Podcasts about american conservatory

Sharing her own musical career with her internationally known musician-husband, Robert, Gaby excelled in her roles as a concert pianist, piano teacher, interpreter of modern French composers, intrepid world traveler, mother to three children, wife, and champion of her husband's composing career as well as his extraordinary performance career as a pianist.  Gaby and Robert certainly could be said to have had a “piano love affair.”  The Casadesus family had been musicians for generations but Robert and Gaby's family went on to be especially known as the “The First Family of the Piano.  Their son, Jean, sometimes performed with them on pieces featuring three pianos, one even captured on CBS TV! Gaby's delightful memoir, My Musical Notes, is now available in English for the first time and is being published in October by Hamilton Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing.  It was first published in French in 1989 and describes: *Gaby's love of teaching the French piano tradition, giving lessons at well-known schools such as the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, Julliard and Curtis Institute of Music.  Due to her close association with many of the modern-day French composers, especially Ravel, she was known for her insights in helping students learn and interpret their works. *Her collegiate relationships and friendship with many leading musical figures of the 20th century including Ravel, Poulenc, Fauré, Toscanini, Bernstein, Szell, Ormandy, and many others.  In fact, she was friendly with Albert Einstein as well during her stay in Princeton from 1940 - 1945 and performed Mozart with him in a local concert! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Joan Koenig has called Paris her home for the last several decades. She grew up playing the piano and falling in love with the flute. Originally from the US, Joan moved often and lived in many states. But one thing that didn't change was her desire to play music. She eventually found herself studying at the prestigious Julliard School in NYC and after graduation embarked upon a journey that brought her to her lay roots in France, have a family and build a business structured on her passion: music. She has spent the last several decades at the forefront of educating children where she has built an school / laboratory for innovative learning and creative entrepreneurship - through the magic of music and dance. In our dicussion, she reminds how and why in the West we have largely “forgotten” that we are all musical. We hear her thoughts on the blurring of the self and in the feeling in communion with others during musical connectedness. As the teaser shows, she shares a transcendental experience where she found herself disappearing, while in the middle of her art. And what's at the centre of it? Listen in…. Personal website: https://www.joankoenig.com/ L'Ecole Koenig Website: https://www.ecolekoenig.com/team/joan-koenig Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-koenig-7577b3153/ Book: The Musical Child Using the Power of Music to Raise Children Who Are Happy, Healthy, and Whole https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Child-Using-Children-Healthy/dp/1328612961

Negro Spirituals consist of a set of songs that were created by slaves during their time of slavery and were sung from spirit to Spirit. They carry messages from God to us, and today we can still build inspiration from these songs.    The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an American a cappella ensemble that performs Negro spirituals originally sung by slaves prior to the Civil War. The first group of Singers arranged the music and took it on the road beginning in 1871 introducing the public to a new genre that remains a vibrant musical tradition today.   We had the chance to speak with Dr. Paul T. Kwami, Musical Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.   Kwami was born in Ghana, West Africa, one of seven children. His father, a musician, taught him piano, violin, theory, and conducting. He studied music at Ghana's National Academy of Music and taught there until immigrating to the US in 1983 as a student at Fisk University. He promptly joined the Fisk Jubilee Singers.After graduating Fisk in 1985 he continued to study music at Western Michigan University and graduated in 1987 with the Master of Music degree. In the spring of 1994 he was solicited to serve as part-time director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. In the fall of the same year, he was promoted to full time faculty member in the music department and became the Musical Director of the ensemble. He is the first African to direct the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and the first to hold the Curb-Beaman Chair position. He is currently the Mike Curb Jubilee Singers Endowed Chair. Kwami received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the American Conservatory of Music.   Kwami, a composer and arranger, feels a deep connection between Negro spirituals and the music of his Motherland. “The music we sing today helps to bridge the gap between Africans and African-Americans,” he says. “I am reminded of my life in Ghana whenever I hear the Fisk Jubilee Singers sing the Negro spirituals.”   As the Fisk Jubilee Singers are celebrating 150 years this year, we thought this was the perfect time to cover this topic.  Check out the Grammy-award winning album here: https://amzn.to/3w3Vh4X   __ If you'd like to join our Patreon Community to support us monthly for perks and exclusive content check out https://www.patreon.com/steelmagnolias   Places to Connect: Sign up for mailing list HERE  https://mailchi.mp/e3cef217a5e7/sweetnews Instagram: @SteelMagnoliasPodcast Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/32Kna4T  

