Here are some select recent clippings showing the variety of hits/mentions identifying musicians and scholars as Eastman School of Music alumni, faculty or students. (Note: Some links may have expired.)
Opera: Hamlet Prince of Denmark premieres in Prague
(Prague Post 02/09/2015)
In writing her grand opera “Hamlet – Prince of Denmark” the successful “Grande Dame of contemporary music”, Nancy Van de Vate, disabused critics of their lasting belief that Hamlet is inherently unsuitable for being set to music. She managed to translate the complex and abstract nature of the Shakespearean language into a coherent musical equivalence.
Nancy Van de Vate was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, studied piano at Eastman School of Music as well as composition at both the University of Mississippi and Florida State University. At Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire she pursued further studies in electronic music.
Renée Fleming: the super soprano who stole the show
(Irish Independent 02/15,2015)
Her record label calls her ‘America’s favourite soprano’. Critics describe her as ‘the peoples’ diva’. If you’re one of the many who enjoy the regular broadcasts of the New York Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday matinees, you’ll know who I mean.
Renée Fleming, the host of the popular shows, celebrates her 56th birthday this St Valentine’s Day. At the top of her game, she has performed over 50 roles right across the operatic spectrum from Baroque, through Mozart, to Verdi and Puccini, and on to Richard Strauss.
While she was a student, she was singing – but it was as a soloist with a jazz trio. She had the opportunity to move in the direction of jazz when she got an invitation to join one of the top big bands. But she then turned to opera, signing up for postgraduate courses at the Eastman School of Music and then the Juilliard Opera Center. She won a Fulbright scholarship to go to west Germany, where one of her mentors was Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
Acclaimed trumpeter Allen Vizzutti to perform April 4
(Arkadelphia Daily Siftings Herald © 02/07/2015)
World-renowned trumpeter Allen Vizzutti will join the Arkansas All-Star Big Band for a concert April 4 at Henderson State University in Arkansas Hall. Vizzutti will also present two clinics before the performance. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear one of the worlds greatest trumpet players backed up by a powerful, dynamic 17-piece big band, said Dr. Jim Buckner, chair of the department of music and professor of trumpet at Henderson.
Vizzutti performs as a classical and a jazz artist, often in the same evening. He has appeared as guest soloist with symphony orchestras, in recital, on television, and in jazz venues around the world. While growing up in Montana, Vizzutti was taught by his father, a self-taught musician. He attended the Eastman School of Music where he earned the bachelor of music and master of music degrees, a performers certificate, a chair in the Eastman Brass Quintet faculty ensemble, and the only artists diploma ever awarded a wind player in Eastman’s history. As artist in residence, Vizzutti has taught at leading universities throughout the world, including the Eastman School of Music, the Banff Center for the Performing Arts, and the Trompeten Akademie of Bremen, Germany.
Foundation works to ensure every child can play music
(Las Vegas Review-Journal 02/12/2015)
But, truth be told, there’s plenty of enthusiasm to be seen in the practice rooms of the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center when Violins for Kids, a program of The Foundation to Assist Young Musicians, takes up residence there several days each week.
FAYM — note that the acronym reads as “fame” — was founded in 2007 by Hal Weller, founding music director and conductor laureate of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, who had happened to catch a YouTube video of a performance by Krzysztof Rucinski, a then-16-year-old violinist from Poznan, Poland.
By the way: Rucinski came to the United States and studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., with financial assistance from FAYM, and was graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music in 2012. He then earned a master’s degree and is now back in Europe, Weller says. “He’s playing in a traveling chamber orchestra and he’s going to audition for the London Philharmonic.
New Jazz Series Begins at Downstairs Cabaret Theatre
(Rochester Democrat & Chronicle © 02/12/2015)
Downstairs Cabaret Theatre, in association with Eastman School of Music jazz students, will present The Grove Place Jazz Project – An Evening of Swing, Ballads, and Blues each Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm beginning February 17, 2015. Performances will take place at 20 Windsor Street (near Eastman Theatre). (Also reported by Broadway World)
Tarleton jazz bands to feature works by Maria Schneider, Fred Sturm
(Stephenville Empire-Tribune 02/13/2015)
In their first concert of the year, the Tarleton State University Jazz Ensembles will feature the music of two composers, Maria Schneider and Fred Sturm.
