2005 Articles

Accessible Opera. So you think opera is the kind ofbig-ticket item you can't afford this time of year. But hold on: whenthe UBC Opera Ensemble puts on a ful rendition of Wolfgang AmadeusMozart's classic romantic fantansy The Magic Flute at the Chan Centrefor the Performing Arts tonight through Sunday (December 15 to 18).full tickets will click in at about 22 bucks. The show comes completewith pro directors, lighting, and costumes, as well as the stars of theUBC school of music's voice division. Consider it their little seasonalgift of culture to you and your pocketbook. [Georgia Straight: December15-20, 2005]

Chatman's Vancouver Visions set for CBC broadcast. Composer Stephen Chatman[faculty] rings the New Year with the broadcast of his latestrecording, "Vancouver Visions". UBC Music Professor received a lifetimeof international acclaim for his compositions, which already comprisesome 60 choral works. His newest recording - entitled "VancouverVisions", and featuring several UBC faculty-will be broadcast for thefirst time on the first day of 2006 on CBC Radio Two at 10 pm. Therecording, which consists of five works of chamber music, featuresseveral UBC Music professors, including Jane Coop, Andrew Dawes, and Sara Davis Buechner. [faculty] [Faculty of Arts Website: December 19, 2005]

Piano virtuoso's talent, humour shines through at local concert. The Fall 2005 Brockville Concert Series ended the evening of Saturday, December 3 with piano virtuoso Sara Davis Buechner.[faculty]She continues in the legacy of Bob Silverman, on the faculty of theUniversity of British Columbia in Vancouver. Her unusual technique ofclarity and touch sensitivity spun through the beginning neo baroquetransparent textures of Muenz's Minuet from Handel's "Berenice" to thevariety of rich 19th-century textures of Gershwins "Rhapsody in Blue".Buechner is clearly a gifted entertainer, with the qualities of amaster performer and a captivating story teller. She combines her ownlife experiences, everywhere from a quaint music store in the Bronx ofNew York, to one of our local grocery stores. [The Recorder &Times: December 19, 2005]

At Carnegie, they love their job.Vancouver violinist and composer are thrilled to be bound for New Yorkto perform an alternative mix of Christmas classics…Tommorow night, atCarnegie Hall in New York, the Composers Guild of New Jersey will bepresenting Answer to Job: An Alternative Holiday Concert. Among thecollection of new, quasi-Christian classical works on the bill,Vancouver violinist Gwen Thompson will be premiering From Pent-upAching Rivers, a choral piece inspired by the Walt Whitman poem thatshe commissioned from another Vancouver Stephen Chatman.[faculty]This is the only Canadian work in the concert, which features membersof New York's Cygnus Ensemble. For Thomas and Chatman, it marks theirprofessional debut at the venerated music hall. "I don't know of a morefamous hall in North America," Chatman says. For a composer ormusician, he compares the opportunity to grace this make-or-break stagewith a professional football player reaching the Super Bowl. [Globe& Mail: December 21, 2005]

Ensemble casts a spell with Mozart Magic Flute.What was Mozart up to in his daffy masterpiece The Magic Flute?Everybody has a different theory, but none is really convincing. Is theopera a silly singspiel, a Masonic morality play, or proto-Jungianarchetypes in action? UBC's Nancy Hermison [faculty] will nodoubt reveal her own take on the tale. But whatever directions Hermisonmakes of it, Magic Flute is filled with one great tune afteranother...There's a cooperative dimension to this School of Musicproduction: all the roles are double (or even triple) cast. Sopranos Gina McLean and Evie Vassilakakis and tenors Brian Lee and Kevin Zakresky [students] share the leads as young lovers Pamina and Tamino, while Michael Mori and Brent Calls [students] both get a shot at the scene-stealing role of birdman Papageno. Richard Epp [sessional faculty] conducts, and there'll be projected translations. [Vancouver Sun: December 15-21, 2005]

Bach choir celebrates 75 years with all 500 singers, new carols.Every Christmas the Vancouver Bach Choir marshals its entire 500singers onto the Orpheum stage…but this year there's a special reasonto, this being both a celebration of Christmas and the organization's75th anniversary. The occasion, marked on Sunday at 2:30 pm, has alsoled to the creation of four new Christmas carols, sponsored by theKoerner Foundation through the 75th Anniversary commisioning project...Larry Nickel's[DMA Student] The Grief of Pleasure Brought to Him is a setting of the17th century poet, George Herbert, who also inspired Vaughan William'sFive Mystical Songs. Dorothy Chang's [faculty] a Christmas Lullaby usues text from the traditional English carol. And the Star Song by Stephen Chatman[faculty] uses tenor drum accompaniment and is an adaptation offragments from poems by the 17th-century Robert Herrick. [VancouverSun: December 10, 2005]

Vancouver musicians to premiere in New York. Vancouver violinist Gwen Thompson will be premiering a piece by another Vancouverite, Stephen Chatman[faculty] at Carnegie Hall in New York on Dec. 22 - a first at thisvenerated place for both of them. Thompson commissioned the 10 minutework from Chatman, whom she's known for years. She knew she couldexpect quality from him. As she puts it, "I didn't want a piece that Icould play on a $5 violin." ...Chatman's work is called From the PentupAching Rivers, is in five sections and was inspired by a Walt Whitmanpoem. Chatman says, "I tried to write a challenging, exuberant,passionate work. I also tried to capture the emotions, passions andandrogynous sensibilities of Whitman, a great American poet." TheChatman is the only Canadian work in the concert which is sponsored bythe Composers Guild of New Jersey and features members of CygnusEnsemble, New York. [Vancouver Sun: December 10, 2005]

Voicing the joys of Christmas.If Christmas is the time to liberate the song in everyone's heart, it'salso the opportunity to sing along with the professionals. And one ofthe most favoured gigs is that presented by the Vancouver Bach Choir,celebrating its 25th annual singalong of Handel's gloriousMessiah...Heading all of this is the Bach's formidable music director Bruce Pullan [faculty],backed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and 14 audtioned soloists.The soloists handle the arias and the audience comes in with thechoruses. Pullan pulls the house to order with a few words of directionand a traditional short rehearsal, usually of the Hallelujah Chorus.[24 hours Magazine: December 9, 2005]

Music Yule love - Here they come a-carolling by the hundreds. Christmas with the Bach Choir. The Vancouver Bach Choir directed by Bruce Pullan [faculty],is putting out all the stops for its Christams performances- acelebration of its 75th anniversary. Where: Oprpheum Theatre When:Sunday Dec 11 at 2:30 pm [Georgia Straight: December 8-15, 2005]

Steinways played by Horowitz, Van Cliburn get Vancouver play. UBC's Robert Silverman[faculty] to test-drive trio of instruments with repertoire of Mozart,Debussy music. For as long as anyone can remember, Steinway has beensynonymous with the top-end performance grand pianos that a virtuallock on classical music performance...On Monday UBC professor emeritusRobert Silverman tries them out at West Vancouver's new Kay Meek Centrewith repertoire ranging from Mozart to Debussy. [Vancouver Sun:December 1-7, 2005]

Composer Nickel puts his faith in music. Larry Nickelis a doctor of musical arts candidate in composition at the UBC Schoolof Music. While he won't be in defence mode until spring, his project'sunveiling and most important test, comes this Saturday night (Dec3rd/05) at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts. There the UniversitySingers, the UBC Choral Union, the Trinity Western Choir, the UBCSymphony Orchestra, and three soloists-a heck of a lot of firepower fora student work-will put his dissertation, a Requiem for Peace, throughits practical paces. It's an ambitious movement piece: 15 movements,with text in 11 languages, each expressive of pacificist ideals.[Georgia Straight: December 1-8, 2005]

Scales, Squeaks and Spruce-tops. Classical guitarist Michael Strutt[faculty] is described by The Montreal Gazette as a musician who"play[s] with a fine agility and an abundance of colour and elan" andby the Vancouver Sun as "a player who embodies both technical dexterityand emotional insight". In an interview with the Ubyssey on Oct. 17/05,Michael Strutt discusses issues ranging from "piano-centrism", to themyth of the guitar's popularity in Spain, to his feeling on guitaristsJulian Bream, David Russell, Andres Segovia, and John Williams. [TheUbyssey: November 22, 2005]

