[William Grant Still; Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music, http://www.williamgrantstill.com and is used with permission. ] http://msorchestra.com : Native Mississippian William Grant Still (1895-1978) was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony and the first African American composer to be performed by a major American symphony. He leaves an incredible legacy with his music, which is performed not only by orchestras, but also by chamber groups... Read Full Story
[Kelly Hall-Tompkins and Mark O'Connor playing in a shelter in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan.] On Dec. 15, 2009 AfriClassical posted “Kelly Hall-Tompkins & Mark O'Connor Perform O'Connor's 'Double Violin Concerto'” and two days later the two musicians performed for the homeless: NYTimes.com “These concertgoers were eight tired, homeless men who had been taken to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church shelter for the night. They listened to the latest performance by Kelly Hall... Read Full Story
[ Alvin Singleton; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; First Edition FECD-0043 (2005)] The name of composer Alvin Singleton, whose website is http://www.AlvinSingleton.com has appeared frequently on AfriClassical during the past year, due to his numerous commissions and premieres. We interviewed Alvin on Dec. 12, 2009 after his trip home to Atlanta from a two-month artist's residency at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire. I think you have the record for the most interviews that I've... Read Full Story
Conductor James Levine is withdrawing from upcoming performances with the Metropolitan Opera and Boston Symphony Orchestra to have surgery for a herniated disk in his back. Levine has had a series of health problems in recent years. He tore his rotator cuff in March 2006 when he tripped and fell on the stage of Boston's Symphony Hall during ovations, and his right kidney was removed in July 2008 because of a malignant tumor. A hand tremor that was evident in the late 1990s appears to have... Read Full Story
[Ann Hobson Pilot, photo from The Myrtle Hart Society; Ann Hobson Pilot; Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Castaldo, Arcangelo Corelli, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Claude Debussy, Paul Hindemith; Boston Records 1002 (2001)] The June issue of the eNewsletter of The Myrtle Hart Society announces the retirement of African American harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, Principal Harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, after a career of 40 years. AnnHobsonPilot.com: “Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director... Read Full Story
Did you guys pick up copies of the new BSO album releases when I first told you about them at the start of the year ( here )? If you didn't yet, you're going to want to now, because one of those recordings just earned the BSO three Grammy nominations. James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Ravel’s complete Daphnis and Chloé, featuring the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, John Oliver, conductor, has been nominated for Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Classical Album... Read Full Story
Erich Kunzel, the award-winning conductor who headed the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra since it was founded three decades ago and who won international fame through sales of more than 10 million recordings, has died at age 74. Kunzel was diagnosed with liver, colon and pancreatic cancer in April but continued conducting while undergoing treatment. He died Tuesday morning at a hospital near his home in Swan's Island, Maine, said Chris Pinelo, a spokesman for the Cincinnati Pops. On July 4, Kunzel... Read Full Story
Looking for someplace new to take the kids this summer that’s both educational and entertaining? How about a day trip to Tanglewood, the pristine summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra ! Tanglewood has special offerings and programs for kids of all ages: Free Lawn Tickets for Children and Young People up to 17 This year, Tanglewood is pleased to offer free lawn tickets for children and young people age 17 and younger. In years past, tickets were available for children 12 and under. Up... Read Full Story
Opening night for the Boston Symphony Orchestra will feature a tribute to retiring harpist Ann Hobson Pilot, the orchestra's first and only African-American woman. Hobson Pilot retired this summer after 40 years with the orchestra. But she will return to the stage at Symphony Hall Wednesday night as a soloist in the world premier of composer John Williams' "On Willows and Birches." The orchestra says Williams wrote the piece as a tribute to Hobson Pilot, who's considered among the top harp... Read Full Story
[The Jamaica Symphony Orchestra in concert at the Assembly Hall, University of the West Indies, Mona, on Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer (Photo from The Gleaner)] Here are excerpts from an email from David Robinson, who is in Jamaica: “I am having a great time in Jamaica serving as artist-in-residence with the Jamaica Symphony Orchestra.” “It was founded by Chicagoan, Lisa Darby Walker. I met her at NANM in 1991 when she was a college student in grad school.” “She has been... Read Full Story
