Laren Keiser Music Pub.: George Walker's 'Sonata No. 2 for Piano' available from Hal-Leonard Corp.

[George Walker]

On Oct. 25 AfriClassical posted: “Pianist Benjamin Bradham Performs 'Sonata No. 2' of George Walker at Lincoln Center Library Nov. 27, 2:30 PM.” Lauren Keiser Music Publishing (LKMP) mentions the performance in its Newsletter:

“George Walker's Sonata No. 2 for Piano (1956) will be performed by Benjamin Bradham. Bradham will also be performing works by Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff on the November 27th concert at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, NYC.”

LKMP notes that the sheet music for this work is available from the Hal-Leonard Corporation. [George Walker (b. 1922) is a composer and pianist whose website is http://georgetwalker.com/, and who is featured at AfriClassical.com]

Pianist Benjamin Bradham Performs 'Sonata No. 2' of George Walker at Lincoln Center Library Nov. 27, 2:30 PM

[Benjamin Bradham]

AfriClassical has received this message from pianist Benjamin Bradham about his free recital on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011:

“I am writing to let you know that I will be playing a recital at the Bruno Walter Auditorium of the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 2:30 pm (please see attached e-flyer for details). This year I will indeed play the Sonata No. 2 of George Walker. As you may recall, I originally planned to play it last year but then opted to program it at a later date. This November 27th turns out to be that later date, and it is definite this time. The program will also include works by Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff. Information can also be found in the events calendar on the Library's web site: www.nypl.org. I hope you will be able to attend.

All best,

Benjamin Bradham [George Walker (b. 1922) is a composer and pianist whose website is http://georgetwalker.com, and who is featured at AfriClassical.com]

NANM: George Walker, Composer and Pianist Born June 27, 1922, Has Had 'Extraordinary Career'

[George Walker: Great American Orchestral Music, Vol. 2; Albany Records Troy 1178 (2010)]

Reverberations, a publication of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., published an article on February 11, 2010 which provides an excellent overview of the long and productive career of the composer and pianist George Walker, who is profiled at AfriClassical.com and has a personal website, http://georgetwalker.com/:

“NANM Salutes George Theophilus Walker by Marilyn Thompson”

“The extraordinary career of Dr. George Walker (b. 1922) has been filled with many 'firsts.' After graduating from Oberlin Conservatory at age 18 with highest honors, he matriculated at Curtis Institute, studying piano with Rudolph Serkin, chamber music with William Primrose and Gregor Piatigorsky, and composition with Rosario Scalero, teacher of Samuel Barber. In 1945, he became the first African American to graduate from Curtis, receiving Artist Diplomas in piano and composition.

“Mr. Walker was presented in a Town Hall debut recital, becoming the first African American instrumentalist to perform there. He won the Philadelphia Youth Auditions, and played Rachmaninoff’’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, under Eugene Ormandy, becoming the first black to perform with that orchestra. The second movement of his Lyric for Strings has become the most frequently performed orchestral work by a living American composer. Mr. Walker became the first artist of color to be signed by a major management firm, the National Concert Artists.

“In 1956, Mr. Walker completed doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music, becoming the first black graduate of that institution. He was also the first recipient of color of the John Hay Whitney Fellowship in 1957, when he also received a Fulbright Fellowship. He spent two years in Paris, studying composition with Nadia Boulanger.

“Dr. Walker is the first African American to receive the Pulitzer Price in Music, for his work, Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra, premiered by the Boston Symphony, with Seiji Ozawa, conducting. He has recently completed his autobiography, Reminiscences of an American Composer and Pianist (The Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN: 0810869403). This book should be part of the library of any serious musician. Dr. Walker shares remembrances of his remarkable life and career.”

Comment by email:

Best regards. Thanks very much, Bill. George

NorthJersey.com: 'George Walker is honored by Newark School of the Arts'

[(Photo Courtesy of Ausrine Dereskeviciute) George Walker, right, enjoys the moment with his friend Kevin Maynor, board member of Newark School of the Arts.]

Thursday, April 28, 2011

NorthJersey.com

The Montclair Times

“George Theophilus Walker of Montclair was the artistic honoree at the Newark School of the Arts' 17th annual cabaret fundraiser, held April 20 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Walker, a composer and pianist, was the first African-American man to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music, for his work 'Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra.'

“'It is heartening to know how much the Newark School of the Arts is contributing to the personal lives of its students and the community at large,' Walker, 88, told the audience. 'Having the opportunity to study and perform music, dance, drama and visual arts at a young age is like opening the window to a perspective that has no boundaries.'

