FEATURE
Think Outside the Opera House, and Inside the Parking Garage
NY Times: Joshua Barone
In Detroit, “Twilight: Gods” joins other recent performances that offer a path forward for the arts amid the pandemic. The performance radiated an inventiveness that, even in a normal year, would have made it one of the most inspired American opera productions of the season.
RESEARCH AND OPINION
At the UN, the Arts Emerge as a Force for Sustainable Development
IISD: Patrick Kabanda
A concert reminds us that the arts can “help bring us together to reimagine a world ‘rebalanced,’ to be designed and built together for present and future generations”.
Could Dance Be a Weapon (for social justice) All Over Again?
NY Times: Gia Kourlas
It’s a scary time for body-based art. What will survive after the pandemic? As dance artists fight the old ways, a new empowerment is in the air.
Beethoven Has a First Name
Slate: Chris White
The habitual, two-tiered way we talk about classical composers is ubiquitous. It’s time to “fullname” all composers in classical music.
K–12 Music Education in the Time of COVID-19
WQXR: Heather O’Donovan
Four music education programs talk about moving forward in the midst of the pandemic and its financial fallout.
Aaron Dworkin, in Conversation with Conductor Roderick Cox
The Violin Channel
Aaron Dworkin sits down with conductor and social entrepreneur Roderick Cox to discuss the role of musicians.
What Happens When TikTok Looks To The Musical Avant-Garde For A Challenge?
NPR News: Meaghan Garvey
Over the past week, users of TikTok began absorbing, in a “challenge,” one artist’s musical investigation into the realities of living through a degenerative neurological disorder.
Don McLean on the tragedy behind American Pie: ‘I cried for two years’
The Guardian: Rob Walker
The rollicking song about the souring of the 60s has now spawned a film, a musical and a children’s book. Its creator talks about its meaning – and reveals the family deaths underlying it.
NATIONAL
IU Alert!! (Congrats to Tom Walsh)
Musicians Improvise Masks for Wind Instruments to Keep the Band Together
Chicago Health: Laura Ungar, Kaiser Health News
Musicians around the country are taking it upon themselves to reduce the risk of Covid-19 without silencing the music. With pantyhose, air filters, magnets, bolts of fabric, and a fusion of creativity, those who play wind instruments or sing are improvising masks to keep the band together.
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Purchases Opus 3 Artists
The Violin Channel
The California music school announced today that it has acquired the New-York based artists management company.
’If we don’t play, we’ll disappear.’ Charlotte Symphony resumes rehearsals carefully
The Charlotte Observer: Liz Rothaus Bertrand
Despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the symphony is charging ahead with a revamped fall season, including virtual concerts, and carefully adhering to COVID-19 health guidelines to bring live music back to Charlotte.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Announces Cancellations
The Violin Channel
The ensemble has cancelled all events at Walt Disney Concert Hall through June 9, 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
City Ballet Won’t Return to the Stage Until September
NY Times: Peter Libbey
The company announced the cancellation of its winter and spring seasons, but also declared its intention to return at full strength in the fall.
Boston Symphony Announces Cancellations
The Violin Channel
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the orchestra will not be proceeding with its 2020 Holiday Pops season in December or winter/spring BSO 2020-21 season from January through April.
University of Minnesota, orchestra study aerosols from instruments
Star Tribune: Jenna Ross and Jeremy Olson
The University of Minnesota is working with the Minnesota Orchestra to study aerosols, with hopes of getting musicians back on stage.
Keith Jarrett Confronts a Future Without the Piano
The New York Times: Nate Chinen
The pathbreaking musician reveals the health issues that make it unlikely he will ever again perform in public.
Part Teacher, Part Den Mother, a Composer Fosters Diversity
The New York Times: Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim
Gabriela Lena Frank’s Peruvian heritage suffuses her music, and her academy focuses on training new voices.
He Was a Rising Jazz Pianist. Then His N.Y.C. Dreams Were Shattered.
The New York Times: John Leland
The police said an attack on the pianist was not a hate crime, but social media disagreed. Now he’s considering a return to Japan.
INTERNATIONAL
These Sisters Have Transformed the Piano Duo
NY Times: Roslyn Sulcas
Katia and Marielle Labèque have been playing, and enlarging, the two-piano repertory for over 50 years.
Australian National Academy of Music Announces Karajan Academy Recipient
The Violin Channel
The Australian National Academy of Music, in Melbourne, today announced Australian violinist Harry Ward as the winner of the 2021/2022 Karajan Academy place.
Manchester Camerata Appoints New Leaders
The Violin Channel
The British chamber orchestra announced violinist Caroline Pether as the ensemble’s new Leader and Katie Stillman as the Associate Leader.
Finnish Composer Wins €150,000 Prize
The Violin Channel
Jukka Tiensuu has won the 2020 Wihuri Sibelius Prize, an award given to prominent composers who are internationally known and recognized.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The streaming startups trying to save the music industry mid-pandemic
The Guardian: Eamonn Forde
From livestreaming platforms sharing their revenues with roadies, to immersive weekend-long gigs over high-end speakers, new music companies are innovating out of a crisis.
How Apple Music Fell Behind in Digital Streaming
TRAPITAL
The company that revolutionized digital music is now playing catch up.
Adobe wants to use AI to make you a better dancer
Protocol: Janko Roettgers
The company’s new tech demo could improve everyone’s TikTok videos — and hints at the potential for AI to democratize video editing and visual effects.
OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL
Composer uses dice to create ‘random’ classical music
BBC Allen Sinclair
Composer Edward Chilvers is leaving his music to chance – quite literally. He describes new music as “stale” and “boring”, so developed his own system using the roll of a multi-sided dice.
Leave a Reply