Bev Jones, 75, was a leading light in York’s music from the day he sang as head chorister at the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. He conducted all over the country, composed prolifically and was a leading instigator of music activity.
When vascular dementia struck he was moved into a care home.
Now, police are investigating his death.
Read here.
The American rock singer Meatloaf collapsed a few hours ago during a concert in Edmonton, Canada.
A member of the audience posted video of the distressing event.
Emergency services were called.
Watch video here.
Meatloaf, 68, is one of the top-selling rock artists.
From an Ofsted report on Darul Uloom Islamic High School in Birmingham:
Leaders and staff have had training in preventing extremism and radicalisation, and been given the latest Government safeguarding guidance.
However, the impact of this work has not rectified safeguarding weaknesses.
A large number of copies of a leaflet containing highly concerning and extremist views, such as ‘Music, dancing and singing are acts of devil and prohibited’, were discovered during the inspection.
The leaflets were found in areas shared by the school and adjoining mosque which are used by leaders and in areas used by the pupils from the school.
Remember this? Viral French Imam video: ‘Music is a creature of the Devil’
More details here.
The enterprising Gautier Capucon, 35, brother of the celebrated violinist Renaud, is a huge star in France, less so elsewhere.
A light dawned that this might have something to do with his agency arrangements.
Until yesterday, Gautier was managed by Jacques Thelen in France, Intermusica in the UK, Weigold & Böhm in Germany, CAMI in the US and Kajimoto in Japan.
As of this morning, all Gautier’s eggs have been placed in the HarrisonParrott basket for general management.
Fouad Fakhouri has been named music director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra this week.
He succeeds Brett Mitchell, who left in 2014, and has only conducted the Michigan orchestra once, during auditions.
Fakhouri, 43, is presently music director in Fayetteville.
Is he America’s first Lebanese baton?
There were 197 applicants for the vacancy.
The House of Representatives has voted to reduce spending on military bands, presently costing half a billion bucks a year.
Specifically, it approved an amendment to the 2017 defense appropriations act by Rep. Martha McSally, a retired Air Force colonel, restricting the bands to funerals and military ceremonies and prohibiting their engagement at dinners and events for ‘entertaining generals, dignitaries and elected officials, all the different type of things that have nothing to do with appropriate military ceremonies.
This will inevitably leads to budget cuts and job losses.
Before long they will be reduced to the legendary status of the Egyptian army band (pictured).
Read more here.
US mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has been elected 2016 Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year at Dallas Opera.
She created the role of American opera singer Arden Scott, the central character in Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s new opera Great Scott which premiered in Dallas in October 2015 and was voted by subscribers as their outstanding debutante.
Joyce writes:
I am sincerely and deeply honored to receive the Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award from The Dallas Opera, for my role as Arden Scott in Jake Heggie’s world premiere, GREAT SCOTT.
Of course it is the dream of any singer to be mentioned in the same breath as Maria Callas, so I will very proudly carry this mantle associated with so many of my dear colleagues from years past! But perhaps the most sublime part of this, is that the award comes from this incredible journey of a world premiere, which The Dallas Opera championed so beautifully, and one that celebrates our art form so victoriously.
We created a glorious “GREAT SCOTT Family” within the beautiful “Dallas Opera Family,” and for this, I feel so very grateful. I’d like to imagine that Maria is smiling down on us all, proud for carrying on her philosophy of singing from a place of truth—for without any doubt, we all know how much she continues to matter!
A million thanks for this most special award!
Joyce DiDonato
Past winners include: Susan Graham, Cecilia Bartoli, Denyce Graves, Patricia Racette, Latonia Moore and Ben Heppner.
Yesterday we reported the abrupt cancellation of Sydney Sings.
Today we learn that Brisbane Baroque is on the brink.
Artists have not been paid two months after this year’s event. Next year’s is on hold.
The festival is run by the same partnership Jarrod Carland and Shannon Pigram that created Sydney Sings. The cancellation of the Sydney event was ascribed to Mr Carland’s illness.
