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Happy Holidays! Featured Artist: Hakeem Bilal News and Current Events: Hey composers! Connecticut Summerfest applications are due soon, Ebun Oguntola wins the Composers NOW Commission Award, there's a new Belle in town at the Olney Theatre, Makella Moore Harris: Band Teacher and Black Excellence Reflections on the past year Gameshow: Do You Know What I know?
Episode 16 features Gala Flagello, composer, DMA student at the University of Michigan, Festival Director, and co-founder of the nonprofit contemporary music festival Connecticut Summerfest. We talk with Gala about Connecticut Summerfest, hidden music fees, making music accessible, and writing an opera! Transcripts to all podcast episodes are available for free on our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/diversify_the_stand. Big thank you to Hollyn Slykhuis for the transcription! To learn more about Gala and all the groups and composers she spoke about during our chat, check out the links below! LINKS Gala Flagello - https://www.galaflagello.com/ Music & Mindset Podcast - https://anchor.fm/musicandmindset?fbclid=IwAR3bC00P_d80q5FdRxHKrWc0bKoVXCoEBT6REFjLcxdtYEehuzdVnONWHSM A Seat at the Piano - https://www.aseatatthepiano.com/ Kristin Kuster - http://kristinkuster.com/ Promenade Opera Project (POP) - https://www.promenadeoperaproject.com/ Connecticut Summerfest - https://www.ctsummerfest.org/ GA Runoff Commissioning Project - https://www.kennedycomposer.com/ga Self-Talk: III. Pursuit performance: https://open.spotify.com/track/5IlXJfWICbgwUXNp4UbnFx?si=Ur2TLM9MQpqpASpZ8OtQMw&nd=1 Self-Talk Program Notes: “Self-Talk (2018) is a piece about the stories we tell ourselves—our inner voice, our commentary on our own actions and emotions. Each movement is a different manifestation of self-talk. The first movement, “Fable,” describes an instance where the protagonist learns about themselves over time through trial and error. The rhythmic material of this movement was derived from a line of Jim Harrison's poetry: “I was a fable to myself.” The second movement, “Transformation,” describes a person's shifting perspective over time, which parallels the transformations of the melody after each musical interruption. The final movement, “Pursuit,” propels the protagonist toward a predetermined goal with a few unexpected turns along the way.” CT Summerfest Faculty: Chen Yi: https://conservatory.umkc.edu/profiles/faculty-directory/chen-yi.html Carlos Simon: http://coliversimon.com/ Ken Steen: https://www.kensteen.com/kensteen.htm Nina Young: http://www.ninacyoung.com/ Huge thanks to Trevor Weston and Whitney George for letting us include their music in our intro and outro! Our recording of Weston's “Fanfare for Changes” opens the podcast, and Ashley's recording of George's “Incantations” closes each episode. Visit their websites to learn more about them and their works below! Trevor Weston - http://www.trevorweston.com/ Whitney George - https://www.whitneygeorge.com/
1. Magnus Lindberg’s Clarinet Concerto:https://open.spotify.com/track/2vXK1aHUEmxx0qKW47sI632. Scott Patterson’s Piano Sonata No. 3:https://soundcloud.com/afro-house-productions/piano-sonata-no-33. Paul Salerni’s Something Permanent:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5SJ3fKS9zHr3wUMlQyPCF2You can listen to these before or after the episode, or you can pause our podcast and go listen to each piece as we introduce them. Panelists:Baltimore-based composer Elliott Grabill brings an authentic perspective to contemporary classical music. As a math teacher, his experiences working with students of all walks of life nurtures an artistic voice that’s both personal and relevant. His most recent song cycle, Teacher Tales, recalls the stories of injustices he witnesses on a daily basis while teaching. The songs, with self-authored lyrics, were hailed by Ron Beckett as doing “what great art has been able to do – raising awareness on issues society blindly accepts.” He brought Magnus Lindberg’s clarinet concerto. elliottgrabill.comKnown for her extensive vocal range, mezzo-soprano Elise Christina Jenkins has charmed audiences in repertoire ranging from opera and art song to operetta. Last year she joined INSeries for their Operetta Wonderland: The Magic of Victor