Tag Archive for: Second Street Dreams

Requiem For America, The Native American Story

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Many orchestras and chamber groups are celebrating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding this year. 

While most of the music is a positive portrayal of the United States there is at least one musical work telling the tale of the horrific treatment of Native Americans and their lands.

The piece is Requiem For America by Mohican/Munsee-Lenape composer Brent Michael Davids.  He describes it as a searing work confronting hard truths about America’s founding. It’ll be performed by the BBC Orchestra in London this month, before its American premiere in November. 

Here are the links to the other stories mentioned in the podcast

The Mosaic Quartet
The Chevalier
The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

Nathaniel Dett
Oakland Symphony

Vanessa, Stripped Down

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Even though operas from long ago are still being performed, there’s a movement afoot to freshen them up or to do new 21st century operas.

In the case of the 1958 opera Vanessa, a production by Heartbeat Opera is doing a stripped-down version of the Pulitzer Prize winning work. It’s directed by RB Schlather. 

At The Met, they are about to premiere a true 21st century opera by first-time opera composer and Grammy winner, Gabriela Lena Frank with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz.

Then there’s the big dispute between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its patrons over the firing of Music Director Andris Nelsons.

Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.

The Choir of Magdalen College
Yehudi Menuhin School
Cuarteto Latinoamericano

Composer Chinary Ung stays close to his Cambodian Roots

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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

LA MAESTRA 2026

Composer Kaylen Prince of Houston

African Children’s Choir

The African Concert Series Celebrates Its 8th Season of African Classical Music.

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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:

Timothée Chalamet & Matthew McConaughey

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra  album Harlem Renaissance

Toy Music Festival in Seoul

Teach Music Week

A Hero’s Life Meets The Old And The New With A World Premiere Recording

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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. 

Denyce Graves Foundation Behind the Curtain and Sounds of Hope

Time To Act, the opera about school shootings at the Pittsburgh Opera.

The American Lyric Theater’s concert version of Tevye’s Daughters

The Word Network is airing celebration of life services live for Rev. Jesse Jackson.

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

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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. 

Sarah Kirkland Snider Goes Forward Into Light

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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

Neptune, New Jersey celebrates Black History Month

Apply now for the Sphinx Performance Academy

It’s Black History Month

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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:

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir

The Oakland Symphony

The Indianapolis Symphony

Song Offerings From Christopher Tin

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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?

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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.