Earth Wind and Fire is one of the most influential bands of all time, transcending R&B and shaping pop culture around the world. With global sales of over 90 million records, the band has earned more than 50 gold and platinum albums, 7 Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and 4 American Music Awards. The group has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame, and Hollywood's Rockwalk, in addition to receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   The band has also received an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, BET Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Soul Train Legend Award, as well as a NARAS Signature Governor's Award and the Congressional Horizon Award. Earth Wind and Fire members were celebrated during the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019, along with Sally Field, Linda Ronstadt, Sesame Street and Michael Tilson Thomas.   Verdine White, Earth Wind and Fire’s bassist and co-founder, was presented with Bass Player magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary doctorate degree from the American Conservatory of Music. He is ranked number 19 of Rolling Stone Australia Magazine’s list of the 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time. Verdine co-authored a book with Louis Satterfield, "Playing The Bass Guitar, A Beginner's Guide To The Electric Bass". He also wrote “Rhythm of the Earth: Advanced Bass Techniques” and “Rhythms of the Earth”.   In spite of all his achievements, Verdine and his wife, Shelly Clark White, continue to give back to the industry and the community through their advocacy, time and talent. Mayor John Hamilton of Bloomington, Indiana proclaimed February 1, 2021 as Shelly and Verdine White Day in honor of Black History Month, with a focus on appreciating the resilience of Black people and how they have used creative and artistic expression historically to overcome struggles.   The couple co-founded the Verdine White Performing Arts Center, which encourages students to reach their fullest potential as artists and people, equipped with a well-rounded performing arts education and the confidence to take on whatever path they choose within the arts.   Verdine was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club's Alumni Hall of Fame, and serves as an Ambassador, encouraging youth to get involved in the civic affairs of their communities. He was awarded the Walt Disney Motif Award for Excellence for his work with students.   Join us for a lively discussion of Verdine’s professional journey and ways he is preparing the next generation of musicians through the Verdine White Performing Arts Center.

Robin's tales include a strange story of a very private party, a tragic casino gig and cruise ship life. More about Robin.... Transplanted to rural WI, I commute and perform in my native Chicago(when there's not a pandemic raging...). A working musician since 1987. Pianist and vocalist, solo or with ensemble. Up until his untimely death in 2004, legendary Chicago Jazz bassist, Thomas Kini and I collaborated, performing together. Employed as a Cruise-ship pianist for 15+years compelled me to learn even more about Jazz history through performing Musical Tribute Sets honoring: The Gershwin's; Cole Porter; Elton John; Burt Bacharach; Frank Sinatra; The Carpenters and Nat King Cole. As a youth, I studied Classical Piano at American Conservatory of Music and Jazz as an adult with, Chicago based Skip Green. Stylistically I look to George Gershwin's rules of composition as a guide: “melodic, nothing neutral, utter simplicity and directness.” A favorite quote from Nadia Boulanger is: “ Your music can never be more or less than you are as a human being.”Herbie Hancock: “ If you have the strength to keep trusting yourself, you'll be OK.” Influences: Manfredo Fest, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Carmen McRae.. Earning a living playing “customer service” music at local Chicago venues ( Drake, Pump Room, 95th Signature Room) I've “kept my creative toe in the water” composing originals. My fifth release, Good New Days (2020) Danceable poetic Jazzy Sophisti-pop originals..... Music that lives near my heart. All songs on Good New Days I composed to encourage myself...... Good new day means: “today is tomorrow's good old day so it's a good new day.... reminding me to appreciate the moment.” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kara-kesselring/support

