Bertha Sadler Means Orchestra Students Presentation by Judlyne Lilly Gibson
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Composer Chinary Ung stays close to his Cambodian Roots
Composer Chinary Ung has been composing music for 60 plus years. His compositions are heavily affected by his childhood in Cambodia and the deadly events that happened there back in the mid 1970’s. But he says he’s blessed that he was able to come to America in the 1960’s to study the western style of music. Many of his compositions will be performed at the Miller Theater at Columbia University School of the Arts in its Composer Portraits series on March 26th.
Here are the links to the other events mentioned in the podcast.
Castle of our Skins – Two Positions
Misty Copeland on Timothée Chalamet
The African Concert Series Celebrates Its 8th Season of African Classical Music.
It took pianist Rebeca Omordia 8 years to create the African Concert Series in London. She was even told that African classical music wasn’t really classical at all, nor would anyone want to listen to it. The series is very popular now. So much so that Wigmore Hall in London has gifted Omordia a residency at the world class venue.
Here are links to events mentioned in the podcast:
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra album Harlem Renaissance
A Hero’s Life Meets The Old And The New With A World Premiere Recording
Conductor and Music Director JoAnn Falletta of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has fulfilled a dream. She’s released A Hero’s Life. The album has two pieces, one from Richard Strauss and another that’s a world premiere recording of Behzad Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Falletta is also releasing another edition of her book of poetry, Love Letters to Music. This is in addition to the upcoming full length documentary about her nearly 30-year career at the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Here are the links to events mentioned in the podcast.
It’s Primary season. The first one is/was March 3rd, 2026. Find out here when your state is holding its primaries.
Castrato Nicolo Grimaldi Gets His Due Via Randall Scotting
When you think of countertenors what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Randall Scotting, a countertenor, sees himself as a preserver of this unique male voice. He’s releasing the album Divine Impresario to celebrate one of the most popular castrato opera singers of the 17th and 18th centuries. His name is Nicolini.
Cancellations at the Kennedy Center continue even as the building is set to close for renovations.
The San Antonio (Texas) Philharmonic shuts down with hopes of returning someday.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast for mentoring programs.
League of American Orchestras Applications now open for their Essentials of Orchestra Management program.
The Pegasus Opera Company in London is looking for opera singers.
Rachel Barton Pine and the Suzuki Strings
In these last few weeks of Black History Month, there are still many more events celebrating Black excellence. One such event is with violinist Rachel Barton Pine, who founded the series “Music by Black Composers” as part of her foundation, the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation. She did it to advance opportunities to study and perform works by Black composers. Pine performs with the Madison Symphony in Wisconsin this coming week with a group of young people, the Suzuki Strings, performing the music of some Black classical composers.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast:
The email to Kennedy Center Staff
Internships and Fellowships at the National Museum of African American Music
Sarah Kirkland Snider Goes Forward Into Light
As any musician, classical or otherwise, knows, it’s a difficult climb to success. It took Sarah Kirkland Snider almost 20 years to find it with her composing career. She’s out with a new album of ethereal, spiritual music called Forward Into Light.
Black History Month soars with hundreds of events this month. Here are just a few.
A Behind the Scenes Look at Treemonisha
Karen Slack sings from her Grammy winning album
Sphinx Virtuosi Performs with cellist Sterling Elliott
It’s Black History Month
Oh Happy Day!
It’s Black History Month.
There are so many events celebrating “black excellence” in all genres of music. I’ve only mentioned a few, including the Colour of Music Festival. See more links below.
There’s a new audio edition of the Harry Potter books.
Believe it or not, the National Endowment for the Arts is offering Challenge Grants.
The Cliburn ends its piano competition for Amateurs. There are plenty of other piano competitions for amateurs, like this one in Paris.
Then there’s the closing of the Kennedy Center, ordered by the President.
Here are more links to Black History Month events:
Song Offerings From Christopher Tin
So many events are happening this month and early in February in the classical music community.
There’s the Grammys, a new album of choral works from the composer of Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin, a fresh take on Bach, another cancellation at the Kennedy Center and the March broadcast of the Oscars with a nomination about Verdi.
There’s also a sad story about a violinist whose violin case was too big for the overhead bin.
Who won the largest single gift ever dedicated to one Jazz artist?
While we look forlornly at the holiday bills as we head into tax season, there is some joy this January.
The Grammy winning and nominated this year again Jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner is grateful and humble after winning the 300k Gilmore inaugural 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award.
Donors have nearly flooded the Washington National Opera with funds after the opera company departed the Kennedy Center.
There are still many ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other African American leaders as we head into Black History Month.
And oh my as George Takei would say, there’s a Star Trek version of a Mozart opera.
Here’s a link to the League Of American Orchestras Student Leadership Council.