Daniel Hathaway, editor & publisher
Week of August 30, 2010
Front Page
Preview
Joffrey Performances mark Tito Muñoz' finale with The Cleveland Orchestra
by Mike Telin
Tito Muñoz takes the podium this weekend to lead the Cleveland Orchestra in two performances with the Joffrey Ballet, performances that will mark the end of his three year tenure as Assistant Conductor of the orchestra as well as a League of American Orchestras Conducting Fellow. As he moves on to the next stage in his career, with many wonderful Cleveland Orchestra concerts to his credit, we wanted to ask him about the Joffrey performances and his plans for “Life After the Cleveland Orchestra”. We spoke with him via Skype in Italy, where he was traveling with the Orchestra at the end of its European Festivals tour.Mike Telin: You have worked with Joffrey in the past?
Tito Muñoz: The only time was last summer when I did the Blossom performances. But like last summer, I have already gone to Chicago to see what they are doing, and observe the rehearsals.
MT: Do you enjoy conducting in the pit?
TM: Sure, it is fun. It poses its own difficulties and unique challenges, but it is rewarding in its own way. It is much more then just a concert and leading or guiding an orchestra through a piece; there is a lot more coordination on my part when I am in the pit. Yes it has its own challenges but I love it, I really enjoy it. >>read on
Preview
Blue Water Chamber Orchestra to debut September 12
by Daniel Hathaway
Cleveland's newest professional chamber orchestra makes its debut at St. Ignatius High School's Breen Center on Sunday, September 12 at 3 pm. The Blue Water Chamber Orchestra is the invention of conductor Carlton R. Woods, who retired a couple of years ago from his long held positions as artistic director and conductor of Michigan’s Midland Symphony and director of orchestral studies at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. Woods and his wife moved to Cleveland, but not having a baton regularly in his hand soon began to make him restless. "What do I do now? I can't give up music -- that's been my life since I was a kid!"
So why not start up a new chamber orchestra in his adopted city -- on the West side of town? Woods began meeting with local freelancers who had played with such groups as the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Red {an orchestra} and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Cellist Kent Collier, violinist Nancy Patterson, bassist Ann Gilbert, flutist Sean Gabriel and trumpeter Dave Duro envisioned a cooperative organization which would be flexible in shape, capable of developing joint projects with local organizations, devoted to education and to celebrating the area's ethnic roots in special performances. Neil Mueller joined the enterprise as associate artistic director/conductor and took on fundraising initiatives. >>read on
Concert Report
Canadian Brass at Blossom (August 28)
by Daniel Hathaway
The Canadian Brass began their superb Blossom concert on Saturday evening (August 28) with a New Orleans-style parade to "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", after which founder and tubist Chuck Daellenbach quipped "we always begin with our first encore", thus setting up an evening of classy, faultless brass playing leavened with droll, Northern humor that was a real treat from beginning to end.After forty years, Daellenbach is the only remaining original member of the famous ensemble, who have been charming crowds at Blossom ever since their debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in the late 1970's, but there's no musical generation gap between him and his much younger colleagues, who joined the ensemble in 2000 (hornist Jeff Nelsen), 2006 (trumpeter Brandon Ridenour), 2009 (trumpeter Chris Coletti) and last Spring (trombonist Keith Dyrda). All five are consummate musicians, astonishingly in control of their sometimes tricky instruments, and who always seem to be at the top of their game.
The quintet began their formal program with "Frescobaldi's Toccata", admitting that it was a modern fabrication masquerading as a 17th century piece. Now generally identified as an innocent scam pulled off by the Spanish cellist Gaspar Cassadó, the "Toccata" is a tuneful and entertaining work which featured the first virtuosic piccolo trumpet playing of the evening.
Severance Hall seeks volunteers
Severance Hall is looking for volunteers who are energetic, enthusiastic, and eager to assist and serve Cleveland Orchestra and Severance Hall audiences and patrons as ushers, greeters, ticket takers, tour guides and store volunteers. For more information, to request an application form, and to arrange an interview, please call the House Manager’s Office at Severance Hall at (216) 231-7425 or send an email here.
B-W Youth Orchestra Program auditions
The Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory's Youth Orchestra Program, which ranges from a String Ensemble for new players and a String Orchestra for students with one year's experience to Junior and Senior Youth Orchestras and a new chamber music program for string players, will hold auditions for new members for the Fall semester on Saturday, September 11.Call 440.826.2365 to arrange an audition time. Details about the program and tuition fees are available here.
Cleveland Orchestra announces Celebrity Series
The Cleveland Orchestra's Celebrity Series, whose three concerts sold out last year during its inaugural season, will include four performances in 2010-2011. Cabaret singer and pianist Michael Feinstein performs the Sinatra Project with James Feddeck and the Orchestra on October 16, Richard Kaufman leads the Orchestra in "Holiday Movie Magic" on December 8, the Dave Brubeck Quartet joins the Orchestra on December 16 to celebrate Brubeck's 90th birthday and jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater sings a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with the Orchestra on April 29 under new assistant conductor Sasha Mäkilä in collaboration with Tri-C Jazz Fest. Subscriptions are now available. Single tickets go on sale September 7.
Canton Youth Symphony auditions
The Canton Youth Symphony will hold auditions on Saturday, September 11 at 9:30 am for strings and percussion and on Sunday, September 12 at 1 pm for woodwinds and brass at the Arts in Stark Education Center, 1014 Cleveland Ave. NW in Canton. Current CYS members may schedule auditions now and new prospective members beginning August 16 by calling Irene Barker at 330.452.3434 x610. Audition information here.
New publication day for ClevelandClassical
Beginning on September 7, the website and its accompanying blast e-mail will be published early on Tuesday mornings. This will give our writers more time to write their reports on weekend events. Concert listings will run from Tuesdays to Mondays on a two-week basis.
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Philharmonic announces auditions
The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, Victor Liva, conductor, will hold auditions for section strings (violin, viola, cello) and substitute brass and percussion. The ensemble rehearses on Thursday evenings at Tri-C's Metro Campus in downtown Cleveland. Contact Lisa Wilson (440.289.0818) to schedule an audition.
Opera Cleveland seeks extras, children
Opera Cleveland needs young women to appear as island girls and attendants for the high priestess, fit, strong young men to play guards and children from 6-8 with some stage experience to appear in unpaid roles in its late September production of Bizet's 'Pearl Fishers' at the State Theater in Playhouse Square. You must be college age or older and having a tan is a plus. Email resumes and photos to artistic administrator Cliff Wilson.
Euclid Symphony seeks players
The Euclid Symphony Orchestra, a 50+ member community based orchestra is seeking new members in all sections, especially cellos and basses. Rehearsals begin September 7 on Tuesday evenings in downtown Euclid; performances are on Sundays at 3. Contact music director Kevin Eppich by email or visit the ESO website.
Akron Symphony to hold 'Porgy & Bess' chorus auditions September 12
The Akron Symphony is forming a 40-voice African American chorus for its April 16 semi-staged producton of George Gershwin's 'Porgy & Bess'. Auditions will be held on Sunday, September 12 from 10 am to 10 pm in Guzzetta Recital Hall at the University of Akron. Interested singers should e-mail Brenda Justice to schedule an audition time. Singers are asked to prepare two contrasting selections that demonstrate their range and ability (selections from 'Porgy & Bess' are not required). Music reading ability is preferred. Auditions will be a cappella. Download the audition flyer here.
