Academy’s Miraflores Montecito estate were maxed out. It had no more available space … [Donor Cheryl] Goldberg and [Music Academy President and CEO Shauna] Quill began to seek out Plan B. This Tuesday, that plan came to fruitful conclusion, as Goldberg and Quill closed escrow on a $10 million property—the long-vacant Forever 21 building … Their dream is to convert the property—a two-story building with a 6,000-square-foot basement and one of the great unsung rooftop terraces in Santa Barbara—into a downtown extension of the Music Academy with high-octane classical music classes and rehearsals…. Goldberg donated the $10 million to buy the building … and the Music Academy is committed to raising another $15 million to make the improvements…. If all goes well, Quill said, the Music Academy’s downtown musical outpost should be done sometime in 2028. In the meantime, Quill said, the premises will get some use. ‘We have lots of ideas,’ she said.”
Ingrid Martin Joins Detroit Symphony as Assistant Conductor, Community Ambassador, Music Director of Youth Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has appointed Australian-born conductor Ingrid Martin as assistant conductor and Phillip and Lauren Fisher Community Ambassador, effective with the 2025-26 season. Martin will also serve as music director of the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, succeeding Na’Zir McFadden. Before stepping onto the podium, Martin worked as an emergency doctor and then retrained as a teacher. In 2025, Martin debuts with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, and leads the Louise Crossley Conductor Training Program for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. She returns to conduct the Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, following her 2024 tenure as New Zealand assistant conductor in residence. She has commissioned 15 works for youth orchestras, conducted 20 world premieres, and recorded over 50 student compositions. Martin was the first Australian admitted to the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship Mentoring Program. She was also a fellow of the Australian Conducting Academy and the Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship with the Orchestra of the Americas. “Conducting Artistry,” her platform for practical resources, podcasts, books, and online tools, assists teachers and students. She is a speaker and clinician at international music education conferences.
Library of Congress Receives Gift of $30 Million Stradivarius Viola
In Saturday’s (5/24) Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Dobrin writes, “At the Library of Congress earlier this month, Roberto Díaz was playing on an exceedingly rare viola…. The Tuscan-Medici viola from the workshop of Antonio Stradivari was recently valued at $30 million, likely making it the most expensive musical instrument in the world…. Díaz is president and CEO of Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music … It was on this instrument, made in 1690, that Díaz recorded Jennifer Higdon’s Viola Concerto, [which] won two 2018 Grammy Awards. So it was natural that Díaz, along with a handful of Curtis students, was onstage for the Library of Congress concert, organized to celebrate a new milestone in the instrument’s 335-year journey: its donation to the Library of Congress as a gift to the nation. The viola has been on loan to the library for decades, but two recent gifts made its residency permanent. Rare instrument collector David Fulton and his wife, Amy, made a $20 million cash donation, which allowed the Library of Congress to buy the instrument from … the family of Cameron Baird, who had purchased the viola in 1957. The Baird family, by selling the viola at less than its assessed value, was giving up a potential $10 million, making it an in-kind donation. The gifts from the Fultons and Bairds mean the instrument will be preserved and publicly available to play in perpetuity.”
Lee Koonce Named Executive Director of Fenimore Chamber Orchestra in Upstate NY
In Thursday’s (5/22) Allotsego (Cooperstown, NY), an unbylined article states, “Fenimore Chamber Orchestra has announced the engagement of Lee Edward Koonce as executive director. From 2016-2024, Koonce served as president and artistic director, and later as senior advisor, of the Gateways Music Festival in Rochester.” Gateways showcases the contributions of classical musicians and composers of African descent. “From 2004-2015, Koonce held executive leadership roles at New York City’s … Opus 118 Harlem School of Music, Third Street Music School Settlement … and Ballet Hispánico…. He led transformative initiatives to strengthen board governance, expand and elevate programming, grow endowments, implement long-term strategic plans, boost enrollment, and develop … management teams…. Koonce served as executive director of Sherwood Conservatory of Music and as director of community relations for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra … where he led the development and implementation of programs designed to expand the orchestra’s reach within diverse communities and guided internal efforts to increase diversity [at] the Chicago Symphony … He earned a bachelor of music in piano performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a bachelor of arts in Spanish literature from Oberlin College, and a master of music in piano performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music. Koonce received the League of American Orchestras’ prestigious Gold Baton Award in 2024.”
Baltimore Symphony Receives $5 Million to Expand OrchKids and Education Programs
In Monday’s (5/12) Maryland Daily Record, an unbylined article states, “The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra announced it has received a $5 million gift from The Sherman Family Foundation. The grant will help the organization broaden access to its programs for students and families around the region. $3 million of the gift is allocated for the immediate expansion of the BSO family programs … The remaining $2 million provides long-term support for the Baltimore Symphony Endowment. Half is targeted for the OrchKids Endowment Fund, matching a gift from Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker, and half will endow The Sherman Family Education Chair, a dedicated leadership position within the BSO’s administrative team…. Mark Hanson, president and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, said, ‘We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Sherman and The Sherman Family Foundation for doubling down on their support of OrchKids and for making an incredible investment in robust intergenerational programs, dramatically expanding our ability to provide meaningful, barrier-free musical experiences …’ Betsy Sherman was an early childhood educator, and the gift reflects her lifelong work and belief that adults and institutions should enrich the lives of children and families.”
