Free NATS Vocal Concert

By mccauleyn | Published: April 2, 2013

The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) is the largest association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,300 members. The College of Charleston is proud to host the NATS regional auditions this year. On Friday, April 5, 2013, the public is invited to a free NATS vocal concert that is open to the public. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 Saint Philip St. The program will include:

Deanna McBroom and Robin Zemp:

-Richard Strauss

1. Staendchen

2. Morgen

3. Befreit

Tan and See Piano Duo:

-Franz Liszt

1. Reminiscences de Norma for Two Pianos

College of Charleston Concert Choir: 

-Eriks Esenvalds 

1.O salutaris Hostia (Ashley Fabian & Kori Miller)

-Brahms

1. Zwei Motetten

Dr. Art Bumgardner and Dr. Amanda Castellone w/ Zemp and Pevzner:

-Leonard Bernstein

1.Mr. and Mrs. Webb Say Goodnight from Arias and Barcaroles 

Natalia Khoma and Volodymyr Vynnytsky:

-Gaspar Cassado

1. Requiebros

-Vynnytsky

1. Lost Tango

 

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Charleston Music Fest Concert “From Chaconne to Meditango”

By mccauleyn | Published: March 28, 2013

The College of Charleston School of the Arts will present its third Charleston Music Fest (CMF) concert of the 2012–13 season. “From Chaconne to Meditango” is the exciting program to be performed by guest violinist Nazar Pylatyuk, cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky.

This engaging, chamber music performance will take place on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 Saint Philip St. Admission is $25. Charleston Music Fest is in its seventh season and is presented by College of Charleston music faculty members Lee-Chin Siow and Natalia Khoma.

General admission is $25 and student tickets are $5. Tickets available in advance ONLINE and will be sold at the door (cash and checks) one hour before curtain, based on availability. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, visit http://www.CharlestonMusicFest.com.

ABOUT THE CHARLESTON MUSIC FEST

Founded in 2006 by violinist Lee-Chin Siow and cellist Natalia Khoma and presented by the College of Charleston, the Charleston Music Fest has seen collaborations with world-class artists performing to capacity crowds in venues across the Lowcountry, and established a reputation for excellence. The Fest has won a loyal following in Charleston and beyond, providing educational opportunities to music students through masterclasses with celebrated musicians and pedagogues, and delighting numerous fans in its series of fine chamber music concerts.

ARTISTS

Nazar Pylatyuk is a Gold medalist of the Academy of the Arts of Ukraine; a Laureate of International Competitions, including Karl Flesh International Competition, Lysenko International Competition and (First Prize) Yankelevych International Competition in Russia. Swedish newspaper “Eskelstuna Kompiun” describes Mr. Pylatyuk’s playing,  “His talent – boundless, his playing astounds…”

Natalia Khoma, cellist, “…plays with masterful authority…magical and deeply touching…” (NewYork Concert Review), thrilling audiences around the world and capturing top honors at the All-Ukrainian competition (1981), the Budapest Pablo Casals Competition (1985), the Tchaikovsky International Competition (1990), and the Belgrade International Cello Competition (1990). Khoma is a Professor of Cello at College of Charleston.

Khoma is the only Ukrainian cellist to win at the Tchaikovsky International Competition!

Volodymyr Vynnytsky, pianist, is a brilliant chamber music performer who has graced many of the great music halls of the world including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Steinway Hall, the Great Bolshoi Hall at the Moscow Conservatory, the Theatre Champs d’Elysees, and St. John’s Smith Square in London. Vynnytsky is Music Director of the Music and Art Center in New York.

A laureate of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris (1983)

P R O G R A M

“Chaconne” for violin solo by J.S. BACH

Sonata for violin and piano “Spring” sonata Op. 24, No. 5 in F Major by LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

“Melody” for violin, cello and piano AND “Karpathian Rhapsody” by MYROSLAV SKORYK

“Medi Tango” for violin, cello and piano by ASTOR PIAZZOLLA

“El Choclo” for violin and piano AND “La Compersitta” for violin and piano  by G. RODRIGUEZ

 

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Simons Medal to Be Awarded to Allan Greenberg

By mccauleyn | Published: March 21, 2013

SimonsMedalThe Historic Preservation and Community Planning program in the Department of Art history presents the Albert Simons Medal of Excellence to classical architect Allan Greenberg, author of George Washington, Architect. The Simons Medal of Excellence was established in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the College of Charleston School of the Arts. Albert Simons pioneered the teaching of art at the College, and the medal honors individuals who have excelled in one or more of the areas in which albert simons excelled, including civic design, architectural design, historic preservation and urban planning. Please join us in honoring Greenberg on Thursday, March 21, 2013, when he will also give a lecture on his work. [event info]

Allan Greenberg

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Allan Greenberg was educated at the University of Witwatersrand, where he trained in classical, Gothic, and modern architecture. He worked for leading Scandinavian modernist architect Jørn Utzon, with whom he worked on the Sydney Opera House. After receiving his Master of Architecture degree from Yale University in 1965, he spent two years in the City of New Haven’s Redevelopment Agency and later served as Architectural Consultant to Connecticut’s Chief Justice from 1967 to 1979. He received his U.S. citizenship in 1973.

In 1972 Greenberg established his firm which currently has offices in New York City, Greenwich, Connecticut, and Alexandria, Virginia. The firm has an international reputation for combining contemporaryconstruction techniques with the best architectural traditions to create solutions that are both timeless and technologically progressive.  Projects include master plans, feasibility studies, new construction, renovations, restorations, and interior and furniture design for academic, institutional, religious, commercial, residential, and retail clients. Completed projects are found throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and the Middle East.

Greenberg’s articles, teaching, and lectures have exerted a strong influence on the study and practice of classical architecture. He has taught at Yale University’s School of Architecture and School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania, the Division of Historic Preservation at Columbia University, and the University of Notre Dame. He has written books and articles, both scholarly and popular, on the dynamic and enduring qualities of traditional architecture and design. A monograph of his work was published in 1995, followed by George Washington, Architect, in 1999. His recent books include The Architecture of Democracy: American Architecture and the Legacy of the Revolution, published by Rizzoli in July 2006, and Lutyens and the Modern Movement, released by Papadakis Publisher in 2007. In the October 2013, Rizzoli will publish a monograph of his recent work.

In 2006, Greenberg was the first American to be awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture, in recognition for built work and scholarship that has enriched the American architectural and cultural landscape.

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Husband/Wife Piano Duo Concert

By mccauleyn | Published: March 12, 2013

On Saturday, March 16, the International Piano Series is honored to present a free concert by distinguished pianists Robert Shannon and Haewon Song, in a duo-piano concert. The performance will take place at 6:00p.m. at the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 Saint Philip St. The husband and wife duo team are both professors at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and will be performing a two-piano program with music by Ravel, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and more. The concert is free and not to be missed!

Pianist Robert Shannon has presented solo recitals, ensemble concerts, and master classes throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. In recent seasons he has appeared in Beijing, London, Paris, Glasgow, Rome, Stuttgart, New York, San Francisco, Columbia (South America) and Taiwan. His repertoire ranges from Bach to Adams, and he has been especially noted for his recordings of Ives’ complete works for violin and piano, and works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Crumb, available on Bridge Records.

He is Professor of Piano at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Director of the Division of Keyboard Studies, and Director and Founder of the Cooper Competition at Oberlin, which in cooperation with the Cleveland Orchestra has become one of the most important youth competitions in the world.

Mr. Shannon earned a bachelor of music degree in piano performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a bachelor of arts degree in music from Oberlin’s College of Arts and Sciences, although his original intention was to major in East Asian studies. He earned a master’s degree in piano performance at the Juilliard School. He has studied with Jack Radunsky, Ania Dorfmann, Dorothy Taubmann, and Vladimir Ashkenazy. He often performs duo recitals with his wife, Oberlin faculty colleague, Haewon Song.

Haewon Song is an active artist and pedagogue who has performed and taught worldwide. She has performed in France, Germany, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and throughout the United States. She has been a soloist with the K.B.S. Orchestra in Seoul, the Baltimore Symphony, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin College Community Strings, and the Oberlin Wind Ensemble. Ms. Song has performed at Mexico’s Cervantino Festival, the All American Music Festival in Stuttgart Germany, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Aria Festival, the Institute of Musical Arts in Canada, the Festival de Nice in France, and the Oberlin Summer Piano Festival. Ms. Song toured South Korea as a member of the Oberlin Piano Quartet. She often appears in duo piano recitals with her husband Robert Shannon with whom she has recorded for Bridge Records.

She is now a founding member of the New Oberlin Trio.

Ms. Song studied at the Toho School in Tokyo, Peabody Preparatory School in Baltimore and the Juilliard School. Her major teachers were Shuku Iwasaki, Julian Martin, and Martin Canin. She has taught at Tunghai University in Taiwan, Kyung Won University in Seoul, and has been a member of the Oberlin Piano Department since 1993.

