March 19, 2025
I need to brag for a moment. A student who’s been with me since he was a little boy is getting ready to go off to college. He will be studying engineering (I’m not sure which kind) but is eligible to apply for a music scholarship also. So in preparation for his video audition he found and learned a transcription of “LaCampenalla” by Franz Liszt. He played for me at his lesson the other day. It was wonderful, of course, and I made a couple of small suggestions about interpretation that he’s going to use. I am so proud of this young man and I know that music will always be an important part of his life. Have I mentioned that I love my job?
Oh, speaking of my job….I gave my first lessons for money and thus began this journey in March of 1968, 57 years ago. Lucky me!!
In case you missed it…
My guest last week was violist Emily Brandenburg. Emily is the newest member of the Cassatt String Quartet and she talked about joining this group to play in their 40th season. We also talked about balancing contemporary music with the standard repertoire, teaching, and much more. If you missed it, please take a moment to watch/listen.
Coming up…
This week I’m speaking with Sheila Curran Bernard. She is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker and author. We talk about her latest book “Bring Judgement Day”, the true story of folk singer Huddie Ledbetter (“Midnight Special”, “House of the Rising Sun”, “Goodnight Irene” and many others) also known as LeadBelly. It’s a story of American music history that has been embellished and twisted into folk lore but not very well understood. I think you will find this to be a very interesting conversation.
In other news…
In April, Orli Shaham goes on tour with her brother Gil Shaham. Both musicians have incredibly busy careers of their own, and these concerts are a rare occurrence to see the two in recital together. The repertoire is part of Orli's ongoing project "The Clara Effect," which celebrates the lasting impact of Clara Schumann as a composer, performer, and influencer. This program features music by Clara alongside her husband Robert Schumann and their close friends Johannes Brahms and Amanda Meier.
Concerts are April 3 in Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin), April 5 in Aliso Viejo, CA (SOKA Performing Arts Center), and April 6 in La Jolla, CA (La Jolla Chamber Music Society). Also, the Shahams will tape a special "siblings" episode of NPR's From the Top, (for which Orli is Co-Host and Creative) which will be broadcast nationwide this spring.
On March 20, Victoria Bond's composition “Anne Frank’s Tree” for narrator and orchestra is performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota. The work is about the great chestnut tree that sustained the 13-year old while she was hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. A local high school senior, Alexa Scharf, narrates and Robert Vodnoy conducts.
Edward Smaldone is retiring from The Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College after 35 years. There will be a concert in his honor on Sunday April 6. For details, including a livestream link please go to their website.
