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May 2010 Hot News
25 - 27 May 2010
2nd Annual Music and Medicine Symposium and Stanley Drucker Residency at Wright State University, Dr Randall Paul, Director
Dayton, Ohio USA
A special 3 days including collaboration with the University Department of Medicine covered separate but related areas common to both professions. Sessions were held separately by both departments with some fused together with panelists conferring together in a session about health and injury issues facing performing musicians. Dr Stanley Drucker and his wife Naomi took a major role in Master Classes and a major finale concert including recital and performance of the Weber 2nd Clarinet Concerto for a full house at the Schuster Concert Hall in the Creative Arts Center on campus. Director of this Symposium was Clarinet Professor Dr Randall Paul and his wife Nora Paul, a former student of Naomi Drucker from years past. This made this appearance special for all involved. Programs of all the Classes and concerts galleried throughout this summary.
Two days of all day Master Classes with Stanley Drucker covering an entire gamut of recital literature, Orchestral studies, Chamber Music coaching including a Clarinet Quartet and Schubert's Shephard on the Rock was extensive, critical but positive. Students were well prepared and showing fine fundamental training from their teacher Dr Paul. Open rehearsals for Stanley Drucker gave an inkling of how the preparation works especially the Weber Concerto with the University Chamber Orchestra.
On the 3rd day there were seminars about the Buffet-Crampon Clarinets, their differences, an overall history of the firm, and display of several instruments available to try and if interested buy. Dr Drucker covered a student trying out several horns and carefully screening them for finding the best one to satisfy the students. She picked an R13 and she bought it the same day. That afternoon the Medical-Music Seminar was held where issues such as Stage fright and nerves at performance were discussed and how to deal with it, some players actually taking medicine such as Beta Blockers to tone down the nerves, not really a recommended practice. Physical problems such as corper tunnel issues talked on and the panel included Dr Daniel Paprowski, the Druckers, and Dr Paul along with the Medical Professors, many of whom brought questions related to the topics. Sessions were very useful for all who came.
All the programs including 2 major performances by the University Chamber Orchestra made this a major event not to be missed. This was one of the outstanding Clarinet Days of the season, and Dr Paul and all involved are to be commended. Special recognition and appreciation for his generous financial support for this Symposium goes to Val Hattemer, a successful businessman and amateur clarinetist who has established scholarship funding at this University and has donated to other important events including the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium. He is an avid admirer of Dr Drucker and his accomplishments.
23 May 2010
Anderson Twins Sextet celebrate Artie Shaw's Centennial
New York City USA
20 - 23 May 2010
2010 International Woodwind Instruments Competition in Warsaw, Poland May 20th - 23rd. Sponsored by the Praska Muza Association, Stanisław Moniuszko School of Music and Fryderyk Chopin School of Music
Warsaw, Poland
The 2010 International Woodwind Instruments Competition in Warsaw, Poland occurred May 20th through the 23rd. It was sponsored by the Praska Muza Association, Stanisław Moniuszko School of Music and Fryderyk Chopin School of Music. The event offered young clarinetists the opportunity for growth in their playing through preparation of multiple pieces. They were afforded the experience of performing solos from memory with piano on stage for an audience; and finalists performed with the Concerto Avenna Orchestra. Contestants could also meet and hear professional clarinetists perform, visit vendor displays and participate in a clarinet choir.
In its inaugural year, the event involved 36 contestants who were divided into groups based on age: 11 and under; 12-14; 15-17; and ages 18-21. While clarinet students world-wide could participate, this year all were from Poland. The judges, however were from around the world, including: Florent Héau (France), Ludmila Peterková (Czech Republic), Timothy Phillips (U.S.A.) and Nicolas Fargeix (France). The judges gave recitals in the evenings and these exposed the students to standards in the clarinet repertoire. One concert featured music by composers from each judge’s homeland; Fargeix played French repertoire; Peterková played Czech music; Phillips played American selections.
Contestants prepared a piece for each round of the competition and most performances were done from memory. The first round involved a piece with piano accompaniment. Even this early in the event one could recognize the talent and dedication that even the youngest had put forth in preparation. On the third day of the event, those remaining in the competition performed a solo with the Concerto Avenna Orchestra. Afterwards, winners were determined and would be featured one more time in the final concert on the following day.