Richie Gajate-Garcia is a drummer, percussionist, clinician and educator. He has traveled the world and recorded with many renown artists. His nickname is "El Pulpo" (which means the octopus in Spanish) a nickname given to him for his unique independence and ability to play multiple percussion instruments simultaneously. Gajate is a sought after percussionist who has accompanied artists such as Phil Collins, Sting, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Diana Ross, Hiroshima, Patti Labelle, Amy Grant, Brooks and Dunn, Luis Miguel, John Denver, Art Garfunkel and many, many more. He has recorded on soundtracks to films such as " The Italian Job", "Maid in Manhattan" with Jennifer Lopez, "I-Spy" with Eddie Murphy and the classic "The Mummy Returns" with the London Symphony. He is the percussionist of choice for the Disney studios and has played on many of the Disney Animated films such as; Kronk's New Groove, Emperor's New Groove, Brother Bear, and Robots. https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Richie_Gajate_Garcia.html 0:00:00 Richie Gajate-Garcia Intro 0:01:00 How Richie got nicknamed El Pulpo 0:01:15 Inventing the Gajate Bracket out of necessity 0:02:15 Playing with Frankie Valli and Donna Summer 0:04:15 Make sure to get royalties for your inventions 0:05:00 Adventures in Rhythm Instructional Video (worldwide) 0:05:45 Multiple percussion in contemporary music 0:08:00 Negotiating Royalties 0:12:00 Richie's products on the market 0:12:45 Working on Disney's Coco 0:13:00 Working with Germaine Franco, composer 0:13:15 Working with Alex Acuna, Brian Kilgore, and Walter Rodriguez 0:14:15 Royalty checks are a blessing during COVID 0:14:45 Working on Mr. & Ms. Smith with Nomad 0:15:00 The Musician's Union AMF Local 47, and Pensions 0:16:00 Richie's connection to Erik-G 0:16:45 Tito Puente's influence on Richie 0:17:45 Being raised in Puerto Rico 0:19:45 Working with Diana Ross and Frankie Valli 0:21:45 If you learn Latin music you can play any other style 0:23:15 Richie's career as an education 0:23:30 Earning his honorary doctorate later in life 0:24:15 Evading the Vietnam war by going to college 0:25:00 Springfield College, IL 0:26:00 American Conservatory of Music, Chicago 0:26:15 Working for Barbara Eden, I dream of Genie 0:28:15 Doctorate from Lincoln College 0:29:45 How do you manage you assets? 0:30:00 700 clinics all over the world 0:31:15 Teaching at Musician's Institute, Hollywood 0:32:00 Instruction videos for LP Latin Percussion 0:32:30 How do develop limb independence? 0:33:15 Play Cajon Now! (video and book) 0:35:45 Erik-G and Richie 2-Man-Band-Circus 0:38:00 Mid-roll 0:38:30 Roland Gajate-Garcia with Dancing WIth The Stars 0:39:30 Aha moment for Richie? 0:40:00 Gigs don't last forever, think ahead 0:41:50 Working with Phil Colins 0:42:30 Working on Disney's Tarzan 0:43:15 Working with Sting, Amy Grant, and Art Garfunkel 0:44:15 Working on Emperor's New Groove with Tom Jones 0:44:30 Tony Orlando and Dawn in Vegas and Atlantic City 0:46:15 Art Garfunkel doesn't like drums 0:48:30 Roland Gajate picking up Richie's gigs 0:49:30 Working with Patti Labelle and two drum sets 0:50:30 Teaching Christopher Cross about the cajon 0:51:45 Winning grammies with Luis Miguel and Hiroshima 0:52:15 Playing for Celia Cruz's final performance 0:53:00 How does Richie define success? 0:57:00 Richie working in the lingerie section at Sears! 1:00:30 Protocols for subbing-for out subbing-out 1:03:00 Recording for Nomad y Los Guapos Malos at Redbull Studios 1:04:15 Rapid Fire!

