Welcoming Yolanda to Austin ClassicallyHip Yolanda Kondonassis It was nice to catch up with harpist Yolanda Kondonassis in Austin this week, as she performs tonight and tomorrow with the Austin Symphony. She has played around the world and recorded extensively - so a chance to get some insights to her playing, teaching, and recording was a real treat. Here is our conversation unedited for your enjoyment: mp3 file. We'll have more 2 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

JFK in FW ClassicallyHip Joy Webster, Chair of Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. (DFWII), has announced a public ceremony to begin at 9:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, November 8, 2012, in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, to formally open The JFK Tribute, a permanent open air exhibit built within a 1.5 acre site in Fort Worth, where President John F. Kennedy presented his last speech to the general public on the morning of 6 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

New Operas ClassicallyHip Fort Worth Opera revealed today the names of the composers whose works have been selected for participation in the first season of the company’s exciting, annual new works program, Frontiers, making its debut May 6 – 11, 2013. The showcase will present eight unpublished works by composers from the Americas during the last week of the 2013 Opera Festival in the McDavid Studio across from Bass 7 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Interviews ClassicallyHip I love to do interviews, and have had enough experience that not only does it come naturally, but sounds that way - most recently I had a chance to talk with a professional consultant/journalist about the orchestra situation in the US. This is what he posted today: If you’re interested in listening in on a closed door style conversation about the state of the field within the context of current 8 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Labor Day 2012 ClassicallyHip Steven Stucky at the Great Wall of China So what's on tap for your Labor Day? Perhaps you should listen to Einstein on the Beach? Some Amy Beach? Relax with Michael Torke's Blue Pacific? Why not head over to Composing Thoughts on facebook and like us, staying informed of contemporary music and creativity! Steven Stucky ; Michael Torke ; 8 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

S4M tix ClassicallyHip Single tickets go on sale for the 2013 Spring For Music Festival today, August 27, at www.carnegiehall.org. By pricing all single tickets at $25 dollars, selling seats on a first-come/first-serve basis, and accepting orchestras on the basis of adventurous programming, Spring For Music continues to redefine the classical music experience. The festival invites New York and hometown fans alike to 8 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Classical action ClassicallyHip These are the top ten WORST songs for a gun control classical concert: 10. Christian Ellis' Fallujah 9. Mancini: Peter Gunn 8. Berlin: Annie Get Your Gun 7. Shostakovich: The man with the gun Overture 6. Arthur Bliss: Things to Come: Attack of the Moon Gun 5. Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid 4. Antheil Ballet machanique 3. Paul Moravec's Double Action  2. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Arthur Bliss ; Aaron Copland ; Paul Moravec ; 8 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

OFJ a hit ClassicallyHip Poster outside the Teatro Degollado There's lots to enjoy in Guadalajara - the history, food, shopping and the arts. Most recently the Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco named Alondra de la Parra as the Artistic Director, and the results are electric! I spoke to the Operations Manager about the effect Alondra has had on the orchestra: A standing ovation for Shostakovich 5 I also asked an Dmitri Shostakovich ; Alondra de la Parra ; Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco ; 10 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

ORQUESTA EN ASCENSO ClassicallyHip Hay un buen refrán que dice que el todo es mayor que sus partes, lo cual no necesariamente es verdad con muchas orquestas, pero si se agrega un nuevo Director Artístico -Alondra de la Parra - a la Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco, las partes no solo se multiplican exponencialmente, sino que se electrizan de energía!   Asistí al Programa 6 este viernes 13 de julio en el bello Teatro Degollado.  El Alondra de la Parra ; Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco ; 10 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story

Orchestra on the rise ClassicallyHip There's a great saying about the sum being more than its parts - which isn't necessarily true for all orchestras, but add the new Artist Director Alondra de la Parra to the Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco and not only do things multiply exponentially, they electrify! I heard the Programa 6 on Friday, July 13 in the beautiful Teatro Degollado. Silvestre Revueltas' Sensemaya opened the all Silvestre Revueltas ; Alondra de la Parra ; Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco ; 10 months ago | Comment | Tag | Read Full Story