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.)
Around the Town: Lute virtuoso in concert Friday
(Arizona Daily Sun 03/12/2015)
Grand Canyon Guitar Society will present Paul O’Dette, one of the world’s leading lute virtuosos, with the final concert of its 2014-15 season. O’Dette will perform Friday at 7 p.m. at Shepherd of the Hill Church, 1601 N. San Francisco St.
O’Dette is an American lutenist, conductor, and musicologist specializing in the performance of Renaissance and Baroque music. He has made more than 120 recordings, earning five Grammy nominations and numerous other awards. In addition to his activities as a performer, O’Dette is an avid researcher, having worked extensively on the performance and sources of 17th Century Italian and English solo song, continuo practices and lute technique. Since 1976, he has served as Professor of Lute and Director of Early Music at the Eastman School of Music in New York.
Eastman Names New Director For Its Institute For Music Leadership
(WXXI PBS News © 03/12/2015)
The Eastman School of Music has named James Doser as Director of its Institute for Music Leadership. That program provides courses, internship, mentoring and other activities that focus on development musicians’ leadership potential and help bridge the gap between the academic and professional worlds.
Doser is an alumnus of the Eastman School of Music, receiving degrees in music education and saxophone. (Also reported by Inside Higher Ed, Musical America)
Lew Soloff, jazz trumpeter, dies aged 71
(The Telegraph (UK) © 03/10/2015)
Jazz trumpeter and educator Lew Soloff has died of a heart attack at the age of 71.
Soloff, who died in New York on March 8, 2015, was best known for work with jazz-rock pioneers Blood, Sweat and Tears. He joined the band in 1968 and played on the Grammy-winning self-titled second album. He performed at Woodstock with Blood, Sweat and Tears, contributing prominently to the hit Spinning Wheel.
He was born in Brooklyn on February 20, 1944, and began learning the trumpet at the age of 10. Soloff attended Juilliard Preparatory, then the Eastman School of Music. (Also reported by the New York Times)
World-Class Quartets Open and Close Community Music Festival
(Chicago3Media © 03/12/2015)
The Music Institute of Chicago, transforming lives through music education for 85 years, presents two esteemed string quartets at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston: Cavani String Quartet performs Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m., and Ying Quartet, comprising Music Institute alumni, performs Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are sponsored by Gael and Robert Strong and the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.
The Grammy Award-winning Ying Quartet has established itself as an ensemble of the highest musical order. Quartet in residence at the Eastman School of Music, this distinguished Music Institute alumni group performs Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major, Op. 20, No. 4; Igor Stravinsky’s Three Pieces for String Quartet; and Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131. Special media sponsor for this performance is Mandarin Quarterly.
Norbert Leo Butz and Caissie Levy Join Jason Robert Brown at SubCulture Tonight
(Broadway World 03/13/2015)
A new concert series curated by the renowned Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist, conductor, and director, Jason Robert Brown. Each unique performance will incorporate an eclectic mix of material, featuring music from throughout his acclaimed career, along with new works in development. This concert, set for tonight, March 13, 2015 at SubCulture, will feature Norbert Leo Butz* (Big Fish, Wicked) and Caissie Levy* (Ghost The Musical, Hair).
Jason studied composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., with Samuel Adler, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner. He lives with his wife, composer Georgia Stitt, and their daughters in New York City.
NAWG officer team installed at Commodity Classic
(High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal 03/05/2015)
Washington wheat farmer Bret Blankenship was elected as the new president of the National Association of Wheat Growers at the Association’s Board of Directors meeting Feb. 26.
President Blankenship, once an aspiring pianist, has been raising wheat full-time since 1982, when he completed his studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, with a master’s degree in performance and literature. He lives on the family homestead with his wife, Leeann.
Backstage with Elias | Emily Helenbrook
(Buffalo Rising © 03/12/2015)
My friend, and vocalist Cory Gallagher called me one day and asked if I can give him input on lighting for a Christmas concert he was having at a local South Buffalo church. I accepted, and met him the day before the show, during rehearsals. I arrived and was quickly introduced to pianist Frank Scinta, and vocalist Emily Helenbrook. Cory and I went about our business as the two musicians began rehearsing. As we spoke about lighting ideas towards the back of the church, I hear this beautiful operatic voice coming from the stage. I found it difficult to focus, it was powerful, well trained, and basically I dropped my jaw to the ground. That was the subject of our story.
