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.)
What to do in Washington’s national parks, from hikes, to drives, to multi-day adventures
(The Seattle Times 07/29/2016)
The Music in the American Wild project is bringing an ensemble from the Eastman School of Music at New York’s University of Rochester to 12 … (Also reported by Forks Forum, goskagit.com, The Olympian)
Renée Fleming to Sing Premiere of Kevin Puts’ New Song Cycle Letters from Georgia
(Broadway OperaWorld 07/26/2016)
Letters from Georgia, a new song cycle based on the letters of painter Georgia O’Keeffe and composed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Kevin Puts, will receive its world premiere performances on November 12th and 14th, sung by four-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Renée Fleming and accompanied by the Eastman Philharmonia under the direction of Neil Varon.
There will be two concerts featuring Letters from Georgia: Saturday, November 12th at 8pm at The Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY; and Monday, November 14th at 8pm at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City.
Music in the American Wild comes home
(Democrat and Chronicle 07/30/2016)
By the time Emlyn Johnson earned her doctorate in flute performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music, she knew she wanted to do more than teach at a university.
At 29, the flutist is the founding director of Sunset Concerts, a free chamber music series in Rochester in its third year.
If that weren’t enough, she has launched the “Music in the American Wild” project, in which an ensemble of Eastman-affiliated musicians perform newly composed works in stunning locations.
Their music and performances this summer observe and honor the National Park Service’s historic centennial celebration. “Garden Concert: Music in the American Wild” takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday on the Terrace Garden at George Eastman Museum in Rochester. (Also reported by Fairport-E.Rochester Poster)
Mormon Tabernacle Principal Organist Richard Elliott Premieres “Rhapsody” At National Organist …
(Deseret News 07/30/2016)
The standing ovation said it all. Richard Elliott, principal organist at the Mormon Tabernacle, was in Houston June 21 at the request of the American Guild of Organists to perform one of several concerts during its biannual national convention. He was chosen to premiere the newly commissioned piece “Rhapsody for Brass Quintet and Organ” by world-renowned composer Eric Ewazen. Brother Elliott was joined by members of the Brass Quintet from the Houston Symphony.
“It was a thrill hearing Richard play my music,” said Mr. Ewazen. “I had listened to recordings of his playing, so I had a good sense of how musical he was. And hearing his performance live is a spectacular experience and an honor for me that a musician as great as that should be playing my music,” he added. The organist and the composer each received degrees from the highly esteemed Eastman School of Music.
Mahler, Paper Bird highlights of upcoming Colorado Music Festival
(Daily Camera 07/29/2016)
As the Colorado Music Festival enters its sixth week and home stretch, … Competition winner premieres her own concerto …
Typically, this has been an overture-length concert opener, but this year’s winner, Hannah Lash, who had previously written a harp concerto for chamber orchestra, has composed a second for the CMF. Lash’s first career is as a composer, but she is also a professional harpist. …
Lash, who has diplomas from the Eastman School of Music, Harvard and Yale, publishes with the major firm Schott.
New music premieres at Mizzou International Composers Festival
(Missourian 07/27/2016)
“One of the unique things about the festival is that composers get to work with Alarm Will Sound, which is one of the world’s best ensembles for this genre — contemporary fine arts music,” Drew Worden, interim managing director of the festival, said. “That’s very rare that the composers spend so much time with an ensemble to compose their music.” …
Conductor Alan Pierson directs Alarm Will Sound, a 20-member resident ensemble, … Pierson studied at the Eastman School of Music, where he helped to found a new music ensemble Ossia, which later launched Alarm Will Sound, according to the ensemble’s website.
Affinity Quintet gears up for New Mexico jazz performances
(KRQE News 13 07/27/2016)
A New Mexico native took his love of music all the way to New York and now he’s returning home to share his passion.
Orlando Madrid was born and raised in Las Cruces and completed his undergrad at the University of New Mexico, but that wasn’t enough. Madrid headed out to New York to attend Eastman School of Music, where he has completed his first year Masters.
The musician created his very own Jazz Quintet and now the group is on tour.
(San Francisco Classical Voice 07/26/2016)
Four of the Collective’s seven pianists will participate in the first concert: founder and artistic director Jeffrey LaDeur, Johnandrew Slominski, Bobby Mitchell, and Owen Zhou.
The members are alumni of the Eastman School of Music, and their stated purpose is “representing the true essence of the 21st-century musician — artistry, collaboration, and innovation.”
Hot Tickets: RPO, Lunch at Abilene
(Democrat and Chronicle 07/31/2016)
Eastman Presents: Fleming, Keillor
Also recently going on sale is the third season of Eastman Presents, with all eight shows at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre:
Break of Reality, 8 p.m. Sept. 29. Originally formed by string-wielding Eastman School of Music students presenting classical music in heavy-metal format, Break of Reality has evolved into one of the intriguing outliers of cello-driven sound. The group ranges from Bach to Radiohead to its own compositions. The performance is also the opening gala concert for the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center’s conference at University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology.
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