This week the boys have a very special guest on the show. Composer and musician, Professor Kenneth Lampl takes us through his extensive career.From his early days in the 70's and 80's New York Jazz scene, winning of the "Prix Ravel" in orchestral composition from the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau in France, his time studying under the legendary John Williams and then all the way through to his latest film, Chronicle: 2067. Want to contact the show? Email: motionspod@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/motionspod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motions_pod/Our wonderful new art was designed by the very talented Katie Casson. Check out her Instagram and Etsy below for more info,Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ktcgraphicdesign/?hl=enEtsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KatieCgraphicdesigns See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kavindu es co-fundador de Yoga Espacio y director del programa de meditación para la vida (escuela que tiene más de 15 años que ha formado a más de 15 generaciones de instructores en yoga y a 2 generaciones de maestros de meditación Mindfulness) Es con quien yo me he entrenado en el mundo de Mindfulness y la meditación, es mi amigo y mentor desde hace más de 11 años. Una de las personas que más ha marcado mi vida, mi desarrollo y los proyectos que emprendo  En esta entrevista hablamos sobre:    ✨ ¿Cómo organizar el tiempo para ser eficiente con tus actividades? ✨ ¿Cómo aprender y cómo estudiar y lograr que esto sea cada vez más fácil? ✨ La meditación como un gran camino para disolver tus límites ✨ ¿Cómo lograr que lo que haces sea fascinante? ✨ ¿Cómo trabajar con la mente y su potencial? ✨ La ambición y cómo es que cuando la dejamos a un lado podemos crear mejores cosas y ser libres Gracias a los maestros de la formación de maestros de Kavindu generación 2019-2020 que me ayudaron a elaborar las preguntas ► SÍGUENOS EN: ◄  ☘️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt2r8LeKpms_rf2zw_jYO-Q ☘️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentores_con_maite/ ☘️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentoresconmaite ☘️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2O952j0tyXgDCW5APgYpzN?si=HgB3vsMVRWSZYdk1ge5AAQ ☘️iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/mentores/id1524837156  Contacto: info@mentoresconmaite.com ..……………………. Kavindu (invitado): Es con quien yo me he entrenado en el mundo de mindfulness y la meditación, es mi amigo y mentor desde hace más de 11 años. Una de las personas que más ha marcado mi vida, mi desarrollo y los proyectos que emprendo. ✨Es co-fundador de Yoga Espacio y director del programa de meditación para la vida (escuela que tiene más de 15 años que ha formado a más de 15 generaciones de instructores en yoga y a 2 generaciones de maestros de meditación Mindfulness) ✨ Se graduó de composición en el American Conservatory of Music de Chicago, también estudió en Oberlin College en Ohio ✨ Es músico, compositor y fue maestro de música (composición, producción, análisis, orquestación, …) durante 18 años ✨ Tiene una maestría en Mindfulness  ✨ Autor del libro “Mindfulness: la meditación de conciencia plena”, editorial: Kairós ✨Ha enseñado meditación a miles de personas, además enseña meditación en formaciones de maestro de yoga e imparte programas de Mindfulness en escuelas  ✨ Cada año dirige varios retiros en México y Canadá Para mí es el mejor maestro de meditación de habla hispana por su congruencia y facilidad para enseñar de manera simple, profunda y muy interesante cómo trabajar con la mente, las emociones, la creatividad y el sentido de vida. Sus enseñanzas son una fascinante combinación de prácticas milenarias, textos antiguos y lo más avanzado que hay en la ciencia en cuanto a estudios del cerebro y el comportamiento humano.  ► SÍGUELO EN: ◄  Puedes encontrar sus cursos, entrenamientos y programas en: ☘️ https://www.facebook.com/yoga.espacio ☘️ yogaespacio.com ☘️ meditacionparalavida.org

Guitarist/Composer/Music Director/Producer Ray Fuller has intimately worked with such noted artists as Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, George Duke, Boney James, Branford Marsalis, Bebe & Cece Winans, Yolanda Adams, Brenda Russell, Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, Najee and many others in his outstanding musical career.In addition to his numerous recording credits and world tours, Ray’s guitar has been heard on television and film soundtracks including The Bodyguard, Leap of Faith, Thelma & Louise, Another 48 Hours, Boomerang, Meteor Man, Captain EO and The Prince of Egypt.A graduate of Chicago's Kenwood Academy of the Arts, and later The American Conservatory of Music, Ray "The Weeper" Fuller has continued to make his mark in the entertainment arena. 