The winners were as follows:
Group 1 (ages 11 and under)
1st prize Jan Tomaszuk
2nd prize Maurycy Hartman
3rd prize Szymon Emil Parulski
“Great Potential Award” Dariusz Patrykus
Group 2 (ages 12 to 14)
1st prize Karolina Bober
Szymon Murawski (two equal 1st prizes)
2nd prize Damian Skibniewski
3rd prize no prize awarded
Group 3 (ages 15 to 17)
1st prize Andrzej Ciepliński
2nd prize no prize awarded
3rd prize Gustaw Bachorz
Bartłomiej Dobrowolski (two equal 3rd prizes)
Group 4 (ages 18 to 21)
1st prize no prize awarded
2nd prize Julian Paprocki
3rd prize Renata Raczyło (first third prize)
Jacek Dziołak (second third prize)
The Special Prize and opportunity to perform as soloist with the Luthuanian National Orchestra went to Andrzej Ciepliński.
20 May 2010
Jon Manasse on tour Performing Premiere of Lowell Liebermann Clarinet Concerto
Chico, California and Roanoke, Virginia USA
During this month, several performances of a recent Concerto was performed by notable Soloist Jon Manasse, who is Solo Clarinetist in the New York City Ballet Orchestra at Lincoln Center and the Mostly Mozart Orchestra. He also is faculty at Juilliard and the Eastman School of Music. As the below reviews indicate, Mr Manasse's Solo capabilities are remarkable and is becoming in great demand as Soloist and teacher. Several recordings are being released that showcase his work.
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There was plenty to like in Monday night's Roanoke Symphony Orchestra concert at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre.
But the Virginia premiere of Lowell Liebermann's magnificent new clarinet concerto outshone everything else.
When it came to superlatives, soloist Jon Manasse's splendid performance pretty much sucked all the oxygen out of the room, leaving little to say about the Gershwin, Dvorak and Mozart works, any of which on another night might have been the centerpiece of a program.
Yes, Maestro David Stewart Wiley presided over finely calibrated crescendi in the overture to Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro." The Dvorak Symphony No. 8 in G Major was artfully shaped and soulfully played. And George Gershwin's little "Lullaby for Strings" was as likeable as ever.
But when the Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 110, by American composer Liebermann cruised to a breathless finish and the standing ovation and shouts of bravo were echoing through the hall, it seemed clear that we had heard a piece that will remain in the repertoire for decades to come.
But it will always take a player of Manasse's caliber to do justice to Liebermann's work. The occasional gifted amateur may strike out into the deep waters of the Mozart clarinet concerto. But no amateur can handle the Liebermann piece. This bravura work requires not merely a professional player, but a virtuoso.
It is lyrically gorgeous, full of ravishing tunes from the opening whole-tone scales to the perpetual motion finale. The orchestra is called upon to provide a wash of ethereal textures with high bells and delicate woodwind effects.
It's difficult to pick out peak moments. But the entire middle slow movement, with its sinuous, long-breathed melodies that take unexpected chromatic turns, was breathtaking. Manasse's technical mastery was obvious enough in the rapid passage work. But the pianissimo passages in the instrument's very highest tessitura, with intonation that was dead-on perfect, were extraordinarily lovely. Manasse deserved every bit of adulation he got at the end of this piece.
As a final gift to the audience, the RSO performed the Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 to yet more shouts of approval.
Cleveland Orchestra Assistant Conductor Titus Minoz and Soloist Franklin Cohen
15 May 2010
World Premiere of Chamber Orchestra version of Osvaldo Golijov 'The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind' performed by Franklin Cohen and the Cleveland Orchestra at Severence Hall and conducted by Tito Munoz 13 and 15 May 2010 |
Cleveland, Ohio USA
As part of their regular Orchestra subscription series, this program was innovative and connected with two works focused on dreams and visions, the Berlioz Symphony Fantastique, and the world premiere of Osvaldo Golijov's 'The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind' Orchestral version of the Clarinet Quintet, performed by renowned Solo Clarinetist Franklin Cohen. This work includes a history of Judeism within the themes of the various movements. Program notes about this work are above which fully describes everything. Within this piece, klezmer is noted as well as the use of A, Bb, and Bass Clarinet, remarkably performed. This work grows on one who hears it with all the impressions contained within. Originally this piece was written for Clarinet(s) and Strings, and a recording was available to those who wanted one. This new work will surely stick as a favorite in the Clarinet repertoire.
