Holiday Concerts
Thank you for all your comments on Christmas/holiday classical music recordings. Some of those recordings will be starting to make their way into our programming soon, but we promise not to go overboard.. If you’re looking to get out to some holiday concerts, here are a few happening in and around the state:
WVU: Selections from Handel’s Messiah, December 4th at 7:30pm
Ohio Valley Symphony: The Christmas Show, December 6th
Charleston Civic Chorus: December 7th at 2:30pm
Wheeling Symphony: Symphony on Ice, December 9th at 7:30pm
WV Symphony: Home for the Holidays, December 12-13
WV Symphony with the Charleston Ballet: The Nutcracker, December 19-20
Huntington Symphony: December 20th at 8pm
If you know of any others, let us know in the comments below.
Awards, Awards, Awards
The classical Grammy awards don’t make the prime-time TV broadcasts, but they do exist. Here’s the list of this year’s nominees. Choral conductor Charles Bruffy, who has family in WV, was nominated last year for his recording of Grechaninov’s Passion Week has been recognized again for Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin Mary.
Just as the Grammy presenters don’t give top billing to classical music, the classical music world doesn’t necessarily consider the Grammys their top award either. The Grawemeyer Award from the University of Louisville is the big deal for new compositions (and it was just awarded to Australian composer Brett Dean). There’s also the Avery Fisher Prize (just picked up by Gil Shaham), MacArthur Genius Grants, and Gramophone Awards. Not to mention competitions with prestigious prizes, or that making the NY Times best of the year list can also help a classical musician end their year right.
Youtube Symphony
Your chance to collaborate online for classical music is no longer limited to remixing yourself with Yo-Yo Ma. Now you can audition for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. There’s music to download and practice, and then you record and submit an audition video.
Everyone is talking about it…I’m interested to see how it turns out (and almost tempted to download the viola part). Pass the word around—perhaps we’ll have some West Virginians in the running. If you decide to participate, let me know. I’d love to talk with you about it and follow you through the process.