Austin Camerata (with artistic director Daniel Kopp, MM ’18) and Ventana Ballet join forces this weekend for “Variations on a Love Theme,” an evening of love stories shared through music and dance, featuring musical works by Debussy, Piazzolla, Radiohead, and more, with two shows per night (Show 1 – 6pm doors, 6:30pm show; Show 2 – 8pm doors, 8:30pm show) on Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, at the First Street Studio Theater. Complimentary parking is available onsite, and refreshments will be provided. Each show lasts approximately 1 hour. For more ticket, venue and more information, visit www.austincamerata.com.
Archives for category: News
Dylan Rieck (MM ’09) has composed a new sonata for cello and piano! You can hear Dylan’s “Sonata No. 1 in C minor” on YouTube at:
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3
For more information about Dylan, visit www.dylanrieck.com.
Revealer, the third studio album by American musician Madison Cunningham, has won the award for Best Folk Album at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards. David Campbell (MM ’10, DMA ’14) can be heard on the cello supporting Madison in the fifth track, “Life According to Raechel,” which was written by Cunningham with string arrangements by John Arndt and produced by Tyler Chester. Revealer was released on September 9, 2022, through Verve Forecast Records.
Tsz To Wong (DMA ’24) joins Kelvin Ka Long Lee (MM ’19, AD ’22) as two of only eight cellists invited to the live final round of the Section Cello auditions of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Established in 1947 and currently led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the HK Phil is recognised as Asia’s foremost classical orchestra, presenting more than 150 concerts per season over a 44-week season, the HK Phil attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually. In 2019 the HK Phil received the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award—the first orchestra in Asia to receive this distinction.
Hook ’em Horns!
Next Sunday, January 29, at 3pm EST, Jonathan Dexter (MM ’05) gives the US premiere performance of Fazil Say’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra “Never Give Up” with conductor Yanniv Attar and the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra. Jonathan has been featured in recordings and performances with multiple grammy award winning artists and producers in classical, rock, pop, and country music. Performance highlights include appearances on the Jimmy Fallon Show, The View, VH1, Billboard Music Online, Fox and Friends, and Rachel Ray. In 2022, Jonathan was a featured cellist with the Lorelei Ensemble, the Boston-based chamber-choir, in their recording Antigone, available from New Focus Recordings. Gramophone Magazine reviewed the recording, “Stunning precision of harmony, intonation, and… spectacular virtuosity.” In 2015, Jonathan was the cellist in the recording Irving Berlin: This is the Life with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, produced by three-time Grammy award winner for Best Classical Music Producer Judith Sherman. Working from his home studio, Jon records strings for projects around the world. Customers have ranged from SONY Masterworks, Columbia Records, Castlerock Entertainment and multiple classical labels. Jon contributed strings produced in his home-studio for the 2011-2013 seasons of Steven Spielberg’s TV series Smash on NBC. Jon also composed, performed, and recorded the original score to short film Recess, an official selection at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Recently and more locally, Jon has been engineering audio recordings for PennState faculty. Jonathan joined the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra in 2012 as its Principal Cellist; the same year he moved to State College with his wife, flutist, Naomi Seidman. As the Jano Duo, Jon and Naomi have performed around the country for over a decade and are headed to Bangkok in April to perform at the Thailand Flute Festival 2023.
For ticket, venue and more information, or to watch a livestream of the performance, visit pachamberorchestra.org.
Next weekend, on Saturday, January 21st, at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm, Austin Camerata and The Cathedral present the 2nd Annual CelloFest, an evening of classical music, local art & an open bar. Experience the breathtaking sonority of a cello ensemble while enjoying an intimate evening in one of Austin’s premier galleries celebrating local women artists. The performance features eight cellists from Austin Camerata, including current Longhorns Hyugrai Kim (AD ’24), Tsz To Wong (DMA ’24) and Yeyoung Yoo (DMA ’24) in a genre-defying program spanning from classical to rock. This program has something for everyone, as they will be performing everything from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture and Barber’s Adagio to bossa nova, Aretha Franklin, and Harry Styles.
For ticket and more information visit www.eventbrite.com.
Six months ago today, Bitnalee Pong (DMA ’21) welcomed her first opus, Ian Pong Choi…
Hyugrai “Ray” Kim (DMA ’19, AD ’24), having advanced to the Final Round in the Section Cello auditions of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, has been offered a trial week next June 2023. The ASO, currently in its 77th season, is led by Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann and continues to affirm its position as one of America’s leading orchestras with excellent live performances, renowned guest artists and engaging education initiatives. The ASO performs more than 150 concerts each year from the Delta Classical Series, Movies in Concert, Family Concert Series, Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE and the Coca-Cola Holiday Series, as well as community and education concerts.
Congratulations, Ray!
Kelvin Ka Long Lee (MM ’19, AD ’22) has been invited to perform with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra as substitute cellist prior to a final audition for Section Cello in early February 2023. Established in 1947 and currently led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the HK Phil is recognised as Asia’s foremost classical orchestra, presenting more than 150 concerts per season over a 44-week season, the HK Phil attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually. In 2019 the HK Phil received the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award—the first orchestra in Asia to receive this distinction.
Congratulations, Kelvin!
Longhorn Cellos 