“A tribute to Walker was delivered by Kevin Maynor, a NSA board member and a friend of Walker's. Maynor, a professional bass singer, sang a composition that Walker wrote when he was 24 years old but did not hear performed for seven years and then waited another 43 years before hearing it in concert. 'I am particularly pleased that some of my music has been included on the program,' Walker said. 'A composer exists when his music is heard.'" [Composer George Walker (b. 1922) has a website at: http://georgetwalker.com/ and is featured at AfriClassical.com]

Pianist Rochelle Sennet Performs at Mills Breast Cancer Institute Feb. 10 & UI Krannert Center Feb. 13

[Dr. Rochelle Sennet]

AfriClassical first wrote about pianist Rochelle Sennet on Jan. 5, 2009. The Mills Breast Cancer Institute in Urbana, Illinois will present a recital called The Piano & the Romantic Era on Feb. 10 featuring Rochelle Sennet on piano and Igor Kalnin on violin. Rochelle Sennet's concert on Feb. 13 will feature works of Liszt and Beethoven. She has also completed a new recording of the Piano Concerto of George Walker (b. 1922), who is featured at AfriClassical.com. The Piano Concerto is presently available on CD only on the rare 2-CD set Sony DSO-1111 (2002):

The217.com

Artist on the rise

Feb 1 - by Jeff Nelson – buzz Writer

“Every once in a while in the life of a journalist who covers a beat there is that 'Eureka!' moment. In the performing arts, those 'sure thing' discoveries are rare. But, I would stake a three and half decade reputation on what I heard the night of Nov. 30, 2006, at Urbana's Krannert Center. That was the night I heard Rochelle Sennet at the piano, and on Feb. 13, the rest of east central Illinois can confirm my opinion.

“It was a strangely unpublicized event with the University of Illinois Wind Symphony, the UI Brass Quintet and UI Graduate Brass Quintet and the UI Concert Choir. It was that evening that the world renowned, John Corigliano, one of the world's greatest living composers, whose works have won everything from the Pulitzer Prize to the Academy Award, was here showcasing his compositions. Our School of Music was honored to showcase several of his compositions and one of them showcased a young pianist. It was his 1976 composition, 'Etude Fantasy' and the pianist was Rochelle Sennet.”

“Since that evening, Rochelle Sennet has gone on to earn her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois, taken various teaching positions and a concert schedule. The good news is that home is still here, as she holds the position of Assistant Professor of Piano at our own School of Music and much of her work is directed locally, not the least of which is a concert at the Krannert Center on Feb. 13. This concert will not be in her specialty of African American piano music, but a tribute to the great composers of the 19th century. She will join the musical world in celebrating the 200th anniversary of Franz Liszt's birth, with a couple of his splendid works for the keyboard. A second portion will pay tribute to Beethoven, with a performance of one of his sonatas for violin and piano. Igor Kalin, the current concert master of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, will join her for the violin portion.

“This somewhat traditional concert does not put her interest in modern American and African American music on hold. In the bin is a recording of the George Walker Piano concerto, a marvelous 1975 work, long in need of a new recording as the original Hinderas/Freeman performance is very difficult to obtain. This upcoming CD is a long way from a moment at age 7 in Beaumont, Texas, when she heard a pianist on television, and wanted to play like that. A year of begging parents for lessons led to lessons and a rented piano. Since then degrees from Texas Christian University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the University of Michigan, accumulated in her portfolio before coming here to study with Ian Hobson.

“With an interest in American music, a specialty in the piano concerto of the African American composer, and a love of all the repertoire written for the piano, it is no mystery why such talent is already in bloom. As she continues her promising career, you can be present at what might be one of those breakout moments on Feb. 13.”

Topics.NPR.org: “George Walker: 'NPR has chosen my most recent Albany Recording as one of the five best cds of contemporary music for 2010.'”

[George Walker, Great American Orchestral Music, Vol. 2; Gregory Walker, violin; Andrzej Krzyzanowski, solo flute; Sinfonia Varsovia; Ian Hobson, conductor; Albany Records Troy 1178 (2010)]

When we visited the Topics.NPR.org page this morning we were delighted to find that this was the top article:

Topics.NPR.org

“George Walker: 'NPR has chosen my most recent Albany Recording as one of the five best cds of contemporary music for 2010.'

