News
Texas Clarinet Consort to premiere The Ghost of Eric Dolphy
The Texas Clarinet Consort - Robert Walzel, James Gillespie, John Scott, Doug Storey, Raphael Sanders, and Gary Whitman - will premiere
The Ghost of Eric Dolphy at
ClarinetFest 2010 on July 23, 2010, in Austin, Texas. The piece was commissioned for this event by the Consort, and features bass clarinetist Gary Whitman on ideas inspired by the great jazz bass clarinetist, saxophonist and flutist Eric Dolphy.
Full Frontal Lobes Premiered in San Antonio
Commissioned by San Antonio's
Musical Offerings, this remarkable multimedia jazz cantata by James Scott Balentine and Bruce Balentine was performed the week of April 10, 2010, in four San Antonio venues as part of the popular
Jazz Meets Classical series, now in its 18th year. Performances at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico, Boerne's First United Methodist Church, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Witte Museum were well received. This unusual piece dealing with the brain and the Theory of Mind was presented as a lecture in a semi-dramatic setting, and incorporated jazz solos by Los Angeles-based saxophonist Rob Hardt. Librettist Bruce Balentine played the "Professor", and composer James Scott Balentine acted as conductor and clarinetist. The ensemble included Musical Offerings Artistic Director Joan Christenson, violist Matthew Diekman, cellist Ben Westney, Brent Watkins on piano, Zlatan Redzik, bass, and Kyle Keener, drums.
Belgian Clarinet Choir Claribel to premiere new work at TMEA
The Internationally-renowned clarinet choir, Claribel, from the Music Conservatory of Ostend, Belgium, under the direction of Guido Six, has commissioned a new piece to be performed at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San antonio, Texas in February, 2010. The piece, entitled
Red Poppy and the Yellow Rose, will feature two clarinet quartets composed of clarinet faculty members from Texas universities, including the Texas Clarinet Consort (Robert Walzel, James Gillespie, John Scott, Gary Whitman, Doug Storey and Raphael Sanders) plus Richard McDowell (UT Austin) and David Shea (Texas Tech University).
Pianist Roger Steptoe Premieres Piano Sonata No. 2
Pianist and composer Roger Steptoe performed the American premiere of
Piano Sonata No. 2 in the spring of 2007 for American Landmark Festivals, New York. Mr. Steptoe performed at the Central Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and the Smith Opera House in Geneva, New York, following a performance as guest artist at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The sonata was written for and dedicated to Mr. Steptoe.
Three Billy Goats Gruff recorded by Cactus Pear Music Festival
Three Billy Goats Gruff for string quintet and narrator, commissioned by Cactus Pear Music Festival for its
Kinder Konzerts Series will be recorded for release on
Cactus Pear Music Festival's upcoming CD to be released in 2009. It was performed at the
Nevada Chamber Music Festival in Reno, Nevada in December 2007.
Scenes from Edinburgh at Utah Arts Festival
Scenes from Edinburgh, double concerto for clarinet and bassoon, premiered at the Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake City in June, 2007. Conducting the Utah Arts Festival Orchestra was Andrew Rindfleisch, with soloists Robert Walzel, clarinet, and Lori Wike, bassoon.
Double Black Stick Dance at Jazz Meets Classical
Double Black Stick Dance for two jazz clarinetists and rhythm section will be recorded on a CD by Small World & Friends in June, 2008.
Double Black Stick Dance was commissioned by San Antonio's
Musical Offerings for the highly popular
Jazz Meets Classical series, and premiered at the Instituto de Mexico, San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Witte Museum to standing room only audiences.
Triqueta to premiere at Southwest Guitar Festival
Triqueta, double concerto for guitar, horn and chamber orchestra will premiere at the Southwest Guitar Festival in San Antonio in January, 2009, with soloists Matthew Dunne, guitar, and Michael Gast, horn.