Vancouver Chamber Choir.The Vancouver Chamber Choir opened its new season-number 35,remarkeably-on Friday night at Ryerson United Church…Also welcome wasthe inclusion of works by two young composers: Tarik O'Regan, Englandborn, and Stephan Smith [sessional faculty], not yet 40 but amusical mainstay hereabouts. His "Sea Psalm", with its plainsong calmand stormy swells, was an audience favourite and has the promise ofbecoming a repertoire staple. [Georgia Straight: October 6, 2005]

Tickled By New Ivories.New pianos and just-finished renovations to practice rooms and teachingstudios are music to UBC students' ears. Facilities at the school ofmusic building had not been upgraded in more than 40 years, and itsfleet of more than 100 pianos was showings its age. "Painos really wearout-many were beyond repair." Jane Coop,[faculty] head of theschool's key board division, told the straight. She said for manystudents, especially thsoe from out of town, the painos on-site at UBCare the only place they can practice as they train for their careers."It's been a big boon to them; they're just so happy," Coop added...The school of music funded its long-awaited upgrades with its ownsavings, plus significant help from Dean of Arts Nancy Gallini.[Georgia Straight: October 6, 2005]

Classical seasons open with winner.It was a busy start-up weekend for three of Vancouver's major musicorganizations. Friday saw the Vancouver Chamber Choir launch its latestseason…The premiere of Sea Psalm by Vancouver composer Stephen Smith,[faculty]on the other hand, elicited genuine ethusiasm: new choral music that istheatrical, virile, and singulary attractive. [Vancouver Sun: October3, 2005]

A dare to be different. Excerpt: …ErrolGay, music director of Orchestra Toronto, opened his season at theToronto Centre for the Arts a couple of weeks ago with a far fromhackneyed program conducted by Joaquin Valdepenas featuring FelixMendelssohn's seldom-played Fair Melusine Overture and BernardHerrmann's even less familiar Macabre Concerto....Gay discovered theconcerto in the repertoire of Sara Buechner, a pianist on thefaculty of the University of British Columbia. uechner not only flew toToronto to perform the work with Gay's orchestra, she considers it "animportant piece," ignored by her colleagues in part because of itsassociiation with a film composer [Bernard Herrmann]. Buechner doesn'tignore the standard repertoire. Her next Ontario appearance, withOrchestra London in January, will be as soloist under Mario Bernardi'sdirection in Mozart's Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503. Whatdifferentiates her from so many of her colleagues is the curiosity toexplore and share with her listeners so much of the non-standardrepertoire....In the concert hall, however, there are sill too few SaraBuechners and Alex Pauks. For every concert pianist like Buechner witha taste for exploration, there are dozens with an appetite forrepetition. [Littler, William. The Toronto Star: November 5, 2005]

Timepiece 1953, 2005, and Beyond. A growing vision for the UBC School of Music. Professor Harry Adaskin [faculty] was head of the Department of Music that was formed in 1947, and is pictured here performing with pianist Francis Marr[faculty] in 1953. Today's School of Music building was constructed in1967, and this past Spring completed the first phase of a renovationand renewal program with the arrival of 13 new Yamaha and Steinwaypianos purchased from Tom Lee Music. Says current director Jesse Read [faculty],"We look forward to the continued program of replacement ofinstruments, upgrade of facilities and renovations, and the fulfillmentof our long-standing dream of renovating the Old Auditorium andultimately, building a Creative and Performing Arts Centre beside theMusic School." [UBC Reports: November 3, 2005]

Recital Society - Following the lieder lecture. Expert reveals all about 'forgotten art form' in public library series UBC Prof. of collaborative piano studies Rena Sharon[faculty] was more than a little surprised by the tumultuous receptiongiven her presentation "Lieder as Theatre" at this summer'sInternational Congress of Voice Teachers. Locals - familiar with herinnovative, passionate commitment to reinvigorating performances ofclassical songs - weren't surprised at all. Song stories about maidensspinning or lovesick millers sometimes make the repertoire seem, well,a bit precious. Sharon makes it spark with excitement. "Lieder - do youlove 'em, or can you just leave 'em?" was her starting point for arecent lecture in Winnipeg (irreverently billing herself as FrauleinProfessor"). She maintains that "the fogotten art form of liederincludes at least 50,000 songs languishing in unjust obscurity." In aseries of three free lectures given under the auspices of the VancouverRecital Society, she plans to tell all. Tonight's lecture at theVancouver public library will start with repertoire including settingsof the great German poet Goethe, and feature a live sample of her"liede as theatre" approach with guest performers Michelle Keobke and Michael Broder[students]....Inher work with young singers, Sharon employs a whole bag of tricks tobring out connections and complexity. Her talks at the VPL are designedfor general audiences, lifting the curtain on the secret inner life ofsongs and what this rich repertoire has to tell us. At the Vancouverpublic library (Main Branch), Alice MacKay Room, at 7:30 p.m. [Duke,David Gordon. The Vancouver Sun: November 3, 2005]

At the Beach by Linda Niamath and Away!These vacation-themed books offer contemporary sounds with pieces thathave frequent hand position changes, details of musical expression,meter shifts, and quick tempos. "Into the Waves-Off You Go, DashingInto the Waves" includes ascending and descending broken chords tahtspan the interval of a sixth. Other creative pieces include theunmetered, unmeasured "Spring Light" and the all-black key "Birding" inwhich students knock on wood with their knuckles o imitate awoodpecker. These collections are a delightful introduction tocontemporary styles. (Frederick Harris, $4.75 each) S.O.S. [Chatman, Stephen. Clavier: September 1, 2005]

Singing for Supper.The Maryland State Boychoir was founded in 1987 and currently has over120 boys enrolled in the organization. Recently the choir performed forseniors at The Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew and later served themsupper. At the event, it was announced that the choir has embarked on acapital campaign to purchase the church's facilities to enable them tohave a permanent home...."The tour choir sang three selections: Stephen Chatman's[faculty] "Remember Me," on of this reviewer's favorities, EmaniAguia's rather rhythmical "Salmo 150" (Psalm 150) and "I Hear AmericaSinging," by the contemporary African-American composer Andre J.Thomas." [Handy, Lorenzo. Baltimore Times: September 23, 2005]

Connecting Classical BuffsA new Web site aimed at exhaustively listing classical-music events inthe city launched this week, and even its organizers are amazed at thenumber of concerts on their calendar. "It's mind-boggling. The amountof fantastic work going in Vancouver that I think people are unawareof," said executive direction John Robinson, Web master for thenonprofit ClassicalVancouver. com. "And every day there are new eventsI'm adding to the calendar." Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa [sessionalfaculty], the Vancouver pianist who sits on the board, agrees: "There'svirtually one concert every day of the week; there are maybe one or twodays a month where there isn't something going on. The user-friendlynew portal will fill a number of different roles, but Iwaasa said themain goal is to build and strengthen networks within the classicalcommunity. "A lot of different groups are struggling financially, soit's really hard for them to do much other than produce and put thingson," added Robinson of the free listings, which visitors can browse bydate, concert type, or keyword. The idea is to support all of themequally, from the small individual musicians to the bigger orchestras.We want to work with everyone in the community to see it thrive andprosper." "Eventually, the pair hopes to launch discussion forums andarticles about emerging artists and upcoming shows on the site. "It'smostly a way to try to make it easier for classical-music lovers tofind out about concerts," said Iwaasa. "And having this technologyavailable on the Web can get more bums in seats." [Smith, Janet.Georgia Straight: October 27, 2005]

Vancouver Chamber Choir at Ryerson United Church on Friday, September 30 Excerpt: "Also welcome was the inclusion of works by two young composers: Tarik O'Regan, England-born and Stephen Smith [sessionalfaculty], not yet 40 but a musical mainstay hereabouts. His "SeaPsalm", with its plainsong calm and stormy swells, was an audiencefavourite and has the promise of becoming a repertoire staple."[Richardson, Bill. Georgia Straight: October 10, 2005]

