Pianist & Vocal Coach
On Sunday, July 1, I will be performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in Olympia, Washington, with violinist Dillon Welch, cellist Casey Felt, and the SOGO Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro John Welsh.
The concert will take place at 5:00 p.m. at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Performing Arts, 2011 Mottman Rd. SW, Olympia, Washington 98512. Admission is free.
From May 19 to May 28, I will be in Alcalá la Real (Andalucía), Spain, accompanying the violin master course Master Class Al-Andalus. It’s the brainchild of my friend and colleague from my Cleveland days, David Russell, and the faculty this year includes Andrés Cárdenes, a titan in the violin world. There are classes and public concerts, and the music-making will be of the highest level.
The Hudson Valley Philharmonic holds their string competition every year on the campus of Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, New York. This year, I will serve as one of the official accompanists. The competition will take place on March 17 and March 18, and all rounds are free and open to the public. The level of artistry is usually very high, and many of its past winners have gone on to major international careers.
I’m playing a concert this evening, March 2, at 7:00 p.m. with violist Aundrey Mitchell at the Bloomingdale School of Music, 323 W. 108th St., New York, NY. A great program of music by Fauré, Vieuxtemps, Rebecca Clarke, and Arnold Bax. Admission is free.
Tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m., I will be performing some marvelous violin repertoire with participants of Germany’s Karwendel Music Festival in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. The talent level is high, and it promises to be an extremely enjoyable evening.
This evening at 7:00 p.m., I will be accompanying a vocal master class given by soprano Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs and Maestro Michael Recchiuti at the National Opera Center, 330 7th Ave. NY, NY 10001. These are two of the most knowledgeable professionals in the opera business, not to mention great people with great senses of humor. It promises to be a good time for everybody. I know I’m looking forward to it!
You can watch it streamed live here.
Edited to add: now that the class is over, you can watch it on YouTube:
Part I – “Entweihte Götter!” from Wagner’s Lohengrin.
Part II – “Deh vieni, non tardar” from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.
Part III – “Amour! viens aider ma faiblesse!” from Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila
I am pleased to be joining the faculty of this intensive opera program in NYC, taking place in the coming two weeks.
International Masters Academy of Opera in New York
There will be a public performance of opera scenes by the participants on Thursday evening, January 18, at 8:00 p.m. at Christ & Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 120 West 69th Street (between Columbus Avenue & Broadway), New York, New York 10023. Pianists Violetta Zabbi and I will share accompanimental duties.
I’m playing piano and keyboards in the backup orchestra for The Irish Tenors tonight at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. This is – almost unexpectedly, since it’s not exactly what I normally do – a lot of fun, and the The Irish Tenors put on a most enjoyable show. I must add that the conductor, Lloyd Butler, is excellent. Because of him, the whole process has been a total joy.
I will be playing a recital with soprano Alison England on Monday evening, November 6, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in Duke Hall at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. It’s a wildly varied program, with something for everyone.
Harrogate is quite near Cumberland Gap, an area I have heard about for years. I’m especially looking forward to experiencing its tremendous natural beauty.
On Sunday, October 29, 2017, I will be performing a chamber music concert, part of the South Country Concerts series, in Bellport, Long Island (NY). On the program is a Vivaldi cello sonata, André Previn’s Tango Song and Dance for violin and piano, and Dvořák’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 87. My able partners will be Naho Tsutsui Parrini, violin, Aundrey Mitchell, viola, and Laurinel Owen cello. I’m hoping to be able to post some video clips of the concert in the near future.