One of the highlights of the summer: the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet makes a return visit under the tent with the Aspen Music Fest. "The Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet are collaborating again this year, presenting another very special night of dance and music, Wednesday, August 6 in the Benedict Music Tent, this time accompanied by a full, live orchestra. The program will feature 1st Flash, choreographed by Finland’s Jorma Elo and danced to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ achingly beautiful Violin Concerto in D Minor, and Wolfgang by noted choreographer David Parsons, a witty and exuberant dance that highlights the playful music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart."
Russian-born Vladimir Feltsman brings his considerable talent to the Festival tomorrow. Michael Stern conducts this Sunday evening, 4 pm at the Benedict Music Tent.
From the Top, the non-profit known for its hit radio and television broadcasts featuring the nation’s best young classical musicians and hosted by acclaimed concert pianist Christopher O’Riley, returns to the Aspen Music Festival and School for a live concert recording in Harris Concert Hall on Sunday, August 10 at 8 p.m. This episode is slated to broadcast nationally the week of November 17, 2008.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Aspen Institute in an afternoon of “Words and Music,” Saturday, August 2, at 3 pm in the Benedict Music Tent. The event will begin with a conversation between Secretary Rice and Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. Afterwards, Secretary Rice will be joined by current Aspen Music Festival and School music students to perform two chamber music works.
The Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet are collaborating again this year, presenting another very special night of dance and music, Wednesday, August 6 in the Benedict Music Tent, this time accompanied by a full, live orchestra. The program will feature 1st Flash, choreographed by Finland’s Jorma Elo and danced to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ achingly beautiful Violin Concerto in D Minor, and Wolfgang by noted choreographer David Parsons, a witty and exuberant dance that highlights the playful music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The Con Man decries the "Nucons"--the nuclear conservatives--then welcomes Aspen Music Festival and School CEO Alan Fletcher for a wide-ranging discussion of the meaning of music, his own composing, and "storytelling" to come in the summer 2008 season.
ASPEN, COLORADO—In a great leap across The Pond, the world’s leading classical music magazine Gramophone, based in London , is producing a special edition devoted entirely to the 2008 season of the Aspen Music Festival and School. The 104-page guide was overseen directly by Gramophone editor James Inverne and Gramophone North American section editor Anastasia Tsioulcas and illuminates this premier American music festival’s 2008 season with articles on the festival’s programming, artists and history. The relationship is expected to lead to further editions in 2009 and 2010. The inaugural issue is due out on June 17.
ASPEN, Colo. — Roaring Fork Valley residents can receive a significant discount on their Aspen Music Festival tickets this summer. The AMFS Local’s Pass offers admission to ten events for only $12.50 each ($125). The pass is fully transferable, allowing access to six concerts and four rehearsals/master classes, and is good for all events except operas, benefits, special events, house musics, films and Sunday 4 p.m. concerts.
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach, Debby Barnekow, gives us an inside look at the second week of her two-week Composer Forum in area schools.
Guest composer Andrew Norman and I will be checking in with all the student composers, looking at their music. There is much to do for the Music and M.O.R.E. concert on Friday, April 25 at Harris Concert Hall at 6:30 pm. For most of the composers, this is their first piece to be performed. There are also the seasoned composers, Evie Herrera, Taylor Crist, and Pearce Littler for whom this will be their third world premiere.
There is such a variety of styles in what these students have written. From Milo Turner's (age 10) first piano concerto, to Audrey Sichel's (age 13) poignant love song, to Paul Jung's and Dominic Franklin's jazz pieces, to the award winning pieces of Evie Herrera (age 18), who has a choir piece, and Pearce Littler (age 17) who will play his violin/piano duo. There is much more to come, with something for everyone to enjoy!
It amazes me that last week only had 5 days because it seems like a much longer time. Though it really did fly by, each day had so many special moments in them and both Brad and I were intent on savoring everything.
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Debby Barnekow has been blogging from around the Valley this week. Today is the final day of her in-school residency with guitarist Brad Richter.
As this residency with Brad Richter comes to a close, and we head into the Music and M.O.R.E. concert at 6:30 tonight at Harris Concert Hall, a higher level of intensity was needed to get all of the student groups ready for the performance. Often it is difficult for young people to assess their own potential and abilities. Their performance opportunities are not frequent nor often well attended. I hear young people say to me often that they feel invisible, that adults don't even notice them. I have a most wonderful job that lets me observe their incredible skills, imagination and creativity and hear their powerful solutions to difficult world problems.
Tonight I am proud to not only present Brad Richter with a world premiere among the pieces he will play but to also present students who have worked hard to reach a new plateau in their playing. For some, this is their first time to ever play together in an ensemble.
The past two days we worked with Basalt High School's guitar classes, Aspen Community School's 3rd/4th grade guitarists and Aspen Elementary's 4th grade class, taught by Natalie DeFelice. The high schooler's rearranged their classes in order to have one more extended rehearsal with Brad to perfect their piece-a Led Zeppelin song, Kashmir. ACS guitarists have a Beatle's song, I've Just Seen a Face, that is not often heard. The AES 4th graders worked on perfecting the form of their poem with Brad's music-it will be amazing to hear. I invite you to join us for a wonderful concert- again, the time is 6:30 at Harris Concert Hall.
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Debby Barnekow writes about her second day in the Valley schools with guitarist Brad Richter.
At Basalt High School there are 3 guitar classes, part of an every other day schedule like band, choir, math, biology, etc. Principal James Waddick believes this is a necessary avenue of expression for some of his students and indeed it is-a beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Brad met with all 3 classes today to work on getting some of them ready for performance on Friday's Music and M.O.R.E concert. For nearly all of them of the students, this will be their first time to perform and there were many who are a little uncommitted. Brad's answer is to keep practicing the Led Zepplin song, Kashmir that they are to play.
After school we met with Harris Jackson, a 13-year old guitarist at Glenwood Springs Middle School whom I met during the Stars of Tomorrow competition last week. Harris is self-taught which makes his musical accomplishments all the more amazing-he composes, arranges and plays. He played for Brad who gave him pointers on how to get more efficiency from his hand positions and how to work on speed. At Brad's invitation to play on Friday's concert, Harris was overjoyed. He will be a nice addition to the program.
