John Malveaux: 'Annelle Gregory received a standing ovation after performing Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 with the Mozart Festival Orchestra'

Annelle K. Gregory

John Malveaux of www.MusicUNTOLD.com writes:

Long Beach Music Scene:

On Saturday January 26, 2013  violinist Annelle Gregory received a standing ovation after performing Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 with the Mozart Festival Orchestra under the baton of Johannes Műller-Stosch. The venue was the Gerald R. Daniel Recital Hall on the California State University, Long Beach campus. Annelle was the Long Beach Mozart Festival Concerto Grand Prize Winner. The standing ovation was an appropriate response to a professional performance by a 17 year old and a compliment for an elegant dress befitting first Lady Michelle Obama. Annelle lives in San Diego but will be in Long Beach for a brief opening performance of A MASS for PEACE at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach on February 24, 2013. Annelle accepted an invitation for John Malveaux for dinner at LaTraviatta Restaurant following her performance.  

 

Thanks

John Malveaux

Mickey Thomas Terry - WPFW Radio Show Guest - Monday, January 28, 2013

Mickey Thomas Terry

Mickey Thomas Terry will be a guest on a live radio program: "The Jazz Collector" (Host: Brother Al)  Monday evening, Jan. 28th on WPFW-FM Radio (89.3) in Washington, DC.  The broadcast normally lasts from 7-10pm; however, his segment should air sometime around 8pm.  

On the program with Dr. Terry will be Miss Mariah Maxwell, his organ pupil, who will present an organ recital this Friday evening, Feb. 1st at 6:30pm, at the National Baptist Church in Washington, DC.  The radio program will comprise a discussion of her program as well as a general discussion of classical organ music and jazz.  Musical excerpts of classical organ works will be played as part of the program.  The music of both program and recital will feature music of African-American composers Mark Fax and Thomas H. Kerr as well as standard repertoire. 

New York Times Music Review: "Flowers From the Cotton Fields ‘Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter,’ by Robert Wilson"

Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter From left, Robert Osborne, Karma Mayet, Carla Duren and Darynn Zimmer in the premiere of Robert Wilson’s opera, presented by Peak Performances at the Kasser Theater at Montclair State University in New Jersey.  (Stephanie Berger/New York Times)

Cast members in “Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter,” about a self-taught black painter in the Deep South.  (Stephanie Berger/New York Times)                          

Sheryl Sutton as the silent Angel.  (Stephanie Berger/New York Times)

Sergio Mims forwards this link: 

New York Times 

A young woman wearing a boldly patterned dress emerges from a door-shaped opening in a brightly painted curtain. She grins widely. “I’m Clementine Hunter,” she exclaims.

As a “life of” piece, “Zinnias,” which opened on Saturday as part of the Peak Performances series at Montclair State University, is a throwback to Mr. Wilson’s early years. He made his name in the 1960s and ’70s with a series of slow, sprawling abstractions posing as biographies: “The Life and Times of Sigmund Freud,” “The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin,” “Edison” and of course, “Einstein on the Beach,” his epochal collaboration with Philip Glass.

The ostensible subjects of those frequently mystifying pieces would never stoop to something as conventional as introducing themselves. Einstein does a lot of violin playing but says nothing throughout a five-hour opera.

So the forthright enthusiasm of Mr. Wilson’s Clementine Hunter, in real life a black plantation worker in Louisiana who achieved renown as a self-taught painter, comes as something of a shock. Mr. Wilson has made “Zinnias” recognizably his own while working with a sweetly easygoing score by Bernice Johnson Reagon, a founder of the a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Toshi Reagon, her daughter; and a book by Jacqueline Woodson. Its colored-light backdrops, elegant white furniture and angular, repetitive gestures will be familiar to his fans.                     

Richard Alston Plays Piano Works of Composers of African Descent at Newark Public Library Reception Jan. 30, 2013 6-8 PM

Pianist Richard Alston performs 

Classically Black: Piano Compositions

by Composers of African Descent

Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Concert 6 PM Feb. 12 Includes Music of Duke Ellington, George Walker & Jeffrey Mumford

OzarkNetwork.com
ASUMH to Host Free Concert Celebrating Black History Month February 12

January 23rd, 2013 | Author: Ed Button

(Mountain Home) – The public is invited to a Black History Month celebration performance of the ensemble Of Ebony Embers-Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance on Tuesday, February 12 at 6 PM in the Ed Coulter Performing Arts Center at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH). The free performance is open to the public and tickets are not required.

The program is a chamber music theatre work for actor and trio (cello, piano & percussion) celebrating the lives of the great African-American poets, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Claude McKay as seen through the eyes of the great muralist and painter Aaron Douglas. The musical score includes works by jazz giants Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk and Charles Mingus as well as concert music by Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker.