Classical seasons open with winners- Overnight Review of Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver SymphonyOrchestra and Cecilia Baroll Excerpt: "The premiere of Sea Psalm byVancouver composer Stephen Smith [sessional faculty], on theother hand, elicited genuine enthusiasm: new choral music that istheatrical, virile and singularly attractive." [Duke, David Gordon.Vancouver Sun: October 3, 2005]

Recitals and Concerts, Faculty and Professonal Gene Ramsbottom [faculty],clarinet, Shanghai Music Conservatory, May 25, 2005, Trio, Op. 11,Beethoven; Quartet for the End of Time, Messiaen [The Clarinet:September 1, 2005]

Learning to Love Lieder (flyer sponsored by Turnbull Whitaker Insurance). Featuring Rena Sharon [faculty], piano and narrator; Phoebe MacRae [student], soprano; Tyler Duncan [student], baritone:; and Erika Switzer [student], piano. [The Audience as Critic: September 25, 2005]

(Learning to Love Lieder - Virtuosi Concerts - Sept. 24 "Lieder" is used to describe art songs, typically composed for a solo singer and piano. Rena Sharon [faculty],lecturer for "Learning to Love Lieder" introduced herself as "Renegadelieder love and rebel accompanist. The first half of the program wasdevoted to teaching the audience more about lieder and helping them bebetter listeners. Sharon took them through four songs, describing thestories behind the poems on which they were based and demonstrating onthe piano. Members of the Song Circle performance company completed the"training" by singing each of the "analyzed" songs. Canadian soprano Phoebe MacRae [student]then sang Das Veilchen (The Violet) with poetry by Goethe. Sharon thendiscussed the importance of proper translation and its postive ordetrimental effects depending on how artfully it is done. As anexample, young Canadian singer Tyler Duncan [student], accompanied by Erika Switzer[student] on piano, sang Schumann's Du Bist wie eine Blume (You areLike the Flower). Sharon then told the story of Waldesgesprach(Conversation in the Wood) which was then performed by Schumann andMacRae, Switzer and Duncan. After intermission MacRae and Duncan sang aseries of songs ranging from Poulence to Gershwin, performed inskit-like fashion on a stage turned into a hotel bar. This was a uniqueconcert that tackles some of the myths about classical music.[Nemerofsky, Gwenda. Winnipeg Free Press: September 24, 2005]

Gifted ensemble brings exciting, riveting program Concert Review: Borealis String Quartet [ensemblein residence]. Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg - Winnipeg Art Gallery- October 2. The Borealis String Quartet was formed in Vancouver in2000 and consists of violinists Patricia Shih and Yuel Yawney, violist Nikita Pogrebnoy and cellist Ariel Barnes [artistsin residence]. The Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg invited this groupto open their concert season. The group started with Mozart's StringQuartet K590 in F Major. The program continued with Canadian composerKelly Marie Murphy's Another Litte Piece of My Heart, a 1999 CBC Radiocommission. Ravel's only string quartet provided a charming finish tothe afternoon. This was an exciting performance by a gifted group fromwhom we are sure to hear a great deal in the future. [Nemerofsky,Gwenda. Winnipeg Free Press: October 3, 2005]

Chamber Music & Conflict ResolutionChamber Music is played by a small group of musicians without aconductor or leader. By its nature it requires a profound degree ofcollaboration. Struggling to find consensus in chamber music requiresdiscussion at an abstract level. Since the composer cannot be reachedfor comment, there is no objective way to find an exact answer to, forexample, what tempo to use when Beethoven indicated "lively, but nottoo fast". There is no obvious way to reach a conclusion, so anegotiation process must take place for a rehearsal to move forward.Consensus is essential and often difficult to reach; however, if notreached by concert time, the group will play badly and suffercollective humiliaton. Therefore the incentive for cooperativeagreement is high and when all parties participate in collectivecompromise, the artistic and philosophical concessions can result inmeaningful insights. A successful chamber music performance is atranscendent experience - minds linked in the non-verbal co-creation ofthat mysterious phenomenon of human perception, beauty/truth. [Sharon, Rena. CRANE Summer Newsletter: July 5, 2005]

Playingfor Keeps - For many of today's young performers, the piano isn'tsimply an after-school activity, it's a fiercely competitive,all-consuming pursuit of perfection. The goal: Be the best in the world. In an article about young BC classical pianists, Eugene Skovorodnikov, a concert pianist and UBC music teacher, says he has noticed agrowing dominance of immigrants from Kong Kong and China who arestudying classical music and says that 90 per cent of of his UBCstudents are Asian. There are often profound cultural and evenpolitical reasons behind the push to cultivate musicality inyoungsters. Yi-Fei Hu, who was raised in China, attendedJuilliard then came to Canada for financial reasons, is now pursuing amaster's degree in Music at UBC. Hu's intense drive to achieve and histenacity had its genesis in the cultural revolution. Hu says his zealis not unique; this same competitiveness exists today among those whogrew up, or whose parents grew up, in heavily populated Asia...(where)only those who achieve top marks get into high school and university,so children are pushed once they leave toddlerhood. When teaching pianoto childen, Hu tries to bridge the two cultures, balancing the Asianemphasis on technique with the Western artistry of interpretation ofclassical music. Nicholas Rada, the son of a Czech immigrant,is also pursuing his master's degree in music at UBC. Rada, who isself-driven to practice up to six hours a day, also loves theintellectual challenge of classical music. "It is a testament to thedemocratic, cultural and liberal traditions of the West that Asianimmigrants have embraced classical music. But it is clearly a part ofthe immigrant experience; newcomers arrive with an extraordinary workethic and zeal to see their children succeed, partly because they haveopportunities here that aren't available at home." [Stanley, Roberta.BC Business: May 1, 2005]

Campus Life 05/06 - Special NewsSeries: Arts help sudents' work-life balance -- Cultural programs offerthe chance for a wider social and creative experience SpencerKeys, president of the UBC Alma Mater Society, says that UBC'scampus-wide arts offferings were a real eye-opener to him as a firstyear sudent from Abbotsford. Includes photo of 2004-05 production, TheVillage of Idiots (with Daniel Deorksen). [Buium, Greg. Vancouver Sun:September 6, 2005]

Chapter Eleven 'Ways of Telliing' in Mahler's Music: The Third Symphony as Narrative Text. Meaning and programmes. Author: Vera Micznik [faculty]. In Perspectives on Gustav Mahler, Edited by Jeremy Barham.

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Eighty-six of nearly 300 students in UBC's School of music are undergraduate or graduate voice students. Nancy Hermiston,head of the voice and opera divisions says Vancouver has a verynon-traditonal, open atmosphere. Students are accepted into excellentprograms and in four of the past 5 years, 4 out of 5 winners in thewestern region Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions wereCanadian, mostly UBC students. UBC's School of Music produces 2 operason-campus each year, and co-produces 2 more in the Czech Republic eachsummer. All operas are full staged with orchestra. UBC also featuresgalas, concerts, a school touring program, and recitals throughout theyear. The school also does 2-3 full operas or operettas in conjuctionwith local symphonies and festivals. Everything is done in the originallanguage. Every opera and voice performance student who takes the operaworkshop is involved in a technical aspect - publicity, building sets,costumes, stage manaagement or surtitles, to get to know the businessside of opera. The university's mandate "To educate global citzens andto contribute our expertise to British Columbia, to Canada and to theworld" is evident in the school's connection with the Czech Republicand in the school's integration within the university. Later this year,the opera program will collaborate with the UBC School of Nursing to doa production of Florence, The Lady with the Lamp. UBC offersscholarships and bursaries at all levels of study. [Frankhauser,Kresha. Classical Singer: September 1, 2005]

