Monthly Archives: September 2013

Detroit Symphony names BGSU music alumnus as General Manager and Artisitic Administrator

alumni
DETROIT (September 20, 2013) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is proud to announce the promotion of Erik Rönmark as General Manager and Artistic Administrator, an executive leadership position at the DSO.
 
Rönmark began his career at the DSO in 2005 as a Library Assistant before moving over to the Artistic department in 2006. In March 2009, he became the Artistic Manager and New Music Specialist before being named Artistic Administrator in July 2010. As Artistic Administrator, Rönmark has collaborated with DSO’s Music Director Leonard Slatkin in implementing the DSO’s artistic vision and programming across all product lines.
 
As General Manager and Artistic Administrator, Rönmark will be directing orchestra operations, artistic administration and concert production as well as leading all DSO operations, while managing key internal and external relationships of the organization.
 
“For 8 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Erik, and I have admired and appreciated all he has accomplished,” said DSO President and CEO Anne Parsons. “Erik is a highly respected musician who values innovation while respecting the great history of our art form.  I am thrilled to welcome him to this new position, and believe he will provide inspired leadership, partnership and support to Leonard, the musicians of the DSO and the broad and diverse audiences we serve.”
 
ABOUT ERIK RÖNMARK
Erik Rönmark came to the United States in 1996 to continue his musical education. A classical saxophonist by trade, Rönmark has extensive performing experience in both chamber music and orchestral settings. He has performed in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, as a guest in Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and regularly appears in the contemporary group New Music Detroit, of which he is also co-founder and Executive Director. Recently, Rönmark was featured with the Chamber Music Society of Detroit, culminating a national tour with the Pacifica String Quartet.
 
A native of Sweden, Rönmark is a first-prize winner of both the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. He is also the recipient of the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s award for establishing valuable relationships between Sweden and America. Using his diverse talents and skills within the music field, he has collaborated and assisted artists such as Karlheinz Stockhausen, Terry Riley, Matthew Barney, Shara Worden, and Branford Marsalis, and has commissioned and premiered over 30 new works for saxophone.
 
Rönmark has been a part of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra administration since 2005. In his new role as General Manager, Rönmark combines his administrative experience with degrees in fine arts and music performance from Northern State University, SD and Bowling Green State University, OH, as well as a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan.
 
He lives in Birmingham, MI with his wife Adrienne Rönmark, violinist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and their three children.

 

BGSU has “Top Talent”

composition, events, keyboard

 

By Liz Cope

When most Americans think about extreme talent, shows like “Dancing with the Stars” or “American Idol” come to mind. Who can forget Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough’s energizing samba performance, or watching Carrie Underwood emerge to become a multi-platinum selling recording artist? Yet each weekend devotees of classical music across America tune into their local National Public Radio station to enjoy the talent of a very different kind of performer -classical music’s most gifted emerging young stars – on the acclaimed radio show “From the Top.”

On Saturday, Sept. 28, residents of northwest Ohio will have the opportunity to experience that same magic firsthand when the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University presents “From the Top,” live with Christopher O’Riley, at 8 p.m. in Kobacker Hall.

According to the Boston Globe. “Each program provides a compelling and entertaining window into the world of a diverse group of young people, who pursue life with passion, determination, and joy.”

“From the Top” began as a radio experiment in 2000 and has quickly become the preeminent showcase for America’s best young musicians. The show shares the performances and stories of pre-collegiate musicians from 8 to 18 years old with dedicated listeners each week. The young musicians captivate audiences with their mature musical prowess despite their youth.

The performers on each show bring formidable musical ability and inspiring stories from diverse backgrounds. “From the Top” unleashes the potential of young musicians as leaders in the arts and inspires them to take their music beyond the concert hall and engage new audiences with classical music, reaching thousands of people across the country each year.

The musicians are inspirational role models for all ages, proving the value of hard work in the pursuit of excellence.

