eNews: InterNetzo – June 2020

 

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Dear friend,

Please enjoy this June edition of InterNetzo. Walden's Summer of Creativity Create-a-Thon begins today! We invite your participation and welcome your support--please learn more in the Community Events section.

You can also hear from Carrie Mallonee about our 2020 Online Creative Musicians Experience (OCME), and register for our July 5 concert with Aurora Nealand and friends. Check out our "In the Spotlight" section to hear reflections from Theo Trevisan, an alumnus of three Walden programs as well as a 2019 staff member.

Sincerely,
Seth

Community Events

Join Walden's Summer of Creativity!

Our Create-a-Thon starts today.

Summer 2020 is a summer unlike any other for Walden, and we are making it a Summer of Creativity! Once upon a time, we thought we would be gathering in Dublin, New Hampshire, today for the first day of the Young Musicians Program. We're not in Dublin today, but we are still very excited to launch our Create-a-Thon, which will run from June 27 to September 14.

Members of the Walden community are engaging in creative projects of their choosing to support Walden's programs and to engage with one another creatively and collaboratively.

Check out some of the projects here:
Danielle's Blessing for Patients
Gaela's Travel Journal Labyrinth
Joel's Voyage
Liam's Compositionally-Constrained Electronic Music
Ruth's Family Opera
Sarah's Novella

We gratefully accept donations either in appreciation of a specific project, or to the Summer of Creativity as a whole. Donations will go toward Walden's Annual Fund--your gift of any amount makes a difference in the lives of creative musicians. If there is a project you're interested in, but you're unsure if it fits, write to events@waldenschool.org--we would love to hear your thoughts! You can also check out these FAQs to learn more.

Learn More

Upcoming

Online Concerts

We hope you will join us online for our upcoming concerts!

July 5 - Aurora Nealand and Friends
7:30 pm Eastern time
Zoom video call

Register

Aurora Nealand is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and sound artist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Voted "Best Saxophonist" "Best Female Performer" & "Best Traditional Jazz Band" in the 2015 & 2016 Big Easy and OffBeat Awards, she leads projects that span from traditional New Orleans Jazz to avant-garde rock to free improvisation. Aurora is also a past faculty member at The Walden School.

Stay tuned for details about these upcoming events:
July 9 - Members of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) in concert - LIVE!
July 16 - concert to be announced
July 23 - The Walden School Players in concert
July 27 - presentation by Mario Diaz de Leon, Composer-in-Residence
July 28-30 - Festival Week: The Walden School OYME Composers Forums

All events at 7:30pm EDT, free, and open to the public with an internet connection and Zoom!

2020 Summer Programs

Reflection on the Online Creative Musicians Experience

With Caroline Mallonee, Director of OCME

The Online Creative Musicians Experience (OCME) turned out to be an amazing week of music-making! We were spread across two countries, four time zones, fifteen states and the District of Columbia, but we made use of the technology available to come together to form a warm and inspiring community.

Did it feel like Walden? It did! We enjoyed a word of the day each morning, we drank a lot of coffee, and we offered an academic curriculum that would make Grace Cushman proud. OCME had a full slate of offerings, including classes in musicianship, electronic music, and contemporary topics; workshops in digital synthesis, the contemporary string quartet, found object percussion, and choral commissioning; and an incredible opening concert.

Our teaching faculty included veteran faculty members Loretta Notareschi, D. J. Sparr, Alex Christie, and Renée Favand-See (and me!). We were pleased to welcome back Mivos Quartet (Olivia De Prato, Victor Lowrie Tafoya, Maya Bennardo, Tyler J. Borden) as well as our other artists-in-residence, Thomas Colohan, Matthew Gold, and Eric Huebner.

We were so fortunate to have Lisa Bielawa as our Composer-in-Residence. In addition to being a thoughtful and insightful forum moderator, Lisa invited us to be a part of her large-scale project, Broadcast from Home. Since the lockdown started, Lisa has been collecting testimonies from people affected by the pandemic. She writes melodies to be sung to these texts and composes instrumental parts to weave into the musical texture; she releases one "chapter" of Broadcast from Home each week. OCME participants, faculty, staff, and artists contributed recordings that were incorporated into Chapter 11. You can listen to it here, and you may even recognize some of the voices.

We hope to see you in person soon!
-Carrie

Online Young Musicians Experience

July 5 - Orientation & Opening Concert
July 6 - July 30 (Mondays-Thursdays)

All events, classes, and lessons will be scheduled to take place between 12 pm and 9 pm Eastern time and will take place over Zoom.

We are accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment is limited, and some need-based financial aid is available.

The Walden School's 2020 Online Young Musicians Experience (OYME) is a physically-distanced program of online music-making, learning, and activities taking place throughout July 2020, bringing together Walden faculty, staff, students, and visiting artists for classes, concerts, and community gatherings. In line with the core goals of Walden's in-person Young Musicians Program (YMP), OYME is an opportunity for students to make valuable connections and musical relationships and develop their creative voices with the help of faculty mentors.

The core of the curriculum is the composition course, which includes weekly one-on-one composition lessons and studio classes, in which students compose new solo pieces, workshop these pieces with performers, and share their music in public Composers Forums during Festival Week (July 27-30). The composition course is complemented by offerings in The Walden School musicianship curriculum and special topics classes, with several enrollment options to fit students' diverse interests and schedules.