Herbert. A frequent performer with Opera NOVA, she sang the role of Tisbe in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Monisha in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, and in various outreach programs and recitals. Elise made her Italian debut in the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Mairoi performing scenes from Mozart’s Così fan tutte and she later returned to Italy to sing Madre Maria in Francis Poulenc’s I dialoghi delle Carmelitane. As an oratorio soloist, Elise was invited to sing Handel’s Messiah at the Korean United Methodist Church of Koinonia for their Christmas Eve service with chamber orchestra under the baton of Dr. In Dal Choi. She brought Scott Patterson’s Piano Sonata no. 3, and recommends the other performances of Afro House, among others.Jeffrey Earl Young Jeffrey Earl Young (ASCAP) currently studies under composer Daron Hagen of New York. His compositions range from instrumental solos and art songs, to chamber, choral, and orchestral works. Jeff’s music has been performed by violinist Lauren Cauley Kalal and percussionist Matthew Gold at the Walden School’s Creative Musician’s Retreat; by saxophone/bassoon duo Xelana at Connecticut Summerfest and again in Brooklyn; by new music ensemble Bent Frequency and the Beo String Quartet at the Charlotte New Music Festival, and many others. He sings with the Peabody Community Chorus and enjoys the new music community in Baltimore. A retired intellectual property attorney, Jeff has served on the boards of Bent Frequency, Friends of Music at Emory University, and the Atlanta Young Singers. He brought Paul Salerni’s Something Permanent. Examples of his compositions are found at soundcloud.com/youngatl-1More information at pauseandlisten.com. Pause and Listen was created by host John T.K. Scherch and co-creator/marketing manager Michele Mengel Scherch.
Meet Aaron N. Price, Connecticut composer, co-founder and artistic director of Connecticut Summerfest and Director of Woodwind Studies at the MusicMakers International Academy. His works have received international performances, including the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. I’ve wanted to talk with Aaron for some time, not only because of his work as a composer, but especially because of his involvement in the contemporary chamber music scene in our region. As you listen to our talk together, I think you’ll come away impressed not only by Aaron’s infectious enthusiasm, but also by the part that Aaron, and composers and musicians like him, represents as the future for Classical Music in the world today!
Greetings! PTE's radio presence continues for it's 28th year, airing on Saturday mornings from 10am – 1pm EST on WHUS / Storrs, CT (http://www.whus.org/listen-live). PTE and CT Summerfest are pleased to bring you a new series of interviews with the CT Summerfest ensembles-in residence and composer faculty. Enjoy! Joel CT SUMMERFEST is a weeklong contemporary music festival for the education and career advancement of emerging composers and performers. The festival is comprised of seminars, lessons, rehearsals, and recording sessions for participants, as well as a free concert series open to the public, featuring ensembles-in-residence and new works by participant composers! The concerts will take place from June 15-19 at The Hartt School's Berkman Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. All of Connecticut Summerfest's concerts are free to attend and open to the public. No advanced ticket reservation is required, and live streams are available! http://xelanaduo.com/ Xelana Duo balances the refinement of classical music while zigzagging through hip-hop, blues, flamenco, bollywood, and rock n' roll. The Duo surprises you with an unexpected instrumentation filled with vibrant shades, that are each dazzling on their own, but simply breathtaking when joined together. Daring these two instruments to have a conversation, Xelana Duo commissions electrifying works, creating an ice-breaker for this unusual collaboration of bassoon and saxophone. Ana and Alex return to Connecticut Summerfest for a second year as one of three ensembles-in-residence. During our talk, they catch us up on what has developed since last year's Summerfest and their future plans. Enjoy!
