Whatever has happened to violin teaching in Britain? The Queen Elisabeth Competition has announced the final pool of violin contestants – based on video submissions (admittedly not the best means of selection). Among the pack of ever-hopefuls is Mr Benjamin Baker, representing both New Zealand and Britain. Is that the best we can do? 0.5 in 69?
Full candidates’ list here.
Kiri te Kanawa, who sang at HRH’s first wedding in a canary-yellow outfit, was among several musos acknowledged by the Prince at the Royal College of Music today. The point of it? You tell us.
From a never-ending press release:
HRH The Prince of Wales honoured a number of outstanding figures in international musical
life today at the Royal College of Music’s Annual Awards ceremony.
These included internationally renowned conductor and pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy and
acclaimed soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who both received their Honorary Doctorate from
HRH The Prince of Wales.
HRH The Prince of Wales, President of the Royal College of Music since 1993, presented
awards to several others who have made significant contributions to musical life, before
attending a short concert featuring performances from three of the College’s most
exceptional, prize-winning, recent graduates; violinist Agata Daraskaite, saxophonist Amy
Green and double bassist Rodrigo Moro Martin.
On receipt of the Honorary Doctorate, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa said: “I am delighted and
thrilled to be honoured in this way by the Royal College of Music, especially as the honour is
being conferred by HRH The Prince of Wales himself”. Dame Kiri also expressed her honour
at seeing, for the first time, her “recently painted portrait hanging in its home at the Royal
College of Music”. The portrait, commissioned by the Royal College of Music as part of
the Sky Arts TV series Portrait Artists of the Year, was painted by artist Laura Quinn and
now hangs in the foyer of the Britten Theatre, the home of the RCM’s International Opera School.
Vladimir Ashkenazy said: “It is a tremendous honour on this truly special and memorable
occasion to be awarded the degree of Honorary Doctor of Music of the Royal College of
Music”. Mr Ashkenazy, who returns this evening to conduct the first of two performances
with the RCM Symphony Orchestra, also said: “It has been a great inspiration for me to have
had a wonderful, continuous and long lasting connection with the Royal College of Music in
recent years and has been a pleasure and privilege to give young musicians insights across
the broadest of repertoire. To see them benefit from these experiences has been especially
gratifying. The students have great energy, musicianship, integrity and technical proficiency
and it is very fulfilling to see young people open themselves to the overwhelming richness
great music has to offer. Being a part of this orchestra’s future fills me with excitement.”…
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has attacke the recent tax break for orchestras as ‘cultural snobbery’. It said the relief would be exploited by tax avoiders in much same way as film tax havens.
Nice guys. More in the FT here.
Our chums at resmusica report that Daniele Rustioni with succeed Kazushi Ono as chief condutor of the Lyon Opera in 2017. A comet on the Italian opera scene, Rustioni, 32, has been on the loose since he quit Bari last year.
The president of the LA Phil is taking a teaching sabbatical later this year. Who’s gonna drive the Dude while she’s out of town?
Press release below.
Los Angeles, CA (March 11, 2015) – Los Angeles Philharmonic Association President and CEO Deborah Borda and Music Director Gustavo Dudamel have announced the promotions of Gail Samuel to the position of Executive Director and Chad Smith to the position of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In addition to continuing to oversee Hollywood Bowl operations, jazz, world music, orchestral pops and pop/rock programming by the Association, public relations and community affairs, Samuel will now also oversee marketing and human resources. Samuel will be a key liaison to the County of Los Angeles, and while Borda is on sabbatical in the fall of 2015, Samuel will serve as Acting President and CEO. In Smith’s new post, in addition to continuing to oversee artistic planning and education, he will also supervise the orchestra, operations, concert production, recorded media and the centennial celebration planning.
“As we approach the centennial of the LA Phil it is timely to look to the future and determine how to most effectively deploy the major talents of our administrative leaders for a vibrant institution,” commented Borda. “It gives me great pleasure to recognize two of the brightest stars in the orchestra field today. Both Gail Samuel and Chad Smith have demonstrated track records of significant achievement and creativity. Gustavo and I are delighted to recognize their accomplishments and look forward to the continued accomplishments of our LA Phil team.”
“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to continue my work and growth at the LA Phil with Gustavo, Deborah, the Board, and my phenomenal colleagues. As a native Angeleno, I couldn’t be prouder of the work being done by this organization and am thrilled to be part of it,” added Samuel.
“The LA Phil has been my creative and professional home for well over a decade,” commented Smith. “As we look ahead to our centennial and beyond, I am thrilled to be a part of this leadership team which will help define what a vibrant, risk-taking orchestral organization can and should be.”
GAIL SAMUEL serves as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. In this post, Samuel oversees Hollywood Bowl operations, jazz, world music, orchestral pops and pop/rock programming by the Association, management of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, public relations, community affairs, marketing and human resources. Samuel’s tenure at the Los Angeles Philharmonic began 25 years ago when she joined the orchestra operations department of the organization. Over the course of her career she rose through the organization, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. Previous positions include Vice President and General Manager, Philharmonic and Production, managing the orchestra as well as all concert production, touring and media activities. Prior to coming to the Philharmonic, she held positions with the Minnesota Orchestra, Yale University, Tanglewood Music Festival and the Young Musicians Foundation. Samuel studied violin and earned undergraduate degrees in music and psychology and an MBA from the University of Southern California. She has served on the Board of Councilors for the USC Thornton School of Music since 2009.
The precipitate decline of a hybrid American art form continues. In the 2014 annual stats from Nielsen, just out, jazz accounted for just 1.4 percent of music sales – exactly the same as classical music but falling faster. Three years ago, jazz commanded 2.8 percent of the market with 11 million album sales. In 2014, just 5.2 million jazz albums changed hands. Classical, by contrast, held steady – albeit at a historic low ebb.
Details here.