Though physically distanced, students have ample opportunity to connect with a larger community of peers, mentors, and friends, through creative extracurricular projects, social gatherings, weekly concerts, and participation in some of Walden's beloved traditions. All participants benefit from a complete Walden experience: part school, part camp, and part festival, thoughtfully adapted for the unusual circumstance of an online summer experience.

In the Spotlight

Theo Trevisan

We caught up with Theo Trevisan, an alumnus of the Young Musicians Program, the Creative Musicians Retreat, and, as of this week, the Online Creative Musicians Experience. Theo was on staff at the Young Musicians Program in 2019, and will be participating in Walden's Summer of Creativity. Stay tuned for updates on Theo's creative endeavors!

How and when did your relationship with Walden begin, and how do you stay connected now?

In 2012, my mom found out about Walden from one of her friends, a violinist who had heard about it from other performers. I was at another summer camp in roughly the same area of New Hampshire, and when I got back, she pitched Walden to me for the next year to go and compose. At the time, I was very burnt out from traveling with choir and said, "Absolutely not." A year later she pitched it again, so I went in 2014, and after that I always regretted not going a year earlier. I attended the Young Musicians Program (YMP) from 2014 to 2017, then went to the Alumni Reunion in 2018. I went to the Creative Musicians Retreat in 2019, and was on staff at YMP. I just took part in the Online Creative Musicians Experience last week. Since 2014, I've managed to keep a connection with Walden programs each year in some way.

Outside the summers, I stay in touch with the Walden community, with other students who were at YMP when I was. We still post a word of the day sometimes, and other little reminders of the Walden community throughout the year. Since joining the staff, I also keep in touch with faculty and staff members, so I try to stay in touch with all aspects of the Walden community.

Could you describe a favorite Walden memory?

That's a tough one. Monadnock hikes are always a highlight of the summer for me. Getting to stand at the top and look over everything-especially if it's a nice day-is a really great thing. The dances are great as well, so Saturdays in general are always fun. The second to last and last Saturdays in particular, when you have so many different events, are great. That last Saturday, when there's a swim trip, a dance, an open mic, and everything going on, is amazing, but of course bittersweet because it's the last full day.

Another memory is from 2016, when ICE did a residency at Walden, and some of us got to write pieces for them in advance. That was a great opportunity. But it's hard to pin down one particular memory.

How are music and creativity part of your life now?

They are still a very large part of my life. I just finished my junior year at Princeton. I'm studying music composition and computer science, so creative activity and generative work is most of what I do. Walden has been really good at helping me think outside the box, which I notice at school as well. I'm very fortunate that when I hear different types of music, I'm not thinking about it in only one conventional way. Walden teaches you from day one that music is sound organized in time, and teaches you to make different connections. There are lots of things you wouldn't conventionally learn that Walden pushes you to think about. Especially now, with lots of time sitting at home, I've found myself surprisingly motivated to compose a lot, so that's still a huge part of my life, and I plan for it to continue to be that way.

What is a non-musical hobby you love?

I've always loved reading. I'd like to do a Great Books program at some point. Particularly before quarantine I was trying to read a bunch of classic books. I just finished Moby Dick, and I'm reading Dubliners now, waiting for some other books to arrive. Last summer at Walden I was working on Paradise Lost in the few moments of spare time I had during the work day.

I also like to play video games, especially strategy games. I've been playing more Dungeons and Dragons during quarantine, because it forces you to be social with friends. I've been doing a little bit of cooking, and a tiny bit of baking, but reading is probably the biggest non-musical activity right now.

You're taking part in the Create-a-Thon, and you're also a donor--why do you give to Walden?

I give to Walden because it's a way of giving back. The Walden community has been a really important part of my life and my growth as a person, as well as a musician. I want to make sure that opportunity and that community is still there for younger people--and older people--who want to be part of that community. Walden was one of the most important things for me growing up, and I want to make sure that sticks around.

What is your hope or dream for Walden's future?

I hope that we can all be back in Dublin again in the future. That might sound small, but this is such a challenging time for arts institutions. OCME was great for seeing that the community is still there, even if we're not in Dublin, and it was great to have that time of being together, but I hope we're able to gather in Dublin again in coming summers. I'm glad to see the Walden community is holding together, despite everything going on in the world, but I miss Walden, even though I had that online connection. I miss the in-person experience, but I'm also just very grateful to the leadership team and everyone keeping things going. I'm grateful Walden has been such a large part of my life.

Community News

Lisa Bielawa Broadcast from Home collaboration with Walden
Lisa Bielawa's Broadcast from Home is a new large scale work response to the coronavirus crisis, featuring contributions from the public. The work is premiered by weekly chapters. Chapter 11: "Throw a Prayer" was a special collaboration with Walden's Online Creative Musicians Experience (OCME), featuring faculty, guest artists, and participants. "Throw a Prayer" premiered on Thursday, June 18, and you can listen to it here. Lisa Bielawa was the 2020 OCME Composer-in-Residence.

Ethan Borshansky live radio broadcast in Portland
On June 10, Ethan Borshansky was featured on Electric Drizzle, an FM radio show in Portland, Oregon. Ethan did a live broadcast of, in his words, "very strange, possibly obnoxious all-original electronic music." Listeners could tune in by radio in Portland, or watch the livestream online. Ethan is an alumnus of the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR), and a past YMP staff member.