Ms. Song’s students often perform as concerto soloists with significant orchestras and her students have won major prizes in such competitions as the MTNA Nationals, Wideman, and Kingsville, as well as the Oberlin Summer Piano Competition.

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CHARLIE Mag Honors Members of School of the Arts

By mccauleyn | Published: March 8, 2013

CHARLIE magazine, which celebrates progressive culture in Charleston, will honor its selection of 50 Most Progressive people in Charleston tonight. Included in those 50 are several of the College of Charleston School of the Arts’ faculty, staff, alumni and supporters including…

John Zeigler, a staunch supporter of the School of the Arts, is described by CHARLIE as “an innovator, convener, bookseller, poet, polymath, music man.” His philosophy on life is that “Everyone can and should make a difference. Otherwise we’d just sit around grumbling. And I’m not a grumbler.”

Yiorgos Vassilandonakis, Professor of Music Theory and Composition, has helped to spearhead the exposure and growth of contemporary music compositions through a collaboration with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (Magnetic South) and also explore the integration of music with computer based systems via the College’s program in Computing in the Arts.

Lulie Wallace, studio art alumna and prolific painter, has merged her work into the interior design and fashion industries. Her works have been sold nationwide by Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, One Kings Lane, and Serena & Lily and featured in publications like HGTV Magazine.

Cary Ann Hearst, alumna and part of the dynamic music duo behind Shovels and Rope, has exploded onto the national music scene with a new album and a recent performance on the “Late Show With David Letterman.”

CHARLIE also asked the honorees to name their suggestions on “Ones to Watch,” which includes the College’s Dean of the School of the Arts, Valerie Morris. Also honored is violinist Yuriy Bekker, artistic director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and director of the College’s Student Orchestra.

 

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Pianist Sergei Kvitko to Perform

By mccauleyn | Published: March 7, 2013

Sergei KvitkoSergei Kvitko, acclaimed pianist, composer, recording engineer and producer, presents a solo piano recital that includes Enrique Granados’ rarely performed, exquisitely passionate and profoundly poetic suite Escenas Romanticas; Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition – the monumental interpretation, recording of which American Record Guide proclaimed “among the best ever made,” and his original virtuoso transcriptions of Bach’s Prelude in C Major – an unexpectedly romantic take on the famous piece; Mussorgsky’s Trepak from “Songs and Dances of Death”- dark and mysterious song transcribed for solo piano in tradition of Schubert-Liszt arrangements; and Eugène Ysaÿe’s Solo Violin Sonata No. 3 “Ballade” – violin bravura masterpiece in its first ever daring arrangement for piano.

The performance is part of the Monday Night Concert Series at the College of Charleston School of the Arts. The Concert will take place at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 Saint Philip St. Admission is $10 at the door and free for College of Charleston students.

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Celebrate a ‘Landmark’ Year of Dance Studies

By mccauleyn | Published: March 7, 2013

LandmarkThe dance faculty and students of the College of Charleston School of the Arts’ ever-expanding Department of Theatre and Dance are proud to present “Landmark,” their fifth annual dance concert from Saturday, March 16 through Monday, March 18, 2013. The academic year of 2012-2013 not only marks the birth of the new Bachelor of Arts in Dance degree but also the welcoming of four new adjunct dance faculty members, two milestones in the history of the program. The performance features both new pieces as well as re-staged works, with two of the seven choreographed by students of the new major.

“Landmark” will be held in the Emmett Robinson Theatre in the Simons Center for the Arts at 54 St. Philip Street. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Monday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for Senior Citizens and College of Charleston students, faculty and staff. For more information, please email oleksiakm@cofc.edu, or call (843) 953-5604.

Program Director Dr. Gretchen McLaine believes “Landmark” to be a testament of the ever-increasing growth, passion, and collaboration of the department’s students and faculty. An alliance of both dance and theatre students are responsible for the production of this year’s concert: all of the dancers, lighting, and costume designers for the performance are students of either the Dance or Theatre programs.

One performance will be Graduation Spring, a piece choreographed by senior Ashley Pittman that examines and explores issues close to the choreographer’s heart: Pittman’s piece considers the commencement of the human spirit from youth into a bright future as she anticipates graduation in May of this year. Another will be a re-staging of Doris Humphrey’s “Partita V in G Major” by Dr. McLaine, a graceful yet playful piece that Dr. McLaine and her dancers believe to be an honor to perform. Humphrey was one of the most iconic and sought-after choreographers of the 20th century, and the re-staging of her piece is made possible by permission from the Dance Notation Bureau (DNB) and funded by the Office of Research and Grant Administration (ORGA). This re-staging and the fact that three of the seven works to be performed are choreographed by new faculty members are just a few examples of the expansion and success of the department.

