“See Me: A Global Concert”, a film project conceived by conductor Marin Alsop and the World Economic Forum, spans the individual to the global. As Alsop puts it, “it is a journey, from one voice playing solo Bach, to many voices singing a new piece by Reena Esmail, to hundreds of voices celebrating our beautiful planet in Beethoven’s Pastorale Symphony. It’s a journey that we hope brings comfort, joy, and most importantly, hope”.
The film was created in conjunction with female conductors including TACF’s Jeri Johnson and Valentina Peleggi and young musicians from across the globe, including Chen Lin who captured the connection between the socially-distanced performers of the NCPA Orchestra in Beijing.
In a coast to coast celebration, Classical Movements created the Hope & Harmony Ensemble of 14 brass and percussion musicians, in partnership with some of the finest orchestras in the country. Featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, LA Phil, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Peabody Conservatory, Penn State School of Music, The South Asian Symphony Foundation, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and Utah Symphony.
Learn more about the project at www.classicalmovements.com/fanfare.
Marzena Diakun will be the new artistic director and head of the Orchestra and Choir of the Community of Madrid (Orcam), the Orcam Foundation announced on December 17, 2020. Trained in her native Poland, in Austria, Switzerland and the United States, Diakun has developed her professional career mainly in Poland and France, where she is the first guest conductor of the Paris Chamber Orchestra this season.
On September 18, La Maestra announced Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship alumna Rebecca Tong as the winner of the inaugural 2020 Competition & Academy for Young Women Conductors. Participants in the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship earned three of the top six spots at the La Maestra Competition. Behind first prize winner Rebecca Tong were Lina Gonzalez-Granados (third prize) and Hollie Hyun Choe (final six). In addition to winning first prize, Rebecca Tong also won the Arte Prize as well as the French Concert Halls and Orchestras Prize
By: Eleanor Beardsley, NPR. "In the orchestra world, conducting and music directing are still male-dominated fields. In the United States, less than 10% of orchestras are directed by women. In Europe, the figure for major orchestras is less than 6%. Founders of La Maestra, a Paris-based organization, set out to change that by promoting the talent of budding female conductors in their very first competition, held in mid-September. Out of more than 200 applicants, 12 female conductors from across four continents competed for three top prizes, including cash, mentoring and a series of concerts conducting orchestras in France and abroad."
“Musical training and masterclasses at the highest international level, as well as mentorship in how to navigate the industry, including making the connections vital to successful careers, are all part of the curriculum. The goal is to help women conductors advance their careers and find employment in their chosen field,” Dallas Opera CEO Ian Derrer said.
Fresno/Monterey/San Jose, Irvine, CA – Four California orchestras have joined forces to commission Alone Together from composer John Christopher Wineglass. The co-commissioners include Fresno Philharmonic, Monterey Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and the San José Chamber Orchestra. Alone Together will feature strings and percussion and will be performed at a future date.
