Brave New Works concert in NYC

I am in New york city this week rehearsing with Brave New Works, a new music ensemble I founded when I was at Michigan. We are doing a program of new music at the invitation of the League of Composers [ISCM] in New York. The concert will be tonight [Friday, March 31, 2006 8 pm] at the Tenri Cultural institute [www.tenri.org]
If there are any alumni members of Cornell orchestras I would love to see you at the concert.

First rehearsal with Scott Tucker

tonight is our first rehearsal with Scott Tucker who will conduct Brahms Nanie on the May 7th concert with CSO.
Here is a link to his bio. We are very fortunate to be able to work with him.

Deadline to sign up for a masterclass with Detroit Winds

Here is a message from Cindi, be sure to sign up for a masterclass slot.


Hello All,

A reminder that the absolute deadline for signing up for master classes with the musicians from Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings is TOMORROW (Thursday, March 30). The manager of the ensemble needs final numbers by that date. Master classes will run Saturday, April 8 from 1:00 p.m--2:00 p.m. Sign up lists are posted on the CU Winds board downstairs. Master classes are available, FREE, for flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, string bass, and conductor. Do not miss this opportunity.
Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner, Director of Wind Ensembles

Bus to NYC

I e-mailed Swarthout Coaches, who had the best deal last year, and got this response:
"Based on todays rates, for the 47 passenger coach, you would be looking at $1150.00 per trip for a total of $2300.00. "

We would need two buses, putting us at $4600.00.

Our target dates are January 10-17. We can leave Ithaca the morning of the 10th and catch a 6:30 PM flight out of Newark to Berlin (nonstop), getting there the next morning. On the way back, we can get a flight that puts us back in New York at 1:10 PM, meaning we could easily be back in Ithaca that night.

My week in Denison

Here is a shoutout to everyone who I met and worked with at Denison University's Tutti festival.
I had a tremendous time with you all, the students of Denison Orchestra, members of Kalistos Chamber Orchestra, the soloists, Cora and Nicholas and the composers who wrote us such wonderful music, Greg Steinke, Allen Crossman, Yu-Hui Chang and Evan Chambers, Ching chu Hu and his staff and students who made it all possible.
Thanks
CK

concerts this week in Ithaca

So here is a short rundown of concerts this week in Ithaca;

Monday 3/27
The choruses return from their spring break tours and present a post concert tour in Sage Chapel

Tuesday 3/28
Xak Bjerken's piano recital featuring Rite of Spring!
8 pm in Barnes Hall
Xak Bjerken and Blaise Bryski, piano. Music for spring, featuring Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring for piano four hands and solo works by Stephen Hartke and Thelonious Monk.

Wednesday 3/29
Kevin Ernste's recital
8 pm in Barnes Hall
Kevin Ernste, composer. Features music by Ernste, faculty member in composition and digital music.

Thursday 3/30
B20 Midday music 1230 pm
Midday Music at Lincoln: soprano Judith Kellock and Ithaca College's Ariadne String Quartet perform Berg's Lyric Suite.
Also Thursday 3/30
Anabel Taylor Chapel at 8 pm
Annette Richards, organ. "From the Library of a Prussian Princess: Music by Buxtehude, Bruhns, J. S. Bach, and C. P. E. Bach."

Friday 3/31
Chris Kim and Brave New Works at Tenri Cultural center in New York City [in the Village]
8 pm concert featuring music of Sungji Hong, Magnus Lindberg, Leslie Bassett, Saariaho, Ming Hsiu Yen and Gordon Beeferman.

Saturday 4/1
Barnes Hall 8 pm
Ensemble X; Steven Stucky, artistic director, and Cynthia Johnston Turner, conductor. "Mit Schlag" features H. K. Gruber's Frankenstein!! with Scott Tucker as chansonnier, as well as "A Musical Joke" by Mozart and Alban Berg's Lyric Suite with soprano Judith Kellock--all for April Fools' Day.

Sunday 4/2
Sage Chapel 3 pm
Sage Chapel Choir and Cornell University Chorus; Richard Riley and Scott Tucker, conductors. Features Britten's Saint Nicolas, op. 42, with guest Thom Baker, tenor. [featuring some of our own CCO and CSO members]

wow that is a full week!

Tabula Rasa

There is a local new music group. There are giving a concert on Friday. Do support your local new music group.
Here is the program featuring many who should be familiar faces.

Tabula Rasa: new music by Ithaca composers
Spring Concert!

