SPRING 2009 GUEST ARTISTS

Samuel Adler | Richard Thompson | Mimi Sillman
 Ju Fang Liu | B. Michael Willams | Pacifica Quartet

 

Samuel AdlerSAMUEL ADLER
February 25-March 1, 2009
Music of the 21st Century

Samuel Adler was born March 4, 1928, Mannheim, Germany and came to the United States in 1939. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in May 2001. He is the composer of over 400 published works, including 5 operas, 6 symphonies, 12 concerti, 8 string quartets, 4 oratorios and many other orchestral, band, chamber and choral works and songs, which have been performed all over the world. He is the author of three books, Choral Conducting (Holt Reinhart and Winston 1971, second edition Schirmer Books 1985), Sight Singing (W.W. Norton 1979, 1997), and The Study of Orchestration (W.W. Norton 1982, 1989, 2001). He has also contributed numerous articles to major magazines and books published in the U.S. and abroad.

Adler was educated at Boston University and Harvard University, and holds honorary doctorates from Southern Methodist University, Wake Forest University, St. Mary’s Notre-Dame and the St. Louis Conservatory. His major teachers were: in composition, Herbert Fromm, Walter Piston, Randall Thompson, Paul Hindemith and Aaron Copland; in conducting, Serge Koussevitzky.

He is Professor-emeritus at the Eastman School of Music where he taught from 1966 to 1995 and served as chair of the composition department from 1974 until his retirement. Before going to Eastman, Adler served as professor of composition at the University of North Texas (1957-1977), Music Director at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas (1953-1966), and instructor of Fine Arts at the Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas (1955-1966). From 1954 to 1958 he was music director of the Dallas Lyric Theater and the Dallas Chorale. Since 1997 he has been a member of the composition faculty at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. Adler has given master classes and workshops at over 300 universities worldwide, and in the summers has taught at major music festivals such as Tanglewood, Aspen, Brevard, Bowdoin, as well as others in France, Germany, Israel, Spain, Austria, Poland, South America and Korea.

Some recent commissions have been from the Cleveland Orchestra (Cello Concerto), the National Symphony (Piano Concerto No. 1), the Dallas Symphony (Lux Perpetua), the Pittsburgh Symphony (Viola Concerto), the Houston Symphony (Horn Concerto), the Barlow Foundation/Atlanta Symphony (Choose Life), the American Brass Quintet, the Wolf Trap Foundation, the Berlin-Bochum Brass Ensemble, the Ying Quartet and the American String Quartet to name only a few. His works have been performed lately by the St. Louis Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Mannheim Nationaltheater Orchestra. Besides these commissions and performances, previous commissions have been received from the National Endowment for the Arts (1975, 1978, 1980 and 1982), the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, the Koussevitzky Foundation, the City of Jerusalem, the Welsh Arts Council and many others.

Adler has been awarded many prizes including a 1990 award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Charles Ives Award, the Lillian Fairchild Award, the MTNA Award for Composer of the Year (1988-1989), and a Special Citation by the American Foundation of Music Clubs (2001). In 1983 he won the Deems Taylor Award for his book, The Study of Orchestration. In 1988-1989 he was designated "Phi Beta Kappa Scholar." In 1989 he received the Eastman School’s Eisenhard Award for Distinguished Teaching. In 1991 he was honored being named the Composer of the Year by the American Guild of Organists. Adler was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (1975-1976); he has been a MacDowell Fellow for five years and; during his second trip to Chile, he was elected to the Chilean Academy of Fine Arts (1993) "for his outstanding contribution to the world of music as a composer." In 1999, he was elected to the Akademie der Kuenste in Germany for distinguished service to music. While serving in the United States Army (1950-1952), Adler founded and conducted the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra and, because of the Orchestra’s great psychological and musical impact on European culture, was awarded the army’s Medal of Honor.

Adler has appeared as conductor with many major symphony orchestra, both in the U.S. and abroad. His compositions are published by Theodore Presser Company, Oxford University Press, G. Schirmer, Carl Fischer, E.C. Schirmer, Peters Edition, Ludwig Music, Southern Music Publishers, Transcontinental Music Publishers. Recordings of his works have been done on RCA, Gasparo, Albany, CRI, Crystal and Vanguard.