Erin Cameron joins Arkansas State University faculty
Erin Cameron will be joining the Arkansas State University Department of Music Faculty as their new clarinet professor. Erin enjoys a diverse career as a clarinetist, educator, and composer. She has served as the Clarinet Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas and maintains an active clarinet studio in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She holds degrees from Northwestern University and Bowling Green State University and will complete her doctoral degree at the University of North Texas in fall 2020. Erin is a Young Musicians Program faculty member.

Alex Christie and Leah Reid
featured on SEAMUS vol. 29 
Alex Christie and Leah Reid both have pieces featured on Music from SEAMUS vol. 29, released on June 26, 2020. SEAMUS (Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States) releases
its newest recording in an ongoing series featuring works by the organization's member composers, under the curation of SEAMUS Director of Recordings, Scott L. Miller. EAM2020 also contains works by Elainie Lillios, Ioannis Andriotis, Elliot Lupp, Chris Lortie, Nicole L. Carroll, Panayiotis Kokoras, Per Bloland, and Nathaniel Haering. Both Alex and Leah are Walden alumni, and Alex is a faculty member and Director of Electronic Music.

World premieres with Del Sol String Quartet
Del Sol String Quartet is back in action, physically distanced, with a performance at 9 pm Eastern, 6 pm Pacific, , on June 27 (Today!). The concert will take place over Zoom, and is a collaboration with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music. Del Sol will premiere six pieces by the Composer Fellows: fellows Shane Cook, Clifton Ingram, Andrew Rodriguez, Rajna Swaminathan, Patricia Wallinga, and Kerwin Young. Del Sol is a past visiting artist at Walden, as is Rajna Swaminathan.

Alice Faye Kincade
graduates from UCLA

Congratulations to Alice Faye Kincade, who recently graduated from UCLA! She completed with a bachelors in Gender Studies. Alice is a YMP alumna.

Yuri Lee wins Morton Gould Young Composer Award

2019 YMP student Yuri Lee is one of the recipients of the 2020 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, which encourage talented young creators of concert music ranging in age from 12 to 30. 2019 YMP student Julian Ossa received an honorable mention, as did Michael Kropf, faculty member and CMR alumnus.

Mackenzie Melemed American Pianists Awards finalist
Walden alumnus Mackenzie Melemed is one of five finalists for the American Pianists Awards. Each of the finalists has been awarded a cash prize, and each pianist will travel separately to Indianapolis over a period of weeks in Spring of 2021 for solo recitals to be livestreamed worldwide, with no in-person audience. The competition will culminate on June 25-27, 2021, with solo, chamber music with the Dover Quartet, and concerto performances. The winner will receive the American Pianists Association Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship.

Nnenna Ogwo online Juneteenth celebration

In the 5th year of her annual Juneteenth celebration at Joe's Pug, pianist Nnenna Ogwo performed with her collaborators, Sterling Strings and special guests soprano Erika Banks and Amos Gabia on drums. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in America, dating back to June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. In light of the pandemic, the event shifted online. The livestream celebration was free and open to the public. Nnenna is a Walden alumna, as well as a past board member, faculty member, and visiting artist.

Michael Poll online concert

On Friday, June 26, Michael Poll took part in a free online event organized by the Association of Marshall Scholars that was a collaboration with composer Elizabeth Ogonek, flautist Emi Ferguson, pianist Nico Namoradze, and architect Juan Joffre. The program included a wide array of music, from American Traditional Singing to Avant Garde solo piano and a lot in between. Michael is a past visiting artist at Walden.

Ben Richardson named to Olympic Training Team

USA Curling is excited to announce the addition of the U-25 National Team Program. The program has been created as an opportunity for the USOPC and USA Curling to continue developing young competitive athletes as they age out of the junior ranks. This program is designed to ensure that young athletes have the tools necessary to continue to develop into world class players while USA Curling remains competitive on the world stage. CMR alumnus Ben Richardson has been named to the men's team, alongside Luc Violette, Chase Sinnett, and Jon Harstad.

Alan Shewmon moves to Maine

Alan Shewmon has moved from California to Maine with his wife Elisabeth and their daughter Sophia, who will be starting 9th grade in Boston in the fall. Alan spent six summers at the Junior Conservatory Camp, Walden's predecessor program.

Pamela Z live online June 23 and 27

Pamela Z performed a live online solo concert on Tuesday, June 23, and will perform another on Saturday, June 27. On June 23, Pamela Z was featured on the Gray Sound Sessions, Vol. 7, presented by the Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry. Nomi Epstein was also featured, as both composer/performers gave a half-hour solo performance. You can watch the concert on YouTube here. On June 27, Experimental Sound Studio presents The Quarantine Concerts: Vox Effusis curated by Lou Mallozzi (vol 2), featuring Pamela Z. You can watch the livestream here starting at 2 pm Central time. Pamela Z is a past visiting artist at Walden.

In Memoriam

Frank Wallace

Frank Wallace passed away on June 2. Frank and his wife Nancy Knowles have been longtime Walden friends and supporters in the Monadnock region, and frequent concert attendees. Frank and Nancy also performed as Duo LiveOak, sharing the great song repertoire from the middle ages to contemporary, accompanied by the guitar and its ancestors. Frank wrote about his journey with cancer on his website, where you can also find his music. We send our condolences to Frank's family and many friends.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

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by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – May 2020

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Dear friend,

I hope you will find this May edition of InterNetzo hopeful and informative. Be sure to check out our “In the Spotlight” section to hear from Tamar Bloch, alumna of the Junior Conservatory Camp and longtime Walden faculty member.

