Strad | MEMETERIA

December 3, 2024 • 8:52 pm Comments Off on Trusting Yourself: Jessica Meyer on Her Career as a Violist-Composer

Trusting Yourself: Jessica Meyer on Her Career as a Violist-Composer

I got to speak with the incredible violist-composer Jessica Meyer for The Strad. Her “Spirits and Sinew” is part of Hub New Music‘s 10th-anniversary program later this week at the Kaufman Music Center:

The award-winning composer and violist Jessica Meyer is an unclassifiable phenomenon even in today’s genre-defying contemporary music sphere. Meyer has been carving a unique space through her extraordinary blend of creativity, charisma, technical mastery, educational work and innovation, all in service of an urge to share ideas and build musical communities.
continue

Filed under: interview, Strad

November 22, 2024 • 5:52 pm Comments Off on Sounds of Change: Ayane Kozasa and Paul Wiancko on the New Kronos Quartet Formation

Sounds of Change: Ayane Kozasa and Paul Wiancko on the New Kronos Quartet Formation

*Kronos Quartet; image by Danica Taylor*

A new interview for The Strad: I spoke with Ayane Kozasa and Paul Wiancko of the Kronos Quartet about the dramatic change in the ensemble’s lineup that began with the current season:

Having celebrated its 50th anniverary last season, the Kronos Quartet has already begun its latest chapter with a dramatic change in the ensemble’s makeup. Longtime members John Sherba (violin) and Hank Dutt (viola) retired at the end of June, leaving violinist David Harrington, who founded Kronos, as the sole remaining member from the early years. Dutt had been part of Kronos since 1977, while Sherba joined them in 1978. Cellist and composer Paul Wiancko began his relationship with the quartet in 2019 and took the place of Sunny Yang in February 2023. Violinist David Harrington, who founded Kronos, is the only member who now remains. ..

continue

Filed under: chamber music, Kronos Quartet, new music, Strad

July 31, 2024 • 2:57 pm Comments Off on Ani Aznavoorian’s Family-Made Cello

Ani Aznavoorian’s Family-Made Cello

*Ani Aznavoorian and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet at Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Summer Festival; photo (c) Carlin Ma*

A new post for The Strad on this month’s just-concluded Summer Festival presented by Seattle Chamber Music Society:

With its roster of several dozen internationally prominent musicians, the just-concluded 2024 edition of the Summer Festival presented by the Seattle Chamber Music Society involved a de facto summit of priceless string instruments in action….

continue

Filed under: cellists, luthier, Seattle Chamber Music Society, Strad

April 24, 2016 • 9:33 am Comments Off on Strad on the Run

Strad on the Run

Rafnow

My feature on the extraordinary luthier Rafael Carrabba for the Seattle Times is now available:

Lately, Rafael Carrabba has been able to breathe just a little bit easier.

Filed under: Seattle Times, Strad

November 20, 2015 • 9:43 am Comments Off on The Miró Quartet’s “Transcendent” Project

The Miró Quartet’s “Transcendent” Project

To celebrate its 20th anniversary year, the Miró Quartet has been pursuing some characteristically innovative and ambitious projects. This week the group announced the winner of its Transcendence Education Project: the Fox Chapel Area High School Orchestra in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Entrants had been invited to submit a 30-second video on the topic of ‘musical transcendence’ with prizes including a free masterclass and other chances to interact with the Miró Quartet.