NEC Update Vol. 1, No. 17, April 4, 2005
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| News from NEC |
Vol. 1, No. 17, April 4, 2005 |
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New Curtis director is NEC alumnus |
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| photo by Christian Steiner |
Violist Roberto Diaz '82 (in photo)--one of three strings-playing Diaz siblings to attend NEC--has been appointed the next president
and director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he will succeed pianist Gary Graffman in June 2006.
Currently principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Diaz also plays with his cellist brother, Andres Diaz '85, '87 A.D.,
in the Diaz Trio. Roberto and Andres's half-sister, Virginia Gabriela "Gaby" Diaz, is completing a master's degree at NEC this
semester, as a violin student of James Buswell.
Roberto Diaz studied at NEC with former BSO principal violist Burton Fine and the late Louis Krasner. |
Read
more about Roberto Diaz's appointment.
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Flutist Robison to teach at NEC |
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Flutist Paula Robison will return to the New England Conservatory faculty next year as the first occupant of the Donna Hieken
Flute Chair. The teaching chair was endowed earlier this year by Charles "Chuck" and Donna Hieken with a $1 million gift
that honors Donna's career as a flutist, using matching grant funds from the Nicholas Family Challenge. Two endowed faculty chairs
have now been created so far during NEC's $100 million Gift of Music campaign.
Robison is in great demand as a performer, teacher, and clinician all over the world, and has previously taught at NEC in the
1970s and '90s, retaining close ties to the musical scene in Boston. |
Explore
NEC's faculty, starting with Paula Robison.
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Noel Coward: "A Talent to Amuse" |
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Best known as a playwright and songwriter, England's Noel Coward had no more than a few years of elementary school education,
but by his early adulthood, he was recognized on both sides of the Atlantic as the personification of wit and sophistication.
John Greer, NEC's director and chair of opera studies, has gathered a bouquet of NEC student singers to perform an evening of
Coward's songs in Jordan Hall, April 12. The final English touch: a traditional "palm court trio" of piano, violin, and cello.
As a summary of Coward's unique appeal, A Talent to Amuse has served as the title of both his biography and this musical
evening. |
Read
more about this special vocal concert.
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Trumpeting the Philharmonia |
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| photo by Miro Vintinov |
Fabio Mechetti directs orchestras on both coasts, and has made guest appearances throughout the Americas and Spain.
Join this seasoned conductor on April 13 as he leads the NEC Philharmonia, New England Conservatory's premier student orchestra,
in a program that features Haydn's Trumpet Concerto with Matthew Ara (in photo), a student of the BSO's Benjamin Wright. |
Explore
NEC concerts and programs day by day.
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NEC's answer to Orpheus |
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| photo by Paul Cortese '92 M.M. |
Donald Palma founded and coaches the conductorless NEC Chamber Orchestra: the ultimate listener's ensemble. Palma is a founding
member of the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, which has been thrilling music lovers on four continents for more
than three decades. Join NEC's answer to Orpheus on April 14 for an evening of music that will include Mozart's Bassoon Concerto
in B-flat with Jennifer Yeh, a student of the BSO's Gregg Henegar. |
Read
more about NEC's orchestras.
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"Noir master" turns 70 |
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Ran & friend, circa 1982; photo by Marjorie Nichols
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NEC's own "Noir master" Ran Blake, recipient of the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant and two Guggenheim Fellowships, possesses
a unique and indelible musical voice, with a recorded output of more than 30 albums, many of which honor Blake's beloved film noir
and favorite musicians.
Blake's teaching career at NEC has produced many of today's young masters, such as Don Byron, Dominique Eade, John Medeski, and
Matthew Shipp. Come join friends, collaborators, students, and special guests on April 18 in NEC's Jordan Hall in celebration of
the 70th birthday of NEC Contemporary Improvisation chair Ran Blake! |
Read
more about Ran Blake, NEC's "Noir master."
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Echoes of Ligeti |
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photo by Jeff Thiebauth
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In 1993, Gyorgy Ligeti's visit to New England Conservatory (in photo) produced an outpouring of inspired performances of works
by this modern master, ranked as one of the world's greatest living composers. Ligeti in turn said of NEC: "Since my early days
as a student ... I never found (in the whole world) a better place FULL OF NOISES, SOUNDS AND SWEET AIRS than the NEC in Boston."
John Heiss of the NEC faculty, who coordinated Ligeti's visit, continues to create echoes from that visit by programming his music
with today's NEC students. The April 19 NEC Contemporary Ensemble concert led by Heiss will include music of Ligeti, Ives, and
current student Matthew McConnell. |
Explore
NEC concerts and programs day by day.
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Alumni: Register online for Reunion 2005! |
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| photo by Paul Foley |
You've made your Annual Fund donation online. Now for the first time you can also use NEC's secure, convenient online form
to send in your registration for Reunion 2005, coming up during Commencement weekend in May.
Reunion is a perfect chance to catch up with old friends, hear NEC students of today at the Commencement concert, and soak up
some great, exclusive programming from alumni and current faculty. |
Register
online for Reunion 2005.
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Elusive Rzewski visits NEC summer institute |
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If you listen to Phil Ochs or Billy Bragg, you may have heard the tune that is the source of this month's "Live from NEC" streaming
audio clip. Composer/pianist Frederic Rzewski's "Which side are you on?" is one of four North American Ballads, all of
which draw on songs associated with political struggle as raw material.
Massachusetts-born Rzewski has lived in Belgium for the past three decades. He makes a rare visit Stateside in June, when he will
explore his music with students enrolled in NEC's Summer Institute for Contemporary Piano Performance.
You may sample Rzewski's music at your computer with a performance of "Which side
are you on?" by pianist Jung Hee Shin '95 G.D., '99 A.D. (in photo) from her 1999 Jordan Hall graduation recital. April, May,
and June are also great months to visit NEC for piano music, with dozens of upcoming piano-focused concerts. |
Preview
Rzewski's residency with streaming audio.
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You lost an hour this weekend--give yourself back an hour or so of sheer indulgence by visiting NEC this month for an evening
of music.
Escape the ordinary when you come to NEC to hear our faculty, guests, and the best young pre-professionals perform live.
And bring a friend to escape with you for the same ticket price: Free!
New England Conservatory is located at 290 Huntington Avenue (at the corner of Gainsborough Street), Boston--a block from Symphony Hall.
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