The Totenberg Strad
August 7, 2015What a wonderful story we heard on NPR’s Morning Edition today – the Stradivarius violin stolen from Roman Totenberg 35 years ago was to be reunited with the family today. Nina Totenberg, famous NPR reporter, tells the story as only she can – how the violin disappeared after one of her father’s performances, how her […]
An Interview with Polyphonic’s New Editor-in-Chief, James Doser
August 5, 2015This summer, Polyphonic.org welcomes a new Editor-in-Chief, James Doser. He takes over for Ramon Ricker, who led Polyphonic.org since its inception in 2006. Welcome, Jim! Polyphonic: Jim – one thing that readers will find really interesting is that you actually studied with Ray Ricker, which means you are both saxophonists and that you know the […]
PRJ Grant Recipient Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble Reflects on May 2015 Concert
August 3, 2015Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble’s Season Closer Concert for the 2014-15 season: Spatial Palettes took place on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 8:30pm at Constellation Chicago. We commissioned 3 new pieces with the generous support of The Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research. One from Monte Weber, another from Levy Lorenzo, and another from Eliza […]
Remembering Vic Firth
July 31, 2015I grew up in the Boston area; Vic Firth’s name was revered as one of the most prominent “BSO men” in the area. Anastasia Tsioulcas of NPR has put together a lovely tribute to him as both a percussionist and an entrepreneur. Click here to read the remembrance at NPR’s Deceptive Cadence, complete with photos and […]
Boston's Handel and Haydn Society Turns 200
July 13, 2015Claiming to be the oldest continuously performing orchestra in America, the Handel and Haydn Society celebrates 200 years this year. The Society gave the American premiere performances of Verdi’s Requiem in 1878 and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in 1879. The Society was created at the conclusion of the War of 1812, giving a performance of […]
Optimism in Omaha
July 6, 2015An article came out a couple of weeks ago on Omaha.com with some positive news from the Omaha Symphony. Attendance during the Symphony’s 2014-15 season was record setting, and even subscription packages to multiple concerts are on the rise. Pretty exciting. Of course, the question is why. Why are more people coming to the symphony […]
Hidden Messages: New Vintage Baroque’s Second Season
June 18, 2015It seems counterintuitive: how is it that so many musicians dedicate their lives to the study and practice of repertoire written so long ago by composers who no longer walk the earth? Look deep into the music, however, and one will find within it a vitality that is ripe for the harvest. This vitality is […]
You had two jobs…
June 8, 2015Two things I’d like to see conductors do: Not let the orchestra slow up when it shouldn’t Not let the orchestra speed up when it shouldn’t Is that too hard? Apparently it is. That is all.
PRJ Grant Recipient Hotel Elefant Reflects On “speakOUT” Concert
Hotel Elefant’s “speakOUT” spring 2015 concert by was hosted by the downtown New York venue SubCulture on International Women’s Day, representing female artists who utilize music to reflect on issues both personal and political. The generous funding from the Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research helped present cutting-edge works by women, with works specifically […]
Kennedy Center Announces Lineup for "Shift: A Festival of American Orchestras"
June 2, 2015With the closing of the “Spring for Music” festival in NYC this past year, the Kennedy Center has announced that it will create a similar festival of American Orchestras. The new festival will take place during late March and early April 2016, and will feature the Boulder Philharmonic, the North Carolina Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony […]