Pianist & Vocal Coach
On July 13 at 7:00 p.m., I have the honor of participating in a concert in honor of the memory of Lorin Maazel at the Castleton Festival in Virginia. I will be performing with two outstanding string players – violinist Eric Silberger and cellist Daniel Lelchuk – as well as participants of the recent sessions of the Lorin Maazel Castleton Institute in New York. It promises to be quite a special evening.
For more information, visit the Castleton Festival’s website.
On Thursday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m., I will be performing with violinists Andrés Cárdenes and David Russell in Coral Gables, Florida at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Boulevard. The program includes Spanish and Spain-inspired music, and is sponsored by the Coral Gables Music Club. The proceeds will benefit the Master Class Al-Andalus, a wonderful program, of which I am a faculty member, that takes place in Alcalá la Real (Andalucia), Spain.
There will be music, cocktails, and tapas. and tickets can be obtained here.
On Saturday, November 17, I have the tremendous honor of contributing the musical portion of a program honoring Annette Michelson (1922-2018), which will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY. Annette Michelson was a pioneer in film studies and the avant-garde, and a longtime N.Y.U. faculty member. I feel very fortunate to be part of this tribute to a great thinker that influenced so many creative minds.
I have been asked to perform works by two of her favorite composers: Une page d’éphéméride (2005) by Pierre Boulez and, with flutist Alex Sopp, Le merle noir (1952) by Olivier Messiaen.
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.
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’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.