Tag Archive for: Staccato

Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities

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RAMPD.  It’s the latest indication that disabled musicians are emerging as bonafide able musicians. 

The Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities was started in 2021.  Two handicapped musicians got tired of venues that were not ADA compliant. Founders Gaelynn Lea and Lachi also got tired of those who couldn’t see past the musician’s disability. 

Watch Gaelynn play the violin and sing here. 

Keep in mind that this month is the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26th.

Surgical Records As Lyrics?

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We’re introducing you again to composer/singer Molly Joyce.  She’s the disabled musician who has been featured on Staccato before.  You can hear it here. 

This Julliard grad returns with a new album STATE CHANGE with an unusual lyrical content: That of her medical records regarding the near decade long treatment for her disabled left hand.   The music is all her compositions via some new technology she had to learn to use to make this album.

Molly Joyce is releasing the new album in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.

Disability Champ ART SPARK Texas Names Its Annual Winners

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Every year Art Spark Texas chooses five or more artists who are disabled as winners of their annual awards. 

Celia Hughes, Executive Director, says the categories range from Artist of the Year Award,  the Gloria Bond Creative Aging Award, the Creative Veteran Service Award and several others.

In this Staccato, we focus on the 2025 SPARK Award winner Zachary LaViola of Austin whose autism and other issues does not prevent him from being a classical pianist.

There’s also filmmaker Matthew Alaniz, of Austin, TX, who is recognized as an artist who elevates disability awareness through digital or media art. You can see one of his movies “Ten To One” here.

Celia Hughes & Matthew Alaniz

Art Spark is now calling for Submissions for the 16th Annual Distinguished Artist Veterans Exhibit.

A Musical Summer Adventure For Two Austin Teens

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It’s that time of year again.

Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute chooses the brightest young players from across the country to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

This year 15 of the 96 student musicians chosen are from Texas.  Two are from Austin. 

Dorian Herri is a double bass player and Lerchen Zhang is a violinist. 

Before heading out for their tour of Asia, there will be a concert at Carnegie Hall on July 20th. 

They’re Tapping Their Feet, Anyway. 

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Another Austin, Texas arts organization has lost its NEA grant.

However, the Tapestry Dance Company is taking it, in as much stride as possible.

Instead of their annual 3 day tap extravaganza, the Soul 2 Sole Festival, they are holding a one-day event.   

 

Acia Gray, the Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Tapestry Dance Company, says they are treating the Tap Jam as a fundraiser for 2026 including their silent auction. 

They are also hoping the event on June 18th will act as a salve for the tap-dancing community.   

The Texas International Piano Festival in South Korea

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This is a very exciting time for the Texas State International Piano Festival.  They are holding this year’s event in Seoul, South Korea.  It is the first time they will be “off campus” for the 15 year old competition. 

It’s usually held at Texas State University in San Marcos, but it’s always been a dream of the co-founder Dr. Jason Kwak and some of his colleagues,  Dr. SungEun Park and Dr. Martin Kesuma to hold the competition in Seoul.

 

The Texas State International Piano Festival gets underway June 24th and runs until July 6th. 

More Orchestras Focus on Health Care For Their Musicians

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An increasing number of orchestras are taking it upon themselves to ensure the health of their musicians. They’re setting up a program called physio toolkit. The latest is the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in the UK.

Dr. John Chong, one of the founders of the Performing Arts Medicine Association or PAMA, in Canada says musicians face a number of specialized ailments that doctors don’t always see. 

This comes just as HAAM The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is celebrating its 20th anniversary annual member event. They’re offering free health and wellness services and other perks.  It’s on June 17th.  

They Honor The Fallen With Their Words And Music

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There will be many honors this Memorial Day week for the military men and women who lost their lives while serving their country.  Music will be a large part of that. 

One of them is the world premiere recording of the opera An American Soldier.  It’s the true story of the young Chinese-American Army Pvt. Danny Chen who committed suicide because he was beaten every day by his fellow soldiers and a superior officer during his service in Afghanistan.

There is also a new version of  Symphony For Vietnam Veterans.   Composer and retired U.S. Army Captain James Kimo Williams has released a string orchestra version of his orchestral piece about his time in war.

Summer Music Camps For Adult Musicians

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In Part Two of Summer Music Camps for Adults we focus on musicians.  There are more than a few camps all over the country.  Some with a focus on your instrument. 

There’s the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan but if you want to stay local, the Austin Chamber Music Center has several Workshops. 

Here are a few more camps you can consider:  

Adult Chamber Music Institute (ACMI) at Kneisel Hall

Central Program at the Amherst Early Music Festival 

Summer Music Camps For Adults – The Choral Edition

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How about spending part of your summer elevating your skills at a music camp for adults? 

There are plenty of choices, here in Austin, in Texas and all over the US. 

There is, of course, the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. 

Gary Gatzke Associate Director of Continuing and Community Education says there’s a wait list for many of the camps they offer. 

There’s also Berkshire Choral International, a summer choral camp offering performances in some of the most prestigious places in the world. 

In Austin, there’s the summer program for Alumni of the Texas State University’s Choral Program.

On Part Two of Summer Music Camps for Adults, the focus will be on camps specifically for musicians and their instruments. Listen for it during the week of May 18th.