Monthly Archives: January 2015

Guest soloists from Berlin, Pittsburgh to highlight Philharmonia concert

conducting, events, string-alumni, string-news

KELLY__RANDY                                     Bendix-Balgley

BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Bowling Green Philharmonia will host featured soloists Noah Bendix-Balgley, concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, and Randolph Kelly, principal violist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, on Feb. 7. The concert begins at 8 p.m. in Kobacker Hall at Bowling Green State University. Under the direction of Emily Freeman Brown, the soloists will be featured in Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for Violin, Viola and Orchestra.”

Recently appointed first concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, Bendix-Balgley has appeared internationally as a soloist to great acclaim. In 2011, he became concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where his debut recital in 2012 was named “Best Classical Concert of 2012” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He has also performed his own version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for solo violin in front of 39,000 fans at the Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day at PNC Park.

A laureate of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, Bendix-Balgley won the first prize at the 2011 Vibrarte International Music Competition in Paris and was awarded first prize and a special prize for best Bach interpretation at the 14th International Violin Competition in Fermo, Italy.

Kelly has enjoyed a distinguished and multifaceted career as principal violist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where he was signed by André Previn in 1976. Previn once wrote that Kelly “transformed his section into what I believe is the best viola section of any orchestra in America.” One highlight of Kelly’s tenure with the orchestra was performing the world premiere of a viola concerto written for him by Samuel Adler, commissioned for the 2000-01 season.

In addition to his orchestral career, Kelly’s virtuosity as a soloist and chamber musician has been celebrated around the world. He has collaborated with such artists as Yo-Yo Ma and Pinchas Zukerman. As a soloist, Kelly has appeared on some of the most prestigious concert stages in the world. He made his European solo début when Lorin Maazel invited him to play the “Walton Concerto” with the National Orchestra of France.

Also featured on the BGSU program is Carl Maria von Weber’s “Overture to Der Freischütz” and Paul Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Weber.”

Advance tickets for the performance are $3 for students and $7 for adults and can be purchased by visiting bgsu.edu/arts or by calling 1-419-372-8171. All tickets the day of performance are $10.

President of the Merit School of Music to visit BGSU

education, events, music-education-alumni

Adelson_Duffie-240x300

BOWLING GREEN, O.—The Dorothy and DuWayne Hansen Musical Arts Series at Bowling Green State University brings educator and music education advocate Duffie Adelson to campus on Jan. 29 and 30.

Duffie Adelson is president of the Merit School of Music, a Chicago community music school nationally renowned for the caliber of instruction and level of financial support it provides to more than 5,000 students annually.

At BGSU, Adelson will visit two music education classes and present a special talk at 2:30 p.m. on January 30 in Bryan Recital Hall in Moore Musical Arts Center. She will speak about community engagement in music education and ways in which students can use their music training in both traditional and non-traditional situations. The event is free and open to the public.

Her visit is the second time recently that BGSU has welcomed representatives from Merit, which is where last fall’s Hansen Series guests the McGill Brothers — Anthony, principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, and Demarre McGill, principal flute of the Dallas Symphony — received their early music instruction.

Adelson joined Merit’s faculty in 1982, was appointed associate director in 1986, became executive director in 1993, and was named president of the School in 2007. Under her leadership, Merit completed a $19.6 million capital campaign, increased its endowment to $11 million, and moved into a state-of-the-art facility with a concert hall, music library, recording studio and 50 classrooms. Merit now provides more than $2 million annually to ensure that motivated students can participate regardless of financial need.

Adelson earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University and a Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She received a Doctorate of Music Education, honoris causa, from VanderCook College in 2007.

Bassoon Chamber Music New Release from Susan Nelson and BGSU Faculty

education, faculty news, New Music, woodwinds

BCMCC CD Cover

“Elements,” the winning works from the 2012 and 2014 Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition was released on January 1st with the MSR Classics label. The CD showcases music for bassoon, and all the works on the CD are world premiere recordings. Recording artists include Susan Nelson, bassoon; Nermis Mieses, oboe; Solungga Fang-Tzu Liu, piano; Jennifer Goode Cooper, soprano; Matthew Daline, viola; Steve Miahky and Christina McGann, violins; Jacqueline Black, cello; and Jeffrey Barudin, marimba.  The pieces were recorded in the Donnell Theatre in the Wolfe Center for the Arts by Mark Bunce.

Susan Nelson, Professor of Bassoon at BGSU, is a performer and proponent of new works for the instrument. This winter she is the Guest Artist Instructor for the Bocal Majority Bassoon Camp in Las Vegas, January 17-19, 2015.  Dr. Nelson will work with students on reed making, chamber music, and special topics as well as give daily faculty recitals.