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Arts Philanthropist John Zeigler to Receive Multiple Honors

By mccauleyn | Published: March 1, 2013

John A. Zeigler, Jr.The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) has announced that John Ashbury Zeigler, Jr., a long-time friend and benefactor of the School of the Arts who celebrated his 101st birthday on February 5, is the recipient of the 2013 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts in the Lifetime Achievement category. The SCAC does not present the Verner award in this category every year, so this is particularly good news!

The Verner Awards are the highest honor that South Carolina presents in the arts. These awards recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina, and Mr. Zeigler will join recipients of the award in other categories during the award ceremony in the Statehouse on Thursday, May 2.

As if an honor from the governor wasn’t enough, Mr. Zeigler is also named as one of CHARLIE’s 50 Most Progressive people in Charleston. CHARLIE, an online and print publication, annually recognizes the most forward-thinking people making a positive impact on the future of Charleston.

One would think that philanthropic activities would be the last thing on a person’s mind upon passing the century mark, but that is not the case for Mr. Zeigler. Giving of himself and his resources is something that John does daily, making him an inspiration to all South Carolinians who strive to make a difference in their state.

From endowing funds that recognize and support students who have superior talent to providing financial support for student travel to competitions, Mr. Zeigler has made gifts totaling approximately $800,000 to the College of Charleston during the course of his life.

The College of Charleston Alumni Association honored Mr. Zeigler with the Alumni Award of Honor, the only award the Alumni Association bestows on non-graduates, in 2010.

In 2011 Governor Haley recognized the significant contributions that Mr. Zeigler has made to South Carolina and its arts community by awarding him the Order of the Silver Crescent.

Mr. Zeigler is shown with Chee-Hang See [L] and Amy Tan [R], the piano duo that performed in honor of Mr. Zeigler's 101st birthday.

Mr. Zeigler enjoys his birthday celebration with Chee-Hang See [L] and Amy Tan [R], the piano duo that performed in honor of Mr. Zeigler’s 101st birthday.

A Snapshot of Support
John Zeigler’s support as both a benefactor and as a mentor has helped many students and alumni of the School of the Arts reach a position from which they now are able to teach and guide future generations of artists. For example, Eunjoo Yun, an early recipient of one of Mr. Zeigler’s scholarships, established the Charleston Academy of Music, to “expose people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life to the many wonders of music.” Countertenor José Lemos, another recipient of one of Mr. Zeigler’s scholarships, has moved onto the international stage during his young career. His recent roles included that of Narciso in Handel’s Agrippina at the Vlaamse Opera in Ghent, Belgium, in October and November of 2012. Another beneficiary of Mr. Zeigler’s scholarships, and the recipient of the School of the Arts’ Young Alumnus Award in 2011, Florencia di Concilio, is a composer who now lives in Paris. She recently wrote the score for Eyes Wide Open: A Journey through Today’s South America. That film was the recipient of the Audience Award in the 2010 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. The accomplishments of these alumni, along with those of their peers, demonstrate the impact that one person can have on the future through generously supporting young artists in the formative years of their undergraduate education. Kudos, Mr. Zeigler!
DONATE to The John Zeigler Music Scholarship Fund(after clicking link, select “Other” from the Designation menu and type “E501 Zeigler”)
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CofC Theatre Presents Depression-Era Comedy by Contemporary Playwright

By mccauleyn | Published: February 13, 2013

On The Bum, Or The Next Train ThroughThe Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Charleston School of the Arts will present the quirky comedy “On the Bum, Or the Next Train Through,” by Neal Bell. It’s 1938 and America was never so rich with talented men and women of the theatre. Unfortunately, America was also never so poor—literally. Just as it did for so many skilled workers during that era of 25% unemployment, the WPA rescued thousands of theatre artists. Professional actors with extraordinary financial need could apply for a variety of jobs in plays to be staged in towns all across the U.S. ”On The Bum” follows the whimsical, fictional, exploits of one such actress as she goes from a New York cast whose producers don’t have enough money to make it to opening night to certain, though low-wage, employment in a local historical drama in the town of Bumfork. Contemporary playwright Neal Bell has captured the witty style of the 1930’s cleverest comedies and brought it to a tale that is a love-letter both to the theatre and to the feistiest of the 99% in any society then or now.

