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.)
A Concertmaster Sounds Out the City
(Wall Street Journal 10/09/2015)
During a Friday morning rehearsal, the New York Philharmonic’s newly installed concertmaster Frank Huang lingered onstage as others filtered out for a break.
Mr. Huang, a reserved but jovial 37-year-old, took over the Philharmonic’s first violin seat in September, following the retirement of Glenn Dicterow after 34 seasons.
In 2009, the Ying Quartet, which is in residence at Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, beckoned. There, Mr. Huang was known for leading through consensus, said David Ying, the quartet’s cellist: “He never went anywhere without the rest of us going with him.”
An Emmy for Your Thoughts: Behind A Big Campus Music Gift By This Alumni Couple
(Inside Philanthropy 10/07/2015)
University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music recently received a $2 million gift by alumni couple Jeff and Joan Beal to launch the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media. The institute will support “student internships, scholarships, and projects; instruction; visiting artist residencies; and technology and infrastructure,” and will also “enhance the new Jazz and Contemporary Media graduate degree program in convergent artistry focusing on writing scores for film and other applications, such as video games.”
The Beals are Eastman School of Music graduates—Beal and Joan graduated from the school in 1985 and 1984, respectively. Beal will also serve as artistic director of the new Beal Institute, which makes perfect sense once you know a little bit more about him. In fact, this kind of gift is right up the couple’s alley.
Miller Theatre Celebrates John Luther Adams with Three NY Premieres This Month
(Broadway World © 10/07/2015)
American composer John Luther Adams has always forged his own path. From his small cabin in Alaska, he has written works of great beauty and depth, ultimately earning him the Pulitzer Prize. Listeners will dive deep into Adams’ music with this trilogy of unforgettable large-scale memorial works-none of them previously played in New York-composed in honor of those who influenced him most: his mother, father, and friend and mentor Lou Harrison.
FEATURED ARTISTS:
John Luther Adams, composer
JACK Quartet
JACK operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the performance, commissioning, and spread of new string quartet music. The members of the quartet met while attending the Eastman School of Music and studied closely with the Arditti Quartet, Kronos Quartet, Muir String Quartet, and members of the Ensemble Intercontemporain.
(Broadway World 09/23/2015)
Fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout will replace pianist Paul Lewis, who was scheduled to collaborate with tenor Mark Padmore in performances of the complete song cycles of Franz Schubert that will open the White Light Festival on October 14, 15, and 17 in Alice Tully Hall. Mr. Lewis plans to return to Lincoln Center on November 14 for his White Light Festival recital of late Beethoven piano sonatas.
Kristian Bezuidenhout is one of today’s most notable and exciting fortepianists. Born in South Africa, he began his studies in Australia, completed them at the Eastman School of Music, and now lives in London. Mr. Bezuidenhout first gained international recognition at the age of 21 after winning the prestigious first prize, as well as the audience prize, in the Bruges Fortepiano Competition.
Ragtime piano star to perform at Grand Ledge Opera House
(Lansing State Journal © 10/08/2015)
For an afternoon of Ragtime and the Player Piano Sound, join the always popular Bob Milne on the grand piano at the Opera House in Grand Ledge.
This Eastman School of Music trained classical French horn player, started playing the piano in saloons on the side and discovered what fun entertaining his listeners was and progressed to the concert stage.
Saxophonist’s musical appreciation flourishes into musical immersion
(The Register-Guard 10/09/2015)
Joe Manis rushes into our interview in blue jeans and an old T-shirt advertising hot rod cars. He orders plain tomato juice, then settles into his seat. From his youthful face comes the voice of an old soul and a perfectionist, the recipe for a musical mastermind and the leader of a successful jazz trio.
In college, Manis studied jazz here at the University of Oregon before leaving briefly to obtain his master’s degree at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. From his Oregon education he says he got “great real world experience,” adding that the opportunities to perform around town made Eugene “a great jumping off point” for him as an artist.
Eastman student to perform at Carnegie Hall
(Brighton Pittsford Post © 10/06/2015)
Eastman School of Music student Wenjie Lu will perform Oct. 21 in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as part of the Eastman Presents series.
New York guitarist to perform at Bonanzaville
(West Fargo Pioneer 10/07/2015)
New York classical guitarist Peter Fletcher will be performing a free concert Oct. 16 at Bonanzaville’s Dawson Hall.
Fletcher, 47, began studying guitar at age 7. He made his formal debut at age 15 with The Brasstown Concert Association in North Carolina. In 1995, he received his Master of Music degree from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Fletcher, who has three recordings, has performed in cultural venues throughout the country including New York’s Carnegie Hall, on radio and television, and before audiences in Canada and Europe. In 2013, Guitar International called Fletcher “one of the hardest-working musicians on the scene today.”
JAZZ | Tony Caramia
(Rochester City Newspaper © 10/07/2015)
Eastman School of Music professor Tony Caramia is a specialist in piano styles, so it’s no surprise that his upcoming show is titled “Celebrating the Artistry of Cy Walter, the Poet of the Piano.” Although he died in 1968, Walter’s arrangements of classic tunes are still revered. Called “The Park Avenue Art Tatum,” Walter wrote gorgeous arrangements of tunes like “Heart and Soul,” “Begin the Beguine,” and “Embraceable You.” You can bet Caramia will bring out the beauty of Walter’s work with a little help from vocalist Tom Paul.
Heritage Village: Society Plans Cello concert
(PrimePublishers.com 10/07/2015)
Cellist Peter Seidenberg, accompanied by pianist Dr. Hui Mei Lin, will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18, at Sarah Cooke Hall, 11 Heritage Way.
Mr. Seidenberg received a bachelor of music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory before earning the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Artist Diploma. He made his concert debut in 1983 with the Chicago Symphony.
Concert series to mark Keuka College anniversary
(Finger Lakes Times 10/05/2015)
Keuka College’s 125th anniversary concert series continues Oct. 18 with a performance of eclectic brass music by the Gibbs Street Brass Quintet.
Next up in the anniversary concert series is the woodwind ensemble Nine to Five, set for Nov. 22. It is led by award-winning Eastman School of Music student Dominic Giardino.