News : Diller-Quaile School of Music, NY

DQ Faculty Member's Ensemble Performs at the Library of Congress
Instrumental and Vocal (cello) faculty member Leigh Stuart's group, Fireworks Ensemble, recently gave a concert at the Library of Congress, which was reviewed by Stephen Brookes in The Washington Post (on 10/31/08):

If there's a patron saint of chamber music, it's undoubtedly Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, whose support of this neglected genre was so strong she even built the Library of Congress an auditorium to play it in. Coolidge would have turned a sprightly 144 on Thursday, and the library marked the occasion with a performance by the Fireworks Ensemble -- a young octet every bit as adventurous and ahead of the curve as the revered lady herself.

The classically trained Fireworks players say they're out to "redefine the chamber music experience for a new generation of listeners" by expanding the repertoire into new areas, and this we can only applaud. The world of chamber music can feel airless, smothered in the kind of tonier-than-thou connoisseurship that makes sensible people flee for the hills, but the Fireworks players threw open the windows and let the air in. Playing everything from electric guitars to an orange kazoo, they romped through Norwegian folk songs, a Bollywood film score, some baroque dance music and a Duke Ellington classic, even taking a stab at the dance club electronica of Aphex Twin -- cleverly reverse-engineered for acoustic instruments.

It was as fresh and fun as it sounds, and when it worked, it worked beautifully. You lose a certain authenticity when, for instance, you arrange a Haydn string quartet for electric guitar and soprano saxophone, but it's well worth hearing at least once. And there were some fine solos, particularly by violinist Kathryn Eberle. Chamber music may not have been "redefined," but it definitely got a kick in the pants -- and Coolidge herself would probably have enjoyed the party.

Solo Faculty Concert
On Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:30 pm, Diller-Quaile faculty member Tomas Ulrich's Cargo Cult (Tomas Ulrich, cello; Rolf Sturm, electric and acoustic guitar; and Michael Bisio, acoustic bass) will present a free concert featuring compositions by each member of the ensemble, as well as works by such diverse composers as Gaetano Donizetti, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, Henry Mancini, and Neil Young. This concert will take place in the School's Performance Space and is open to the public.

Free Master Classes & Workshops at Diller-Quaile
Diller-Quaile is pleased to announce the following schedule of free master classes and workshops that are open to the DQ community and the general public:

Tuesday, December 2nd at 7:00 pm
A Pedagogical Workshop for Teachers
Guest artist: Victor Bobetsky
Mr. Bobetsky, named "Educator of the Year" by the Association of Teachers of New York, is a Professor of Music Education at Hunter College. He will explore innovative ways of approaching the private lesson, as well as group class teaching. Professor Bobetsky's articles have been published in Music Educators Journal, Teaching Music, Choral Journal, and European Music Educators Association Journal. His arrangements are published by Boosey and Hawkes, Cambiata Press, GIA Publications and Musica Russica.
Friday, February 6, 2009 at 5:00 pm
A Composition Master Class
Guest artist: John Carbon
Mr. Carbon, a composer and Professor of Music at Franklin and Marshall College, will present a master class in which he will comment on compositions by Diller-Quaile faculty. Mr. Carbon's "Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra" performed at Avery Fisher Hall, was hailed by The New York Times critic Allan Kozinn for "its demandingly agile clarinet line that wove its way through a variegated orchestral fabric...rich in coloristic effects of the sort that create a sense of depth rather than artificial glitter."
Friday, March 6, 2009 at 5:00 pm
A Chamber Music Master Class
Guest artist: Olivier Fluchaire
French-born conductor, chamber musician, and violinist Olivier Fluchaire will present a master class for faculty chamber groups. Mr. Fluchaire has collaborated with members of the Guarneri, American, and Emerson string quartets and has performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto alongside Yehudi Menuhin. He has recorded for the Vox and Newport Classics Labels, as well as for Radio France, BBC Television, National Educational Television, WQXR, and National Public Radio.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 7:30 pm
A Piano Master Class
Guest artist: Mordecai Shehori
Israeli pianist Mordecai Shehori will present a piano master class for Diller-Quaile faculty. Mr. Shehori made his New York debut after winning the 1974 Jeunesses Musicales Competition. He has played at the White House and is known for his friendship and musical relationship with the late Vladimir Horowitz, with whom he played two pianos in 1987. He has recorded Mozart's "Concerto K. 488" for Deutsche Grammophon with the La Scala Theater Orchestra under the baton of Carlo Maria Giulini. He is a two-time recipient of the La Gesse Foundation Award.