Sports by Stephen Chatman(Review). Although this is not designated as an etude collection, theseeight contemporary-sounding pieces focus on speciific areas oftechnique and rhyhm. "Quiet Game" has a lilting 6/8 rhythm and a ratherambiguous tonal center that creates a reflective mood. "Sling-shot" isbased on the C major scale in contrary motion. Anyone who has ever beento a baseball or hockey game knows the theme for charge. Here the themeis creatively followed by a drawing of "Olie the Goalie" with snippetsof charge numbered and distributed over the page. Students have to playthese in order. "Home Run" is organized over four bases, a measure perbase, with a simple quarter-note unison melody. The final piece, "GetLoose," has repeated left-hand fifths and a right hand with ledger-linenote as high as A above high C. The overall concept is appealing,especially to children through age 12. (FrederickHarris, $4.5)[Clavier: July/August 2005]

Una settimana all'insegna della musica - Camucia senza auto, ai solisti del Carmel Bach FestivalThe Soloists of the Carmel Bach Festival on May 21 was the idealconclusion for the 2005 Cortona music program. The Carmel Bach Festivalis dedicated to Bach and the music of the baroque period. Artists ofthe Carmel Bach Festival who had previously visited Cortona decided tooffer a concert of soloists of baroque music in this Etruscan city. Theevent was supported by the City of Cortona and took place in the Churchof San Domenico. The group was composed of Elisabeth Wallfisch,violinist, Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano, Wolfgang Bash, trumpet, Jesse Read [faculty],bassoon, and Andrew Arthur, harpsichord. The musical selection includedworks by Schutz, Galliard, Prentzel, Viviani, Scarlatti, Vivaldi andBach. The soloists of the Carmel Bach Festival offered an impeccableperformance inspired to the original style of the compsers. [Tedesco,Raimondo. L'Etruria: May 1, 2005]

I solisti del Carmel Bach Festival a Cortona [The Soloists of the Carmel Bach Festival in Cortona]. On May 21 in theChurch of San Domenico, the Soloists of the Carmel Bach Fetivalperformed a concert of baroque music played at the annual Carmel BachFestival. Jesse Read [faculty], a renowned Canadian bassoonsoloist, initiated the Corona event accompanied by Elisabeth Wallfisch,violinist, Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano, Wolfgang Bash, trumpet, AndrewArthur, harpsichord. The program included works by Enrich Schutz,Viani, Galliard, Prentzerl, Vivaldi, Scarlatti and Bach. At atreception following the concert, Mayor Vignini thanked the artists andexpressed a desire for continued collaboration between the Cortona andCarmel administrations. [Ricci, Ivan. L'Etruria: May 1, 2005]

And the winers are…Honours: The Vancouver Arts Awards are different - recipients have to give the money awayRecipients of the 2nd annual Vancouver Arts Awards, presented September23 by the City of Vancouver and the Alliance for Arts and Culture, mustgive their $5000 prizes away to an emerging artist in his/herdiscipline. Dr. Stephen Drance, the awardee in the area ofphilanthropy, devotes his energies to the continued success of FestivalVancouver, which he was instrumental in creating. Drance has chosenlyric tenor Colin Balzer [student] as recipient of his prize.Balzer is a UBC graduate now completing studies in Germany, and sangroles in Festival Vancouver productions of Orpheo (2000) and theCoronation of Poppea (2003). "We felt that he was a talent that wasvery widely beginning to be recognized," says Drance. "I first heardhim about 10 years ago and followed his career as it blossomed; everytime I hear him, his voice is more mature." [Birnie, Peter. VancouverSun: September 23, 2005]

Bard on the Beach offers summer evening operaOn Aug 22 and 29 in the Mainstage tent at Vanier Park, the UBC OperaEnsemble takes the stage, hosted by Christopher Gaze. UBC School ofMusic professor Nancy Hermiston has built up an opera programsecond to none. The coming season will include a Berlioz evening inOctober, the Magic Flute at Christmas and an end-of-term Marriage ofFigaro. The Bard on the Beach event is the time for hits from a rangeof operas and operettas. Almost two dozen young singers form the UBCOpera Ensemble and they'll be joinned by instrumentalists from theVancouver Opera Orchestra and conductor leslie Dala. The ensemble isjust back from the Czech Republic where they sang Mozart's Cosi fantutte in Prague. The Bard concert includes selctions from the Marriageof Figaro and Cosi. Soprano Melanie Krueger [student] will befeatured. The operetta selections include piecesfrom Gilbert andSullivan's HMS Pinaore, Offenbach's Orpeheus in the Underworld, Lehar'sDein ist mein ganzes Her and Strauss's Die Fledermaus. [Duke, DavidGordon. Vancouver Sun: August 18, 2005]

Rising stars polish opera pearls to a lustre - A Merry Evening of OperaFeaturing the UBC Opera Ensemble and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. AtBard on he Beach in Vanier Park on Monday, August 22 and Monday, August29. The singers in the UBC Opera Ensemble, to judge by Monday evening'sairing of lustrous opera and operetta pearls, are fresh, attractive,talented and having out-and-out fun. In particular, the "Big Career"trajectories of sopranos Melanie Krueger [student], with her brilliant coloratura and scary precision, and Jennifer Farrell [student], who is intensely musical and has terrific stage presence and comedic sense, seem well under way. John Arsenault and Stephen Bell [students] are two fine, if very different, tenors, and Andrew Jameson[student] is shaping up as that "complete package: the gorgeous voicein a young Marlon Brando's body, a hubba-hubba facor of 10-plus." UBCprofessor and Soprano Nancy Hermiston marshals the ensemble and driveshome that opera is show business. All of the singers are expressive offace and body and the pieces were expertly staged. Members of theVancouver Opera Orchestra were conducted by Leslie Dala [formersessional faculty], and Bard on the Beach artistic director ChristopherGaze provided the narrative links. Next Monday's repeat performance isold out. [Richardson, Bill. Georgia Straight: August 21, 2005]

Zwei Konzerte begeisterten das Publikum. Article in German about bassoon student Michael Siu. [NBK: August 20, 2005]

Furioses Klangfeuerwerk mit Knalleffekt Article in German about bassoon student Michael Siu. [Wunne, Horst. Frankenpost: August 17, 2005]

Eugene Skovorodnikov al Teatro Ghione di Roma (review) The great Russian pianist Eugene Skovorodnikov[faculty] performed at the Theatre Ghione of Rome on May 8 as part ofthe concert series "Euromusica-Master Concert Series" promoted by theTheatre Ghione and the Canadian Embassy in Italy. In the first part,Skovorodnikov performed Mozart's Adagio in B Minor KV 40 and the BrahmsSonato in F minor, Op. 5. The second part of the concert opened withworks by Sergio Calligaris, the Italian-Argentinean composer. Thepianist then continued with 3 works by Tchaikovsky. The enthusiasm ofthe audience brought Skovorodnikov back to the stage for a finalencore: Scarlatti's sonata in D. Minor. [Gioiosa, Michele. Music andSchools: June 11, 2005]

Tickled by New Ivories Newpianos and just-finished renovations to practice rooms and teachingstudios are music to UBC students' ears. Facilities at the school ofmusic building had not been upgraded in more than 40 years, and itsfleet of more than 100 pianos was showing its age. "Pianos really wearout - many were beyond repair," Jane Coop, head of the school'skeyboard division, told the Straight. She said for many students,especially those from out of town, the pianos on-site at UBC are theonly place they can practise as they train for their careers. "It'sbeen a big boon to them; they're just so happy," Coop added. Shemanaged to secure four high-end Steinways amid the grands and uprightspurchased from Tom Lee Music. In the past, the school had only oneSteinway for practising. Said Coop: "I pushed hard for them; we havesome very, very fine pianists here and they need them." As Coop spoketo the Straight, work was being completed to upgrade the soundproofbaffling and acoustic panels in the practice rooms. "Up til now theycould barely hear themselves think in there," she said. The school ofmusic funded its long-awaited upgrades with its own savings, plussignificant help from Dean of Arts Nancy Gallini. But it's stillworking toward further renovations of its facilities and more upgradesof its instruments, with a long-term goal of renovating its oldauditorium and eventually building a creative- and performing-artscentre. [Smith, Janet. Georgia Straight: October 6, 2005]

