The East & West Artists International Auditions for New York Debut will take place in New York City on March 27th, 28th, 30th, and 31st, 1993. Eligible are instrumentalists, singers, and ensembles (up to four members) of any nationality who have not given a major New York debut. Two-piano ensembles are not eligible. There is no age limit. The award consists of a fully subsidized solo debut in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and cash, Application forms and cassette tapes are due on February 1, 1993. For information, please send s.a.s.e. to Ms. Adolovne Acosta, Executive Director, East & West Artists, 310 Riverside Drive #313, New York, NY 10025.
The National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) is presently at work on developing a national series of college fairs for students interested in the preforming arts. This new venture, which is scheduled to begin in the fall of 1993, will target students interested specifically in music, dance and theatre.
An advisory board has been selected to begin formulating plans for the National Performing Arts College Fairs. This committee, chaired by James Gandre, Director of Admissions at Manhattan School of Music (NY), has been assembled to provide both geographical diversity and representation from a variety of institutions, including arts high schools, colleges, universities, music festivals, community music schools, conservatories, youth orchestras, and dance and drama schools. Other committee members include: Liz Bert, Interlochen Arts Academy (MI); Susan Dean, Lawrence University (WI); Shantel Dow, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (MN); Hal Laster, University of Cincinnati (OH); Douglas Lowry, University of Southern California (CA); Kathryn Priest, High School for Performing and Visual Arts (TX); Lee Watten, Aspen Music Festival (CO); and Carol Wysocki, National Symphony Education Program (DC).
It is expected that the college fairs, in addition to providing students with the opportunity to speak with admission representatives, will also incorporate workshops for students, parents and counselors to help familiarize them with the admission process at institutions for the preforming arts.
NACAC is planning to announce the fall schedule of performing arts college fairs in the spring of 1993. For more information, please contact:
Mark Milroy
NACAC
1631 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2818
(703) 863-2222
James Gandre
Manhattan School of Music
120 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 100274698
(212) 749-3025
As a part of the Rencontres Musicales du Tarn in France from July 15-28, 1992, there was a bassoon competition (Concours Jacques Cambon de Basson) on July 28, 1992. There were 18 entrants in all in two stages. For the "Niveau moyen - fin d'Etude," the "eliminatoire" was the second part of Etude #5 by Gambaro, with the Tansman Sonatine for those not eliminated. For the "Niveau Superieur - excellence" the "eliminatoire" was Etude #3 by Bianchi with the Sonate, movements I and 2 by Saint-Saens as the finale. The prize was a new French bassoon donated by Selmer. I have not been able to find out who won. If any readers know please write me so I can pass the information on to the readers.
On my way to Frankfurt, I stopped off in Paris in July and visited the Conservatoirie National Superieur de Musique (CNSM) and learned the following results of the "Concour pour Basson" from the class of Professeur Gilbert Audin held on June 22, 1992. They were: Cours Superieur, I prix a unanimite: Hélenè Millet and Franck Massalucci; 1 prix: Marie-Frédérique Denis; 2 prix: Antoine Knoeller, Prix de Perfectionment: Florence Rou. Congratulations to you all!
The National Association of College Wind and percussion Instructors (NACWPI) will hold their First National Symposium at Auburn University, Alabama on Jan. 15-17, 1993. Participating double reed artists will include William Davis, bassoon, and John Corina, oboe, from the University of Georgia, and Stanley Petrulis, bassoon, from Indiana State University. The variety of planned activities include concerts, lectures, speeches, and panel discussions pertaining to the teaching of wind and percussion instruments at the college level in the United States. For more information write to: Dr. Randall Faust, President, NACWPI, Goodwin Music Building, Auburn University, Alabama 35849-5420. Tel. (205) 844-4165, FAX (205) 844-3168.
GENERAL NEWS
On March 11, 1992, our region of the northwestern United States was fortunate to have a performance by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in Spokane, Washington. Prior to the concert Charles Ullery, principal bassoon of the orchestra and professor of bassoon at the University of Minnesota (our host institution for the 22nd Conference of the I.D.R.S. in July, 1993), gave a bassoon clinic and master class at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Charles worked his "magic" on our students and had them playing much better than they thought they could in almost no time at all!
Hawaii
bassoonist Philip Gottling made two trips to the Far East
recently. In December 1991 he was at the Shanghai (China) Conservatory
for the second time giving master classes for two weeks. In March,
1992 Phil played several concerts in Hong Kong on baroque bassoon
and gave a master class on the modern bassoon at the Hong Kong
Academy for Performing Arts.Richard Ranti, associate principal bassoon of the Boston Symphony and principal bassoon of the Boston Pops has been appointed bassoon instructor at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Stephane Levesque and Mathieu Lussier, both students of Rodolfo Masella at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal, performed on March 5th and 8th the first movement of the Vanhal Concerto for two bassoons, with the Orchestre du Conservatoire, conducted by Raffi Armenian on March 5th and 8th, 1992 in Montreal. It was the first time that the work (or an excerpt of it) was played with orchestra in the Quebec province.
Keith McClelland, bassoon professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, performed Arthur Frankenpohl's Concerto for Bassoon and Band with the Knoxville Community Recreation Band in July, 1992. This rarely performed piece features a set of variations to the "Pop Goes the Weasel" theme in the third movement.