George Walker (b. 1922) is featured at AfriClassical.com and has a website of his own, http://georgetwalker.com/ Today he sent us news of recognition from National Public Radio for his most recent recording: I thought that you might be interested in... Full Article at AfriClassical”

KUSC.org: 'Jim Svejda's guest tonight will be George Walker, the first black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music'

[George Walker]

KUSC.org

May 20, 2010

The Evening Program with Jim Svejda

(Weeknights 7 PM- Midnight)

Jim Svejda's guest tonight will be George Walker, the first black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. He won for his 1996 composition Lilacs, written for the Boston Symphony. Tune in for this work as well as Walker's Mass (arguably the great American mass setting), the Violin Concerto from 2009 (finished when he was 87) and the Lyric for Strings, which is the most-performed orchestral work by a living American composer. [George Walker (b. 1922) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Walker & Still in 'Classical Connections,' Capital City Symphony, Washington, D.C. Feb. 21

[George Walker]

Atlasarts.tix.com
“Classical Connections, a concert highlighting connections among diverse classical composers – including Pulitzer Prize winning, Washington native George Walker.
Sunday, Feb 21 at 4:30pm
Sprenger Theater
Tickets: $5 suggested donation
For audiences ages 5 and up.
Enjoy the intersection of professional and young performers when members of The Capital City Symphony join with the talented Young Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra to celebrate America's musical legacy. The program will highlight the connections among African-American and European-American composers and feature pieces by George Walker, William Grant Still and Aaron Copland. Conductor Victoria Gau will illuminate the musical intersections in lively conversation with the audience. Join in this unique collaboration of two musical organizations dedicated to making classical music accessible and enjoyable for all. [George Walker and William Grant Still are profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Denver Post: “Composer George Walker's son is ready to shine with 'Violin Concerto'"

[TOP: George Walker; BOTTOM: Gregory Walker (Photos from The Denver Post)]

arts and entertainment
“Composer George Walker's son is ready to shine with "Violin Concerto"
By Sabine Kortals
Special to The Denver Post
Posted: 12/08/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
George Walker composed 'Violin Concerto' for son Gregory, who will premiere the work with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Violinist Gregory Walker didn't know his famous composer father was writing a piece of music just for him until after it was finished. 'Dad's not really a collaborative temperament,' said Walker, longtime concertmaster of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. 'The concerto just showed up on my doorstep one day without any input from me.'

“But George Walker's 'Violin Concerto' was just right for his son Gregory. And the piece was compelling enough to get noticed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, which will premiere it Thursday night in that city's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. With some 80 published works — mostly commissions — to his name, George Walker, 87, is widely recognized for blazing the trail for African-Americans in classical music. In 1996, he became the first black composer to receive a Pulitzer Prize, for his 'Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra,' based on poet Walt Whitman's reflection on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

“The 'Violin Concerto,' he said, was meant to be a surprise. 'I kept the concerto a secret for a couple of reasons: I wanted to make certain that I would be satisfied with the work, and I wanted to make sure that the timing was right for Gregory to be able to perform it.'" [George Walker is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Comment by email

It's amusing to me to know that you are getting information before I do. Thanks. George

Philly.com: 'Composer father, soloist son team up for world premiere orchestra presentation'

[ABOVE: Gregory Walker; BELOW: George Walker]

Posted on Fri, Dec. 4, 2009
The Philadelphia Daily News interviewed composer George Walker about his new Violin Concerto, to be premiered by his son Gregory Walker:

Philly.com
By Tom Di Nardo For the Daily News
“From the days of Bach, Mozart and Haydn, all the way to the more recent Shostakovich and Jarvi offspring, composing and performing music has often been a family affair. The legacy continues for George Theophilus Walker, a major American composer whose intense music deserves much more attention. Next week, the Philadelphia Orchestra will present the world premiere of his Violin Concerto, written for his talented son Gregory Walker, who performs as soloist. Walker, now 87 and a resident of Montclair, N.J., was the first African-American to graduate from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1945, with diplomas in both piano and composition.”

“Walker's son Gregory has performed much of the standard repertoire, and has played many repertory recitals with his mother, Helen Walker-Hill, and his wife Lori. He has also composed the first rap symphony 'Dream N. The Hood' and an enhanced version of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' with electronics. He'll be playing his father's intensely difficult Violin Concerto with a loaned $4.5 million 1718 Stradivarius, the instrument played by Zoltan Szekely when he performed the world premiere of Bela Bartok's Second Violin Concerto in 1939. Szekely was a professor at the University of Colorado, from which Gregory Walker received his doctorate and now teaches.”

“Q: Did you compose the Concerto with your son in mind?”
“A: I don't think in terms of writing for a particular performer, but about what I want to hear myself. I have a great confidence in Gregory, who's a wonderful violinist, and I know what he can do, especially in my music. But the piece would have existed anyway. It's just important for him to get the exposure.”

“Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 8 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 12, 2 p.m. Dec. 11, $39-$125, 215-893-1999, http://www.philorch.org.” [Full Post] [George Walker is profiled at AfriClassical.com]