Scratching and Winning - How two young Canadian violinists teamed up with a DJ and made it all the way to Carnegie Hall Canadians Julia Koo and Rosemary Siemens[alumni] were invited to play as the sole Canadian participants in theRed Bull Artsehcro, a concert featuring 65 young classical musicians,one world-renowned club DJ and a new composition commissioned for theevent called "Concerto for Turntable". The concert was organized by theenergy drink Red Bull - part of its corporate promotion of unusualcultural and athletic events - at the request of DJ Radar, a "Turntablesoloist" who is know for the creation of scratch notation, a system oftranslation DJ techniques ito Western musical notation. A ManitobaMennonite, Siemens took her love of music instilled by the MennoniteChildren's Choir and applied it to her violin studies at Toronto'sRoyal Conservatory of Music, the University of British Columbia and theUniversity of Miami. In her solo and collaborative work, she hasexperimented with gospel and jazz influences and recently met withManitoba-born composer Victor Davies to discuss a composition drawingon Mennonite hymns. The Concerto for Turntable performance, attended bypossibly the youngest crowd ever to fill Carnegie Hall, sounded likethe score of a James Bond movie composed by Eminem. The classicalmusicians were not attempting to play hip-hop music; instead DJ Radarbecame an extension of the orchestra, using his turntables to scratchand spin sounds and styles that mimicked classical instruments.[Argell, Siri. National Post: October 6, 2005]

Hip-hop meets classical at Carnegie Hall - Fusion: Vancouver violinist was one of two Canadians taking part Vancouver violinist Rosemary Siemens[alumni] performed at the premier of a "Concerto for Turntable",featuring the club disc jockey DJ Radar, who is number two in the worldaccording to Spin Magazine. The event took place at Carnegie Hall andSiemens was one of only two Canadian musicians chosen for theorchestral ensemble of 65, the other being Toronto's Julia Koo. Siemenswas born in Plum Coulee, Manitoba and studied at Toronto's RoyalConservatory of Music, UBC and the University of Miami (she now teachesat the Vancouver Academy of Music. The half-hour-long concerto, writtenby Raul Yanez, was commissioned by energy drink Red Bull as part of itscorporation promotion of off-beat cultural and athletic events. Theensemble was called the Red Bull Artesehcro ("orchestra" spelledbackwards). The turntable concerto was the last of four pieces on aprogram that has already been recorded but isn't out yet. The discjockey spun and scratched sounds in mimicry of classical instrumentsand even managed to suggest the sound of a choir. Siemens believes ittakes the fusion of two styles to create a new genre, and she's nosranger to mixing things up, having already done collaborative work injazz and gospel. Otherwise she prefers doing solo and recital work anddislikes the idea of playing in an orchestra. She's already at work onan album of hip-hop violin duo, ""improvising on classical pieces butin the background you have hip-hop beats." She's also commissioned anew work - a violin concerto from Manitoba composer Victor Davies thatincorporates Mennonite hymns. [Dykk, Lloyd. Vancouver Sun: June 30,2005]

HMS Pinafore sails into harbour The UBCOpera Ensemble will present a full production of Gilbert &Sullivan's HMS Pinafore at the west end of Kits Point during nextweek's Sea Festival. The UBC Opera Ensemble will be joined by membersof the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. [Birnie, Peter. Vancouver Sun: June30, 2005]

Accenture - Masterworks Diamond Series. Saturday&Monday, June 4, 6/05 at Orpheum Theatre. Pre-Concert talk followedbyconcert. Bramwell Tovey, conductor and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenbeg,violin,present Jocelyn Morlock's [alumni] Oiseaux bleus et sauvages(CBC commission/world premiere) and Brahms Violin Concerto in D. Major.Op. 77. [June 4, 2005]

The Summerhill Group Tea & Trumpets. Thursday, June 9, 2005 at Orpheum Theatre. Bramwell Tovey, Conductor, Christopher Gaze, Host, Melanie Krueger [alumni],Soprano,present "In An English Country Garden". Program includes worksbyGrainger, Delius, Gilbert & Sullivan, Vaughan Williams,Elgar,Flanders & Swann.

Town & Gown Concerts come into Effect at UBCArticleabout campus plan for 'town-and-gown' musical concerts. TheUniversityNeighbourhoods Association (UNA) represents residents oncampus. UNA hasfunded $5000 for the Faculty of Arts to orchestrateevents andperformances by outstanding UBC professors and students.Three musicalconcerts are expected for Fall 2005 and 3 more for Spring2006. Jesse Read [faculty] and Laurie Townsend[staff]commented about their enthusiastic support of community concertserieson campus. Professor Read said the 'town and gown' series wouldincludecabaret music and jazz, chamber music and classical works. Therearealso weekly noon-hour series of 20 free concerts during the seasonatthe School of Music Recital Hall. Discounted tickets will beavailableto UNA members. [Tompkins, John. V6T Community News. June 2005]

2005 Killam Teachers. Sessional Lecturer Henri-Paul Sicsic,Schoolof Music was listed as a recipient of the 2005 Killam TeachingPrize.Killam winners are selected by their faculties based onrecommendationsfrom students and colleagues. Each receives $5000 fromuniversityendowment sources. Recipients are distinguished by theircreativity,commitment and dynamic approach to learning. [UBC Reports:June 2, 2005]

That Aha! Moment - Inventive approaches to mentoringarehelping a growing number of students, faculty and alumni staffdiscoverfresh possibilities Article discusses tri-mentoring,theinnovative approach leading to a resurgence in mentoringinitiativesthroughout UBC. Tri-mentoring engages and supports studentsat keytransition points. Seniors are assigned industry mentors, andseniorstudents mentor junior students. The UBC Tri-Mentoring Programisfunded by the Counselling Foundation of Canada. [Schmidt, Randy.UBCReports June 2, 2005]

Finding the Voice Within - Mentors are integral for aspiring opera singersEveryyear the Vancouver Opera attends a UBC Opera Ensemble performanceandauditions selected singers for their upcoming season. This is oneway Nancy Hermiston [faculty],director of the voice and operadivisions of UBC's School of Musicconnects students to theprofessional world. She also makes connectionsfor students with theVSO, other Canadian opera companies and withpremier companies in theCzech Republic and Germany. Hermiston mentorsstudents by providingthem with opportunities for auditions andprofessional events, byteaching them how to prepare themselves for thediiscipline ofperforming and how to deal with rejection as well as thehighs ofsuccess on stage. Her mentoring of students can continuebeyondgraduation from UBC. The School of Music doctoral, master'sandundergraduate students also learn from one another at the two mainUBCOpera Ensemble productions each season, or on tours to localschoolsand BC communities. Michael Mori, Simone Osborne,Teiya Kasahar and Shauna Martin[students]have all been mentored by Hermiston. "Mentoring for singersislong-term. We're like one big family, passing knowledge andtraditionson to the next generation of singers." Hermiston says. "Inthe long run,a mentor is the most influential person in someone'scareer." [Austin,Brenda. UBC Reports: June 2, 2005]

Varied compositions propel Carmel festival beyond just Bach After a quarter-century of playing and helping organize the Carmel Bach Festival, its new executive director, Jesse Read [faculty],still finds something new in the old music. This year, the festivalwill relate the music of other classical composers to the influence ofBach, and for the first--but not last--time this century, it willcommission an original piece of music to be performed during thefestival. Read, who grew up playing music and baseball, has beenprincipal bassoonist at the festival since 1980 and diector of itsrecital program since 1988. He is Head of UBC's Schhol of Music and isrecognized as one of the leading performers of baroque, classical andcontemporary bassoon music. Milestones of the 68th annual BachFestival, which opened Saturday, include: Beethoven's Ninth Symphonyand illustrates how he was inspired by Bach; Monteverde's "1610Vespers", Bach's Brandenber Concertos; and a commissioned work by 20year old Nathan Pangrazio, pianist, composer and member of the BachFestival Youth Choir. In all, the festival will offer more than 200events. [Howe, Kevin. Monterey County Herald: July 17, 2005]