Abell was raised in the Philadelphia and Chicago areas.David sang in the 1971 world premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with the Berkshire Boy Choir.Abell enrolled at Yale University, where his teachers included John Mauceri and Rob Kapilow. He studied with Nadia Boulanger and Robert D. Levin at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau before returning to Yale to complete his B.A. in 1981.Abell made his professional debut conducting Bernstein's Mass at Berlin's Deutschlandhalle in 1982.Abell mentions the following three operas by Gaetano Donizetti that were his introduction to opera: La Favorite, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Lucie de Lammermoor.Lyric Opera of ChicagoThe Makropulos Affair is a Czech opera with music and libretto by Leoš Janáček.Don Giovanni is an opera by Mozart.Mefistofele is the only completed opera with music by the Italian composer-librettist Arrigo BoitoThe Symphony No. 2 in D-flat major was written by Howard Hanson on commission from Serge Koussevitsky for the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1930.Interlochen Center for the ArtsThe Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. Members were: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.Abbey Road StudiosWashington National OperaGiacomo Puccini was an Italian opera composer who has been called "the greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi".Oscar Hammerstein was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) theatre director of musicals for almost 40 years.The Marriage of Figaro is an opera buffa (comic opera) composed in 1786 by Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte.Evans mentions the following schools as notable music schools: Juilliard School, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, University of Michigan School of Music.The American Bach SocietyYale WhiffenpoofsWashington National OperaAbell continued his postgraduate training from 1983 to 1985 at the Juilliard School, under Jorge Mester and Sixten Ehrling.Eroica Symphony, byname of Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, is a symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven, known as the Eroica Symphony for its supposed heroic nature.Natalia Makarova is a Soviet-Russian-born prima ballerina and choreographer.Abell deputized at short notice for John Mauceri conducting Britten's The Turn of the Screw at Washington National Opera.On Your Toes is a musical with a book by Richard Rodgers, George Abbott, and Lorenz Hart.Gian Carlo Menotti gave David the advice to “never conduct Broadway. Never do it you will regret it.”Les Misérables, colloquially known in English-speaking countries as Les Mis is a musical adapted from French poet and novelist Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name by Claude Schönberg.Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera by the American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin.Miss Saigon is a musical by Schönberg.Abell subsequently conducted the 25th anniversary concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena.The Philly PopsArturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor.Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music.Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composed by George Gershwin.Trevor Nunn is an English theatre director.Harold Prince was an American theatrical producer and director associated with many of the best-known Broadway musical productions of the 20th century.Ariadne auf Naxos is an opera by Richard Strauss with a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal.The Voice of Firestone is a long-running radio and television program of classical music.Leontyne Price is an American soprano.Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, model, and singer.Dorothy Kirsten was an American operatic soprano.Minnesota OperaBlind InjusticeJohn Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. Williams has composed for many critically acclaimed and popular movies, including the Star Wars series, Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and the first three Harry Potter films.Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks is a tone poem written in 1894–95 by Strauss.Along with pianist and musicologist Seann Alderking, Abell edited a complete edition of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate, published in 2014.Glimmerglass OperaThe Library of Congress is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States.The New York Public Library is a public library system in New York City.Scott Davenport RichardsGioachino Rossini was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music.Phillip Gossett was an American musicologist and historian, and Robert W. Reneker Distinguished Service Professor of Music at the University of Chicago.Tancredi is a melodramma eroico in two acts by composer Gioachino Rossini and librettist Gaetano RossiUn ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) is an 1859 opera by Verdi.Powel Crosley Jr. was an American inventor, industrialist, and entrepreneur. He was also a pioneer in radio broadcasting, and a former owner of the Cincinnati Reds major league baseball team.Alfred Drake was an American actor and singer.Robert Russell Bennett was an American composer and arranger, best known for his orchestration of many well-known Broadway and Hollywood musicals by other composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers.Don Walker is an Australian musician, songwriter and author.Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period.Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Handel.Lemuel WadeFrancesca Zambello is an American opera and theatre director. She serves as director of Glimmerglass Festival and the Washington National Opera.Lyric Opera of Kansas CityHawaii Opera TheatreChandos Records is a British independent classical music recording company based in Colchester.Peter Morris is an American playwright, television writer and critic, best known for his work in British theatre."Something's Gotta Give" is a song that was written for and first performed by Fred Astaire in the 1955 musical film Daddy Long Legs."A Wonderful Guy" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.Abell cites Evans Mirageas as one of his greatest mentors.Abell cites his niece’s podcast, The Bright Sessions, as one of his current favorites.Abell mentions Dark Sky as one of his favorite appsTrio BistroCarousel is the second musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein.English National OperaAlfred “Alfie” Boe is an English tenor and actor, notably performing in musical theatre.

Gwendolyn Brown is the Assistant Professor of Voice at Fisk University.  Professor Brown grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She attended Fisk University and became part of the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers. She completed her masters at The University of Memphis and American Conservatory of Music.  Professor Brown is also an accomplished opera singer, performing at opera houses around the world, including; Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Washington National Opera, The New Orleans Opera, and many others.  

