Review: Chicago Philharmonic Season Opener Swings into Diversity

William Grant Still (1895-1978)

(Courtesy Photo)

Third Coast Review

• Bob Benenson
• October 15, 2022
• Classical, Reviews

The decision by Chicago Philharmonic to open its 2022-23 concert season Thursday with a program focused on diversity was well within character for the orchestra.  

Diversity had long been a concern for the musician-run orchestra and its conductor, Scott Speck. Its effort to provide better representation for black composers and performers ramped up considerably since national incidents of racial injustice in 2020 prompted a self-examination within the classical music community.

Chicago Philharmonic also underscored its sincerity on this issue last year by hiring Terrell Johnson, a young Black innovator, as its executive director. 

 

Chicago Philharmonic: For our 22/23 Symphonic Series opening concert, we’re paying homage to William Grant Still and Florence Price

Thursday, October 13, 7:30pm

Harris Theater

205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, Preludio

Florence Price Ethiopia's Shadow in America

Jonathan Bingham Monograph (CHICAGO PREMIERE)

Arturo Márquez Danzón No. 2

William Grant Still Symphony No. 1 (Afro-American)

William Grant Still is the composer most associated with the Harlem Renaissance. His First Symphony, dubbed the Afro-American, is a thrilling, blues-infused wonder of American composition.

Florence Price had strong ties to Chicago and the Chicago Black Renaissance. She lived on the city’s south side for years and vacationed in St. Anne, Illinois. Ethiopia’s Shadow in America was recently discovered in her vacation home in 2009, and is thought to be the first piece she wrote for full orchestra. 

The Harlem Chamber Players: This Friday and Saturday: Our New Season Begins! Sept. 23 at 7 PM and Sept. 24 at 8 PM

We hope you will join us this

coming weekend for our Season

Opening Concert!

Season Opening

Left to right (1st row) are Terrance McKnight, Ashley Horne, Claire Chan, William Frampton, and Wayne Smith. Left to right (2nd row) are José Pietri-Coimbre, Lilit Gampel, Amadi Azikiwe, and Kirsten Jermé

Please note that you must wear a face mask during the concert(s).

Season Opening Concerts Friday, September 23, 2022 at 7 PM Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 8 PM Broadway Presbyterian Church 601 West 114th Street New York, NY 10025 Click here for directions. This venue is wheelchair accessible. PROGRAM Franz Schubert Quartettsatz Frederick Tillis Spiritual Fantasy No. 12 Felix Mendelssohn Octet in E-flat major ARTISTS Ashley Horne, Violin Claire Chan, Violin William Frampton, Viola Wayne Smith, Cello Lilit Gampel, Violin José Pietri-Coimbre, Violin Amadi Azikiwe, Viola Kirsten Jermé, Cello HOSTED by Terrance McKnight of WQXR TICKETS $20 General Admission $15 Students/SeniorS Kids under 12 are admitted for FREE! Click here to purchase tickets.

Chicago Sinfonietta: Mei-Ann Chen invites you to our Opening Weekend: Nkeiru OKOYE and Roberto SIERRA 7:30 PM Sept. 19, Symphony Center, Chicago

 

Mei-Ann Chen

For 35 years Chicago Sinfonietta has been leading the way with exciting and diverse programming. NBC Chicago recently visited rehearsal as the orchestra prepared for opening weekend and chatted with Music Director Mei-Ann Chen and President & CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson.

...

Come see what's NEXT at Subscription Concert 1!

PROGRAM

Nkeiru OKOYE: Voices Shouting Out 

Roberto Sierra: Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra with guest artist Julian Velasco  

George GERSHWIN: Cuban Overture  

Edward ELGAR: Enigma Variations, Op. 36 - Variation IX (Adagio) "Nimrod"

Ottorino RESPIGHI: Pines of Rome 

And don't forget: You can still take advantage of our Pay-What-You-Can program and get tickets for just $5 using code PWYC5NEXT at checkout.
   

ArtsKnoxville.com: University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra in Adolphus Hailstork's Fanfare on "Amazing Grace" 4 PM Sept. 18 - FREE

Adolphus Hailstork

ArtsKnoxville.com

Alan Sherrod

September 14, 2022

On Sunday afternoon, the UT Symphony Orchestra returns to its home in Cox Auditorium for a concert entitled “New Frontiers.” James Fellenbaum will conduct the UTSO.

Elmer Bernstein: Theme from The Magnificent Seven

Copland: Billy the Kid, Suite

Adolphus Hailstork: Fanfare on Amazing Grace

Todd Goodman: Tuba Concerto No. 2, Alex Lapins, tuba — this performance will be the orchestral version world premiere

University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra

Sunday, September 18, 2022, at 4:00 PM — FREE

Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building on the UT Campus

 

Decca Classics: SHEKU KANNEH-MASON: New album SONG out today

“A world sensation” –The Guardian

“Fabulously gifted” –The Times

“Cello Rockstar” –Esquire

Song, the new album from cellist Sheku-Kanneh Mason, features music from across the entire spectrum of classical, folk, jazz and pop – all personally curated by Sheku. The eclectic mix of styles are tied together by one thing – the unique singing voice of Sheku’s cello.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason became a household name in 2018 after performing at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. His performance was greeted with universal excitement and was seen by nearly two billion people globally.

Sheku initially garnered renown as the winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Competition, the first black musician to take the title. He has released two chart-topping albums on the Decca Classics label, Inspiration (2018) and Elgar (2020). The latter reached #8 in the overall UK official album chart, making Sheku the first cellist in history to reach the UK top 10.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason 2022 US Live Tour Schedule

October 10, 2022 – Granada Theatre (Community Arts Music Foundation of Santa Barbara) | Santa Barbara, CA

October 11, 2022 – Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Philharmonic Society of Orange County) | Costa Mesa, CA

October 12, 2022 – Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA Phil) | Los Angeles, CA

October 15, 2022 – Mondavi Center for the Arts (UC Davis) | Davis, CA

October 16, 2022 – Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco Symphony) | San Francisco, CA

October 19, 2022 – Hill Auditorium (University Musical Society) | Ann Arbor, MI
October 21, 2022 – Strathmore (Washington Performing Arts) | North Bethesda,

 MD

October 22, 2022 – Carnegie Hall | New York, NY

December 8, 9 and 10, 2022 – Kimmel Center (Philadelphia Orchestra) | Philadelphia, PA

For tickets and full international dates, please go to: shekukannehmason.com/live/

Sister Songwriters Receive International Publication of Poetry

(PHILADELPHIA, PA-SEPTEMBER 8, 2022):  Congratulations are in order to poet, author and librettist, DR. HAZEL ANN LEE and her younger sister, composer, librettist and poet, CYNTHIA COZETTE LEE. This gifted award-winning songwriting duo of four operas, recently had two of their inspiring poems published in the noted literary Canadian online daily magazine 50-Word Stories. Hazel’s poem titled “Sunrise on Loran”, a science fiction poem describing vibrant sunrises on an alien planet, was published July 11, 2022. Cynthia’s poem called “Survival in Time”, speaks about the plight of the Native Americans and First Nations people, was published September 7, 2022. Both poems touch on stories about future nature events and survival.  

As distinguished poets and authors the Lee sisters have multiple publications. Some of their most distinctive writings are in their books. The Astronaut’s Window: Collection of Poems and Short Stories Celebrating Nature, a new book by Dr. Hazel Ann Lee includes original fascinating science-fiction poems and short stories. The Forgotten Schoolhouse: Original Poems and Short Stories on Faith, Love, Nature and Wonder, a book by Dr. Cynthia Cozette Lee, includes original inspiring poem tributes honoring famous international figures, including “The Town Crier’s News” dedicated to President Barack Obama, “When Will Love Reign in the World?” for President Nelson Mandela, “The Courageous Astronaut” for Guion S. Bluford, Jr., “Mathematical Genius” for Katherine Johnson, “The Royal Wedding of Hope” to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Harry and Meghan) and a poem “Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.”

The two uplifting poems, “Survival in Time” by Cynthia and “Sunrise on Loran” by Hazel can be viewed at the following URLs:

“Survival in Time” poetry link:

http://fiftywordstories.com/2022/09/07/cynthia-cozette-survival-in-time/

“Sunrise on Loran” poetry link:

http://fiftywordstories.com/2022/07/11/hazel-ann-lee-sunrise-on-loran/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hazel-ann-lee-sunrise-on-loran

For more information contact the composer, Cynthia Cozette Lee, at Email: CynLee215@yahoo.com or visit her website at: https://www.cynthiacozettelee.com/

Aaron Dworkin Interviews Mansi Shah, Curator of Colors of Classical Music!

 

Welcome to this week's episode of Arts Engines which now reaches over 100,000 weekly viewers in partnership with Detroit Public Television, Ovation TV, The Violin Channel and American Public Media including Performance Today and YourClassical. Arts Engines seeks to share the most valuable advice and input from arts administrators who tell their stories of creative problem-solving, policy, economic impact, crisis management and empowering the future of our field. This week's show is co-curated by our Creative Partner, Newark Symphony Hall and our guest is Mansi Shah, curator of Colors of Classical Music, as she talks about the connection between data and music and its impact for community.  Enjoy... and have a creative week!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHbI6WBx5W0

Intercultural Music Initiative Presents Liberian-Norwegian pianist Kamilla Arku and St. Louis based flutist Wendy Hymes Sunday October 9 @ 3 PM, St. Louis, MO

 

Intercultural Music Initiative Presents 

Liberian - Norwegian pianist Kamilla Arku and St. Louis based flutist Wendy Hymes

 

Performing music by diverse composers of color for piano and flute, along with familiar standard repertoire, including works by Elizabeth Brown, Valerie Coleman, Federico Mompou, Nkeiru Okoye, Fred Onovwerosuoke, and Germaine Tailleferre

 

Sunday October 9 @ 3:00 PM
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church
45 W. Lockwood Avenue
Saint Louis, MO, 63119
 

Featured guest artist Liberian-Norwegian pianist, Kamilla Arku draws on her diverse background as inspiration for her work as a performer, educator and scholar. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, the US, and Africa. Recent highlights include performances at the Royal Opera House, Hastings Piano Festival, and the International Florence Price Festival. In addition to performing, Arku is also committed to volunteer efforts, and is the Founder and Director of Music for Liberia, a charity supporting young people in Liberia through music-based fundraising. Kamilla is a graduate of Yale University, and the Royal Northern College of Music. 

 

Joining Arku on this program is flutist Wendy Hymes, director of the IMI Chamber Players, also a passionate performer of music by diverse composers. Her doctoral dissertation is on music written for flute by selected African composers. She has performed widely in the US and abroad. 

General admission tickets are $20, students and senior tickets are $10, and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/imi-202223-season-concert-2-tickets-412323650137

Media Contact: Tina Sayers, Executive Director tsayers@imusici.net 
Phone: (314) 652-6800 www.imusici.org

AfroClassical Composers Inaugural In-Person Event featuring piano compositions by Dorothy Rudd-Moore, George Walker, R. Nathaniel Dett, Maria Thompson Corley

 Presenting AfroClassical Composers Hosts African Diaspora Classical 10/16 in LA

Maria Thompson Corley & Michael Ligon, piano

First Unitarian Church

Los Angeles