Here are some select clippings from the past week 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.)
Matt Marks, Cutting-Edge Composer and Musician, Dies at 38
(New York Times 05/15/2018)
Matt Marks, a composer and musician who was at the epicenter of a diverse community of open-minded artists as a founding member of the contemporary chamber orchestra Alarm Will Sound, died on May 11 in St. Louis. He was 38. …
Mr. Marks pursued his formal education at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, the Royal Academy of Music in London and Stony Brook University on Long Island. He became a founding member of Alarm Will Sound in 2001, while he was at Eastman.
Review: ‘The Bridges of Madison County, the Musical’
(City Newspaper 05/15/2018)
The musical adaptation, with book by Marsha Norman (“‘night, Mother,” “The Color Purple'”) and lyrics and music by former Eastman School of Music student Jason Robert Brown (“Songs for a New World,” “Parade”) premiered on Broadway in 2014. That same year, it won the Tony awards for ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Orchestrations.’
(Rochester Business Journal 05/17/2018)
The Eastman Community Music School will host its first Open House, welcoming visitors to learn about the school, explore music and sign up for lessons, classes or ensembles. ECMS is offering an instrument petting zoo, demonstrations, performances and a preview of the newly renovated Messinger Hall. 2 to 4 p.m. on June 3. esm.rochester.edu. (Also reported by Monroe County Post)
(Broadway World 05/17/2018)
The concert will also be the Columbus debut of new CSO Principal Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz, one of the leading pops conductors in America today, …
Chafetz holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. …
American Classical Orchestra Announces 2018-2019 Season
(Broadway World 05/17/2018)
American Classical Orchestra (ACO) […] led by Artistic Director and Founder Thomas Crawford. … He holds a Bachelor of Music in composition and organ performance from Eastman School of Music, where he studied choral and orchestral conducting under Samuel Adler. …
Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Announces Four Musicians Selected For Resident Fellows Program
(Broadway World 05/14/2018)
Michael Fuller is a first-year Resident “Bass” Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. … He obtained full scholarships for two performance degrees: a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music (class of 2013), where he studied with Professor James VanDemark, and a master’s degree from …
New Horizons encourages seniors to make music
(Monroe County Post 05/16/2018)
In 1991, Roy Ernest, professor at Eastman School of Music, had a vision that retirees could make music instead of sitting in front of the TV, waiting to die.
Starting with 40 members, the Eastman Rochester New Horizons Band since expanded to include a beginning band and beginning orchestra, concert and symphonic bands, strings and full orchestra, choir, two dance bands and multiple small ensembles. New Horizons musicians are busy each week rehearsing, practicing at home, taking private lessons, mentoring children and playing at community gigs.
The New Horizons concept expanded beyond Greater Rochester to cities and areas of the U.S., Canada, Italy, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Behind the scenes, academic and medical researchers use the network of senior musicians to collect geriatric data about aging, the effects of playing music and how its inherent social aspects contribute to the aging process and living well. …
Eastman students win DownBeat awards
(Monroe County Post 05/16/2018)
Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, under Dave Rivello, and Eastman School of Music students Theresa Chen, George Darrah, Jonathan Fagan and Jon Rarick received DownBeat honors in the magazine’s 41st annual Student Music Awards.
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