 

Richard ThompsonRICHARD THOMPSON, PIANO
March 9, 2009 - Thompson Recital Hall

Richard Thompson is a performer and composer whose work resists a single stylistic category. His compositions combine European and African-American styles, so that the formal structures of European classical music develop ideas which are essentially jazz in nature.  Originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, Mr. Thompson made his piano debut at the Purcell Room, in the Royal Festival Hall in London. He has appeared in live broadcasts for B.B.C. Jazz and Classical Radio, Italian National Television and Radio and also given concerts at La Piccola Scala in Milan, among many other venues. His orchestral appearances include The Harlem Festival Orchestra, The Boston Orchestra and Chorale, The Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and The Aberdeen Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Thompson has received numerous grants, including from Meet the Composer and The Brooklyn Arts Council, which in 1999 awarded him the first Individual Artist Award for classical music composition. The winning piece, “Legend Of The Moors”, is a musical depiction of the influence of the Moors in Spain during the Middle Ages, and was premiered at The Brooklyn Conservatory in 1999.  In 2000 his orchestral piece, “Voices”, had its premiere with the Long Island Sound Symphony Orchestra under Dorothy Savitch.  Other composition and recording credits include excerpts of Graeme Revell's music for the film "Chinese Box", composing and recording music for the film "Love Walked In" and co-writing the score for an independent feature, “Dogs: The Rise and Fall Of An All Girl Bookie Joint" and for the independent film, “Girlfight”. A discussion of some of his compositions appears in the 1998 textbook, "African-American Music, An Introduction" by Dr. Earl Stewart, published by Simon & Schuster Macmillan/Prentice Hall International. He has frequently performed as guest pianist of the Frank Lacy Quartet in NYC, and substituted for Geri Allen off-Broadway in "In Walks Bud", performing on stage in the styles of Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell.

The Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, with Christine Moore, soprano, gave the world premiere performance of Mr. Thompson’s song cycle “The Shadow of Dawn” at Merkin Hall, New York City in 2000.  His CD of original compositions, “Poetry Prelude”, was released in 2006 by Visionary Records/Albany Records, and includes song cycles set to the poetry of Langston Hughes (Dream Variations) and Paul Laurence Dunbar (The Shadow of Dawn), Six Preludes for Piano Solo and a jazz quartet arrangement of “Wade in the Water.” (both cycles published by M.M.B. Music of St.Louis). In summer of 2006 he recorded, with his New York jazz group Mirage, a CD of arrangements of spirituals, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, which was  released in February 2008 on the Arabesque label.  He is currently working on a chamber opera, “The Mask in the Mirror”, based on the courtship and marriage of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar and Alice Ruth Moore.

Mr. Thompson is Associate Professor of Music at San Diego State University, where he teaches jazz performance and history, and music theory. He performs frequently in both jazz and classical concerts, as a soloist as well as with many chamber groups, including his jazz quartet, Mirage.  He earned his undergraduate degree in music from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Masters degree from Rutgers University, where he studied jazz piano with Kenny Barron and classical piano with Theodore Lettvin.  He also holds a jazz diploma from The Berklee College of Music in Boston.

 

Mimi StillmanMIMI STILLMAN, FLUTE
Master Class - March 19, 2009 - GCPA 1118
Recital - March 19, 2009 - Thompson Recital Hall

Mimi Stillman is one of the most highly regarded flutists in the concert world today. "A magically gifted flutist, a breath of fresh air" The Washington Post,"A seasoned artist of spirited, unbridled virtuosity" New York Concert Review, "Technically agile and imaginative in her use of color" The New York Times, "A ball of fire in person and on the stage" The Alexandria Journal.

Ms. Stillman is internationally acclaimed for performances as soloist and chamber musician at major concert halls and festivals, including as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Hilton Head Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, Orquesta Sinfónica Carlos Chávez (Mexico City), Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Texas Brazos Valley Symphony, Orchestra 2001, and Curtis Chamber Orchestra, performed recitals at The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, and the Verbier Festival.

At 12, Ms. Stillman was the youngest wind player ever admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Julius Baker and Jeffrey Khaner and received her Bachelor of Music degree in 1999. That same year she became the youngest wind player ever to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions.

