As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this episode, we speak with Makiko Hirata, who has curated our final Next Up program of the 2021-22 Season. Her program will explore the life and music of Ernst Toch in historical context, performing pieces in chronological order with narration from Toch’s grandson, author Lawrence Weschler. The program begins with the Brahms and Mozart of Toch’s early days in Europe—before fleeing the influence of Nazi Germany—through Toch’s very last piano pieces written in Southern California in 1962.
The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Thursday, May 12. Register for the concert.
JAMES STEPHENSON Celestial Suite for Brass Quintet V. Hawking Jackson Prasifka, Horn Diego Stine, Tuba Gracie Potter, Trombone Forrest Johnston, Trumpet Tyler Norris, Trumpet From Next Up: Celestial Suite, April 27
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Kyle Kremer (Conservatory ’15) who has curated the upcoming program for the Next Up Series. His program is called Celestial Suite: Combining Music and Astronomy, which will feature a brass quintet from the Colburn Conservatory of Music along with Kyle’s narration and visual projections of the cosmos.
The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Wednesday, April 27.
Register for the concert
MENDELSSOHN String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13 I. Adagio – Allegro vivace Zi Yang Low, Violin Blues Zhang, Violin Haixin Wan, Viola Angeline Kiang, Cello From the Music Academy Young Artist Performance, March 19
RACHMANINOFF Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos in C Major, Op. 17 III. Romance Daniel Wang, Piano 1 Ukki Sachedina, Piano 2 From the Music Academy Young Artist Performance, February 12
In this special minisode, cellist and Conservatory student James Baik discusses his preparation for his performance of the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Colburn Orchestra on April 21 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. This is the season closer for the Colburn Orchestra, and it will be under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis.
Learn more about the Colburn Orchestra concert on April 21
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Evin Blomberg (Conservatory ’15). Evin curated a program that features solo violin repertoire by Kreisler, Ysaÿe, Marsalis, and Bach. The beautifully rendered solo performance is her inspired answer to the isolated realities brought on by the pandemic.
The concert takes place virtually on March 17.
KREISLER Recitativo und Scherzo-Caprice, Op.6
BACH Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 V. Chaconne
This month is all things Tap Fest! In this episode, we speak with tap faculty in the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute Denise Scheerer and Johnnie Hobbs III about teaching and curating our first Tap Fest since 2019, and the legendary tap dancer and guest artist, Samuel Weber, explains Kahnotation (example below) and the role of dancers as musicians.
Learn more about the Tap Fest 2022
Watch Samuel Weber explain Kahnotation
An example of Kahnotation:
In this episode, we spoke with ballet dancer Samuel Melnikov. After studying in the Dance Academy from 2014 to 2017, Sam joined the New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2020. [powerpress]
BACH Suite for Violin and Harpsichord in A Major, BWV 1025 Kako Miura (Conservatory ’19), Violin Ian Pritchard, Harpsichord
DEBUSSY Afternoon of a Faun Martha Chan, Flute Wei Pan, Clarinet Kristina Annamukhamedova, Piano
This month, hear from two alumni from our first national Fortissima cohort, Bianca Quddus and Lauren Elise Edwards. These remarkable young women were selected to participate in this year’s Fortissima program, which is an artistic and leadership development program at the Colburn School. It is designed to inspire, equip, and empower high school age young women from underrepresented minorities in classical music to pursue professional training and careers in the field.
Learn more about the Fortissima Program
Watch Fortissima in Concert from November 6
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Kako Miura (Conservatory ’19), who curated our first in-person program, To Be Bach or Not To Be Bach, which paints a picture of the musical world in which the composer lived.
The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Thursday, December 9.
Register for the concert [powerpress]
BACH Suite in G Major, BVW 1007 Benjamin Chilton, Viola
This month, we’ll hear from Community School and Conservatory alumnus Hao Zhou on his preparation for Shostakovich’s Violin Concert No. 1 with the Colburn Orchestra on November 13. Colburn cello faculty Clive Greensmith will speak about his Chamber Music Society performance on November 21. And finally, we’ll hear from Salonen Conducting Fellow Ross Jamie Collins on the lessons and challenges of Concerto Forum on December 5, which will feature multiple soloists alongside members of the Colburn Orchestra.
Shostakovich Violin Concert No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77
David Oistrakh, Violin
Hilary Hahn, Violin
Concerto Forum 2020
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Ryan Davis (Conservatory ’19), who curated the first Next Up concert of the year, Chromatophores, which will premiere on Thursday, October 14.
RYAN DAVIS: “Colour You Like”