Greetings! Welcome to the return of the Pushing The Envelope Podcast! PTE and CT Summerfest are pleased to bring you the fourth in a series of interviews with the CT Summerfest ensembles-in residence and composer faculty. Today's podcast features an interview with CT Summerfest ensemble-in-residence, Apple Orange Pair. Don't forget, PTE's radio presence continues for it's 27th year, airing on Saturdays from 11am to 2pm EST on WHUS / Storrs, CT (http://www.whus.org/listen-live). Enjoy! Joel CT SUMMERFEST is a weeklong contemporary music festival for the education and career advancement of emerging composers and performers. The festival is comprised of seminars, lessons, rehearsals, and recording sessions for participants, as well as a free concert series open to the public, featuring ensembles-in-residence and new works by participant composers! The concerts will take place from June 16-20 at The Hartt School's Berkman Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. All of Connecticut Summerfest's concerts are free to attend and open to the public. No advanced ticket reservation is required, and live streams are available! Apple Orange Pair (Emily Boyer, horn, and Colleen Potter Thorburn, harp) is a duo committed to engaging audiences through a growing repertoire for this unexpected pairing. Since its founding in Connecticut in 2010, the duo has premiered fourteen new works by emerging composers. Five of these new works are featured on their debut album, “Seeds,” released in 2013. Apple Orange Pair regularly serves as an ensemble-in-residence at new music festivals and universities, where they present workshops on contemporary composition for their instruments and bring to life new works by student and faculty composers. They have performed as ensemble-in-residence at Connecticut Summerfest at Hartt School of Music in Hartford, where they are returning for a second season this June, and are serving as ensemble-in-residence for Central Connecticut State University’s music department for the 2016-2017 academic year. Apple Orange Pair has been honored as the recipient of commissioning grants from the American Harp Society and the Yale School of Music’s alumniVentures program. They have also participated in several chamber music residencies at Avaloch Farm Music Institute in New Hampshire. For further information, please visit http://www.appleorangepair.com
Greetings! Welcome to the return of the Pushing The Envelope Podcast! PTE and CT Summerfest are pleased to bring you the third in a series of interviews with the CT Summerfest ensembles-in residence and composer faculty. Today's podcast features an interview with CT Summerfest composer faculty member, Gilda Lyons. Don't forget, PTE's radio presence continues for it's 27th year, airing on Saturdays from 11am to 2pm EST on WHUS / Storrs, CT (http://www.whus.org/listen-live). Enjoy! Joel CT SUMMERFEST is a weeklong contemporary music festival for the education and career advancement of emerging composers and performers. The festival is comprised of seminars, lessons, rehearsals, and recording sessions for participants, as well as a free concert series open to the public, featuring ensembles-in-residence and new works by participant composers! The concerts will take place from June 16-20 at The Hartt School's Berkman Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. All of Connecticut Summerfest's concerts are free to attend and open to the public. No advanced ticket reservation is required, and live streams are available! GILDA LYONS, composer, vocalist, and visual artist, combines elements of renaissance, neo-baroque, spectral, folk, agitprop Music Theater, and extended vocalism to create works of uncompromising emotional honesty and melodic beauty. An active vocalist and fierce advocate of contemporary music, Dr. Lyons has commissioned, premiered, and workshopped new vocal works by dozens of composers. She received her Ph.D. in Music Composition from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Bard College. Dr. Lyons made her professional debut as composer and vocalist with the American Symphony Chamber Orchestra in 1997, performing the world premiere of her orchestral song cycle "Feis." As composer, current recording projects include the release of Lyons’ work by Quince and Entelechron in the upcoming season. Lyons’ vocal collaboration with Laura Ward will be released on Lyric Fest’s all-Hagen CD. Sing for Hope featured Lyons' Hold On on their most recent release, An AIDS Quilt Songbook. Lindsey Goodman's tour de force performance of Lyons' Chrysalis was released on Goodman's debut CD, reach through the sky. As composer and vocalist her works and performances are available on the Clarion, GPR Records, Naxos, New Dynamic Records, and Roven Records labels. Dr. Lyons serves on the Board of Advisors of Composers Now and teaches composition at The Hartt School, University of Hartford. In addition, she is Artistic and Executive Director of The Phoenix Concerts, New York's "intrepid" and "plucky Upper West Side new-music series" (The New Yorker). Their mission is to offer excellent contemporary concert music of a broad stylistic range, commission new works by emerging and established composers and to remain committed to the inclusive nature of musical performance. For further information, please visit www.gildalyons.com.