The Effect of NEA Cuts on Albany Symphony, Empire State Youth Orchestra, and NY’s Regional Arts Ecosystem
In Monday’s (5/12) Times Union (Albany, NY), Katherine Kiessling writes, “As the Albany Symphony wrapped up its dress rehearsal on the evening of May 2, the staff received upsetting news. The National Endowment for the Arts was terminating its $35,000 grant for the orchestra’s annual American Music Festival, set to open in a month. Simultaneously in Schenectady, Empire State Youth Orchestra learned the $10,000 grant NEA offered last year had been withdrawn. CHIME, the afterschool youth music education program supported by this grant, was 13 days away from performing a new piece made by the students … These were two of hundreds of arts nonprofits nationwide that received grant termination notices, unsigned and sent from a generic [NEA] email account … ‘One of the things that’s been so puzzling about the statements … from the NEA and this termination is that our project, the American Music Festival, does not align with America’s priorities,’ said Emily Andres-Frtiz, executive director of Albany Symphony…. ‘So much of our festival programming is about really celebrating what it means to be an American …’ Aside from Albany Symphony and the Empire State Youth Orchestra, those impacted locally by the NEA cuts include New York Folklore, Clark Art Museum, Iroquois Museum, Historic Cherry Hill, Jacob’s Pillow, MASS MoCA, Williamstown Theater Festival, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Caroga Arts and Art Omi.”
Williamsburg Symphony to Close 40th Season with Homage to Native American Culture
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.”
Nicholas Sharma Named Resident Conductor at Toronto Symphony and Conductor of Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra
In Friday’s (5/9) Ludwig Van (Toronto), Anya Wassenberg writes, “The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Music Director Gustavo Gimeno have announced the appointment of Nicholas Sharma as the TSO’s next RBC Resident Conductor, and conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO). Sharma’s tenure begins with the 2025/26 season…. He’ll be taking over from Trevor Wilson, who has served in both capacities with the TSO and TSYO since 2022…. Sharma is a native of Toronto. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music, followed by a Masters in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Oregon. He … holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music. He has worked with the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada … He served as Assistant Conductor of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the South Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra for the 2024/25 season. As RBC Resident Conductor, Sharma will work closely with the orchestra’s artistic leadership team … As the conductor of the TSYO, he’ll lead three concerts each season, as well as working with the TSO staff on programming and education.”
Three Appointments at Cleveland Orchestra’s Artistic Team
The Cleveland Orchestra has appointed three new members to its artistic and creative team. Beginning with the 2025–26 season, Taichi Fukumura joins the Cleveland Orchestra as assistant conductor, James Feddeck becomes principal conductor and musical advisor of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and Tyler Taylor becomes the Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow.
Taichi Fukumura is the music director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He won second prize in the Mahler Competition 2023 and is a four-time recipient of the Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award. Recent and upcoming appearances include debuts with the Bamberg Symphony, Utah Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Delaware Symphony, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic. He recently returned to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra as guest conductor after serving as assistant conductor and leading the orchestra in over 110 concerts. Other appearances include guest conducting members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in their Community Chamber Concert series, and serving as assistant conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta, where he had been a Freeman Conducting Fellow. Born in Tokyo, Fukumura grew up in Boston and began music studies at age 3 on the violin. He holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Boston University, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University. Additional training includes the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Pierre Monteux School and Festival.
James Feddeck previously served as assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) from 2009 to 2013. Until last season, he was principal conductor of Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan. He has appeared with European orchestras including the Vienna Radio Symphony; the national orchestras of France, Belgium, Ireland, and Scotland; orchestras in Britain (BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra); and the symphony orchestras of cities throughout Europe. He has also conducted orchestras in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan. In North America, he has led the major orchestras of Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Montreal, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto. He has nurtured the musical interests of young people at music festivals and orchestral training programs in the U.S. Feddeck is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied in four programs: oboe, organ, piano, and conducting. He received the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award as well as the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Oberlin.
Tyler Taylor joins the Cleveland Orchestra as composer fellow for a term of three years, beginning with performances of his Permissions this fall. He succeeds Composer Fellow Allison Loggins-Hull. In the 2026–27 season, Taylor will compose a new orchestral work for the Cleveland Orchestra; in his final season, he will write a score for COYO. Taylor’s honors include awards and residencies at the San Francisco Symphony, Copland House, I-Park Foundation, and Louisville Orchestra. He founded and teaches at the Louisville Orchestra’s Young Composer Program, where public-school students have their pieces workshopped and performed by members of the Louisville Orchestra. He teaches composition and horn at the Louisville Academy of Music while maintaining a private studio. He has been commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Washington and Lee State University, Chicago Composers Orchestra, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Indiana Bandmasters Association, and the National Orchestral Institute. Taylor holds degrees from Indiana University (Doctor of Music with minors in music theory and horn performance), the Eastman School of Music (Master of Music), and the University of Louisville (Bachelor of Music).