First, I want to share with you some important updates about our 2020 programs.

Walden 2020

As we pause our in-person programs this summer, Walden is offering two new, alternative programming options. Learn more about the Online Creative Musicians Experience (June 13-21; for musicians ages 18+) and the Online Young Musicians Experience (July 6-30; for students ages 9-18)  below.

In addition, we hope you will join us for one or more of our online events this summer, beginning with our opening concert on June 13, featuring Mivos Quartet, Matthew Gold, Eric Huebner, and the music of Lisa Bielawa and Loretta Notareschi, among others. Details below.

Though we grieve being unable to gather together in New Hampshire this summer, the spirit and community of Walden are unshaken. We are deeply grateful to all of our friends and donors, whose generosity keeps Walden thriving this year, next year, and every year. We will miss our many friends in Dublin and the Monadnock region this summer. We eagerly look forward to gathering in-person again soon, and for many wonderful summers to come.

We wish everyone in the Walden community the very best for wellness and peace during this challenging time.

Sincerely,
Seth

Community Events

Josh Modney performs to benefit Walden

On May 2, Walden alumni, faculty and staff, board members, families, and friends gathered by video call from more than 80 locations around the country and around the world for an amazing online concert. Violinist Josh Modney, a frequent visiting artist at Walden, gave a stunning performance featuring works by J.S. Bach, Taylor Brook, and three Walden alumnae: Caroline Mallonee, Darlene Castro Ortiz, and Genevieve Evans.

We were delighted to welcome all three featured Walden alumnae, as well as Taylor Brook, on the video call, and so we were able to hear directly from each of them about their musical ideas. Thanks, also, to Walden faculty members Katie Balch and Cara Haxo providing delicious and festive recipes for attendees to try while we were all e-ttending from home.

You can find a video here of Caroline Mallonee, alumna and Director of Walden’s Creative Musicians Retreat, speaking about the selections from her collection, String Tunes, which Josh performed.

We are so grateful to our host committee and all of our event donors for their many contributions. With everyone’s help, we raised more than $10,300. Thank you! Such generous support ensures creative musicians find a home at Walden for generations to come.

June 13 – Summer Season Opening Concert – ONLINE

We hope you will join us on Saturday, June 13, for our first online concert of the summer, featuring Mivos Quartet, percussionist Matthew Gold, and pianist Eric Huebner. The concert will include performances of works by our Online Creative Musicians Experience Composer-in-Residence Lisa Bielawa and Walden alumna and faculty member Loretta Notareschi, among others.

Saturday, June 13, 2020
4:00 pm Eastern time
Zoom video call

Stay tuned for event details, as well as information about more online events!

In the Spotlight

Tamar Bloch

Tamar Bloch spent four summers as a student at the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC), Walden’s predecessor program, and more than fifteen summers on Walden’s faculty. An accomplished music educator, composer, and performer, Tamar is a wonderful member of the Walden community, and has many stories to share.

 

How and when did your relationship with JCC and Walden begin?

My lifelong relationship with JCC and Walden began in 1969, as a student at JCC. I had never composed before, and my first summer, I didn’t write a note. During my second summer, I saw that everyone else was composing, so I started as well. I am continually amazed that Grace Newsom Cushman founded this extraordinary summer program in the 1950s, and that her legacy is going strong! It really was a life changing experience for me, in so many ways, and I’m still close with some of my former JCC roommates to this day, including Robin Seto and Sheree Clement. It’s wonderful to have these lifelong connections. My 4 summers at JCC have informed my life as a musician and teacher throughout my varied careers.

What has been your connection with Walden since then?

After spending four summers at JCC, I started teaching at Walden in 1975. Since then, I spent many years on the faculty at Walden, both in Vershire, Vermont, at the Mountain School, and in Dublin for many, many summers. Since then, I’ve moderated composers forums in New York and at alumni reunions. It was wonderful to hear music from alumni and students, and to lead the discussion. I’ve helped organize alumni reunions, and was sorry to miss the last one.

I have always felt a very strong connection with JCC and Walden on a deeply personal level. Now that connection is consciously fostered, but there has always been a sense of community and deep-rooted friendships. During my 15 years living in Budapest, I often taught at Walden during the summers, and it always felt like coming “home.”

Could you describe a favorite memory from your time as a JCC student?

There were so many musical and non-musical wonders. I remember one night Mrs. C woke us all up to go out to watch the northern lights. It was extraordinary, standing outside Burklyn Manor in our pajamas, watching the northern lights. I remember Alan Shewmon playing Chopin etudes, the thrill of singing in a choir, Nelson Max’s films, not to mention the composers forums. In class we analyzed Bartok’s Music for Strings Percussion, and Celesta, still one of my favorite pieces, as well as George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children. The mountain hikes were epic, and somehow we made it up and down Mt. Washington!

Could you describe a favorite memory from your time on faculty?

One of my most amazing experiences was Pauline Oliveros’ residency. We did many of her meditations and performed her music. She was an amazing presence, and I had the good fortune to attend her second International Conference on Deep Listening. My experiences at JCC and Walden prepared me for that. Taking on new challenges, trying out new sounds, and being pushed outside your comfort zone were and are ongoing at Walden.