Greetings! Welcome to the return of the Pushing The Envelope Podcast! PTE and CT Summerfest are pleased to bring you the second in a series of interviews with the CT Summerfest ensembles-in residence and composer faculty. Don't forget, PTE's radio presence continues for it's 27th year, airing on Saturday mornings from 10am – 1pm EST on WHUS / Storrs, CT (http://www.whus.org/listen-live). Enjoy! Joel CT SUMMERFEST is a weeklong contemporary music festival for the education and career advancement of emerging composers and performers. The festival is comprised of seminars, lessons, rehearsals, and recording sessions for participants, as well as a free concert series open to the public, featuring ensembles-in-residence and new works by participant composers! The concerts will take place from June 16-20 at The Hartt School's Berkman Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. All of Connecticut Summerfest's concerts are free to attend and open to the public. No advanced ticket reservation is required, and live streams are available! Ken Steen is a composer, sound artist and educator living in Glastonbury, CT. His music sits squarely on the frontier between the acoustic and electronic domains of musical expression; often combining traditional orchestra, chamber ensemble or soloist with electronic instruments or processed sound and noise. He is currently Professor of Composition and Theory, director of Studio D at the Hartt School, University of Hartford and member of the 2017 CT Summerfest composition faculty. In addition to composing concert music in many forms, Steen has composed a wide variety of works both acoustic and electronic for sound installation, dance, theater and web-distribution. His music and soundworks have been featured on concert and radio programs throughout the U.S.A., Canada, Italy, Belgium, Romania, Australia, Cuba and Japan among others. Steen's music can be found on the Capstone, Vienna Modern Masters, Auralit and CRI CD labels, as well as at www.kensteen.com, and is published by University of Arizona Publications, Harrock Hall Music as well as American Composers Edition.
Greetings! As the phoenix rises from the ashes, so returns the Pushing The Envelope Podcast! PTE's radio presence continues for it's 27yh year, airing on Saturday mornings from 10am – 1pm EST on WHUS / Storrs, CT (http://www.whus.org/listen-live). PTE and CT Summerfest are pleased to bring you the first in a series of interviews with the CT Summerfest ensembles-in residence and composer faculty. Enjoy! Joel CT SUMMERFEST is a weeklong contemporary music festival for the education and career advancement of emerging composers and performers. The festival is comprised of seminars, lessons, rehearsals, and recording sessions for participants, as well as a free concert series open to the public, featuring ensembles-in-residence and new works by participant composers! The concerts will take place from June 16-20 at The Hartt School's Berkman Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. All of Connecticut Summerfest's concerts are free to attend and open to the public. No advanced ticket reservation is required, and live streams are available! https://youtu.be/JrzF8r9vrxE Xelana Duo balances the refinement of classical music while zigzagging through hip-hop, blues, flamenco, bollywood, and rock n' roll. The Duo surprises you with an unexpected instrumentation filled with vibrant shades, that are each dazzling on their own, but simply breathtaking when joined together. Daring these two instruments to have a conversation, Xelana Duo commissions electrifying works, creating an ice-breaker for this unusual collaboration of bassoon and saxophone. Get to know Ana García Caraballos and Alex Davis, the artists behind Xelana Duo!