...

To learn more about this event, e-mail Dr. Rebecca Baird at rbaird@asumh.edu or call ASUMH at 870-508-6100.

[Duke Ellington (1899-1974) and George Walker (b. 1922) are featured at AfriClassical.com]

Sandra Seaton on Jan. 25 Kellogg event - "The Will, Music History, and King: A Playwright Celebrates 60-50 Civil Rights Anniversaries"

Sandra Seaton: Me and my wonderful guests at the reception  following "The Will, Music History, and King: A Playwright Celebrates 60-50 Civil Rights Anniversaries"  Kellogg Center Auditorium, East Lansing, Michigan on January 25, 2013.

Darius Gillard

Sandra Seaton writes:

Dear Bill,

I tried to add a comment to your excellent post about my event at Kellogg Center, but I don't think it went through.  Thank you so much, Bill, for taking the time to mention my work. I really appreciate it.

Along with  excerpts from my plays The Will and Music History, my work, King: A Reflection on the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was performed on January 25 at Kellogg. King is a spoken word piece, written to be performed accompanied by spirituals. I was delighted to be accompanied by Darius Gillard, a fine young baritone MSU graduate student in the School of Music, who sang and re-scored the spirituals to be sung a capella. I have attached Darius's photo and a photo from the reception after the event. The audience was thrilled by Darius Gillard's performance.

Here's the synopsis for King:

King: A Reflection on the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A spoken word piece, by playwright/librettist Sandra Seaton, accompanied by spirituals, about the journey of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he struggled to bring civil rights to the United States. The piece, a mixture of poetry and brief reflections, remembers Rev. King as an individual with human limitations who nevertheless answered the call to leadership. His life serves as a model for those, especially the young, who might feel that any imperfection disqualifies them from leadership.  The piece is divided into four sections:  “Nobel-man,” “Chicago,” “Bottles and Rocks,” and "Memphis 1968.”

King, written by Sandra Seaton in 2004, was first performed in January 2005 at the Wharton Center in East Lansing, Michigan with choral accompaniment by the Detroit Renaissance High School Choir, Ann Arbor Youth Chorale and Michigan State University Children's Choirs. 

Thanks so much,

Sandra

Charles Kaufmann: 'Longfellow Chorus Premieres Coleridge-Taylor Film March 13/16'

Charles Kaufmann of The Longfellow Chorus of Portland, Maine writes:

March 13 and 16: Documentary film premiere: "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and His Music in America, 1900-1912." Who was Samuel Coleridge-Taylor? He was an Afro-English composer who inspired the founding leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement 100 years ago, among them W. E. B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson and Booker T. Washington. This film, a Longfellow Chorus production, takes you to some unusual places in the U.S. where Coleridge-Taylor inspired many Americans, and introduces you to a number of interesting people who tell Coleridge-Taylor's story in narrative and song. Meet the director and artists from the film in theater.

-- “The respect and appreciation for this little-known character from history is obvious and infectious. The production value is really impressive. Very nicely shot interviews. Great use of archival. Great audio and mix. Well done.” – Jed Rauscher, supervising producer, Lone Wolf Documentary Group.

http://www.longfellowchorus.com/2013_Longfellow_Choral_Festival.html

[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com. We are collaborating with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Foundation of the U.K., www.SCTF.org.uk]

Celso Machado, Afro-Brazilian Classical Guitarist & Composer born Jan. 27, 1953; Ensemble Composition 'Folguedo' Heard at Squaw Valley in 2012

[Photo posted August 20, 2012 by AfriClassical: Performers enjoy a short break while gearing up to perform Celso Machado's guitar ensemble piece "Folguedo" at Squaw Valley Chapel, at the Sixth International Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival and Competition, July 14, 2012.  Courtesy Samantha Wells]

Celso Machado (b. 1953)

Celso Machado is an Afro-Brazilian composer, guitarist, lyricist and singer who was born in Ribeiro Preto, Brazil on January 27, 1953. British Columbia, Canada is now his home base. He is profiled at AfriClassical.com and has a website of his own, http://www.CelsoMachado.com A seemingly endless stream of global performances is chronicled by the calendar at his website. 

The works he writes and performs are played by guitarists in both classical and world music genres. At age seven Celso began performing in street bands. He first performed in Canada in 1986; he moved there three years later. His many CDs consist of music composed by himself and others. Machado has composed sound tracks for several documentary films. His score for the film In the Company of Fear won a Leo Award in 2000 in Canada. Publication of Machado's sheet music has resulted in many performances by other guitarists. The French firm Éditions Henry Lemoine has published a volume of his music whose title translates to Brazilian Popular Music for Flute and Guitar. A forthcoming volume will be called Brazilian Music With Baroque Inspiration.

