Tag Archive for: Classical Music

An Opportunity for High School Wind Musicians

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This is another opportunity for a high school musician.  This time it’s for those who play wind instruments. Equity Arc is a national coalition dedicated to increasing racial equity within the field of classical music in the United States.

Magee Capsouto, the Associate Director of Equity Arc says they are now taking applications for their first Equity Arc Wind Symphony. It offers young musicians of color an opportunity to learn from the members of The President’s Own, The United States Marine Band. The primary deadline is November 10th. 

Chorus Austin Celebrates Its 60th Season

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Chorus Austin is celebrating a big milestone this year.  It’s the choir’s 60th anniversary. 

Ryan Heller, the conductor and artistic director of Chorus Austin says the all-volunteer choir is thriving. He’s designed their 60th season with all sorts of collaborations with Austin’s performing arts organizations. That includes their annual Messiah singalong in December.

There’s Almost No Music In This Classical Music Program

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You would think that a “special” classical music program would be all about the music. You’d be wrong if you’re talking about one particular program for high school aged female classical musicians.  The Fortissima program at Colburn School in Los Angeles is aiming for something completely different.

Artistic Director and Violinist Jannina Norpoth says they aim to teach their charges how to make it in the world they want to pursue. One student, Tess Reed, says this was the best experience ever.

String Quartet Smackdown

Crossing Borders Music seeks a violinist

Isata Kanneh-Mason Releases “Mendelssohn”

The Season Ahead:  The Central Texas Philharmonic

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In just a few weeks performing arts groups will unveil the first shows of the 2024 Fall season.  There are many more in Central Texas than there used to be, so you have more than a few choices.

We’re starting with the Fall 2024 season for The Central Texas Philharmonic led by Music Director Stefan Sanders.  

Gustav Mahler Need Not Apply: The Symphonina

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It was the age of the audience at a classical music concert that lit a fire under David Fogel. 

He seems to have invented another genre of classical and orchestral music.  The Symphonina.  A short symphony just right for the younger set and older ears too. 

Sophie Mathieu – The Draylen Mason Composer in Residence

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Imagine what it’s like to actually be doing the job you love so much. 

It’s a feeling that Sophie Mathieu knows well.  She’s KMFA’s Draylen Mason Composer In Residence for 2024. 

Mathieu, a cellist, with a Masters from the Butler School of Music, is also the first local composer who’s been chosen for the program. Since the announcement in January, she’s been taking part in educational events, public and private workshops of her work with Austin Unconducted and various other activities.  This is in addition to working on her new piece.  Sophie is pretty sure she’’ll call it “Night Poem” when it premieres on September 22nd. 

Mount Rainier’s Composer in Residence   

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Stephen Lias always has music on his mind. He’s the Dean’s Circle Endowed Professor Of Composition at Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.  Lias is also an outdoor kind of guy.  Over the years, he’s composed music for a variety of national parks either on commission or just because.  Now he’s been named Washington State’s Mount Rainier National Park’s first-ever composer in residence. His composition will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the park but won’t premiere until 2026.

The Organic Result – The New York Études  

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New York City can have quite an effect on you and so can Multiple Sclerosis.  Grammy winning composer Jeff Beal (House of Cards) deals with both in his new album:  The New York Etudes.  These solo piano works are somewhat of a departure from his compositions for TV and Film and that’s the way he wanted it. Beal says The New York Etudes is like a quiet place to land and recharge after a long day or the last few years.

Songs in Three Languages With A Tribute To Dad By Richard Danielpour

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Many classical artists are now releasing some of the works they composed during the pandemic. Composer Richard Danielpour is one of them.  He’s released a new album: Songs in Three Languages, sung by Soprano Hila Plitmann.  One section of the album pays tribute to Danielpour’s Father who wrote love poems to his wife. Then there’s the opera he composed called The Grand Hotel Tartarus.   

A Love Letter To Home, Wherever It May Be

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There’s no place like home.  A familiar line from a familiar movie and so very true.  The Miro Quartet, The University of Texas String Quartet In Residence with an international reputation and a GRAMMY nomination, honed in on the theme with their latest album Home. They illustrated the essence of Home with a video of their performance of Over The Rainbow. 

Daniel Ching, one of the founding members of the group says Home is a love letter to and appreciation of all the things they call home.