On the air! With KKUP and Gaylord Fischer

Friday, October 9th after the SCJO rehearsal of Movable Home the trio of me, Maestra Barbara Day Turner, and virtuoso violinist Stephanie Chase headed to KKUP to sit down and talk with head of classical music Gaylord Fischer about our  upcoming 25th season opening concert including Stephanie’s performance of both Vivaldi’s Concerto for 4 Violins and her own arrangement of  Bizet/Sarasate’s A Fantasy About Carmen, and the World Premiere of my Movable Home.

Elastic Band – in the recording studio!

Sunday night, fresh off a terrific pair of performances of Elastic Band at Georgetown’s Gonda Theatre and AMP/Strathmore, the New Orchestra of Washington, conducted by Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, hit Omega Studios with producer Geoffrey Silver of Acis Productions at the helm. Great session, can’t wait to hear the final product! (photo: Christian Amonson)

World Premiere: Movable Home lands in San Jose!

On October 11, my new string orchestra work, Movable Home  will have its World Premiere by Artistic Director Barbara Day Turner and the San José Chamber Orchestra to kick off their 25th season on a program also featuring the stellar violin virtuoso Stephanie Chase. This is the 1st of the 3 performances from the commissioning consortium of  San José Chamber Orchestra, Takoma Ensemble (Victoria Gau, Artistic Director) and  SONYC (String Orchestra of New York, Monica Bauchwitz, Artistic Director).

Elastic Band, for chamber orchestra, premieres!

Derek Smith plays the fierce When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes

Derek Smith, principal violist of the New Orchestra of Washington, will give the East Coast premiere of my fierce viola piece When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes on Georgetown University’s Friday Music Series this coming September 25th at 1:15 pm McNeir Hall, New North Building. Free! The program also includes John B. Hedges’ Clarinet Sonatina “Gumbo” (2008), and Mozart’s “Kegelstatt” Trio in E-flat, K498.

“When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes” premieres in DC!

On September 25th at 1:15 pm Derek Smith, principal violist of the New Orchestra of Washington (NoW), will give the East Coast premiere of my solo viola/Klein International String Competition commissioned piece When the World Disintegrates Before Your Eyes at Georgetown University’s MCNEIR HALL. NoW’s chamber program also includes John B. Hedges’  Clarinet Sonatina “Gumbo” (2008) and Mozart’s Kegelstatt” Trio in E-flat, K498. It’s Free! The concert is a lead up to NoW’s full ensemble performance Fusion, which features the world premiere of Elastic Band for chamber orchestra (commissioned by NoW).

NoW premieres Elastic Band for chamber orchestra!

On October 2nd and 3rd, 2015 the New Orchestra of Washington, under the direction of Artistic Director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, will premiere my newly commissioned chamber orchestra version of Elastic Band. The program “Fusion” also includes works by Mackey, Bermel, McAllister, and Hernandez-Valdez. 10/2: Georgetown University and 10/3: AMP Strathmore

Shakespeare and a “Russian Winter” with the BSO!

My most recent preconcert talk with the Baltimore Symphony/Levine Music at Strathmore this past Saturday: an all-Russian program! Seemed really appropriate with all the recent snow, and yet today’s spring-like weather? Not so much!

Out west with Maestra Barbara Day Turner & the SJCO

Wow! What a whirlwind, action-packed long weekend with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra and the amazing Maestra Barbara Day Turner. I had a great time meeting and giving a presentation to Maestro Anthony Quartuccio’s talented young composers at the Kehillah Jewish High School, giving a preconcert talk for SCJO, hearing rehearsals, meeting the musicians, hanging out with composers Christopher Dietz and Judith Shatin, and, of course, hearing a terrific concert! Most of all I’m excited about writing for BDT and her terrific orchestra (along with co-commisioners the Takoma Ensemble and SONYC). The piece premieres October 11th in San Jose with the other performances to be scheduled soon.

Next BSO-Levine Music preconcert talk: Mahler 3!

I’m thrilled that my next Baltimore Symphony/Levine Music pre-concert talk at Strathmore will be… Mahler’s 3rd Symphony! One of my all-time favorites, going back to the days I worked for Leonard Bernstein. Info here