Bassoon students of Otto Eifert at New England Conservatory in Boston are doing well. In May, Maria Schreffler performed the Mozart Concerto on tour in the Far East with the New England Youth Ensemble. Hu Li, 3rd year student at NEC performed at the Sapporo Music Festival in Japan in August. Otto Eifert, himself, was once again in Seoul, Korea, in August for the Annual Korea Bassoon Camp. In April he was in Montreal where he joined Rene Bernard and Jim McKay as the jury for the 3rd year bassoon examinations from the Montreal Conservatory.
I.D.R.S. member and bassoonist Harold Kohn of Columbus, Ohio, was recently inducted into the 1992 Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. A retired chemist by profession, Kohn was honored for establishing the organization "Buskers Columbus" in 1986, which is a non-profit organization devoted to providing professional musical and theatrical entertainment to older persons confined to institutions and others who may otherwise be unable to get out in the community for such shows. Since then, The Buskers have provided more that 500 performances in nursing and retirement homes across the state. The I.D.R.S. joins the state of Ohio in recognizing and congratulating the fine efforts of our fellow members.
From Steven Craig, director of the Jennifer Craig Memorial Fund (8801 Chatham Street, Ft. Myers, Florida 33907, 813275-4547), comes the exciting news that in response to my article in the Winter, 1991, Double Reed (Vol. 14, No.3, p. 73-74) about Jennifer's untimely death as the result of a drunken driver car accident, they have received the donation of three oboes, with five or six more being promised from Mrs. Marx of McGinnis and Marx Publishing. Both Steven and I are overwhelmed by your generosity. If you are interested in the wonderful and varied activities of this organization you can get on their mailing list and receive their newsletter by writing or phoning the above address.
ENSEMBLES
The Tennessee Bassoon Quartet recently recorded two tracks for Peter Schickele's latest P.D.Q. Bach CD - Lip My Reeds (which the group premiered at the 1991 Conference at Towson, Maryland), and the ever popular Last Tango in Bayreuth. The CD was scheduled for release on the Telarc label in September, 1992. Also the recording of the Towson performance of Lip My Reeds was broadcast on National Public Radios Performance Today series following an interview by Peter Schickele, and their performance of Spooky Bassoons was broadcast on Hallowe'en.
A new
Billings,. Montana, chamber music ensemble, The Lalliet Trio,
gave its debut recital, on Sunday, April 12, 1992, at the King
of Glory Lutheran Church in Billings. The trio, Kenneth Decker,
oboe; Forest Cornwell, bassoon; and Scott Rohr, piano;
are well-known Billings musicians who have combined to present
some of the lesser known but worthy and attractive literature
for double reeds and piano.The ensemble, which takes its name from that of a late 19th century oboe virtuoso, Casimir Theophile Lalliet, who was connected with the Paris Opera, performed music by Bononcini; W. F. Bach; contemporary English composer Geoffrey Bush; Christopher Weait; and Lalliet. Billings native, Kenneth Decker; who is recognized as one of the northwest's premiere oboists, is also becoming well-known as a maker of fine custom oboes. Forest Cornwell, bassoonist, is a Billings studio teacher of double reed instruments. Scott Rohr is a young, gifted pianist and organist who is currently organist and choir director at King of Glory Lutheran Church.
South American bassoonist. Alejandro Aizenberg, who is assistant principal bassoon of the Cordoba (Argentina) Symphony and professor at Collegium, CEIM, has joined oboist Noemi Waisbord, clarinetist David Antezana, and pianist Lidia Mazzieri to form the ensemble Molto Libero. Their goal is to explore the vast and rich chamber music repertoire for the instruments played by its members: oboe, english horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, and piano, in the various possible combinations, and to perform it in refined and polished performances. They also hope to stimulate the creation of new works and arrangements for the entire ensemble, since the repertoire for reed trio and piano is rather small.
NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Paul Lein (1555 South Brinton Road, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, 517-644-2451) has been doing a good business restoring and selling older and used bassoons both for the collector and performer. In his latest catalog he has a number of bassoons available from a 1950 Adler for $2,500 to a 4000 series Heckel for $9,500. Interested persons can get on his mailing list by contacting him at the above address.
The Schreiber Bassoon Company has announced through their parent company, Boosey and Hawkes/Buffet Crampon, a new 10 year limited warranty program on their new bassoons beginning July 1, 1992. According to their press release: "The new warranty will call attention to the superior construction of the Schreiber bassoon which uses a luratron liner in the boot joint to prevent moisture absorption into the wood. The warranty specifically protects consumers of the Schreiber bassoon against wood rot and cracking for a period of 10 years. "The Schreiber bassoon is one of the most respected instruments of the bassoon world," remarked Mr. Schreiber. "We want to always deserve that respect.:"
Stephan Weidauer [Gausstrasse 66, D-6600 Saarbrucken, Germany, TEL 0049681 36149, FAX 00496813988701 has beautiful handmade silk ties with the motives "Oboe, Clarinette, Bassoon, or Reeds" imprinted on them. These were displayed at the Frankfurt Conference. He also has facsimile reprint of Die Kunst Des Fagottblasens, the famous tutor by Carl Almenrader (1786-1843) for sale for $30.00 plus postage. Contact him at the above address.
Gary Moody of Gem Woodwind Products [P.O. Box 586, Longmont, CO 80502; 303-766-REED] is offering two delightful T-shirts with the following logos:
