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Dr. Quinton Morris with student
Friday, August 31, 2018
Dr. Quinton Morris: Key To Change: We've got big plans this Fall, and you're invited!
Eric Conway: Morgan Choir is featured in NPR segment of "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
Morgan State University Choir
Eric Conway writes:
Hello all,
Last
April, I was approached by a reporter from National Public Radio (NPR)
who told me that they were going to present a segment on the anthem
“Lift Every Voice and Sing.” They had heard the anthem was one of the
Morgan State University choir's signature pieces that opened up
virtually all of our concerts. They came to our last performance of the
season on April 22, 2018, at Oxford Presbyterian in Philadelphia to
tape our performance to be heard in their future broadcast.
On
August 16, 2018, the segment finally aired on their Morning Edition
program. See below links to the seven minute soundfile of the broadcast
as well as an online article which gives great historical context about
our Negro national anthem. Do not ignore the many links in the NPR
article with great and historic performances of this anthem over the
years.
EC
Link to NPR broadcast
Link to NPR article
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle
************************************
Eric Conway, D.M.A.
Fine and Performing Arts Department, Chair
Morgan State University
Eric Conway: Morgan State U. choir sang alongside Aretha Franklin – The Spokesman
Aretha Franklin
Eric Conway writes:
Hello everyone,
On the day when Aretha Franklin will be celebrated during her homegoing service in Detroit, the Morgan newspaper The Spokesman has
posted an article reflecting the times when members of the Morgan State
University choir sang with her in performance. See link below to the
Morgan newspaper article:
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra: Free Class at 9/8/18 Open House
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Sergio Mims: Carnegie Hall: Audra McDonald in Opening Night Gala Wednesday, Oct. 3, 7 PM
Audra McDonald
(Allison Michael)
Sergio A. Mims forwards this release:
Carnegie Hall Presents
This is a Carnegie Hall Opening Night you will never forget. A pair of vocal superstars—Renée Fleming and Audra McDonald—join Perspectives artist Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony for
an evening of favorites from opera and music theater. To add to the
festive occasion, there's exhilarating orchestral music by Gershwin and
Liszt's whirling waltz.
Lee Koonce: University of Rochester News: Dr. Paul Burgett Has Died at Age 72
Dr. Paul Burgett
Lee Koonce of Gateways Music Festival writes:
Bill, unsure if you’ve heard of this tragic news. In addition to being
the most extraordinary board chairman of the Gateways Music Festival,
Paul was a noted authority on the music of people of African descent.
Best wishes,
Lee
University of Rochester News
Paul
Burgett ’68E, ’76E (PhD), a musician, scholar, teacher, and University leader for more than half a century,
is being remembered for his longstanding commitment to the University community. University flags are lowered today in memory of Burgett, who died Thursday at age 72. The community is invited to
share condolences or other messages on a memorial website.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Chicago Sinfonietta: Images of Diversity: Sat., Sept. 22, 8 PM Naperville & Mon. Sept. 24, 7:30 PM Chicago
DISCOUNTED PRICING FOR "PRELUDE" ENDS
THIS FRIDAY!
Secure VIP seats for ID: Images of Diversity and join us for the event for$95 $85
($112 value).
"Prelude" Only Tickets$50 $40
THIS FRIDAY!
Secure VIP seats for ID: Images of Diversity and join us for the event for
($112 value).
"Prelude" Only Tickets
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Sergio Mims: George Walker tribute WHPK-FM Chicago Tuesday Sept. 4
George Walker (1922-2018)
Sergio A. Mims writes:
Most
of my classical music radio show on WHPK-FM next Tuesday Sept 4 will be
devoted to the works and legacy of composer and teacher George Walker
who passed away last week
The works that will be heard on the program will be (in order)
Sinfonia No. 3 (2003)
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1953)
Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra (1996)
Cello Concerto (1981)
Lyric for String Orchestra (1946)
Sinfonia No. 4 (2012)
Piano sonata No.4 (1985)
Concerto for Violin (1988)
As always my show can be heard locally in the Chicago area from 12-3 PM Central time on 88.5 FM and worldwide livestream at whpk - home
Sergio
Mickey Thomas Terry: Recollections of George Walker
George Walker (1922-2018)
Mickey Thomas Terry
Mickey Thomas Terry writes:
I
had a 25-year friendship with George Walker. I am still recovering
from the news of his passing. I spoke with George Walker for the last
time about five weeks ago. Toward the end of the conversation, I
remember him saying repeatedly: "I want people to play my music, I want
people to play my music, I want people to play my music." Those words
have resonated in my mind several times since hearing the news.
He
was a brilliant man, imbued with culture and the epitome of dignity. He
surprised me once by appearing at one of my New York recitals (St.
Thomas Church on 5th Avenue) and was seated directly beside Noel Da
Costa...WOW! What an honor to have these musical giants to take the time out of their busy schedules to hear me.
A
particular fond memory dates to the day when he won the Pulitzer
Prize. I remember that day particularly well, because he called me on
the very evening that he received news of the award. Interestingly
enough, Dr. Walker was only informed when reporters from the New York
Times knocked on his door in order to receive his reaction.
Not
long after meeting him, Dr. Walker asked me to record his "Three Pieces
for Organ," which appears on the Albany Record label. Later, he
dedicated an organ composition to me, "Spires," which he wrote
especially for me. It is one of the most difficult pieces that I have
ever played. It was classic George Walker. I premiered it at the 1998
American Guild of Organists National Convention in Denver. He and his
son Gregory were in the audience for both performances. Later, I
recorded it for American Public Radio. It was while i was in Denver for
the convention that Dr. Walker came to my hotel in order for me to
interview him. This interview became the basis of an article that was
ultimately published in "The Musical Quarterly." He was particularly
pleased with the interview, as was I.
I
could go on all day with my personal recollections of George Walker. He
was a musical giant and an immense inspiration to me and so many
others...a great American composer. I thank God for the opportunity to
meet him and to call him a friend. I will never forget him. May his
music live forever!
Requiescat in pace,
Mickey Thomas Terry
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
John Malveaux: L.A. Tribute to Aretha Franklin by Deniece Williams & HB Barnum 1-7 PM, Sept. 2
Deniece Williams
HB Barnum
(Getty Images/Unique Nicole)
John Malveaux of
writes:
Friday August 31. 2018 Aretha Franklin funeral livestreamed & broadcast in Detroit.
September 2, 2018 Los Angeles tribute to Aretha Franklin by songstress Deniece Williams, and HB Barnum (Aretha's music director) during END of SUMMER Music Cultural Celebration, 1:00 to 7:00 PM-Exposition Park-Christmas Tree Lane, 700 Exposition Park Dr. Experience a day of FREE family fun filled with music, food, and other vendors presented by State Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sr.
Coro Allegro of Boston commissions St. Louis composer for new epic work, March 24, 2019
composed by Fred Onovwerosuoke
commissioned by Coro Allegro of Boston, MA
Tai Oney
counter-tenor
Jonas Budris
tenor
Fred Onovwerosuoke
composer
Coro Allegro of Boston
August 27, 2018
AMERICA, WE NEED TO TALK
Sunday, March 24, 2019 3pm • Sanders Theatre,
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, MA
FRED ONOVWEROSUOKE:
A Triptych of American Voices: A Cantata of the People
A Triptych of American Voices: A Cantata of the People
A
kaleidoscopic world premiere by an immigrant composer that shines light
on America through the prisms of three great poems: Maya Angelou's "I
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Langston Hughes' "As I Grew Older,” and
Michael Castro's "We Need to Talk.” Also on the program is a reprise of
the composer's "Caprice for Piano & Orchestra"
Tai Oney, countertenor
Jonas Budris, tenor
Darryl Hollister, piano
Coro Allegro and the Coro Allegro Chamber Orchestra,
David Hodgkins, conductor & artistic director
Tai Oney, countertenor
Jonas Budris, tenor
Darryl Hollister, piano
Coro Allegro and the Coro Allegro Chamber Orchestra,
David Hodgkins, conductor & artistic director
Visit http://www.fredomusic.com for composer Onovwerosuoke's profile and works.
Visit http://www.coroallegro.org for contact and other Coro Allegro info.
Visit http://www.countertenorcorner.com/tai-oney.html for counter-tenor Tai Oney's profile.
Visit http://jonasbudris.com for tenor Jonas Budris profile.
Visit http://www.coroallegro.org for contact and other Coro Allegro info.
Visit http://www.countertenorcorner.com/tai-oney.html for counter-tenor Tai Oney's profile.
Visit http://jonasbudris.com for tenor Jonas Budris profile.
A Triptych of American Voices: A Cantata of the People, a new work by St. Louis composer, Fred Onovwerosuoke, is a kaleidoscope on prevailing themes of American political
discourse, from the purview of an immigrant composer. It's a musical
narrative told from the prisms of 3 great poems - Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Langston Hughes' "As I Grew Older," and Michael Castro's "We Need to Talk." The musical lingua is deliberately diverse, drawing from a variety of cultural influences. Imagery abound - of Native American pow-wows,
early African American holler songs, and ancient chants echoed from
Appalachian mountains - all woven on a sonic tapestry that is
immediately American, but in a broad perspective, universal. The
30-minute work, scored for mixed chorus, counter-tenor and tenor
soloists, and orchestra, was commissioned by Coro Allegro of Boston, MA.
World premiere concert scheduled for March 24, 2019, 3PM at the
Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, MA.
Monday, August 27, 2018
Fred Onovwerosuoke: Celebrating George Walker's Music and Life
George Walker (1922-2018)
Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke
Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke writes of the passing of George Walker:
Hello folks!
My
little input is that George's passing should be no time for us to gripe
openly about the lack of play for black composers. Orchestras and other
ensembles of art/serious music must pay their overheads and thus often
subsist to serve their patrons, whose musical pallets are at best often
narrow or limited. Bias for particular/'favorite' composers is nothing
new, and not necessarily hinged on race or ethnicity, but often on
assuaging the fiscal bottomline. For example, but for Felix
Mendelssohn's selfless revivalist efforts, the great J. S. Bach that we
revere today would have been only a footnote of music history. Ditto,
Igor Stravinsky, whose composing career would have struggled, had he not
the operational muscle and financial backing of the Sergei Diaghilev,
and on and on...
Black and other financially endowed philanthropists need
to be courted, and, if need be, enlightened about the all-important
necessity of supporting the works of black or African descent composers.
While there's no verifiable account of Chevalier
de Saint-Georges (Joseph Boulogne, 1745-99) complaining about lack of
wide play of his music, don't we all wish that some philanthropist (s)
extended robust support for the fledgling effort of our young,
hard-working Maestro Marlon Daniel to revive the name and works of this
contemporary of Mozart!
Flutist/composer
Valerie Coleman's entrepreneurial spirit continues to drive and sustain
her works. As the African Musical Arts and African Music Publishers
have offered some leverage and visibility to my works and others', and
along the way attracted some significant commissions for new works.
George
lived a great life, and I'd rather we all expend our creative energies
to celebrate that wonderful life. As our concert series here in St.
Louis dedicated much of 2016/17 events to the memory of the late
Dominique de Lerma (1928-2015), and 2017/18 to the great Halim El-Dabh
(1921-2017), so will be dedicating our 2018/19 season to the life and
memory of Maestro George Walker.
Folks,
we live at the precipice of a different kind of Golden Rule - some
would surmise, a pseudo-realm where those who control the gold rule.
It's a cultural universe where practitioners - artists, presenters,
educators, students, etc. - must not only wait for saviors, but wax even
more creative knocking at the door of canon. Now, more than ever, black
and other ethnic minority composers of classical music can use
committed benefactors, philanthropists, and, yes, cultural
entrepreneurs...
FredO
John Malveaux: George Walker Memorial Broadcast
George Walker (1922-2018)
Jim Svedja
John Malveaux of
writes:
Pianist,
educator, and Pulitzer Prize composer George Walker was interviewed
two (2) times by KUSC Classical Radio 91.5 FM host Jim Svedja. The
first part of the two-part memorial broadcast will be aired Sunday
(9/2/18) at 10:00 PM PST on the Record Shelf. Part II will be heard the
following week, 9/9/18 at 10:00 PM PST on the Record Shelf.
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
And I will be playing some works by Walker on my radio show next Tuesday. Sergio [Sergio A. Mims]
AaronAsk: Weekly mentoring for a creative life: A Grand Dilemma! (3:15)
Aaron P. Dworkin writes:
Greetings and welcome to this week's episode of AaronAsk, your weekly mentoring session to live a fulfilling creative life! This week's episode is titled, A Grand Dilemma! Enjoy, we wish you a creative day and see you for next week's session!
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
Thanks for sharing! Aaron [Aaron P. Dworkin]
Sunday, August 26, 2018
The passing of The Dean Of African American Composers-A Remembrance by Bill Doggett
With Guest Artist, U. of Michigan Music Professor and Bass Baritone, Daniel Washington and Colours of Music Founder, Lee Pringle
George Walker meets renowned Choral Director, Arranger, Roland Carter
George Walker and Roland Carter
With Colours of Music Festival VIP donors
George Walker meets U. of Michigan's Daniel Washington with Lee Pringle, Colours of Music Founder looking on
GEORGE WALKER'S FIRST NEW YORK RECITAL 1946, from the Archive of Bill Doggett Productions given as GIFT to George Walker on his 95th birthday
Bill Doggett writes:
Dear Friends:
It is with sadness that I share the
News of the passing of our friend, George Walker, the Dean of African
American Composers on Thursday, August 23rd at his home in
Montclair, New Jersey at age 96.
.
NPR did a very nice piece on him here
George and I met in October 2013 at the inaugural Festival of The Colours of Music in Charleston, North Carolina.
Since
then we became friends and corresponded regarding opportunities for his
music to be performed by The Los Angeles Philharmonic and other leading
orchestras. For his 95th birthday, I gifted him a Town Hall program
from 1946 that had a large display ad announcing his Premiere recital as
a Classical pianist. I will never forget his astonishment at my gift [image above]
Rest in Peace, beloved Dean of African American Composers
The photos above were taken by me at the October 2013 Colours of Music Festival. Photo Credit: Bill Doggett/Bill Doggett Productions
Althea Waites says George Walker's "music was not heard and performed extensively"
NPR.org: Composer George Walker takes a bow at a performance of his Pulitzer winning piece, Lilacs, in California in 1996.
Luis Sinco/LA Times/Getty Images
Althea Waites
Althea Waites writes:
I was terribly saddened to hear
that George Walker, one of the brilliant composers of my generation, has
passed away, and despite the fact that he was close to 100 years old
and had many first achievements in his list of credits, his music was
not heard and performed extensively during his lifetime. One would think
that a Pulitzer Prize would be more than enough for him to be
recognized as a pre-eminent composer and pianist, but I must admit that
he was probably filed away and neglected because he was
African-American.
Unfortunately, this
is a very distressing commentary regarding the current state of affairs
with black composers, except that we can hear their music for special
tributes during Black History/ Heritage month, or when a critic decides
to write an occasional piece about their contributions.
Hale
Smith, another outstanding composer from my generation who passed away
recently, wrote an excellent essay entitled “Here I Stand” in which he
made a strong and compelling case for mainstreaming the music
of African-American composers with the works of Bach, Stravinsky, Brahms
and anyone else in the Western canon.
He
also said that race and national origin should not necessarily be
included as points for identification…in other words, let the music
speak and express the composer’s art, and let the listener/audience form
their own impressions about what they hear.
Finally,
I must say that after 60 + years of performing and teaching, I continue
to play music that resonates with me, regardless of who wrote it, and I
perform the music of African-American composers because they deserve
more recognition, nevertheless, I agree with Hale Smith’s premise that
their music must be mainstreamed on concerts and classical radio
stations throughout the world. It must stand on its own merit and not
because it happens to have been written by an African-American composer.
This is probably the best way to bring an end to years of neglect and
musical racism.
Althea Waites
Keyboard Faculty/ Steinway Artist
Cole Conservatory@California State University/ Long Beach
Comment by email:
Dear Bill,
Thank you so much for posting my comment….I really appreciate your work!
Best wishes and kind regards,
Althea [Althea Waites]
Saturday, August 25, 2018
John Malveaux: Annelle Gregory performs at "End of Summer" Sept. 2 & on YouTube in Ukraine
Annelle Gregory
John Malveaux of
writes:
Young virtuoso violinist Annelle Gregory will perform three pieces by
African American composer William Grant Still during inaugural END of
SUMMER Music Cultural Celebration presented Sunday Sept 2, 2018, 12:00
noon-7:00 PM by 59th district state assemblymember Reggie Jones Sawyer
Sr. at Exposition Park-Christmas Tree Lane, Los Angeles featuring Grammy
winners Deniece Williams and Poncho Sanchez and others.
See
Annelle Gregory performing music by Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov,
April 12, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine with Kiev Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETtEQp3r28c&feature=youtu.be
Sergio Mims: Interview with baritone Michael Preacely on WHPK-FM Tuesday Aug. 28
Michael Preaceley
Sergio A. Mims writes:
On
my classical music radio show Tuesday Aug. 28 I will broadcast an
interview I did last week with the exciting up and coming baritone
Michael Preacely who recently appeared this summer at Ravinia in Leonard
Bernstein's Mass with the CSO with Marin Alsop conducting.
American
baritone Michael Preacely is a rising star on the operatic stage and is
also known for a versatile singing ability and style that allow him to
cross between genres from classical repertoire to pop, contemporary, and
Broadway. He has received critical acclaim for many of his
performances, including Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Scarpia in Tosca, Ford in Falstaff, Marcello in La Boheme, the High Priest in Samson and Delilah, and Porgy and Jake in Porgy and Bess. Mr. Preacely has performed with many major and regional opera houses and orchestras in the United States and abroad.
Also
on the show will be Mendelssohn's Symphony No.3 (Scottish) and Erich
Wolfgang Korngold's opera Violanta. The show can be heard on WHPK-FM
Chicago Tuesdays 12-3PM Central Time on 88.5FM locally and live stream
worldwide on www.whpk.org
Sergio
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