Tag Archives: Chamber Music

Andromeda Quintet Brass Week

Now that summer weather is here, I’m pleased to announce Andromeda Quintet Brass Week – a brass chamber music program my colleagues and I are running in Wellesley from July 23rd through 27th.

The program is designed for students ages 13-19, and is open to individuals or pre-formed groups. Participants will explore the brass chamber and ensemble repertoire, while learning how to rehearse efficiently, and listen critically. Performance skills will be strengthened through daily masterclasses, followed by a formal recital at the end of the program. For a detailed schedule, and to register, visit: andromedaquintet.com

Andromeda Quintet Brass Week

Audition season is here!

Shoot

As the days get longer, and (hypothetically) warmer, opportunities for musical growth have also arrived. If you and/or your child are looking for an extra-curricular ensemble for next fall, now is the time to sign up. Here is a list of opportunities available in the Greater Boston area:

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (formerly known as GBYSO)

BYSO has four large ensembles to choose from for middle and high school students: 3 orchestras (Boston Youth Symphony, Repertory Orchestra, and Junior Repertory Orchestra), and a preparatory wind/brass group. Rehearsals take place on Sundays at the Boston University West campus College of Fine Arts.

Registration begins in mid-March, with auditions taking place during the last two weeks in May. The requirements are:

  • Two contrasting pieces or movements
  • Scales from memory. See page 6 of this year’s audition brochure for details.
  • Selected orchestral excerpts, available shortly here.
  • Sight reading

Chamber music is also available either separately, or in addition to large ensembles.

New England Conservatory Preparatory School

NEC Prep has eight large ensembles for students in grade 7 and up: 4 orchestras (Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Youth Symphony Orchestra, Youth Repertory Orchestra, and Junior Repertory Orchestra), 3 wind ensembles (Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble, Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble Concert Band, and Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble), and a Youth Brass Ensemble. Rehearsals generally take place on Saturday, and are held in the downtown area between Symphony Hall and NEC.

Registration begins in March, with auditions taking place in mid-May (except for Brass Ensemble, which auditions in September). The requirements are:

  • Two contrasting pieces or movements: grades 6-10 at the Junior District Level, grades 10-12 at All-State Level
  • Scales – requirements differ depending on the ensemble being auditioned for
  • Excerpts – only for the senior orchestras (YPO and YS)
  • Sight-reading

Note that auditions for the different types of ensembles are scheduled separately. Chamber music is also available either separately, or in addition to large ensembles.

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

BPYO is for students ages 12 to 21 (with an emphasis on high school and above for the winds and brass). It is a tuition-free ensemble, with rehearsals on Saturdays in the downtown area near Symphony Hall and NEC.

Registration begins in March, with auditions taking place in mid-May (except for Brass Ensemble, which auditions in September). The requirements are:

  • Two contrasting pieces or movements of the highest level that showcase musical and technical abilities
  • Excerpts
  • Auditions also include an informal interview

The Rivers School Conservatory

Rivers has two ensembles for high school students: the Rivers Youth Orchestra, and the Rivers Youth Wind Ensemble. Orchestra rehearsals are Fridays from 4-5:30pm, and Wind Ensemble rehearsals are Mondays from 7-9pm, both at The Rivers School in Weston.

Auditions take place from mid-May to mid-June. The requirements are:

  • Two contrasting pieces or movements of a larger work at the Senior District Level
  • Full range chromatic scale and 2 octave major scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats
  • Sight-reading

Tufts University Community Music Program

The Tufts Youth Philharmonic is a relatively new ensemble, open to students aged 13 and up. Rehearsals are Fridays from 4-6:30pm at the Granoff Music Center on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus.

Auditions are held in mid-May, but are also accepted via YouTube link or DVD. The requirements are:

  • Two contrasting solo pieces of your choice that demonstrate musical and technical ability
  • 2 octave scales, up to four sharps and four flats

Powers Music School

Powers is home to the Massachusetts Youth Symphony Project, a chamber orchestra for students aged 12-18. Rehearsals are on Saturdays from 3-5pm at the music school in Belmont.