Emily’s roots are of the highest musical order in Buffalo. Her grandfather, Mathew Tworek was an original member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as a violinist, and master musician. He was a member of the BPO for over 60 years. “I was inspired by my grandfather’s playing. He, and her aunt, Adrienne Gryta were a huge influence early on in her choice to pursue music. Aunt Adrienne is also a vocalist and appeared with the BPO throughout her career.
“My aunt took me under her wing, gave me the proper repertoire, made sure I wasn’t hurting my voice.” She says. At 11 or 12 years of age, Emily auditioned for Eastman Community Music School. She studied with Patricia Alexander, the mother of renowned vocalist and 4 time Grammy Award winner Renee Fleming, in Rochester. She was a part of it for 6 years, took piano, music theory, and performed with her grandpa, and aunt. It was sometimes called 3 Generations of Music. “Some of the best times of my life”, recalls the 20 year old soprano.
Currently, Emily is a junior at Eastman School of Music, also studying at the University of Rochester, in pursuit of a dual degree in vocal performance and political science. She is also in a certificate program called Arts Leadership program.
‘Evening in Paris’ concert at CCU features low brass
(WBTW News 13 03/05/2015)
An Evening in Paris,” a recital of French music, will be presented in the Edwards Recital Hall at Coastal Carolina University at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, featuring Chris Connolly on trombone and euphonium. General admission is $5.
Connolly, a CCU lecturer who specializes in low brass, will be presenting a recital of French music for trombone and euphonium by Saint-Saëns, Casterede, Guilmant, Martin and Fauré. Rebecca Rollins will accompany him on the piano. Connolly earned a bachelor’s degree in trombone performance from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s degree in jazz composition and arranging from William Paterson University.
Garner: Little Highlights Women
(Democrat & Chronicle 03/13/2015)
BROTHER ACT. Veteran bassist Tony Levin has a lot of ties to Rochester as a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, and as part of the rhythm battery with his friend, drummer Steve Gadd, in the early days of the Chuck Mangione Quartet. Of course, he eventually went on to considerable success in jazz, fusion and rock groups, including important work with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson. His studio credits extend from Cher to Buddy Rich to John Lennon and many more.
Levin is in a new jazz band that hits close to home. It’s The Levin Brothers, co-starring his brother, keyboard musician Pete Levin (a highly regarded veteran of work with the likes of Gil Evans and Jimmy Giuffre). Pete and Tony have just released Levin Brothers, their first CD, a superb jazz set, with a bright, airy style and inventive improvisations and interplay. Saxophonist Erik Lawrence, drummer Jeff Siegel, and guitarist David Spinozza join them. Tony’s old cohort, Steve Gadd, guests on a couple of tracks. (Note: Steve Gadd and Chuck Mangione are also graduates of the Eastman School of Music)
Happy 150th! Cornell Celebrates Charter in April
(Ithaca Journal 03/13/2015)
The following faculty members were awarded tenure and promoted from assistant to associate professor: Department of Education — Peter Martin, who received his Ed.D. from George Washington University, and M.S. and B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania; Department of Finance and International Business — Wei (Athena) Zhang, who received her Ph.D. from Washington State University, and M.S. and B.S. from the University of International Business and Economics (Beijing);
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures — Elizabeth Berglund Hall, who received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and B.A. from Amherst College; Department of Performance Studies — Michael Titlebaum, who received his M.M., Performer’s Certificate and B.M. from the Eastman School of Music;
MAG introduces new speaker series
(Democrat and Chronicle 03/09/15)
Opening the series will be massage therapist Catelyn Augustine and Eastman School of Music professor emeritus of percussion John Beck. Augustine started a gourmet ice cream business featuring organic ingredients and unique flavor pairings. Beck will talk on his hobby, winemaking.
Local sopranos learn of love, and the other thing
(Niagara Gazette 03/12/2015)
Two Niagara County singers are among the principals in Buffalo Opera Unlimited’s production of Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” this weekend at UB’s Center for the Arts. The 1790 comedy on the topic of infidelity and how to recognize it, a staple of the opera canon, is updated here to the 1950s and includes sopranos Amy Teal of Lewiston and Rebecca Witty of Burt. It will be presented as part of the company’s 30th anniversary of innovative musical productions
Teal plays Despina, a maid with a propensity for telling off her bosses in the time-honored dramatic tradition of servants smarter than their masters, and she gets not only to disguise herself but, at one point, disguise her singing voice. “I love this opera, this character,” she said. “I get to wear disguises, and change the sound of my voice. This is a great ensemble to work with. The talent is through the roof.” A graduate of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music who has taught voice at Niagara County Community College and Buffalo State College, she has performed in a number of Buffalo Opera Unlimited productions, including this very role, 10 years ago.