Cellist Wendy Law, founder and artistic director of Classical Jam, talks with Noted Endeavors about piquing audience engagement through the use of teaching artist principles.
Classical Jam is a movement founded on the belief that music bridges cultural and societal differences. Classical Jam’s vision is to expand arts advocacy, education and community engagement by performing for and collaborating with audiences, students and presenters all around the world. Committed to presenting engaging, lively, and high-caliber performances to diverse audiences, Classical Jam is known for its appealing style and creative concert programming. Classical Jam’s wide-ranging repertoire includes traditional classical works, exciting improvisations, world music, commissioned new works, and Classical Jam original compositions. Programs include Musical Postcards from Global Village, Classical Jam Goes To The Movies, & From The Street to the Concert Hall.
Jenny Bilfield, President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts Center, speaks with Noted Endeavors about choosing programming that catches a presenter’s attention.
Eugenia Zukerman and Dr. Emily Ondracek-Peterson talk about the artistic justification for using amplification with cellist Dorothy Lawson, a founding member of ETHEL.
ETHEL is one of the most acclaimed string quartets in the contemporary classical scene. Formed in1998, ETHEL has kept an eye on tradition and an ear finely tuned to the future. A leading force in multi-genre exploration, ETHEL mixes classical works with cutting-edge repertoire. Commissioning new pieces and creating their own music, the members of Ethel are all dedicated to collaborations, educational outreach and engagement with audiences. With improvisation and often with amplification, ETHEL’S performances are electrifying. As the New Yorker put it, ETHEL is the “…avatar of ‘post-classical’ music – the virtuosic alternative string quartet …vital and brilliant.”
Composer and impresaria Paola Prestini is filled with energy and passion. She continues to spearhead, collaborate and produce new music projects that inspire awe. This year she is working on the opening of the Original Music Workshop, a new space and art incubator. Some of her other projects include the release of Oceanic Verses and the Labyrinth Installation Concertos on VisionIntoArt’s new label, VIA records. Other premieres include a new work with Hotel Elefant, the expansion of the Hubble Cantata with Nathan Gunn, and various other works in development. “ I am unswayed by trends and yet excited by all voices,” Paola says. ”I strive to stay ahead of the curve, and I am tremendously interested in nurturing new talent.”
Noted Endeavors (Eugenia Zukerman and Emily Ondracek-Peterson) talk with Elizabeth Weisser and Alex Lipowski of Talea Ensemble about prioritizing and finding rehearsal space.
In March 2014, the Talea Ensemble brought Italian-born and Vienna-based composer Pierluigi Billone to New York for its second American Immersion project. The series allows American audiences to gain exposure to a new composer while allowing the composer an opportunity to work in depth with the ensemble’s musicians by continually developing a dialog and exploring his or her musical language. Talea also continues to offer masterclasses and residencies and to present cutting edge concerts in varied locales. The New York Times calls the ensemble “A flexible group that champions toothy modern works and plays them with a compelling lucidity…”