Although I don’t like to single out students or classes, I had one class which we called the “Future Presidents Club.” There were three girls in it who did amazing work.  We sang atonal melodies, they could read anything, they sang musically and in tune. Sam Adler, who was composer-in-residence that year, came to my class and complimented me on the beautiful singing. There are so many memories, I could write a book!

How are music and creativity part of your life now?

I really enjoy listening. I love listening to leaves rustling in the air and different bird calls. Just standing still and listening to what’s around me. I also love helping students to open their ears and hear the sounds around them. Right now, I’m preparing to move, which is a huge operation. However, once I move to Rhinebeck, New York, with my partner, I plan on taking lessons with Marilyn Crispell (JCC alumna and past Walden visiting artist), who lives nearby. My first jazz teacher, Ellen Hoffman, is also a JCC alumna — full circle.

What is a non-musical hobby you love?

I’ve always enjoyed cooking and find that to be a very creative activity. I can’t give anyone my recipes because I make them up as I go along!

I love to travel, and I love going to museums, concerts, films, theater, etc. I’m a ‘culture vulture’. I’ve been having movie nights with Peter, my partner, since sheltering in place started, and we’ll get back to traveling when it’s safe, even if that won’t be for a while.

What is your hope or dream for Walden’s future?

One of the great things about Walden is that it’s non-judgmental, and a very safe place to try out new ideas. It’s a safe place to fail–which you do in composing, in life, in everything–and then you figure out how to make it better. Walden is unusual in the depth of mentorship and learning from one another–it’s really free-flowing knowledge, which you certainly don’t find in every teaching situation. I feel that knowledge is to be shared and distributed, not to be held onto. We’ve all gotten the knowledge from somewhere, so I think it’s our duty to pass it on.

I also find Walden is a great place to be able to dream and create, in classes as well as independently. I really love watching my former students grow and become adults and have their own families and careers. It’s great to follow them and see what they’re doing, and I love seeing pictures of their children. That sense of community and connection is so much a part of Walden.

2020 Summer Programs

Walden 2020 Online Experiences

While we cannot gather in person this summer, Walden is excited to offer two alternative programming options: the Online Creative Musicians Experience for adult musicians (ages 18+), and the Online Young Musicians Experience for students ages 9 to 18. All participants already enrolled for summer 2020 programs are automatically admitted and warmly invited to participate, and we are accepting applications for both programs, on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment is limited, and some need-based financial aid is available.

Online Creative Musicians Experience

June 13-June 21, 2020

This experience will include classes in musicianship, contemporary topics, and electronic music, composition, instrumental, and professional development workshops, private composition, instrumental, and conducting lessons, an Opening Concert (June 13) and Closing Composers Forums (June 20 and 21). An incredible team of accomplished and experienced Walden faculty will be leading our week together, including Alexander Christie, Renée Favand-See, Caroline Mallonee, Loretta Notareschi, and D. J. Sparr. They will be joined by artists-in-residence Lisa Bielawa (composer-in-residence), Thomas Colohan (conductor), Matthew Gold (percussion), Eric Huebner (piano), and Mivos Quartet (ensemble-in-residence).

Online Young Musicians Experience

July 6 – July 30, 2020 (Mondays-Thursdays)

Students (ages 9 to 18) will have the opportunity to take classes and lessons with veteran Walden faculty members (musicianship, composition, and special topics), compose a solo piece for performance and recording by one of Walden’s amazing visiting artists, e-ttend numerous online concerts and composers forums, and participate in some online and offline recreational & community activities led by members of Walden’s faculty and staff. Stay tuned for more details to come!

We are excited to launch these new program offerings, and like all of us at this time, we are learning and experimenting as we go. Thank you for your support, patience, and understanding during this dynamic period. If you have any questions or comments in regards, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 Featured Community Project

The CO-19 Project

Indra’s Net by Shawnee Boyd (cover art for the score)

Despite the current situation, Walden alumni have been connecting and collaborating in inspiring ways! Nineteen composers, from eight states, ranging in age from 20 to nearly 80, collaborated on The CO-19 Project: A Collage for String Quartet by 19 Composers. Their contributions, new works and old, express the varied emotions experienced during the pandemic. The collage highlights how The Walden School’s programs foster a wide community of composers. Nearly all of the collaborators are Walden alumni. Special thanks to Bob Bassett, CMR alumnus, for his work in coordinating this collaboration. Stay tuned to hear more about this exciting project!

The Collaborators
Bob Bassett
Ross Beresford
Shawnee Boyd
Deb Dyko
Brett Austin Eastman
Emma Eliason (Audio Engineer)
Michael Frank
Evan Ghislin
John Ivers
Lukáš Janata
Judd Janes
Drew Kravin
Caroline Mallonee
Quentin Marchetti
Emil Margolis
Steve Messner
Samara Rice
Sarah Rose Stiles
Adam Waite

Community News

Vicente Hansen Atria online premiere
On May 3, a new work by Vicente Hansen Atria was premiered as part of the American Composers Orchestra’s new solo commissioning initiative, Connecting ACO Community. The project pairs a composer and a performer for an online premiere and discussion. Vicente’s piece was premiered by Jay Campbell. Vicente is an alumnus of the Creative Musicians Retreat, and is currently pursuing his DMA at Columbia University.