CPO conducts a classic finale for light seriesAt the final concert of the CPO's light classics series, a farewell byresident conductor Rosemary Thomson,... "the hit of the evening… wasthe splendid account of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, with Sara Davis Beuchner[faculty] as soloist. This is clearly a party piece for the ebullientBuechner, who not only displayed a well honed technic but also awonderful way with Gershwin's alternately lyrical and bravura writing.Beuchner's charismatic, committed performance earned her an instantstanding ovatiton--well deserved considering the quality of herplaying." [Delong, Kenneth. The Calgary Herald: May 15, 2005]

Recordings - Rudolf Friml: Piano works. Sara Davis Buechner, piano (Koch International Classics) On this new disc, Sara Davis Buechner[faculty] plays 22 of Rudolph Friml's piano miniature pieces.Buechner's caring, superbly recorded performances do justice to aforgotten master of melody of whom Irving Berlin once said, "He couldshake music out of his sleeve." [von Rhein, John. Chicago TribuneWebsite: July 8, 2005]

Out for lunch music services The 500th performance of the ever-popular Out for Lunch concert series will be staged this spring. Bravo, Gene Ramsbottom [sessionalfaculty], founder and cosponsor and principal and solo clarinetist withthe CBC Radio Orchestra, started the concert series as a VancouverCentenary project in 1986 with initial funding from the Chevron Club ofthe Performing Arts, the City of Vancouver, The Ramcoff Concert Societyand ongoing funding assistance from the Musicians Peformance TrustFund, the Vancouver Art Gallery, its Women's Auxiliary, and Ian Hampton(166 concerts from 1990-1997), Karen Lee-Morlang (34 concerts between1999 and 2003), the UBC School of Music (24 concerts since 1999), HansKrebs of BC Pianocraft, the Vancouver Musicians Association (Local 145of the American Federation of Musiicians), and the loyal audiences. Noother city in Canada can boast of such a classical chamber musicconcert series or the remarkable number of concerts presented in thisdowntown core or the number of musicians represented in solos, duos,trios, quartets, quntets, sextets, octets, dixtours, small ensembles,large ensembles, small choir or larger choirs. Hundred have contributedto the uniqueness of the series and thousands have enjoyed thisadventure. The Out for Lunch concert series is offered on selectedFriday afternoons at 12:10 pm beginning February 10 and is free withGallery admission. Arrive early, space is limited. [Upbeat: Spring 2005]

Soprano learned her craft at UBC - Salzburg's hills will soon be alive with the music of UBC soprano Alison Nystrom Graduating music master's student in opera, soprano Alison Nystromwon a scholarship to study with the University Mozarteum's first-ratesinging teachers in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace. Alison has anundergraduate degree in kinesiology and had never performed in an operauntil Nancy Hermiston, director of the UBC Opera Ensemble, casther in a lead role in "The Magic Flute" in the first year of herMasters. Alison attributes her readiness for a professional career tothe invaluable experience of being in a fully staged opera with anorchestra during her studies at UBC. [Dundon, Kelsey. Faculty of ArtsWebsite: May 26, 2005]

In Concert - Melissa Hill [alumni] CD Release. Playing attheCellar Restaurant/Jazz Club May 15&16/05. UBC music degree inpianoperformance, has released indie EP and is poised to launchfirstfull-length CD, Across the Back. [The Province: May 15, 2005]

Family passion plays out at Orpheum - Grandmother, grandsonset for thrill of their lives as they get to play together in youthorchestra After 64 years of playing violin, Beverly Blinkhorn[alumni] has the chance to play in a symphony orchestra with her 17year old grandson, Brandon Green, on Sunday at 2:30 at the OrpheumTheatre. Blinkhorn initially taught her grandson piano in this musicalfamily, but is now learning from him. She is a string player and he hastaken up percussion. Both won the VYSO's concerto competition, sheplaying the violin 50 years ago and he playing the marimba this year.Blinkhorn became a school teacher, married and had 4 children, thenwent back to UBC to do a music degree. Her grandson does not plan to bea professional musician but plans to play part-time or as a hobby. Hewill be attending Cambridge University this fall to study Latin andGreek, where he hopes to play with one or both of its orchestras. OnSunday, Blinkhorn will share the stage with her grandson, Jonathan Ng,one of her former students and Gwen Hoebig, the concert master of theWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Also attending the event will be 92 yearold Stephen Webster, VYSO's oldest alumni. [Bramham, Daphne. VancouverSun: May 20. 2005]

For Acclaimed Pianist, Practice is the Key On the morning of a performance, concert pianist Jane Coop(UBC professor of piano and chamber music) does some of her hardestpractising before she even gets up. Coop has performed in manycountries and has 13 titles on Skylark Records (which she started) andCBC Records. She has received two Juno nominations, rave reviews,andwas designated a Distinguished University Scholar last year by UBC.[Jacobs, Donna. The Ottawa Citizen: April 11, 2005]

Helikon honcho touts current compositions Helikon Ensemble (under direction of Leslie Dala [formersessional faculty]) will perform two of Canadian composer BrianCurrent's works at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre on Sunday March13. A trio arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner (in slanted time)"will be presented, along with the piece "Quintet - Circus Songs" whichwas commissioned by the Continuum ensemble of Toronto. The seven-memberHelkon Ensemble is also developing Current's chamber oepra "AirlineIcarus", in conjunction with Opera Breve. On Sunday, Helikon will alsofeature works from other composers in their 30s, including UBC musicprofessor Dorothy Chang. [Varty, Alexander. Georgia Straight: March 10, 2005]

ProudMusic of the Storm; Over Thorns to Stars; Tara's Dream; Prairie Dawn;Crimson Dream; Fanfare for a Cold Land music by StephenChatman(Centrediscs CMC CD 10304) Matthew Stephanson [student], tenor; Gene Ramsbottom [sessional faculty], clarinet: Vancouver Bach Choir; University Singers; UBC Chamber Strings, Stephen Chatman [faculty], conductor; UBC Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Pullan, Jesse Read, Eric Wilson [faculty],conductors; BBC Symphony Orchestra, Gunther Herbig, conductor. ComposerChatman's orchestral works are performed by the UBC student orchestraon this commercial recording. The orchestra acquits itself admirably,and Matthew Stephenson's tneor part in "From Thorns to Stars" marks himas a talent to watch. Gene Ramsbottom's soaring lines in "Prarie Dawn"are "wondrously expressive", and recording engineer David Simpson has"captured performances with an appealing warmth and clarity". Chatman'sdebts to Orff, Copland and Ravel is "there for all to but it'sassimilated into a style that is palpably his. This is a thoroughlyenjoyable disc." [Jordan, Robert. Opus: April 2005]

Finding the Voice Within - Mentors are integral for aspiring opera singersEvery year the Vancouver Opera attends a UBC Opera Ensemble performanceand auditions selected singers for their upcoming season. This is oneway Nancy Hermiston, director of the voice and opera divisionsof UBC's School of Music connects students to the professional world.She also makes connections for students with the VSO, other Canadianopera companies and with premier companies in the Czech Republic andGermany. Hermiston mentors students by providing them withopportunities for auditions and professional events, by teaching themhow to prepare themselves for the diiscipline of performing and how todeal with rejection as well as the highs of success on stage. Hermentoring of students can continue beyond graduation from UBC. TheSchool of Music doctoral, master's and undergraduate students alsolearn from one another at the two main UBC Opera Ensemble productionseach season, or on tours to local schools and BC communities. Michael Mori, Simone Osborne,Teiya Kasahar and Shauna Martin[students] have all been mentored by Hermiston. "Mentoring for singersis long-term. We're like one big family, passing knowledge andtraditions on to the next generation of singers." Hermiston says. "Inthe long run, a mentor is the most influential person in someone'scareer." [Austin, Brenda. UBC Reports: June 2, 2005]

