by Mike Telin
Sometimes the only way to make something happen is to take the bull by the horns and do it yourself. A case in point is the enterprising duo of flutist Hannah Hammel and bassoonist Ben Roidl-Ward, a.k.a. Second Species. On Wednesday, March 2 at 9 pm in Oberlin’s Fairchild Chapel and Thursday, March 3 at 8pm in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood, the duo will present a diverse program of new and recently commissioned works. Thursday’s performance is sponsored by the Syndicate for the New Arts and the St. John’s Institute. [Read more…]
With so many outstanding conservatories and schools of music located in Northeast Ohio, it was only a matter of time before the area became a new hotbed for contemporary classical music. On Sunday, April 12, The Syndicate for the New Arts, the most recent addition to this increasingly vibrant scene, presented its debut concert during a launch party at the Bop Stop. 
When thinking of music by Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, there are two works that immediately come to mind: the Chaconne (1962) for solo piano and the violin concerto, Offertorium (1980). This weekend, area audiences will have the opportunity to hear one of the composer’s lesser-known works.