Ms. Stillman teaches masterclasses at universities and flute societies, presents lecture recitals, is a published author on music and history, and is devoted to educational outreach. She has taught masterclasses and performed recitals for the National Flute Association, New England Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Longy School of Music, Flute Society of Washington, D.C., Texas Flute Society, St. Louis Flute Society, University of California, University of Maryland, University of Georgia, University of Arizona, and University of Central Florida.

Ms. Stillman is the founder and artistic director of the Dolce Suono Chamber Music Concert Series, which since 2005 presents chamber music concerts in Philadelphia and the region and does educational outreach partnerships in the Philadelphia public schools, all free of charge to the community. Dolce Suono has garnered extensive praise from audiences and the media for its fresh, innovative programming and dynamic performances.

Ms. Stillman gave the world or local premieres of works by Martin Amlin, Mason Bates, Richard Danielpour, Daniel Dorff, Jeremy Gill, Jennifer Higdon, Katherine Hoover, Lawrence Ink, Daniel Kellogg, Lowell Liebermann, and Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee. She is regularly featured in the national press, as guest on NPR's "Performance Today," WGBH Boston, WRTI Radio and WHYY TV Philadelphia, and is host and performer on the Musical Encounters TV show and video "The Magic Flute." She recorded the soundtrack for Kevin Bacon's film "Loverboy."

Mimi Stillman received an MA in history and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been awarded fellowships from the Earhart and Bradley Foundations. She is a columnist for Flutewise Magazine (UK). On her CD "MIMI," Ms. Stillman recorded her award-winning book of arrangements of Debussy's songs, Nuits d'Étoiles: 8 Early Songs (Presser). Mimi Stillman's upcoming recording projects include her second solo CD, the world premiere recording of "Parabasis," written for her by Jeremy Gill, for Albany Records, and a flute and guitar CD with guitarist Allen Krantz on the DTR label.

Ms. Stillman's 2008-09 calendar includes a reengagement with the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle in Lowell Liebermann's flute concerto, solo performances with the Ocean City Pops, Orchestra 2001, Hoff-Barthelson School Orchestra (Scarsdale, NY), recitals in New York at Yamaha's Day of Flute Festival, Bucks County Performing Art Center, Glencairn Museum, Perkins Center for the Arts, on WGBH Radio (Boston), as guest artist for the Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Upper Midwest Flute Festivals, and a return as flute clinician at Yamaha's Music for All Festival in Indianapolis. Ms. Stillman and duo pianist Charles Abramovic debuted their special project, a recital of the complete flute works of J.S. Bach, at the International Bach Festival of Philadelphia.

 

Ju Fang LiuJU FANG LIU, STRING BASS
March 30, 2009 - Thompson Recital Hall

Ju-Fang Liu was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and began her study of the bass at age 9. She earned B.M. and M.M. degrees from Indiana University and has studied with Bruce Bransby and Lawrence Hurst. Prior to joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2003, she was principal contrabass with the New World Symphony in Florida. She has also been a member of orchestras in Kansas City, Owensboro and Evansville, performed in summer festivals at Aspen, Marlboro and Tanglewood, and been heard as soloist with the Louisville and New World orchestras.

In her leisure time, she enjoys jogging, badminton, table tennis, reading, cooking and learning/playing jazz. Her parents, two brothers and a sister reside in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

B. Michael WilliamsB. MICHAEL WILLIAMS, PERCUSSION
April 14-16, 2009

B. Michael Williams (b. 1954) is Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He holds the B.M. degree from Furman University, M.M. from Northwestern University, and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Active as a performer and clinician in both symphonic and world music, Williams has performed with the Charlotte (NC) Symphony, Lansing (MI) Symphony, Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and has appeared at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. He has written articles for Accent Magazine, South Carolina Musician, and Percussive Notes, and has made scholarly presentations on the music of John Cage and on African music at meetings of the College Music Society and Percussive Arts Society. In 2004, Dr. Williams received the Winthrop University Distinguished Professor Award, the highest honor given to a Winthrop faculty member.

Dr. Williams is Associate Editor (world percussion) for Percussive Notes magazine. A composer of innovative works for percussion, his “Four Solos for Frame Drums” was the first published composition for the medium. Additional works to his credit include  “Three Shona Songs” and “Shona Celebration” for marimba ensemble, “Recital Suite for Djembe,” “Tiriba Kan” for solo djembe, “Bodhran Dance,” and “Another New Riq,”
all published by HoneyRock Publications. His book, Learning Mbira: A Beginning…, also published by HoneyRock, utilizes a unique tablature notation for the Zimbabwean mbira dzavadzimu and has been acclaimed as an effective tutorial method for the instrument. His 2005 CD recording, BataMbira, with Grammy-nominated percussionist and producer Michael Spiro, has been featured on National Public Radio, The Voice of America, and other broadcasts nationwide.