Schneider, the Grammy winning big band leader and composer who appeared at the Tarleton Jazz Festival in 2006, continues to write hauntingly beautiful jazz. The cornerstone of the concert will be her Three Romances.
The late Sturm, another influential composer, taught at the Eastman School of Music and The Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He was responsible for the Radiohead Jazz Project that commissioned composers from around the U.S. to arrange tunes by the contemporary rock band. (Note: both Schneider MM 85 and Sturm BM 73 MM 84 are Eastman School alumni.)
Flute Association sponsors Ferndale recital of Mozart, Debussy, more
(Daily Tribune 02/10/15)
The Southeast Michigan Flute Association (SEMFA) welcomes Robert Langevin and David Gilliland in recital at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Ferndale First United Methodist Church, 22331 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
David Gilliland is a highly regarded collaborative pianist. He has performed with many leading artists including flutists Jasmine Choi and Denis Bouriakov, Joseph Alessi (trombonist), and George Shirley (vocalist). In 2014, Gilliland joined the Davidson College Music Department as their Artist Associate of Accompanying after spending nine years as the staff pianist for the University of Michigan Wind Department. Gilliland has graduate degrees in accompanying from the Eastman School of Music (M.M.) and the University of Minnesota (D.M.A) and has recently recorded the complete wind compositions of Henri Dutilleux.
Bristol Riverside Theatre to Present Ragtime
(Broadway World
Bristol Riverside Theatre explores what it means to be an American with its production of Ragtime on March 17-April 12. The Tony Award-winning musical with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens is directed by Keith Baker and features Leslie Becker, Derrick Cobey, David Edwards, Tamar Greene, Michael Thomas Holmes, Matt Leisy and Ciji Prosser.
Tamar Greene (Booker T. Washington) has performed in the national tours of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and regionally in Rent, The Wiz and Little Shop of Horrors. With a Masters from Eastman School of Music, he has appeared with Oswego Opera Theatre, Eastman Opera Theatre, and Rochester Lyric Opera.
Bedlam plays youthful early music in Pegasus series
(Democrat & Chronicle 02/09/2015)
If you were tasked with naming an early-music ensemble that performed Renaissance songs for voice and lute, the moniker “Bedlam” would probably not be your first choice. Then again, you’re not lutenist Laudon Schuett, who formed a duo by that name with fellow Eastman School of Music alumnus and soprano Kayleen Sánchez.
Longtime conductor to lead CRSO
(The Morehead News 02/09/2015)
After featuring young guest conductors for its first five concerts, the Cave Run Symphony Orchestra is turning to a veteran maestro for its performance on Sunday, Feb. 22. On the rostrum for the 3 p.m. concert at the Morehead Conference Center will be Dr. John A. Roberts, former music department chair and orchestra conductor at Eastern Kentucky University. Roberts holds a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma City University, a master’s from the Eastman School of Music and a doctorate from Louisiana State University.
Memmott: A quiz filled with firsts
(Democrat & Chronicle 02/10/2015)
Famed singer William Warfield, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, grew up in Rochester where his father was: A. A teacher. B. A pastor. C. A scientist. (Note: the correct answer is B.)
ASO brings community together
(The Telegraph 02/12/2015)
Alton Symphony Orchestra, joined by Great Rivers Choral Society, Alton Youth Symphony, the Deborah L. Fox Guild Award winner and a quartet of vocalists will result in a concert that is truly “One for all, All for One.”
Bass vocals are provided by Jeffrey Heyl, who holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.; Connecticut’s Hartt School of Music and the University of Iowa. He presently is the director of music at Green Trails United Methodist Church in Chesterfield, Missouri; adjunct faculty at Lindenwood University; Urshan College in Florissant, Missouri; a faculty member at St. Louis’ Community Music School; and has his own private voice studio. Heyl has appeared in opera, oratorio, recital and music theatre.