Eastman News Highlights October 20, 2014

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.)

Renée Fleming’s Many Roles at Chicago Lyric Opera

(WTTW 10/14/2014)

Soprano Renée Fleming has performed a number of unforgettable roles at Lyric Opera of Chicago. But perhaps her most lasting legacy will be her influence behind the scenes. Since 2010, Fleming has been Lyric Opera’s first–and, so far, only–creative consultant. She tells Chicago Tonight about nurturing up-and-coming talent, diversifying programming, and the status of an opera she’s curating.

The daughter of two music teachers, Renée Fleming’s singing career began with studying at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. It was while attending the latter that she first began performing professionally.

Silent film festival this week

(Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 10/19/2014)

The Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative each October hosts a conference — with a public music festival.

This year, the group is departing from past festivals and teaming with the University of Rochester’s Film/Music Cluster to present four programs of vintage, heyday-era silent films with original accompaniment by accomplished Eastman School of Music-affiliated organists.

Opera singer Rita Shane dies at 78
(Hollywood.com © 10/13/2014)

Opera singer Rita Shane has died at the age of 78. The singer passed away of pancreatic and liver cancer on Thursday (09Oct14) in Manhattan, New York, according to the New York Times. Shane made her debut in in Les contes d’Hoffmann in 1961 and went on to star in several productions at the New York City Opera including Dialogues des Carmelites, L’amour des trois oranges and Don Giovanni. In 1973, she debuted in the Metropolitan Opera as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and stayed with the company for eight seasons. Shane became a professor at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in 1989.

Performing Arts, News, Events: Organist Higgs to Perform at First Plymouth

(Lincoln Journal-Star 10/16/2014)

One of America’s leading concert organists, David Higgs was a church organist in New York City at 10 years old. As a teenager, he performed classical music as well as rock, gospel and soul. He will feature an equally eclectic repertoire in his Abendmusik debut.

In addition to performing, Higgs is chair of the organ department at the Eastman School of Music.

Quad City Arts presents Visiting Artist Break of Reality
(Quad Cities Dispatch Argus Leader © 10/10/2014)

Break of Reality has been applauded for their “genuine technique”, and their ability to “rock out like they mean it.” (Time Out New York). Their residency October 20-25 will bring their rocking cello and percussion to the Quad Cities. Their sound has been described as having “excitement, originality, and an undeniable intensity that louder, heavier bands only dream of. Break of Reality is going to win a Grammy someday. Bank on it.” (Rochester City Newspaper). Break of Reality is a cello rock band originally formed at the Eastman School of Music in 2003. The band is filling concert venues around the country with fans eager to hear their original music, as well as interpretations of music by Tool, Metallica, and System of a Down. Their sound is cinematic, subdued and heavy all at once, and their live audiences are equally diverse; fans of Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, and Yo-Yo Ma are finally getting acquainted.

CCU Musicians to perform in the Tully Hull

(WBTW News 13 10/16/2014)

Coastal Carolina University faculty musicians Amy Hardison Tully and Daniel Hull will perform a recital on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Edwards Recital Hall. The concert is open to the public and ticketed.

Hull is an active soloist, ensemble musician and teacher. He has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. At CCU, he teaches guitar, music appreciation, music theory and ear-training. He is also directs the CCU Guitar Ensembles and is an instructor at Francis Marion University. He earned his doctorate in musical arts from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Nicholas Goluses.

Philip and Horono Borter bring the string back to Ocala

(Ocala Star-Banner 10/16/2014)

Acclaimed cello player Philip Borter is coming home. He’ll perform in Ocala on Sunday with his wife, Hirono Borter, in a forum rich in family history.

Philip attended Madison Street Academy and started singing at an early age. He started playing the cello when he was 13.

He was an exchange student in Germany when he met Hirono, his future wife and musical partner. They began a long-distance relationship that lasted two years and culminated when both were working on their master’s degrees at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Both won competitions while there, married and began touring together.

BSO to begin new season on Shore

(The Star Democrat 10/14/2014)

The program will begin with Concert Overture, a composition by Swedish composer Elfrida Andree. Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G, featuring BSO principal flutist Emily Skala, will follow. The concert will end with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 “Polish.

Skala’s playing has been described as having a “blazing and flawless technique.” The Eastman School of Music graduate was affiliated with six major American orchestras before joining the BSO in 1988. She is also on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute of Music.

Pianist brings lively sounds to Milford Oct. 24

(hometownlife 10/13/2014)

At 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, pianist Bob Milne will perform in a Milford Historical Society concert at the Milford Presbyterian Church.

He’s been performing since early childhood, and played the French horn in high school. He went to the Eastman School of Music beginning at age 17, and then became assistant first horn with the Rochester, N.Y., Philharmonic at 19.

Guitarist Larry Koonse is just as comfortable soloing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra as he is playing with jazz greats like Lee Konitz and Charlie Haden or pop stars like Rod Stewart and Linda Ronstadt. Not only will his fingers be racing over the fret board at the Eastman School of Music‘s Jazz Caf, he’ll also be a guest of Trio East (drummer Rich Thompson, trumpeter Clay Jenkins, and bassist Jeff Campbell plus pianist Harold Danko) when the group records a new CD at Kilbourn Hall on Thursday. (8 p.m., October. 16. $10.)

When trumpeter Clay Jenkins takes the stage at Kilbourn Hall in the Eastman School of Music‘s Faculty Artist series, he’ll be showcasing the work of the school’s Faculty Jazz Quartet with Harold Danko on piano; Jeff Campbell, bass; and Rich Thompson, drums. Jenkins who paid his dues with Stan Kenton, Harry James, Buddy Rich, and Count Basie, and still plays with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra will duel in a “Two-Trumpet Quartet” with New York’s Dave Scott who has toured with Boz Scaggs, TOTO, Rosemary Clooney, and Michael Feinstein.

Jason Alexander in Rochester Friday

(Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 10/14,2014)

Musical theater and television star Jason Alexander, best known for playing George Costanza on the hit NBC series Seinfeld, is bringing his one-man show to Rochester.

“Don’t worry, I won’t break out into any arias,” kids Alexander, whose stand-up/theater/improv/singing show opens the new Eastman Presents concert series at Eastman Theatre, 60 Gibbs