1.6.20 Duo Cortona Concert Success!

Updated: Jan 13, 2020

Contents:

-Duo Cortona Concert Success!

-Upcoming Event Reminder: Podcast "Pause & Listen" launch party - Jan. 14, 2020 from 7-10pm

-Upcoming Concert Reminder: "To Celebrate the Need" - February 22, 2020

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! Thank you to the nearly 40 people who attended the Thrive Music Live: An Evening with Duo Cortona concert on Saturday, January 4th! Inaugurating the 2020 Thrive Music Live season, Mezzo-Soprano Rachel Calloway and Violinist Ari Streisfeld presented a unique program of contemporary works by composers Laura Schwendinger, Robert Morris, John Liberatore, Hilda Paredes, and Stefano Scodanibbio, as well as my own song cycle Botticellian Trees, setting poetry by William Carlos Williams. The dynamic and challenging program was performed exquisitely by Rachel and Ari, and we can't wait for the next chance to bring Duo Cortona to the Charm City!

In addition to the beautiful live performances by the Duo Cortona, artist Douglas Johnson was rendering the performers in ink in real time! Two of the nearly-dozen drawings he created are featured above. Be sure to look out for more of them to be available through his website in the coming days!

Upcoming Event Reminder: Podcast "Pause & Listen" launch party - Jan. 14, 2020 from 7-10pm

I'm really looking forward to joining John Scherch and the many other panelists on of the Pause & Listen podcast at the launch party on Tuesday, January 14th. The podcast features Baltimore’s rich array of talented and experienced local classical musicians to discuss showcase and discuss contemporary classical music that they think it important to hear. In my case, I brought to the table one of the more recent works by one of my former teachers, Vanderbilt University Professor Michael Alec Rose's solo violin perambulation Il Ritorno! Many of my friends, colleagues, and musicians whom I admire have participated in episodes of this podcast, and hopefully we'll get to hear snippets and excerpts of their insights and contributions! The release party will take place from 7-10pm at the wine bar Fadensonnen (3 W 23rd St, Baltimore, MD 21218). We'll see you (and you'll hear us) there!

Upcoming Concert Reminder: "To Celebrate the Need" - February 22, 2020

One concert done and preparations for the next one have already begun! For my 30th birthday, I myself am stepping out onto the stage to sing some of my own art songs and to join a brilliant cast of singers from the DMV in performing a concert made up almost exclusively of world premieres. If you came to the Duo Cortona concert and enjoyed the experience, I hope we'll see you there, as the concert will be taking place again at the stimulating and inspiring Studio 5N! Find out all of the information and RSVP on the Eventbrite page or on Facebook.

One of the pieces that we will be performing is my cantata of Whitman texts, The Need of Comrades. The piece premiered with Soprano, Mezzo, and Baritone, but written for Countertenor, Tenor, and Baritone - take a listen below to the video of the premiere, and come to the concert to hear the piece in its "vocal ensemble premiere!"