 

Pacifica QuartetPACIFICA QUARTET
April 30, 2009 - Thompson Recital Hall

Simin Ganatra, violin --- Masumi Per Rostad, viola
Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin --- Brandon Vamos, cello

Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often daring repertory choices, the Pacifica Quartet has carved out a compelling musical path.  After it came together in 1994, the ensemble swept top prizes in several leading international competitions including the Concerts Artists Guild Competition and the Naumburg Chamber Music Competition. The Pacifica received the Cleveland Quartet Award in 2003 and in 2006 was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant – only the second chamber music ensemble ever to be selected. Most recently, in December 2008 the Quartet was honored as Musical America’s 2009 Ensemble of the Year.

Prolific in the recording studio, in January 2008 the Quartet released the first of a two-disc set of Elliott Carter’s complete string quartets on the Naxos label in celebration of the American composer’s 100th birthday. Other recent recordings include Declarations: Music Between the Wars showcasing music composed during the turbulent decades between World Wars I and II and the complete string quartets of Felix Mendelssohn. The Quartet’s CDs have attracted effusive praise from critics in the U.S. and abroad, including a featured appearance on the cover of Gramophone magazine.

Over the course of the 2008 -2009 season, in celebration of Felix Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday, the Pacifica Quartet will present the cycle of his complete string quartets in New York City during a series of lunch time concerts at Columbia University that will include performances along with commentary by members of the Quartet. Th is series is an encore to 2007-2008’s successful and widely publicized Beethoven Cycle at Columbia. The Quartet will also perform the complete Mendelssohn cycle in Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Hall . Continuing its sell-out season performing Beethoven cycles around the world, the Pacifica will participate in cycles at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as in Portland, OR, and Seattle.

Unique in the chamber music world, the Pacifica Quartet will also present cycles of Elliott Carter’s groundbreaking quartets in San Francisco, at London’s Wigmore Hall, and at Lisbon’s Gulbenkian Foundation. These arduous concerts, which the Pacifica pioneered and have performed worlwide, will complement release of the second Naxos disc of the Carter quartets.  Previous Carter cycles elicited glowing reviews: The New York Times wrote of the “astounding performances” and the Chicago Tribune praised the Quartet’s “astonishing talent, energy and dedication.”

The Pacifica’s 2008-2009 season will also feature two extensive European tours, including stops in Vienna, Stuttgart, and Paris, as well as participation in the Perth, Australia international Arts Festival. North American audiences will be treated to performances of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s saxophone quintet, commissioned for the Quartet , with concerts in Detroit, Chicago, Urbana, and Calgary, and in summer 2009 Music @ Menlo will present the Quartet.

The members of the Pacifica Quartet live in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, where they were appointed to the faculty of the University of Illinois in 2004 and serve as Faculty Quartet in Residence. The Quartet members also serve as resident performing artists at the University of Chicago and the Longy School of Music in Boston.  Reflecting its dedication to musicians and music lovers of the next generation, the Pacifica Quartet was instrumental in creating the Music Integration Project, an innovative program that provides musical performances and teacher training to inner-city elementary schools.  In addition, the Quartet regularly teaches and performs at summer festivals, including Maverick Concerts, Caramoor International Music Festival, Fontana Chamber Arts, Music in the Vineyards, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the Madeline Island Music Festival, and it is also frequently invited for visiting residencies at universities and schools nationwide.

The members of the Pacifica Quartet share a unique history of personal and musical friendship. First violinist Simin Ganatra, born and raised in southern California, initially performed with cellist Brandon Vamos and violinist Sibbi Bernhardsson while they were all teenagers. Sibbi later introduced violist Masumi Per Rostad to the group. Originating on the West Coast, where it played its earliest concerts together, the Quartet takes its name from the awe-inspiring Pacific Ocean. Throughout their journey as a string quartet, its members continually strive to be Distinct as the billows/yet one as the sea. (James Montgomery)