Auditions are held in late May. The requirements are:

  • 2 octave major scale through 4 sharps and 4 flats
  • 3 octave minor scale of your choice
  • 2 contrasting pieces or movements
  • Sight-reading

Winchester Community Music School

WCMS offers an excellent chamber music program for students of all ages. Rehearsal dates and times are arranged according to the schedules of participants and coaches, and are held at the music school.

Placement auditions are generally held in the spring and fall. The requirements are:

  • Two contrasting works (or one larger work with contrasting sections
  • Sight reading

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WCMS Concert with Dan Teager

This Sunday I have the pleasure of playing a short recital with fellow WCMS faculty member and jazz trumpeter Dan Teager. We’ll be exploring solo and duet music for trumpet and horn. Highlights include the music of Bozza, Persichetti, and some of Dan’s original music. Jazz, classical… there will be something for everyone! Hope to see you there.

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Hedgehog Summer in a Nutshell!

Here’s a taste of Red Hedgehog Trio’s summer adventures.

Late summer greetings from your doting horn trio!

We wanted to share a quick update about what we’ve been up to this summer.

This June, we spent a wonderful two weeks in Saranac, NY, as guests of Hill and Hollow Music. We were fed, entertained, and housed like royalty; we got to hunker down and rehearse daily with a beautiful concert grand piano in a magical space with the perfect acoustic for our ensemble, and then perform there; we were taken on hikes and swims and provided firewood for a solstice fire in our very own fire pit.

As soloist, duo, and then full-on horn trio, we rehearsed and performed Bach’s First Partita in B-flat, Brahms’ Sonata for Piano and Violin in A Major, Op. 100, John Harbison’s Twilight Music, and our 10X10 set. Here is a wonderful, in-depth article about our ensemble and our concert program by Ben Pomerance…

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WCMS Recital Rescheduled – Apr. 9th

Spring is just around the corner, and so is my rescheduled recital! I’m grateful that we were able to find an alternate date – no small feat given busy musicians’ time constraints, and the full schedule of performances at WCMS.

Looking forward to sharing the stage with my wonderful colleagues and bringing these pieces to life!

Apr. 9th Poster

Recital Cancelled

Feb. 9th Storm ImpactMy recital tomorrow has been cancelled, courtesy of the cruel weather gods of New England. As the helpful map above indicates, the Greater Boston area is about to get hammered with yet another snowstorm. That’s 3 in 3 weeks, in case you’ve been counting – third time’s the charm? Hopefully we can find a date to reschedule – I’ll keep you posted. You can read more about the storm here.

Stay safe and warm, everyone!

Call of the Wild – WCMS Faculty Recital

Call of the WildA fundamental element of my instrument is its deep connection to nature. Please join me and my wonderful colleagues on a musical exploration of the woods and streams of Europe from 1828 through the early 20th century. Repertoire includes: La Chasse de St. Hubert by Busser, Schubert’s Auf dem Strom, Im Tiefsten Walde by Schmid, and Brahms’ Trio for Horn, Violin, and Piano. Hope to see you there!

Announcing Call for Scores!

red hedgehog sept 17 flattenedI’m excited to announce the Red Hedgehog Trio‘s call for scores for miniature works for our ensemble (horn, violin, and piano): 2 minutes in length or under.

Composers, we’d love for you participate, and/or send along this call to friends, students, and colleagues who you think might be interested in composing for this (we think) very lovely instrumentation.

Here are all the details: Call For Scores

We look forward to hearing from you!

Announcing Symphony Nova Fellowship!

I’m happy to announce that I’ve been accepted into the inaugural Symphony Nova Fellowship program for the 2014-2015 season.
The highlights will include:
– 3 concerts (two chamber orchestra, one woodwind quintet)
– school shows (with the woodwind quintet)
– other community outreach
– educational seminars for us to attend (including traditional masterclasses, and other topics like social media, financial planning, etc.)

Looking forward to this next stage of the adventure!

**Disclaimer** Image below may not be completely accurate…

Lord of the Rings Fellowship