[Chase Community Giving]Simply VoteThen Get Friends on Facebook to do the same before Dec. 11! Chase Community Giving is program that will allow Facebook users to vote for local charities and non-profits, including the Sphinx Organization, and help direct Chase corporate philanthropy dollars to eligible organizations.The eligible charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $1 million, the top five runners-up will receive $100,000 each and the 100 finalists, including the top winners, wil... Read Full Story

[Darryl Harris Sr., a doctoral student in musical arts at the University of Southern Mississippi, performs at the university’s Children’s Center for Communication and Development. (Southern Miss Marketing and Public Relations photo by David Tisdale)]Darryl Harris is an African American bassoonist with whom we have been in touch for some time. On Dec. 11, 2008 AfriClassical posted: “Bassoonist Darryl E. Harris, Sr. Plays at Children's Center for Communication and Development.” Darryl made a p... Read Full Story

[Scott Joplin's Treemonisha; Original Cast Recording; Polygram 435709 (1992)]San Francisco Classical VoiceNovember 17, 2009An Interview With William BolcomBy Georgia Rowe“William Bolcom has always made his own way. Throughout his career, which has produced symphonies, operas, chamber pieces, and piano and vocal works, the Seattle-born, Michigan-based composer has often rejected the prevailing notions of what 'serious' music should include. He was among the first to revive the piano rag form... Read Full Story

[Kevin Scott, conductor, SUNY Orange Symphonic Band]The conductor Kevin Scott made an email comment on the recent interview with Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma. That portion of his message has been posted. Here is the complete email: "Dear Bill: Thanks for the plug. I hope to get volume 2 of Ulysses Kay's music as soon as I can find the funds! In the meantime, I did write some music for a new production of Chekov's The Cherry Orchard, which is being done this weekend and next at SUNY Orange in... Read Full Story

[Fred Onovwerosuoke]Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke of African Musical Arts, Inc. sends us news: “Dear friends, Just another note to share some of my 'simple pleasures.' For yet another consecutive year I have the honor of receiving the ASCAPLUS AWARD!” “Yes, please share the good news with your friends. Because as we like to say: we must keep our light shining for Composers of African Descent.”“ASCAP is the acronym for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. And the ASCAPLUS AWARD ... Read Full Story

[William Grant Still - Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music, and is used with permission.]NatchezDemocrat.comDavid DreyerPublished Tuesday, November 17, 2009“The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will make a rare appearance in Natchez at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Natchez City Auditorium to perform works written by William Grant Still Jr. Still was born in Wilkinson County in 1895. His father was a graduate of Alcorn College, the principal of a school in Gloster, and the leader of... Read Full Story

[James DePreist]Media-Newswire.comNovember 16, 2009“James DePreist, Symphony Conductor and Penn Alumnus, Receives University's Inaugural Creative Spirit Award PHILADELPHIA the Internationally acclaimed maestro James A. DePreist received the University of Pennsylvania's first Creative Spirit Award in recognition of his artistic leadership and life-long commitment to the arts. The award, a highlight of Penn’s yearlong celebration of Arts and the City Year, was presented during ceremonies at the... Read Full Story

[Eleanor Alberga]TimesOnline.co.ukFrom The Sunday Times"Passion, betrayal and love in a hot climate. Colombian landscapes and Jamaican rhythm combine in a new operaIt’s takes a certain creative chutzpah to rewrite a short story by Isabel Allende, a writer widely regarded as the genre’s foremost living female practitioner, and then ask her what she thinks. It was with some trepidation, therefore, that the writer and director Donald Sturrock adapted her tale, Letters of a Love Betrayed, from Th... Read Full Story

[Samson Diamond, photo by Suzy Bernstein]After AfriClassical posted an article about Samson Diamond playing for Nelson Mandela, Sophia Welz of the South Africa National Youth Orchestra alerted us to a subsequent award. In this article Samson Diamond speaks eloquently of having been "wholly liberated by music":ArtLink.co.zaNational Arts Festival11/05/2009“Samson Diamond is an internationally acclaimed violinist with a string of awards to his name.His latest accolade, ushering in his return to... Read Full Story

[Raymond Harvey, Music Director and Conductor, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra]The African American conductor Raymond Harvey is Music Director and Conductor of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. He is also Artistic Director of the El Paso Opera, in Texas. Raymond Harvey received B.A. And M.A. degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and graduated from the Yale School of Music with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree.Sacred Seasons Friday, November 20– 8pmMiller AuditoriumDiana Cohen, Edith Hines, ... Read Full Story