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #121! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is an American organist, carillonneur and choir conductor Dr. Mark Konewko. Mark has been carillonneur at Marquette University since 1999 where he began as Interim Chorus Director in fall 2010. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University as well as a Masters of Music Degree in Organ Performance from the American Conservatory of Music. He studied carillon at the University of Utrecht in Amersfoort and has played worldwide in places such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. In addition to being carillonneur at Marquette, he has an extensive back ground in vocal music and choral conducting, and he teaches courses in music appreciation, business of music, carillon discovery, and music technology. He also serves as Director of Music at Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We have met in Vilnius where Mark presented his research on "La Nativite" by Olivier Messiaen for the international conference on music composition at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. In this conversation we talk about his finding in La Nativite and about his experience playing carillon. You can reach Mark by email at: mark dot konewko at marquette dot edu Relevant link: http://www.marquette.edu/music/faculty.shtml

Kurt Kaiser studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and earned two degrees from Northwestern University. He has more than 300 copyrighted songs to his name. Kurt joined Word, Inc., in 1959 as Director of Artists and Repertoire and later became Vice President and Director of Music for Word. He has arranged and produced albums for many gifted artists, among them Kathleen Battle, Ernie Ford, Hale & Wilder, Jerome Hines, Burl Ives, Ken Medema, Christopher Parkening, George Beverly Shea, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ethel Waters, Anne Martindale Williams, Christopher Adkins and many others. In 1992 Kaiser was awarded a special Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for his contributions to the Christian music industry. He received an Honorary Doctor of Sacred Music degree from Trinity College in Illinois and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Baylor University. Kurt received the Hines Sims Award and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The Faithfulness in Service Award was presented to him in 2003.

Concert: Organ Recital: Iveta Apkalna Upbeat Live provides historical and cultural context for many concerts, featuring engaging speakers, audio examples, and special guests. These events are free to ticket holders and are held in BP Hall, on the second floor, accessible after your ticket is scanned. For more information: laphil.com/upbeatlive About the Speaker: Born in Mannheim, Germany, Christoph Bull has performed and recorded around the world, including France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Russia, India, Taiwan and El Salvador, at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and at venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Lincoln Center in New York City, Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, the Cathedrals of Moscow, Saint-Denis and Salzburg as well as rock clubs like The Viper Room, The Roxy and The Whisky in Los Angeles. He's collaborated with leading orchestras, conductors, choirs and ensembles including the Los Angeles Master Chorale, James Conlon, Carl St.Clair, Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony and Grammy-winning Southwest Chamber Music. He improvised his first melodies on the piano at the age of five and gave his first organ recitals and rock concerts with a band at the age of twelve. Following his graduation at Karl-Friedrich-Gymnasium Mannheim and organ studies at University of Church Music in Heidelberg and Musikhochschule Freiburg, he earned degrees at Berklee College of Music, University of Southern California and American Conservatory of Music on multiple scholarships. His organ teachers were Cherry Rhodes, Hermann Schäffer, Ludwig Dörr, Samuel Swartz, Christoph Schöner and Paul Jordan. He won prizes in numerous organ and composition competitions, including “Jugend musiziert”, Michael Masser Competition, Berklee College of Music Songwriting Competition and International Organ Competition Marcello Galanti. Christoph Bull is the creator of the genre-crossing, collaborative multi-media series organica, combining traditional and contemporary music. His collaborators include DJs, video artists, live painter, instrumentalists and singers. He has also contributed to projects by Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, Harry Connick Jr., George Clinton and Bootsy Collins (Parliament Funkadelic), Cindy Lauper, Lili Haydn and Nishat Khan and opened the organ series at Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa and Villa Aurora in the Pacific Palisades. He's received several awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for creative and innovative concert programs and has released a number of CDs, including License To Chill, Old School, organica 2001, organica 2, and organica 3. His musical Treasure Island, a collaboration with lyricist Tim Mathews, was premiered in both the U.S. and Germany. His solo album First & Grand, the world premiere recording of the Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ, was celebrated by the international trade press and showcases the stylistic versatility and expressiveness of his playing. His original song “Peace” was featured on the benefit album 2 Unite All together with songs by Peter Gabriel, Stewart Copeland and others. His music has been broadcast on TV and radio, including on NPR's flagship station in Southern California, KCRW, on Classical KUSC and the Minnesota Public Radio program “Pipedreams”. Christoph Bull is based in Los Angeles. In addition to his activities as a concert organist, composer, singer-songwriter, speaker, university organist and organ professor at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he is organist-in-residence at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, playing the largest church pipe organ in the world.