ThatAha! Moment - Inventive approaches to mentoring are helping a growingnumber of students, faculty and alumni staff discover freshpossibilities Article discusses tri-mentoring, the innovativeapproach leading to a resurgence in mentoring initiatives throughoutUBC. Tri-mentoring engages and supports students at key transitionpoints. Seniors are assigned industry mentors, and senior studentsmentor junior students. The UBC Tri-Mentoring Program is funded by theCounselling Foundation of Canada. [Schmidt, Randy. UBC Reports: June 2,2005]

2005 Killam Teachers. Sessional Lecturer Henri-Paul Sicsic,School of Music was listed as a recipient of the 2005 Killam TeachingPrize. Killam winners are selected by their faculties based onrecommendations from students and colleagues. Each receives $5000 fromuniversity endowment sources. Recipients are distinguished by theircreativity, commitment and dynamic approach to learning. [UBC Reports:June 2, 2005]

Town & Gown Concerts come into Effect at UBCArticle about campus plan for 'town-and-gown' musical concerts. TheUniversity Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) represents residents oncampus. UNA has funded $5000 for the Faculty of Arts to orchestrateevents and performances by outstanding UBC professors and students.Three musical concerts are expected for Fall 2005 and 3 more for Spring2006. Jesse Read [faculty]and Laurie Townsend [staff]commented about their enthusiastic support of community concert serieson campus. Professor Read said the 'town and gown' series would includecabaret music and jazz, chamber music and classical works. There arealso weekly noon-hour series of 20 free concerts during the season atthe School of Music Recital Hall. Discounted tickets will be availableto UNA members. [Tompkins, John. V6T
Community News: June 2005]

Congratulations to Joy Yeh [student]. UBC student Joy Yehhaswon the Burnaby Clef Concerto Competition. Joy will perform assoloistwith the Vancouver Symphony on June 5.

Congratulations to Salvadore Ferraras [faculty]. Salreceivedthe Willan Prize for outstanding contributions to choralmusicpresented by the BC Choral Federation at Chorfest May 2005. Thesecondaward was for the most innovative choral project for 2004 givenat theinnovation concert presentation of the year, also held in May 2005

Concerts preview new musical interfaces Article reNIME 2005, a tech-oriented conference at UBC focusing on new interfacesfor musical expression. Panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations, andseminars for registrants. Public welcome for 3 evening concerts atSchool of Music Recital Hall May 26-28/05. Performances focus on thesound-studio-in-a-box potential of the laptop computer. Varty,Alexander. Georgia Straight: May 19, 2005]

In Concert - Melissa Hill [alumni] CD Release.Playing at the Cellar Restaurant/Jazz Club May 15&16/05. UBC musicdegree in piano performance, has released indie EP and is poised tolaunch first full-length CD, Across the Back. [Province: May 15, 2005]

Celebrating the 500th Concert of the Out for Lunch Series at the Vancouver Art Gallery on April 1, 2005. Gene Ramsbottom [sessional faculty] [Upbeat: Spring 2005]

The Vancouver Symphony says goodbye to Camille Churchfield[sessional faculty] who will be resigning. Camille who has spent 29years of her professional life with the orchestra, expresses her deepgraitude to everyone who has been involved in her extensive career.Camille is joining her husband, Chris Millard in Ottowa, who is nowwith the national ARts Centre Orchestra. [Upbeat: Spring 2005]

Gordon Cherry, Greg Cox, Doug Sparkes[sessional faculty] the trombone section of the Vancouver SymphonyOrchestra will be celebrating their 28th season together in May 2004.[Upbeat: Spring 2005]

Proud Music of the Storm; Over Thorns to Stars; Tara's Dream; Prairie Dawn; Crimson Dream; Fanfare for a Cold Land music by Stephen Chatman (Centrediscs CMC CD 10304) (Review by Robert Jordan). Matthew Stephanson student}, tenor; Gene Ramsbottom [sessional], clarinet: Vancouver Bach Choir; University Singers; UBC Chamber Strings, Stephen Chatman [faculty], conductor; UBC Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Pullan[faculty], Jesse Read [faculty], Eric Wilson staff],conductors;BBC Symphony Orchestra, Gunther Herbig, conductor. ComposerChatman'sorchestral works are performed by the UBC student orchestraon thiscommercial recording. The orchestra acquits itself admirably,andMatthew Stephenson's tneor part in "From Thorns to Stars" marks himas atalent to watch. Gene Ramsbottom's soaring lines in "PraiirieDawn" are"wondrously expressive", and recording engineer David Simpsonhas"captured performances with an appealing warmth and clarity".Chatman'sdebts to Orff, Copland and Ravel is "there for all to butit'sassimilated into a style that is palpably his. This is athoroughlyenjoyable disc." [Opus: April 2005]

Helikon honcho touts current compositions Helikon Ensemble (under direction of Leslie Dala [formersessional])will perform two of Canadian composer Brian Current's worksat theVancouver East Cultural Centre on Sunday March 13. A trioarrangement of"The Star Spangled Banner (in slanted time)" will bepresented, alongwith the piece "Quintet - Circus Songs" which wascommissioned by theContinuum ensemble of Toronto. The seven-memberHelkon Ensemble is alsodeveloping Current's chamber oepra "AirlineIcarus", in conjunction withOpera Breve. On Sunday, Helikon will alsofeature works from othercomposers in their 30s, including UBC musicprofessor Dorothy Chang [faculty]. [Varty, Alexander. Georgia Straight: March 10, 2005]

For Acclaimed Pianist, Practice is the Key On the morning of a performance, concert pianist Jane Coop[faculty](UBC professor of piano and chamber music) does some of herhardestpractising before she even gets up. Coop has performed in manycountriesand has 13 titles on Skylark Records (which she started) andCBCRecords. She has received two Juno nominations, rave reviews,andwasdesignated a Distinguished University Scholar last year by UBC.[Jacobs,Donna. The Ottawa Citizen: April 11, 2005]

Gene Ramsbottom [sessional faculty], the city clarinetist,should exult when pianist Rachel Iwaasa plays Ravel's Gaspard de laNuit and Beethoven's Sona Op. 111 at the Vancouver Årt Gallery on April1st. It'll be the 500th performances in the Out for Lunc seriesRamsbottom launced in 1986. For his own 285th production in the seriesJune 10, Rambottom will join Purcell STring Quartet founders PhillippeEtter, Ian hampton and Fred and Norman Nelson in Mozart's ClarinetQuintet. [Vancouver Sun: March 12, 2005]

Alexina Louie -UBC Alumnus. New work premiers by Alexina Louie : Imaginary Opera onFebruary 9 2005. [Words & Music Magazine: March 2005]

Composers and UBC Alumni Jacquie Leggatt & Bradshaw Packworks will be unveiled in Lori Freedman's new solo concerts takingplace in April at Montreal's Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur. [Words& Music Magazine: March 2005]

Toronto composer Craig Galbraith[Alumni] is the winner of the third annual Karen Kieser Prize inCanadian Music, presented in January 2005. [Words & Music Magazine:March 2005]

Congratulations to Henri-Paul Sicsic[sessional faculty] a recipient of the 2005 Faculty of Arts annualKillam Teaching Prize. The award was announced March 10th. Recipientsof this presitious prize will be acknowledge at the convocationceremonies in May at the Chan Centre. [Internal notice: March 21, 2005]

A rare moment of magnificence - The Vancouver Bach Choir will perform Beethoven's only oratorio, Christus am Olberge at the Orpheum Theatre. Bruce Pullen,a Full time Faculty member at the UBC School of music said that "thechallenge is to capture the drama of the piece". [Vancouver Sun: March17, 2005]

The Halls of Hycroft mansion alive with music.The restored 1911 Steinway is the centrepiece of the University Women'sClub concert on March 13 and will feature selections from Brahms,Rachmanioff and musical theatre. [The Vancouver Courier: March 6, 2005]

Erika Switzer [alumni], an outstanding pianist and perfect partner for Colin Balzer[alumni]at the piano, each musical emotion (whether joyousness,mourning, rage, despair or happiness) was marvelously understood andunderlined the vocal work. [Badische Neueste Nachrichten: February 6,2005]