Andrew Barnes Jamieson virtual concert
On May 16, Young Musicians Program alumnus Andrew Barnes Jamieson performed live online a polytonal/deconstructed piano improvisation. The performance was part of Experimental Sound Studio’s Quarantine Concerts, daily livestream concerts by experimental musicians from across the country. Andrew was “joined” by Kelley Sheehan, Katherine Young, and Sivan Cohen Elias. Andrew’s live polytonal mashup work involves at least two recognizable melodies in two different hands, with independent/clashing tonalities and rhythms.

Kittie Cooper graduates with Program Award

Kittie Cooper graduated from George Mason University College of Education and Human Development on May 22, and received a 2020 Program Award. Kittie was selected by the faculty as Outstanding Student in Special Education (Visual Impairment certificate). Kittie teaches music at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind and has been on Walden’s faculty and staff team since 2014. You can read a Q&A with Kittie. Congratulations, Kittie!

Cara Haxo wins Emerging Women Composers Competition 

Women in the Arts has announced Cara Haxo is the winner of its 2022 Emerging Women Composers Competition. With this award, Cara has been commissioned to create a new piece for orchestra with women’s chorus to be premiered at the 2022 National Women’s Music Festival (NWMF). NWMF Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Nan Washburn said of Cara’s submission: “Not only was her skill and creativity quite evident in the way she set the song texts, but it was also apparent in her delightfully inventive use of rhythms and tight harmonies.” Cara is an alumna of the Young Musicians Program (YMP), and currently serves as a YMP faculty member and Academic Dean.

Sky Macklay awarded Columbia Institute fellowship

Sky Macklay has been awarded a fellowship at the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris. The Institute for Ideas and Imagination “[brings] together faculty from across Columbia University with thinkers, poets, artists, and composers from around the world in a year-long dialogue. The Institute aims to encourage connections between the analytic and the creative imagination.” Sky is one of 15 fellows who will be in residence in Paris beginning in January 2021. Sky is a Walden alumna and longtime faculty member, and teaches at Valparaiso University.

Ash Paris-Carter publishes article on vocal soundscapes and choirs 

Ash Paris-Carter recently published an article on tonitruale.com, entitled “Organized in Time: Vocal Soundscapes and Choirs.” tonitruale.com is an online community primarily based on music and fashion. The article includes reflections on specific vocal pieces, and you can read the post here. Ash has attended the Young Musicians Program for six summers.

Amirah Stewart graduates with degrees in Education and Music

Amirah Stewart recently graduated from Hunter College in New York City with two bachelors degrees–one in Education and one in Music. Amirah was a student at the Young Musicians Program for four summers. Congratulations, Amirah!

In Memoriam

Peter Krag

The Walden community is grieving the loss of Peter Krag, who died on May 22, 2020. Peter spent 8 summers at the Young Musicians Program, and his brother Chris also attended YMP for a number of summers. Peter was a gentle, creative, kind soul, and an incredible musician. Plans for a memorial service are in progress. The entire Walden community sends our condolences to Peter’s parents, Jesusa and David, Chris, and all of Peter’s loved ones.

Jerry Maddox

We are saddened by the loss of Jerry Maddox, who passed away in December 2019 at the age of 77. Jerry was an alumnus of the Junior Conservatory Camp and a longtime supporter of Walden. He taught for many years at the Cleveland Music School Settlement, and was an accompanist for the Cleveland Singers’ Club. A memorial service was held on March 7, 2020, in Bedford, Ohio. We send our condolences to Jerry’s many friends and family.

We want to hear from you!
What’s been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – April 2020

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Dear friend,

I hope you will enjoy the April edition of InterNetzo. We have an online benefit concert coming up on Saturday, May 2, featuring violinist Josh Modney. Learn more about how you can attend and support Walden in the Community Events section.

We are accepting applications for our Summer 2020 Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat; our final application deadline is Friday, May 1. We continue to plan for our summer in New Hampshire, and we are monitoring information from various camp, health, and governmental resources as we discern the best path forward. For more information, please visit this page on our website.

Be sure to check out our "In the Spotlight" section to hear from Rosemarie Greenwald, parent of alumnus Mark Greenwald and longtime Walden supporter.

In this difficult time, I send you my best wishes for health and peace.

Sincerely,
Seth

Community Events

May 2: Josh Modney performs to benefit Walden

The Walden School is hosting an online concert to celebrate and raise funds for Walden's inspiring music programs.

Saturday, May 2, 2020
4 - 5 pm Eastern time
Zoom video call

While there is no charge to be part of this event, contributions to support Walden's award-winning programs are encouraged and may be made online at waldenschool.org/donate or by check mailed to The Walden School, 30 Monterey Blvd., Ste. E, San Francisco, CA 94131.

The event will feature violinist Josh Modney, hailed as a "new-music luminary," "superb violinist" (The New York Times), and "multitasking virtuoso" (The New Yorker). Josh is also a frequent visiting artist at Walden.

The concert will feature works by J. S. Bach, Taylor Brook, and three Walden alumnae: Caroline Mallonee, Darlene Castro Ortiz, and Genevieve Evans.

You can read about Josh and our three featured alumnae composers here. You will also find some recipes we'll be making at home on May 2, and we hope you'll join us. Many thanks to Walden faculty members Katie Balch and Cara Haxo for these delicious and festive recipes.