Celso Machado was interviewed by AfriClassical in May, 2010. One of the ideas he expressed was his attraction to elements of the Baroque style, which he combines with Brazilian influences in his compositions. Reviewers often remark on Celso's use of percussion in performances. NoBlackTieJazz was quoted as saying “Celso demonstrates percussion music using himself as an instrument.”

Whether guitar gatherings focus on Classical Music, World Music or Folk Music, Celso Machado is frequently at the center of attention.  In addition to performing  on and writing for his instrument, Celso Machado conducts performances of his compositions by groups of guitarists.  For example, he conducted his guitar ensemble piece "Folguedo" at Squaw Valley, the venue of the "Sixth International Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival and Competition," July 14, 2012.

SouthEverettBeacon.com reported on Jan. 22, 2013: The Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) presents “International Guitar Night” on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the ECA, 410 Fourth Avenue North, Edmonds. 

The article continued: This year IGN’s 12th North American tour features Martin Taylor, Solorazaf, Celso Machado, and Brian Gore.  “Do yourself a favour – take advantage of this rare opportunity to witness sheer acoustic guitar virtuosity as it was meant to be enjoyed,” Eric Thom, of Roots Music Canada said. “Chances are you’ll be forever moved by the scale of this truly International experience.”

Vivre Musicale: 'Humanity' With Songs of Margaret A. Bonds Feb. 8, 7 PM, Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Palm Beach & Feb. 9, 8 PM, Location TBA

Margaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a Complete Works List and a Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com  The Centennial of her birth is March 3, 2013

Through musical genres such as jazz, blues, afro-cuban music, and gospel that have historically communicated longings of the human heart and, coupled with the mainstream and the classical, this concert will highlight the “other,” giving voice to the voiceless, and imbuing the powerful with a soft-blue human hue.

Friday, February 8th
Bethesda-by-the-Sea (in Parish Hall)
141 South County Road
Palm Beach, Florida 33480
7:00pm

Saturday, February 9th
TBA
8:00pm

*Forum pre-concert chat for 2/8 & 2/9 begin at 6pm and 7pm respectively

Concert Program:

Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan

~Latino Music Selections~

Strange Fruit by Abel Meeropol
Selections from Shadow of the Blues by John Musto

Silhouette
Could Be

The Negro Speaks of Rivers poem by Langston Hughes music by Margaret Bonds

~Gospel impromptu~

The Lord is my Shepherd for vocal ensemble by John Rutter
Dark Wood for bassoon, violin, cello, and piano by Jennifer Higdon
Hometown Glory & Turning Tables  by Adele

~Latino Music Selections~

Five Creek-Freedmen Spirituals for voice, (violin), and piano by Margaret Bonds

Selections from Genius Child: A Cycle of 10 Songs from the Collected poems of Langston Hughes by Ricky Ian Gordon

Joy (Gordon)
Dry Bones (Bonds)

Genius Child (Gordon)
Lord, I just can’t keep from cryin’ (Bonds)

My People (Gordon)
Sit down Servant (Bonds)

Kid in the Park (Gordon)
I’ll Reach to Heaven (Bonds)

Prayer (Gordon)
You can tell the World (Bonds)

~Gospel Impromptu~

I Know where I’ve been from Hairspray music by Marc Shaiman/lyrics by Scott Whitman
God so Loved the World for vocal ensemble by John Stainer

Artists:

Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste, soprano; Kellie Nicole Rentz-Bruneau, soprano; Leslie Gonzalez, mezzo-soprano; Monica Hidalgo, mezzo-soprano; Jorge L. Toro, tenor; Steven D. Booth, tenor; Marcus Jordan, baritone; Marques Jerrell Ruff, bass-baritone; Gralin Vinning, piano; Daniel Hursey, bassoon; Vijeta Sathyaraj, violin; Jared Cooper, cello; Darren Matias, piano

16th Annual Sphinx Competition for Young Black & Latino String Players is Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 in Detroit, with Tickets From $10

Jade Simmons and Adé Williams

The 16th Annual Sphinx Competition for young Black & Latino string players Presented by the DTE Energy Foundation

will take place on

Sunday, February 17, 2013
2:00 pmMax M. Fisher Music Center

3711 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201

Tickets starting at just $10 are available now!
Detroit Symphony Orchestra box office
313.576.5111
Mon - Fri, 9 am - 5 pm

For Group Tickets contact Chuck Dyer
313-576-5130 - cdyer@dso.org

[Aaron P. Dworkin (b. 1970), Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization, is featured at AfriClassical.com]

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David C. Howse @dchowse
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