For more information about these master classes and workshops, please call (212) 369-1484 x35

Group Faculty Concert
Diller-Quaile is delighted to present the first Group Faculty Concert of the 2008-2009 season on Thursday, November 13th at 7:30 pm in our Performance Space (admission is free). The concert will feature music by Debussy, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Schubert, and songs by Lee Hoiby. A reception will follow the concert.

The Diller-Quaile faculty members performing include Laura Bontrager (cello), Mary Bopp (piano), Marjory Duncalfe (piano), Nicole Johnson (cello), Uli Speth (violin), and Lars Woodul (baritone).

For more information, please call (212) 369-1484, ext. 31.

Diller-Quaile String Quartet to Record for Britten-Pears Library
The Diller-Quaile String Quartet has been invited to record examples of Benjamin Britten's unpublished student works for the Thematic Catalogue project underway at the Britten-Pears Library in Aldeburgh, England. DQSQ member and Head of the String Department, Phil Hough, traveled to Aldeburgh this past July to study Britten's string quartets.

Senior Recital Schedule for Spring 2009
The Instrumental and Vocal Department has announced the schedule of Senior Recitals featured this coming spring. They are as follows:

Joanna Brunner, violin - Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Dipika Sen, piano - Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Christina Bott, soprano - Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Anelise Feinstein, violin - Friday, June 5, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Michael Gorman Performs Original Material at American Folk Art Museum
Michael Gorman, Diller-Quaile Lobby Receptionist and singer/guitarist in his own right, is performing a set of his original songs at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan on Friday, December 5th at 5:30 pm.

DQ News
The Diller-Quaile Fall 2008 newsletter (now in full color) has been printed and mailed to all Diller-Quaile families and adult students. A PDF version of DQ News may be found here.

DQ Ensemble-in-Residence Arc Duo to Premiere New Work
Arc Duo and The Diller-Quaile School of Music are delighted to announce the world premiere of a newly commissioned piece from renowned guitarist and composer David Leisner. "Away," based on the American folk tune 'Shenandoah,' is a one-movement, 11-minute work for flute and guitar that will be performed by Arc Duo (Heather Holden, flute; Bradley Colten, guitar) in the Diller-Quaile Performance Space on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm. This is a free concert both for members of the Diller-Quaile community and the general public. Tickets are not required. Please click here for more information.

DQ Guitar and Theory Teacher Featured in Guitar Review
Bradley Colten, who is a member of Diller-Quaile's guitar and theory faculty (and is one half of Arc Duo), is interviewed in the summer 2008 issue of Guitar Review magazine. Read the article here.

Paula Robison Master Classes in 2009
The Diller-Quaile School of Music is thrilled to announce that the world-famous flautist Paula Robison will be returning to the School for the fourth season in a row to conduct master classes for advanced participants (high school through professional) and auditors of all levels. The Paula Robison Master Classes will be offered on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 and Wednesday, March 11, 2009. Additional details, including audition requirements and master class applications will be forthcoming. Please direct general inquiries to Elizabeth Janzen, Paula Robison Master Class Coordinator, who may be reached at (212) 369-1484 x23.

DQ Student Featured in NY Family Magazine
DQ voice student Joshua Siegel was featured in the July 2008 issue of NY Family Magazine, where he spoke about his DQ voice lessons and love for music. Read the article here.