This event will take place via Zoom video call. Call information and other details will be sent out to attendees before the event.

If you have questions, please write to events@waldenschool.org.

Summer 2020 Programs

Walden 2020

We continue to accept applications for summer 2020, and we have an application deadline coming up on Friday! We hope you (and all of the people you know!) will apply to join us at one of our programs this summer.

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020 (for musicians ages 18-98)
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020 (for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18); a 3-week program, from June 27-July 19 is an option for students through 7th grade.

Application materials are available for both programs at waldenschool.org/apply/.

Final application deadline (postmark): May 1 

Please write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

You can read about Walden's response to COVID-19 here.

In the Spotlight

Rosemarie Greenwald

Rosemarie and David Greenwald are parents of alumnus Mark Greenwald, who came to Walden for four summers, beginning in 1975.  Rosemarie and David have been supporting Walden ever since, and we are so grateful for their generosity. We caught up with Rosemarie to hear some of her Walden memories and hopes for the future.

How and when did your relationship with Walden begin?

I attended Peabody Preparatory from 1973 to 1977, the same time my son, Mark, was there, studying classical guitar. Jim Graham, my musicianship teacher, was on Walden's faculty, and suggested that my son go to Walden. So Mark went to Walden at ages 14 to 18. He returned to Walden as a visitor in 1979.

What has been your involvement with Walden since then?

My involvement has mostly been as the parent of a former student. My husband David and I used to go up every year for Festival Week and hear the performances of all the students' works. We also had a reception for Walden in our previous home in the Baltimore area.

Why do you give to Walden?

Mark had such a positive experience at Walden, and we wanted to help give that experience to other children. Mark experienced camaraderie at Walden, and he certainly developed his musical skills. Being an only child, it was important for Mark to share in community, and to learn discipline through music. Being away from home gave him some independence from his parents, and of course, the fresh air and beautiful countryside were great.

How are music and/or creativity part of your life now?

I sang from early childhood and participated in school choirs and musical events.  I'm a trained singer; studied with Ruth Drucker when I matriculated and graduated in January 1983 from Towson University, with a major in Vocal Performance. (My husband is often fond of saying he had two kids in college, at the same time.)  I continued private study with Ruth for years after, and held my final recital in 2014.  I have filled in for cantors; have been a soloist at churches; been a Choir Director; sung at weddings and funerals and was a choir member of my current synagogue.  My husband and I are former New Yorkers, and we have enjoyed Broadway shows; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and we continue to hear other concerts at smaller venues.  David is not an opera fan, so mostly I went alone to operas in Baltimore and at the Met in New York City.  I was also the Administrative Assistant for Arno Drucker's Festival Chamber Players, and it was Arno who introduced me to computers.

What is a non-music hobby you love?

I love to travel, sew and do machine embroidery and make jewelry in a home studio. Before my knee replacement surgery in April 2018, I was doing yoga.  The coronavirus has now curtailed that. I would like to start sewing protective equipment for healthcare workers, as soon as I can.

What is your hope or dream for Walden's future?

I hope Walden continues to bring musical training to young people from all over the world, and that Walden will have solid funding and the resources it needs for the future. My son got excellent training at Walden, and that's instilled in him. He didn't make music his career (neither did I) but it calms our souls.

Community News

Alexander String Quartet virtual Eastern concert
On April 10, the Alexander String Quartet performed Joseph Haydn's The Seven Last Words of Christ, with texts prepared by Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The quartet performed the virtual concert from their respective homes, and you can watch the performance on YouTube here. The Alexander String Quartet is a past visiting artist at Walden.

MusicWise Interview with Katie Balch
"MusicWise - Conversations about Arts & Culture with Donato Cabrera" is a weekly Facebook Live series hosted by Donato Cabrera, Music Director of the California Symphony and Las Vegas Philharmonic. On April 28, the series featured Katherine Balch, as Donato interviewed her about her time as Young American Composer-in-Residence with the California Symphony, and what's next for her. Katie has been on faculty at the Young Musicians Program.

Nicole Balsirow to attend Columbia-Juilliard

YMP student Nicole Balsirow has been accepted early decision to Columbia University and The Juilliard School. She will begin her studies with the Columbia-Juilliard program this fall, and plans to major in composition. Nicole attended YMP in 2019, and is planning on returning in 2020.

 

Julia Bruskin and Aaron Wunsch perform Beethoven

On April 8, cellist Julia Bruskin and pianist Aaron Wunsch performed Beethoven's variations on the theme Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen ("In men, who feel love") from Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute. They streamed the performance live on YouTube, and you can watch it here. The performance was part of MET Orchestra Musicians' series Music.Connects.US, as musicians offer performances from their homes. Julia and Aaron are past visiting artists at Walden.

Helen Feng named 2020 ACF NextNotes winner

The American Composers Forum (ACF) has announced the winners of the 2020 NextNotes High School Music Creator Awards, selected for their skill, originality, potential, and strong creative voices. YMP alumna Helen Feng was one of six winners, selected for her piece, Soaring to the Past: Jin Se, for voice and piano, which was premiered at Walden in 2019. YMP alumni Nicole Balsirow, Krishan Rai, and Marco Roberts all received honorable mentions.

