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.)
2016 Rochester Music Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
(WXXI PBS News 02/24/2016)
Rochester’s musical roots are as deep as they are widespread, a fact never more apparent than at the annual Rochester Music Hall of Fame Inductee announcements.
The fifth induction ceremony is Sunday, April 24, at Eastman Theater’s Kodak Hall, and will feature performances honoring:
Howard Hanson – A composer who served as Director of the Eastman School of Music at the invitation of George Eastman himself. (Some might recognize his Symphony No. 2 “Romantic” from the end credits of Alien.)
Joe Locke – Arguably the most famous vibraphonist in the world, attendees of last year’s Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest may remember his lively set at Kilbourne Hall.
Last year the organization introduced the Douglas Lowry Award for high school music students. This year they are selecting two winners for the opportunity to play the ceremony as well as $1000 toward college expenses. (Also reported by WHEC-TV, Time Warner Cable News, 13WHAM-TV, Democrat & Chronicle)
Soprano Sarah Bailey sings in semi-staged ‘L’isola disabitata,’ Alice Tully Hall
(Examiner.com © 02/22/2016)
In an exclusive interview with Examiner.com, Sarah Brailey, a soprano headed for success, spoke about her burgeoning performing arts career in general and her upcoming appearance with The American Classical Orchestra (ACO) in particular.
It started long before she obtained a Master’s Degree in Voice from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, even before her graduation from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance.
Mozart project complete, Bezuidenhout takes on Beethoven
(The Boston Globe 02/26/2016)
When Kristian Bezuidenhout, then an undergraduate at the Eastman School of Music, decided to ditch the modern piano in favor of the fortepiano, he did so because he was, as he once put it, “crazily obsessed” with the works of Mozart, but had never really felt the instinctive connection to the music he’d been seeking on the contemporary instrument. It took a while to get used to the lighter action and drier sound of an instrument from Mozart’s time. But once he did, everything fell into place.
Longwood Organ competitors announced
(Chadds Ford Live 02/26/2016)
Thomas Gaynor, 24, New Zealand. Winner of the Third International Bach-Liszt Organ Competition in Erfurt/Weimar, Germany, the Sydney International Organ Competition and the Fort Wayne National Organ Playing competition, Thomas Gaynor is rapidly making his mark on the organ scene in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. A student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, Thomas is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree as well as the prestigious Artist’s Certificate. Born in New Zealand, his undergraduate studies were in organ with Douglas Mews. He is Assistant Director of Music at Christ Episcopal Church in Rochester, NY.
Classical music concert by guitarist and clarinetist/saxophonist
(The Borneo Post 02/25/2016)
A classical music concert featuring Sibu-born guitarist Philip Hii and Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone William Lipman will be held at Wei Kuok Hall on March 16 beginning at 7.30pm.
Lipman, on the other hand, received his Bachelor of Music degree from Boston Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music and doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music.
He was the Principal Clarinet of the Eastman Wind Ensemble and the Eastman Musica Nova and has served as Principal Clarinet with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Co-Principal Clarinet with the Cape Town (South Africa) Symphony.
(The Lake Wales News 02/23/2016)
The Shawn Edmonds Quintet will return to Lake Wales for a concert tomorrow night
The group previously performed at Polk State in February 2015. This week, the ensemble returns as part of the College’s Voices of the People concert series and Black History Month celebration.
The ensemble’s namesake, Shawn Edmonds, is a trumpeter who made his solo debut with the Chicago Symphony when he was just 17. He went on to study at the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a degree in classical trumpet.
Second Annual Winter Bash To Benefit Brevard Philharmonic – Brevard NC
(The Transylvania Times 02/22/2016)
The Transylvania Times The live music will be performed by the Steve Davidowski Trio with guest artist Don Vallarta, vocalist and guitarist.
Davidowski’s musical training started at the Eastman School of Music in classical composition and then took a sharp turn into jazz. Winning the first …
Tryon Concert Association presents guitarist Peter Fletcher in TGIF Concert
(Tryon Daily Bulletin 2/24/1016)
He obtained his master of music degree from the Eastman School of Music in 1995. Mr. Fletcher has been the winner of many major international …
Best Bets: Shakespeare play, Del & Dawg, Ying Quartet with Soovin Kim
(Burlington Free Press 02/25/2016)
A cast of five works within a minimal set when the Shakespearean company Actors from the London Stage performs “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” …Champlain Valley native and violinist Soovin Kim joins the Ying Quartet for two performances this weekend for part two of “The Beethoven Project.” The concerts, presented by the Flynn Center and the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival,
GCC’s ‘Celebration’ honors black entertainers
(The Daily New 02/25/16)
Former student actor Nicole Marone is coming in from New York City, where she is performing professionally. She will be singing and acting. Orlando Diaz, graduate of Eastman School of Music will serve as the accompanist and perform a ragtime number by Scott Joplin and “Negro Spirituals.” …
Instrumental groups give harmonious performances
(The Lamron 02/26/2016)
The Saxophone Quartet performed one song following the Wind Ensemble: Eric Ewazen’s “Rhapsody for Saxophone Quartet.” Ewazen received a bachelor of music degree at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester and a master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees from the Juilliard School. Furthermore, he has won many awards for his compositions. His song had a more attentive tone than the previous songs and instilled ideas of overcoming adversity and triumph.
Elizabeth (Liz) Mathews Gilchrist Cummings
(The Marietta Times 02/24/2016)
Elizabeth (Liz) Mathews Gilchrist Cummings, 75, of Marietta, departed this life on February 21, at her home in Marietta.
She was awarded the MM degree in piano literature and piano performance from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (NY) in1964.
Robert Baustian, 1921-2016: Longtime Santa Fe Opera conductor remembered as ‘superb …
(Santa Fe New Mexican 02/23/16)
When Robert Baustian was in front of a Santa Fe Opera orchestra, the singers and instrumentalists could be sure of several things.
He then attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., but his studies were halted for military service in the closing days of World War II, when he served as a German language interrogator. After this, he returned to Eastman, earning a master’s degree in piano performance in 1950.
# # #