7 May 2010
Stanley Hasty 90th Birthday Celebration held in his honor by Former Students and the Eastman School of Music held 7 May 2010 in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York USA
http://www.esm.rochester.edu/iml/hasty_celebration.html
A stellar gathering of former students from the Eastman School of Music, from all over the United States, came to honor the 90th Birthday of their principal teacher and mentor D Stanley Hasty, a teaching legend at this great school and one of the most important pedagogical influences of the last century, along with Robert Marcellus of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Leon Russianoff in New York. Credentials and success stories in securing major Orchestral positions all over the United States and abroad and teaching positions at major Universities are attributed to Mr Hasty's teaching concepts, his own experience as a major Principal Clarinetist in several 1st line Orchestras here in the States, and his position as Solo Clarinetist in the Rochester Philharmonic, where many Eastman students gained valuable experience in working with him in that Orchestra. There was a special Dinner in his honor with former students of note giving testimonials about their experience with him from notables as Larry Combs from the Chicago Symphony, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr from Michigan State University and Director of her Verdehr Trio, Michael Webster from Rice University, Kenneth Grant, present Professor at Eastman, David Etheridge, Professor at Oklahoma University, and several others. The event was organized by Ray Ricker, Saxophone Professor and Director of Jazz Studies, Elsa Verdehr, and the Eastman Alumni Office. An honor event like this surely was emotionally packed for all, especially Mr Hasty who will forever be esteemed by not only those who came here, but by their students who will be the 2nd and 3rd generation recipients of his teaching legacy. What is so important here is the history being made with living legends and being a part of it along with the reunion element. This event surely will never be forgotten.
3 May 2010
Stanley Drucker, New York Philharmonic Solo Clarinetist Emeritus, Conferred with Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Florida in Gainesville presented at two Commencements, one from the School for the Arts, and at the University Graduate School Commencement on 1 May 2010
Gainesville, Florida USA
An historic, emotional, and proud moment in Music History, especially the Clarinet world took place on this great campus of the University of Florida with the Conferring of an Honorary Doctorate to probably the most renowned Clarinetist of the last century Stanley Drucker, who retired with incredible honors last October from his position as Solo Clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic after 61 years, 49 of them as Solo Clarinetist. The VIP Page about Dr Drucker is well documented with his accomplishments. The process leading to this Honorary is based on exhaustive review by the University Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees, and sent to the University President for final approval for Conferring. What is remarkable here is the overwhelming credential Mr Drucker has brought to the Clarinet field, as performer, teacher, author, recording artist, and the worldwide influence of his unlimited talent and its impact on all players, teachers, and students worldwide. No one in music history has accomplished such a level of consistent quality in the Clarinet performance area, and even more noteworthy is that Mr Drucker has raised the bar of performance over 3 decades with performances and recordings of major Clarinet works such as the Bartok Contrasts, Debussy Rhapsody, Nielsen Clarinet Concerto (in one recording take), Corigliano Clarinet Concerto (written for him, Bernstein, and the New York Philharmonic), the last 3 works conducted by Bernstein. Recording of the Corigliano conducted by Zubin Mehta.
Two Commencements were held (30 April) with the University College of Fine Arts, and held on (1 May) with the University Graduate School before a 1900 Graduating Class, The 1st Commencement was held with the Graduating students in the Arts and Music, with Dean Dr Lucinda Lavelli. Professor Mitchell Estrin led the UFL Clarinet Ensemble in music leading to the Procession of Graduates, and gave an Introduction and Testimony about Mr Drucker and Mr Drucker spoke to the Class. A Doctoral award plaque was presented to him by Dean Lavelli with a standing ovation honoring his contribution to music and the joy and passion of it. The Clarinet Ensemble performed a work also honoring Mr Drucker.
On 1 May, the Graduate Commencement was held before over 5000 attendees including the Graduate Class of 2010 of 1900 students to be given their degrees. Mr Drucker received his Conferred Honorary Doctorate presented by President of the University of Florida Dr J Bernard Machen and the Provost.
In addition to the Conferring of degree, Dr Drucker conducted a 2 hour Master Class that same afternoon for University students as part of his residency. Four advanced students were intensively coached on prepared music and Orchestral excerpts. The following two days were focused on rehearsals and recording sessions on an upcoming CD performed by the University of Florida Wind Symphony including Drucker as soloist in the Weber Concertino Op 26, Harmonie Wind version, and the Scott McAllister Black Dog.
Like the final Concerto Drucker played with the New York Philharmonic last June (Copland Clarinet Concerto), this past 4 days has been a high point of the year for everyone who came and was involved. Professor Estrin, a longtime Orchestral colleague in the NY Phil with Dr Drucker and a former Juilliard student and a lineage teacher of his concepts, places Dr Drucker as a part of the University musical life. This week was an historic event for this School of Music.
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Revised: August 01, 2010