Guest composer, Giorgio Magnanesi [alumni], provide welcome addition to the John Korsurd's [sessional faculty] team of the Hard Rubber Orchestra. [Georgia Straight: March 10, 2005]

Helikon Ensemble play new music at the East Vancouver Cultural Centre. Leslie Dala [sessional faculty] & Dorothy Chang [faculty]. Also performing works by UBC composition profession Dorothy Chang. [Georgia Straight: March 10, 2005]

Percussion is more than a drum or two Artistic director Sal Ferreras'[sessional faculty] vision was to showcase the diverse repertoireavailable to many different percussive instruments. [The Ubyssey: March15, 2005]

Chamber Singers delightfuly goofy. Arguably the highlight of the program, however, was Stephen Chatman's[faculty]"Clocks", a piece inspired by the sound of the composer'sgrandfatherclock. In it, the horus intertwines the varied sounds madeby timepieces- an insistent "ticktock,", the playful "boo-bee" of anelectronic alarmtrilled by the sopranos, deep "bongs" from the basses,and theoccasional "cuckoo" - the whole thing coming together in anenergetic,fun cacophony of clock noise. [Indian South Bend Tribune:March 8, 2005]

Quirkiness pays off for eclectic composer. Composers John Korsrud and [alumni] Giorgio Magnanensi [sessional faculty] [Vancouver Sun: February 26, 2005]

Here's an opera career growing like a house on fire. Andrew Greenwood[student] has a firefighter's passion, baritone let him soar on stage.Sang the title role in eugene Onegin with the UBC Opera Ensemble.[Vancouver Sun: February 26, 2005]

"U" Group behind Arts Campus Attractions. Members from all over the UBC Community joined together to promote on campus activities to the public. [Laurie Townsend - Staff]

Amy LaFroy, UBC Opera Student - A Little Levity. Symphony, ensemble fill Sagebrush with light music. [Kamloops Daily News: January 11, 2005]

Stephen Chatman - Proud Music of the Storm - Modern and contemporary review. [WholeNote Discouveries: February 23, 2005]

Hard Rubber enters a rave new world. Bandleader and composer John Korsrud, a UBC Alumnus together with Sal Ferreras [sessional faculty], percussion and Giorgio Magnanensi[sessional faculty] on electronics performed at the Vancouver EastCultural Centre in a rave-inspired celebration. [Georgia Straight:February 24, 2005]

Young Tenor's Star on the rise. Phillippe Castagner [alumni] was handed a unique opportunity last summer to showcase his talent. [UBC Reports: February 3, 2005]

If Music be the Food of Love … Play on. A handful of UBC School of Music professors reflect on love and music in honour of Valentine's Day. Stephen Chatman[faculty] remembers a romantic sequence he composed as an orchestralwork, inspired by his wife, Tara. [UBC Reports: February 3, 2005]

Killam Awards Announced - UBC Facutly have been recognized with five prestigious awards. David Metzer [faculty] received the Killam Research Prize. [UBC Reports: Febrary 3, 2005]

Stephen Chatman's [faculty] In Flanders Fields - SABT [Earth Songs: February 2005]

Stephen Chatman's [faculty] Thou Whose Harmony is the Music of the Spheres for SATB and OBOE [Earth Songs: Feburary 2005]

TheBorealis String Quartet is part of theArtScan tradition of showcasingdiverse school performances for young audiences. [ArtScan Magazine:Spring 2005]

Keyboard Karma. Kenneth Broadway[sessional faculty] performs piano music by Mozart & Liszt. He willbe joined by Mark Fewer, Concertmaster of the VSO in the wonderfulB-flat Jamor (K454) Violin and Piano Sonata of Mozart. All Proceeds toTsunami Relief organizations. [Sunday Serenades: January 23, 2005]

Celebrate the Sublime Bassoonist extraordinaire Christopher Millard[sessional faculty] performs. Hot House Flowers - share thissensational musical experience with the brilliant young conductor AlainTrudel and Julia Nolan [sessional faculty] premieres theSaxophone Concerto. Gala Operatic Tribute - join us for this galacelebration featuring some of Canada's finest singers such as tenor Philippe Castagner [alumni]. [CBC Radio Orchestra on Stage at the Chan Centre: February 9, 2005]

Dawes swan song pulls heart strings. Farewell concert for prolific violinist and Ubc music professor Andrew Dawes a tribute to collaboration. [Vancouver Sun: February 4, 2005]

Violinist Shows avant-garde needn't be scary. Jasper Woods[faculty] is a new breed of violinist who believes in showing hisstudents what it really means to be a musician: you work, if you arelucky. [Vancovuer Sun: January 29, 2005]

Old instrumetns lend a new sound. Axelrod Quartet peforms 19th centruy works as their composers wrote them. Marc Destrube [sessional faculty], 1st violinist in Axelrod Quartet. [Vancouver Sun: January 25, 2005]

New Music treat after VSO's rocky visions. Flute soloist Camille Churchfield [sessional faculty] elegantly premierd with the VSO and Giorgio Magnanensi [sessional faculty] conducted the orchestra. [Vancouver Sun: January 25, 2005]

Jan28 at the chan is concert two in their "A Blaxe of Berlioz"celerbration, and "blaze" is the right word for this firecracker. TheUniversity Singers and UBC Symphony and the epic monodrama Lelio,planned as sequel to the Symphonie Fantastique is narrated by theQuebec actor, Remy Girard. Ben Heppner [alumni] performs in recital the Chan Centre in February. [Vancouver Sun: January 24, 2005]

Quartet's approach a breath of fresh air. UBC's new pianist Sara Davis Buechner j[faculty] oined the quartet for Stephen Chatman's[faculty] Lawren S. Harris Suite. The groups interpretartion was alwaysclean and convincing, and the especially brisk finale was as clear andfrosty as a winter evening. [Vancouver Sun: January 18, 2005]

Music Unearths Local Talent. Highlights of Sol 3 include asteroid music by VSO composer featuring Camille Churchfield [sessionalfaculty], chamber orchestra member of the VSO and Sessional facultymember at UBC School of Music. [Georgia Straight: January 13, 2005]

Tsunamirelief benefit concert presented by UBC School of Music student toconvey a message of thanks after her three brothers survived the BoxingDay disaster at their Thailand resort. [The Langley Times: January 12,2005]

The harmonies of human conflict features pianist Rena Sharon and percussionist Sal Ferrerras, teachers in UBC's School of Music, share an interest in how global issues affect music. [UBC Reports: January 10, 2005]

Choral Music in the Twentieth Century featuring Stephen Chatman [faculty] [Amadeus Press: January 7, 2005]

UBC announces two funds to aid in tidal-wave relief. The Borealis String Quartetmarked UBC president Dr. Martha Piper's $2-million fundraising campaignannouncement for Asian tsunami survivors. [The Province: January 6,2005]

2004 Ubc Izaak Walton Killam Research Prize. Dr. David Metzer[faculty] has been selected as a winner of one of the Ubc KillamResearch Prized in the Junior Arts category. [UBC Office of the VicePresident Research letter: January 6, 2005]

Franck, Ravel, Strauss. Jane Coop[faculty] deftly colouring the piano sections and achieving pianissimiof devastating beauty that shimmeringly reached out for world lyingjust beyond. [Vancouver Review: January 5, 2005]

Summer festivals boost cultural appeal. The UBC's School of Music saw an important changing of the guard. Andrew Dawes, the distinguished founder and first violinist of the Orford Quartet, is about to step down; newbie Jasper Wood, from Moncton but trained in Cleveland, is the university's new string star. [Vancouver Sun: January 2, 2005]

VSO welcomes Kenneth Hsieh [alumni] as assistant conductor. Well-travelled, highly educated ex-pianist "a treasure". [Vancouver Sun: January 3, 2005]

"What does Science Have to Do with Music?" [Konoval, Brandon. [(sessonal faculty) Annuals of Science Vol 62 No. 1: January 1, 2005]

The University of British Columbia

2005 Articles