The production will run Thursday, February 21st through Tuesday, February 26th. Curtain times will be 7:30 p.m., except Sunday at 3 p.m. only. Performances will take place at the Emmett Robinson Theatre in the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 Saint Philip St. Tickets may be purchased at the box office or by telephone (843) 953-5604 or by emailing oleksiakm@cofc.edu. Admission is $15 for general admission and $10 for College of Charleston students, faculty and staff and senior citizens 60 and older. The “talkback” discussions with the cast and crew will take place opening night following the performance.

Mark Landis of the Department of Theatre and Dance faculty is directing the play. Landis says, “I don’t think I’ve read a play in many years that dares an audience to learn from history, that credits an audience with coming into the play smart and well-informed, and that does both of those things while it reminds us how richly funny dialogue used to be in the smart comedies of pre-war America. Neal Bell has given us quite an amazing piece to play because the writing is so very, very good; and it never lets us settle into a formulaic approach. It think people will be frequently surprised by the humor of the play and the turns this really intriguing story takes.”

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Charleston Music Fest Features Lowcountry Favorites

By mccauleyn | Published: February 12, 2013

siow-khoma-vynnytskyThe College of Charleston School of the Arts will present its second Charleston Music Fest (CMF) concert of the 2012–13 season. After violinist Lee-Chin Siow’s successful recovery from an auto accident and return to the stage last fall, CMF continues its series with cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, alongside Siow, in a celebration of Spring. The music of Mozart and Chausson will usher in the season of rebirth and renewal. The grace of Mozart’s Trio soars above his dark moments of financial despair, while the Trio in G minor displays Chausson’s genius with its depth of feeling and sheer beauty — A concert not to be missed, featuring Charleston’s own string virtuosos.

This engaging, chamber music performance will take place on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 Saint Philip St. Admission is $25. Charleston Music Fest is in its seventh season and is presented by College of Charleston music faculty members Lee-Chin Siow and Natalia Khoma.

General admission is $25. Student tickets are $5 and includes free donut from Glazed Gourmet Donuts (until Feb. 22) and free fountain drink at Pita Pit (Feb. 22–24) — just show proof of purchase. Tickets available in advance ONLINE and will be sold at the door (cash and checks) one hour before curtain, based on availability. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, visit http://www.CharlestonMusicFest.com.

ABOUT THE CHARLESTON MUSIC FEST

Founded in 2006 by violinist Lee-Chin Siow and cellist Natalia Khoma and presented by the College of Charleston, the Charleston Music Fest has seen collaborations with world-class artists performing to capacity crowds in venues across the Lowcountry, and established a reputation for excellence. The Fest has won a loyal following in Charleston and beyond, providing educational opportunities to music students through masterclasses with celebrated musicians and pedagogues, and delighting numerous fans in its series of fine chamber music concerts.

ARTISTS

Lee-Chin Siow, violinist, is “a distinguished cultural asset of international stature” (American Record Guide).  Gold medal winner of the 1994 Henryk Szeryng International Violin Competition, Siow has performed to critical acclaim throughout the world, from Carnegie Hall to Japan’s Osaka Symphony Hall. Co-founder and co-director of the Charleston Music Fest, Siow is also the Director of Strings and Professor of Violin at the College of Charleston. More info: http://www.leechin.com/

Siow’s CD “Songs My Father Taught Me” was picked for Fanfare Magazine’s 2009 Want List!

Natalia Khoma, cellist, “…plays with masterful authority…magical and deeply touching…” (NewYork Concert Review), thrilling audiences around the world and capturing top honors at the All-Ukrainian competition (1981), the Budapest Pablo Casals Competition (1985), the Tchaikovsky International Competition (1990), and the Belgrade International Cello Competition (1990). Khoma is a Professor of Cello at College of Charleston. More info: http://www.nataliakhoma.com/

Khoma is the only Ukrainian cellist to win at the Tchaikovsky International Competition!

Volodymyr Vynnytsky, pianist, is a brilliant chamber music performer who has graced many of the great music halls of the world including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Steinway Hall, the Great Bolshoi Hall at the Moscow Conservatory, the Theatre Champs d’Elysees, and St. John’s Smith Square in London. Vynnytsky is Music Director of the Music and Art Center in New York.

A laureate of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris (1983)

P R O G R A M

W.A. Mozart              Piano Trio in C Major, K. 548

(1756-1791)

Allegro

Andante cantabile

Allegro

 

Ernest Chausson                     Piano Trio in g minor, Op. 3

(1855-1899)

Pas trop lent. Anime

Vite

Assez lent

Anime

 

 

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