The show in Kobacker Hall will feature 15-year-old contrabassist Lena Goodson from York, Penn.; 15-year-old pianist Patrick Pan from Houston, and the Quartet Lumiere, based at The Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago.

Host O’Riley will join the rising musicians on stage and accompany them in their performances. Between each performance, O’Riley will chat with each performer about topics such as why they chose their instrument and the most embarrassing musical moment they’ve experienced -and in so doing, will allow the passion of the young musicians to transcend radio and connect with the live audience as well as those listening on the radio.

“From the Top” has been described by the Boston Globe as “an entertaining, accessible and inspirational mix of outstanding musical performances, informal interviews, skits and games; the show is a celebration of extraordinary musicians who happen to be teenagers leading fairly normal lives.”

For tickets and information, visit the Festival Series website. “From the Top” may be heard locally on WGTE 91.3FM on Sundays at noon. The BGSU episode will air on Nov. 4.

 

Countdown to ‘From the Top’ at Bowling Green State University

composition, events, keyboard

 


BOWLING GREEN, O.—Fans are counting down the days for the live public taping of “From the Top,” the preeminent showcase for young musicians, presented by Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts. The popular National Public Radio program, hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley, is part of the BGSU Festival Series and will feature the performances and personal stories of talented young classical musicians from across the country at 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 in Kobacker Hall at the Moore Musical Arts Center.

Quartet Lumiere, first-place winners of the Junior Division of the 2013 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, will perform the first movement from String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, by Edvard Grieg. Based at The Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago where Marko Dreher is their coach, members include 18-year-old violinist Rebecca Benjamin, 16-year-old violinist Gallia Kastner, 15-year-old violist Mira Williams, and 15-year-old cellist Josiah Yoo. Quartet Lumiere will also perform the fourth movement, “Salamandrae (Fire),” from String Quartet No. 1, “Elemental,” an original composition by 17-year-old composer Chason Goldfinger from Malvern, Penn., who will also appear on the show.

Also on the broadcast: Patrick Pan, a 15-year-old pianist from Houston, is the 2013 winner of BGSU’s David D. Dubois Piano Competition. A student at Clear Lake High School, Pan studies piano with John Weems. Fifteen-year-old contrabassist Lena Goodson from York, Penn., attends Central York High School and studies bass with Devin Howell, the principal bassist of Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Fifteen-year-old violinist Sein An is a student at Temple Music Prep and is a recipient of From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.

For tickets and information, visit www.bgsu.edu/festivalseries. “From the Top” may be heard locally on WGTE 91.3 FM Sundays at noon. This episode will air on Nov. 4, 2013.

Prof. Nelson to tour Texas and Louisiana

faculty news
Dr. Susan Nelson, Assistant Professor of Bassoon, will tour Texas and Louisiana with the Silver Keys Trio from September 29-October 5.  The trio includes Nelson, Dr. Christina Guenther, flute, and Dr. Geneva Fung, piano.  Both Guenther and Fung are faculty members at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.  The trio will teach master classes and present a recital of works by American composers in the Cole Performing Art Series at Stephen F. Austin State University as well as at Baylor, University of Texas-Arlington, and Northwestern State University in Louisiana.
 
Among the pieces to be performed are “Kalamus” by award-winning composer Dana Wilson, Air for Bassoon and Piano by Alec Wilder, Trio for Flute, Bassoon and Piano by Chick Corea, “All the Words to All the Songs” by Dan Welcher and “Retrofugue” by cellist and composer Jeremy Crosmer.
 

Prof. Pelletier in Maine

faculty news

Dr. Andrew Pelletier, Associate Professor of Horn, will be visiting his Alma Mater, the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, September 12-14, 2013, where he will perform with Maine-ly British Brass (a 10-piece brass ensemble of Maine brass players) in a concert of music written for the legendary Philip Jones Brass Ensemble of London.  While at USM, Dr. Pelletier will also present a masterclass and new music performance discussions, including music of BGSU DMA candidate C.R. Kasprzyk.