Concert: Organ Recital: Felix Hell Upbeat Live provides historical and cultural context for many concerts, featuring engaging speakers, audio examples, and special guests. These events are free to ticket holders and are held in BP Hall, on the second floor, accessible after your ticket is scanned. For more information: laphil.com/upbeatlive About the Speaker: Born in Mannheim, Germany, Christoph Bull has performed and recorded around the world, including France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Russia, India, Taiwan and El Salvador, at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and at venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Lincoln Center in New York City, Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, the Cathedrals of Moscow, Saint-Denis and Salzburg as well as rock clubs like The Viper Room, The Roxy and The Whisky in Los Angeles. He's collaborated with leading orchestras, conductors, choirs and ensembles including the Los Angeles Master Chorale, James Conlon, Carl St.Clair, Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony and Grammy-winning Southwest Chamber Music. He improvised his first melodies on the piano at the age of five and gave his first organ recitals and rock concerts with a band at the age of twelve. Following his graduation at Karl-Friedrich-Gymnasium Mannheim and organ studies at University of Church Music in Heidelberg and Musikhochschule Freiburg, he earned degrees at Berklee College of Music, University of Southern California and American Conservatory of Music on multiple scholarships. His organ teachers were Cherry Rhodes, Hermann Schäffer, Ludwig Dörr, Samuel Swartz, Christoph Schöner and Paul Jordan. He won prizes in numerous organ and composition competitions, including “Jugend musiziert”, Michael Masser Competition, Berklee College of Music Songwriting Competition and International Organ Competition Marcello Galanti. Christoph Bull is the creator of the genre-crossing, collaborative multi-media series organica, combining traditional and contemporary music. His collaborators include DJs, video artists, live painter, instrumentalists and singers. He has also contributed to projects by Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, Harry Connick Jr., George Clinton and Bootsy Collins (Parliament Funkadelic), Cindy Lauper, Lili Haydn and Nishat Khan and opened the organ series at Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa and Villa Aurora in the Pacific Palisades. He's received several awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers for creative and innovative concert programs and has released a number of CDs, including License To Chill, Old School, organica 2001, organica 2, and organica 3. His musical Treasure Island, a collaboration with lyricist Tim Mathews, was premiered in both the U.S. and Germany. His solo album First & Grand, the world premiere recording of the Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ, was celebrated by the international trade press and showcases the stylistic versatility and expressiveness of his playing. His original song “Peace” was featured on the benefit album 2 Unite All together with songs by Peter Gabriel, Stewart Copeland and others. His music has been broadcast on TV and radio, including on NPR's flagship station in Southern California, KCRW, on Classical KUSC and the Minnesota Public Radio program “Pipedreams”. Christoph Bull is based in Los Angeles. In addition to his activities as a concert organist, composer, singer-songwriter, speaker, university organist and organ professor at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he is organist-in-residence at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, playing the largest church pipe organ in the world.

Denson Paul Pollard, Bass Trombonist of the MET Opera Orchestra, talked with us about his most recent sabbatical leave to play with the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Helsinki Finland. He took the audition after spending a few weeks playing with the orchestra, taking the risk along with 50 other bass trombonists he won the audition. The year was a superb experience, he talked about how the culture in Finland values and supports the arts, and how his experience of auditioning again gave him the opportunity to validate what he tells his students at Juilliard, Bard and Mannes. We talked about; the difference between European and American Conservatory student’s learning focus, what did he learn about himself going through the process of auditioning, the struggle of maintaining the excellent of performance in the MET orchestra given the demands of the schedule, demands of playing the trombone, the learning curve in learning the repertoire, how he relaxes away from his job, the rationale of his youtube channel examples, his exploration of new repertoire, how he learned the bass trombone and what lays ahead in the future. 

Fisk University Organist, Dr. Anthony Williams drops in on Patrick D. McCoy, The African-American Voice in Classical Music to discuss his upcoming organ recital at the Washington National Cathedral on Sunday, May 22. At the historic Fisk University in Nashville, TN, Dr. Williams teaches organ and courses in music history. In addition to his academic post, Williams is the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Previous university appointments include Dillard University, where he was a member of the music faculty.  His teaching career began at Fisk, serving in as director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers in the late 80s.  This earned him a place in the history of the legendary ensemble as the youngest person to hold the position. Anthony Williams earned the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the American Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers have included Robert Glasgow, Marilyn Mason, David Mulbury, Peter Fyfe, and Paul Jordan.