Author Archives: Webmaster

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About Webmaster

A career-long broadcast journalist and manager, my early music training was on the violin, but at the age of 53 I was able to fulfill a latent desire to play the piano. The benefits were outstanding, and I want to share that experience with others.

Catching Up …

2011 has started in a rush, and it’s already a week into February!

Just back from the 2011 Sphinx Competition, which featured final performances from the Junior Division this year.   Congratulations to Alexandra Switala, who captured the first place price with a passionate, charismatic performance of Mozart’s Violin Concerto #5 in A Major.  Her animated performance stole the show from Annelle Gregory, whose more restrained classic performance was gorgeously rendered, but which left her in third place.   My row, however, was rooting for Xavier Foley, the young bassist who captured second place while bending in half over his instrument to play notes in positions never intended on the bass in his performance of the Dittersdorf Concerto in E Major.   Continue reading

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Filed under Inspiration, Personal Journey

Steve Richko’s Final Performance

The statistics show many of you coming to the blog arrive as the result of a search for Steve Richko, the very talented jazz pianist who passed away unexpectedly last fall.  Thanks to Tim Hoy and Cliff Monear at the Steinway Piano Gallery of Detroit, Steve’s final performance has been captured on film.  This concert, featuring Steve, Cliff, and Tad Weed, took place just a few days before Steve’s death.   Continue reading

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Filed under Fun Stuff, Musicians of Note

Compiling A List Of Orchestras

Anne Midgette, who writes The Classical Beat blog at the Washington Post, has a posting today about the large number of orchestras in the Washington, D.C. area.   In her post, she writes:

“I’d submit that orchestras also offer a more participatory experience than, at least, opera; more people have had enough music lessons to make their way through some symphonic repertory than are able to sing “Don Giovanni” on stage.”

Indeed.  The full post is worth a read, and is inspiring to look at.

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Filed under Inspiration, Opportunities to Play

Forming a Musical Community

As the Christmas/New Years holiday week approaches, Chuck and I have finished a furious round of concerts.  The New Horizons Band where Chuck plays had three concerts of Christmas music – one in the midst of the big snowstorm that hit southeast Michigan on the 11th. Continue reading

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Playing for Fun

I spent a couple of hours this weekend playing string quartets with a group of people who get together every week just to have fun with music.  These long-time friends have been meeting regularly for several years, ever since a child’s wedding surfaced a sudden need for a string quartet to play.

One of the regular first violins was away on vacation, so I sat in to fill the spot, sight-reading all along the way.   (Mozart at first glance – now THAT’s a mental workout!). Continue reading

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Filed under Fun Stuff, Music and Aging

Violin to Viola: Am I Crazy?

Last week, when a group of musicians gathered to play together in a friend’s living room, I learned that some of my acquaintances get together every Saturday morning and play string quartet music.   I was invited to join in, and in the process learned that the group was about to lose one of its viola players.  At 93, she’s decided she just can’t keep up any more.   Her departure is a blow, since viola players are traditionally in short supply. Continue reading

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New YouTube Orchestra Announced

Australia will host the next edition of the YouTube orchestra, and musicians have until the end of November to submit their auditions.  The Strad had an article announcing the competition.   Selected musicians will play with Michael Tilson Thomas at the Sydney Opera House next spring (or is that fall down under?).   Continue reading

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A Busy Day of Music

This past Saturday, October 16th, was a full-immersion music day, and boy, was it fun!

About two dozen musicians gathered at the home of Judy Moslak, one of the founders of the Orchard Lake Philharmonic Society.   Judy has just obtained a beautiful two-manual harpsichord, and it sounded wonderful as the group played a number of selections from Bach. Continue reading

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Steve Richko: A Talent Gone Too Soon

Steve RichkoOne of the most truly gifted, unique piano players in Michigan is gone.

I first heard Steve Richko in the late spring, when he joined Tad Weed and Cliff Monear in a three-piano jazz extravaganza at the Steinway Gallery in Commerce Township.  Steve had an incredible ear and truly spoke to your soul from the keyboard. Continue reading

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J. S. Bach Goes Pink?

Just for fun.   Johann Sebastian Bach meets the Pink Panther.  Sort of. Continue reading

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Filed under Fun Stuff, Inspiration, Musicians of Note