Local composers once again are featured in a program of new and  
recent chamber music.  All composers are Ithaca
area residents and will be present to speak to the audience about  
their work during the concert and also during the
light reception at intermission.

Friday, March 31st at 8:00pm
Unitarian Church in Ithaca
(on the corner of Aurora and Buffalo streets)

Composers and compositions to be featured:
Robert Singly, “Folk Songs for Violin and Piano”
Cayenna Ponchione, “Marimbarosa” (solo marimba)
Spencer Topel, “Gnomoncholia” (violin and electronics)
Ian Power, “Passages of Dreaming and Waking” (string quartet)
Antony Paasch, “Low End Sonata” (tuba, bass clarinet, bassoon)

Performers:
Rebecca Hunter, Graeme Bailey, Spencer Topel, Eric Callahan, Sean  
Shepherd, Cayenna Ponchione, Kyle Story, Joshua
Modney, Megan Atchley, Sarah Hart, Jennifer Chieffalo

There is no admission fee, although donations at the door make  
future performances possible.

For more information please email director@tabularasaithaca.org,  
visit our website at www.tabularasaithaca.org or call
(607) 594-4981.

Mahler's 1st and 2nd mvt

welcome back from Spring Break everyone.
It was nice to see that some of you have practiced over break. I am very much looking forward to working on Mahler's first symphony for the next month or so. It is such a luxury to be able to work on a master piece like this in such a period.
If you are interested in contributing a blog please contact me and I will add you to the Blog membership so you can post.

Concert master shuffle

Here is a link to an article about a recent concert in which a soloist, David Kim asked his friend, another concert master of a major symphony to take his place.

laptop orchestra

Here is a link to a wired magazine article about Laptop orchestra at Princeton.

Our Blog featured

Our Orchestra Blog was featured on the TopTenSources.com.

cso in the news

Here is an article that came out for the March 11 concert.

Stephen's recital

Here is an email from Stephen Palmer [principal cellist of CCO].

This is just one last reminder that my senior recital is tonight[3/16 Thursday] at 8 PM in Barnes Hall. I know many have prelims or are leaving for break, but if you're available, I'd love to see you there. I'll be playing the third Bach suite (in C Major), the Elgar cello concerto (my favorite concerto), and some improvisation. The concert should be about an hour.

Stephen

First rehearsal with Nick Walker

Today is our first rehearsal with Nick Walker. Chamber Orchestra will perform his Pop bass concerto on April 15th.
Here is a link to his bio. I especially like the picture of all his bass students in one of his pages.
This afternoon's rehearsal we will focus on his bass concerto.

More info on Thurston bridge construction

Here is another Chronicle Article regarding the Thurston Bridge construction. There is a helpful FAQ and also some altenate transportation option link.

A.D. White house Professor at Large

Here is a link to the Cornell Chronicle article covering the last lecture given by John Cleese on the campus of Cornell. It drew large crowds in Barton Hall. We expect similar sized crowd for the April 15th concert with the Chamber Orchestra. Also a link to the AD White House Professor-at-Large program website : http://web.cornell.edu/Professor-at-Large/

Construction on Thurston Bridge

Beginning on March 20, there will be construction on Thurston Bridge. This wil effect traffic on East avenue and one of only three bridges into Cornell Campus and thus into the Music building.
Please read the construction info and plan accordingly for rehearsals after Spring break.

Review of the Kirov orchestra in NY times

This is the big Shostakovich year.
Here is a review by Allan Kozinn of the NY times for the Shostakovich concert given by the Kirov Orchestra.

CCO with John Cleese

Here is the info about Peter and the Wolf with John Cleese at the State theater.

Saturday April 15, 2006 3 pm State Theater
Nicholas Walker Bass concerto with Nicholas Walker
Sergei Prokofiev Peter & the Wolf [John Cleese, Narrator]

Tickets will be available starting 7:30am the morning of Thursday, April 6 in the lobby of Willard Straight Hall, Cornell campus. 200 tickets will also be available the same day, starting at 10:00am at the Clinton House ticket office.
LIMIT: 2 per person. If someone wants more than 2 tickets, another person will have to be present to request tix.

Chris Mayes, CSO trombonist featured on website!

The trombone recital that was given recently was featured on a trombone website.
Christopher Mayes is the principal trombonist of the CSO. The trombone concert was organized by Ryan Zawel, who frequently coaches the brass section. He also has a website : http://www.activelistening.org/
nice work Chris!