Maria Schneider and Spring for Music

I’m late in posting this, but the Spring For Music series (which I mentioned earlier), teamed with NPR to make the performance the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra available to stream online. One of the pieces heard in this performance is a relatively newly commissioned...

More on Chicago Sinfonetta and Women Conductors

John von Rhein of The Chicago Tribune recently reported on the passing of the baton from Paul Freeman to Mei-Ann Chen, which I first discussed here. Of the significance of Chen’s placement, von Rhein said: The emergence of women conductors in the symphonic mainstream...

Rachael Worby Returns!

Last year conductor Rachael Worby left her position at the Pasadena Pops after 11 seasons with the ensemble. The announcement was in the LA Times last August. Though she never completely receded into the background, fans have been waiting for word of a new project for...

Sofia Gubaidulina in Los Angeles

Cal Arts has been featuring the works of Russian-born composer Sofia Gubaidulina this past week, and her presence in LA has been duly noted by the LA Times. In spending time with the students and faculty at Cal Arts Gubaidulia said: “It’s such an...
Honoring Women in Chicago

Honoring Women in Chicago

The Chicago Sinfonietta is facing a changing of the guard this season. Maestro Paul Freeman, who founded the ensemble in 1987, is retiring from the group, leaving the baton in the hands of Mei-Ann Chen. Chen’s reputation and qualifications leave no doubt that the...