23Nov

Just Joo it up a little bit, says Joshua Bell

The first of our seasonal gifts has arrived.

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22Nov

Atlanta pioneer calls it quits

Press release: As she prepares to perform at next Sunday’s concert by the Atlanta Chamber Players, the group has announced that pianist and Artistic Managing Director Paula Peace will retire in early 2015 from the group she founded. Peace has led the highly regarded group for 38 seasons. During her tenure, it has performed in […]

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22Nov

Only in New York: Man announces in string quartet recital, ‘I really don’t want to be here’

Psychotherapist Dr Gerald Stein witnessed the incident last week at the Kaufmann Concert Hall of the 92nd Street Y. Why would someone do that? He wonders. And then he gives us free analysis. Read on here.

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22Nov

Street violinist wins $21,000 damages from city that banned him

We cheered when William Hassay, who has played in professional orchestras, went to court and won the right to busk on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ. We cheer again now that Bill has been awarded damages, plus $105,000 in attorney fees, for having his freedom of speech rights infringed. More here.  

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22Nov

New video: Superfast violinist breaks Australian bumble-bee record

On a day when Australia blew away England’s batting, a violinist has stepped up to claim the fastest-ever flight of the bumblebee. Never mind the intonation. Just be awed by the speed. This is Vov Dylan, 32, also known as Australia’s Andre Rieu.   Ahem. He’s still three seconds slower than the world record-holder, Ben […]

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22Nov

Florida orch stages public auditions for music director

The Southwest Florida Symphony has joined the growing trend towards transparency and public voting in the selection of its next music director. It has announced five candidates, all of whom will spend a week this season with the Fort Myers community. First up is Chelsea Tipton, 49, from Oklahoma: ‘My favorite composer would probably be […]

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22Nov

Death of an American opera composer

We have been informed by his executor that Conrad Susa, composer of two successful operas, died yesterday at the age of 78. Transformations, his setting of poems by Anne Sexton, is one of the most widely seen US opera in modern times. Among many revivals it was staged at the Wexford Festival in 2006. The […]

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22Nov

Schirmer appoints longhair boss

America’s foremost music publishing house now comes with added hip credentials. He’s a hire from UE. G. Schirmer, Inc./AMP Appoints Robert Thompson Vice President G. Schirmer Inc./Associated Music Publishers and The Music Sales Group, the world’s pre-eminent classical music publishing house, announces the appointment of Robert Thompson as Vice President. Thompson will be based in […]

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21Nov

Top photo: Christian Thielemann with his doctors

When the maestro goes on tour, he takes no chances. Here, in Tokyo last weekend, is Thielemann with his medical team – four physicians and scientists from the Medical University of Vienna who performed Beethoven ninth with the Vienna Philharmonic (one concert in Kawasaki, one at Suntory Hall in Tokyo). These 2 concerts were part of […]

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21Nov

Anglican music summit falls vacant

The fellowship and organist at New College, Oxford, is as close as it gets to an archbishop’s post in music. Edward Higginbottom is retiring, we hear. The seat’s vacant. Apply here. New College, Oxford, in association with The Faculty of Music in the University of Oxford, proposes to appoint a Tutorial Fellow in Music and […]

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21Nov

Dirty linen: Ex-head to be called as witness in Purcell School court case

The Watford employment tribunal, considering a claim for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination, has demanded the recall of Peter Crook to give evidence at a 13-day hearing in May. Mr Crook disappeared from the school with a £200,000 payoff after being videod in what appeared to be inappropriate conversations with students. His testimony would cause […]

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