Mark Greenwald named Gertrude Levin Endowed Chair

Mark Greenwald was recently appointed as the inaugural Gertrude Levin Endowed Chair in Addiction and Pain Biology. Supported by a $1.5 million philanthropic gift to Wayne State University (WSU), the endowed chair will help to advance a comprehensive program in addiction and pain biology and therapies for these intertwined conditions. Mark is Professor, Associate Chair for Research, and Director of the Substance Abuse Research Division, in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at WSU School of Medicine in Detroit, MI. Mark attended the Young Musicians Program for four summers.

New album from PRISM Quartet

On April 17, PRISM Quartet released a new album, Surfaces and Essences, featuring music written for the ensemble by Walden alumna Victoria Cheah, along with Christopher Biggs, Viet Cuong, Emily Koh, and Joseph Sowa. NewMusicBox's Frank J. Oteri writes, "PRISM has now served as a muse for generations of composers, so it is perhaps fitting that, for this latest addition to their extensive discography, the group features a set of new works written for them by five younger composers, only one of whom was born before PRISM came into existence." PRISM is a past visiting artist, and has long partnered with Walden commissioning new works from Walden alumni.

David Saslav and Melissa Smith perform Bach

David Saslav and Melissa Smith streamed a live rendition of Myra Hess' two-piano, four-hand arrangement of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" on Bach's birthday, March 31, from their self-imposed home studio quarantine in Great Falls, Montana. You can check out the Renditions Music Services website or Facebook page for other events and news. David attended YMP for five summers and is a past Walden board member.

New projects from Wet Ink Ensemble

Wet Ink Ensemble has a new album coming out, Glossolalia/Lines on Black, featuring works by Sam Pluta and Alex Mincek. Sam is a longtime Walden faculty member. You can find the album on their bandcamp page. Kate Soper has also started a YouTube series, Unwritten Operas. Wet Ink will have new initiatives for online programming rolling out soon, so keep your eyes out for more Wet Ink news. Wet Ink Ensemble has been a visiting artist at Walden.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – March 2020

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Dear Walden community members,

I hope you will enjoy the March issue of InterNetzo. As there is so much uncertainty in this challenging time, we hope that our monthly communication to the Walden community will help maintain a sense of constancy in our disrupted world. Know, too, that we are still planning for summer and imagining being together again in Dublin, New Hampshire. If you missed my message from Friday, March 20, you can read it here.

We are accepting applications for our Summer 2020 Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat; our Spring application deadline is April 3 and our final deadline is May 1.

In this edition of InterNetzo, be sure to check out the "In the Spotlight" section to meet Sammi Stone, our new Director of Operations! Check out our Community News section to see some of the ways people are continuing to find creative community, despite physical distancing.

I send you my best wishes for health and peace during this difficult time.

Best wishes,
Seth

Community Events

New York celebration on March 7

On March 7, alumni, family, and friends of Walden gathered for a delightful evening of music and community at Tenri Cultural Institute in Manhattan. Walden alumna Hilary Kole, accompanied by bassist Paul Gill, performed a number of Hilary's original compositions, as well as some beloved jazz standards. Many thanks to Ian Munro, Walden alumnus and past faculty and staff member, for providing delicious food for the event!

Thank you to our host committee and all of our event donors for their generosity. With everyone's help, we raised more than $7,300. Thank you! Your support helps ensure creative musicians find a home at Walden for generations to come.

Special thanks to Whit Bernard, Ruth Franklin, and Jennifer Weidman for donating prizes for our raffle. Thanks also to our wonderful volunteers, Katie Balch and Cara Dibdin for keeping the event running smoothly, Paula Ortiz for photography, and Aliza Simons for her help in the kitchen.

If you or people you know are interested in future Walden events, please write to events@waldenschool.org.

Concert with Face the Music on March 10

On March 10, The Walden School and Face the Music collaborated to present a concert featuring students of both programs. The concert at Kaufman Music Center in New York featured Laura Cocks and Erica Dicker, members of The Walden School Players, CMR Artist-in-Residence David Friend, and musicians of Face the Music. The featured composers included alumni of both Walden's Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat.

Walden's featured composers:
Jack Bettigole - Rolf A Nu Ed Ad Iv A L (composed during YMP 2018)
Cashel Day-Lewis - The Long Path Down (composed during YMP 2018)
Darlene Castro Ortiz - Three Haiku (composed for CMR 2019)
Julian Hofstetter - Moon Song (composed during YMP 2017)Maggie McGinity - A-OK (composed for CMR 2019)

Upcoming

May 2: Josh Modney performs to benefit Walden

Save the date! On May 2, violinist Josh Modney will perform a concert to benefit Walden, which you can watch via livestream. Look out for details coming soon by email, and we hope you'll join us online on May 2.

Josh Modney is devoted to creative music-making. A "new-music luminary," "superb violinist" (The New York Times), and "multitasking virtuoso" (The New Yorker), hailed for "jaw-dropping technical skill" (Bandcamp Daily), Josh is a frequent visiting artist at Walden.

Summer 2020 Programs

Walden 2020

We continue to accept applications for summer 2020, and our spring application deadline is coming up! We hope you (and all of the people you know!) will apply to join us at one of our programs this summer.

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020 (for musicians ages 18-98)
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020 (for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18); a 3-week program, from June 27-July 19 is an option for students through 7th grade.

Application materials are available for both programs at waldenschool.org/apply/.

Spring application deadline (postmark): April 3 
Final application deadline (postmark): May 1 

Please write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

In the Spotlight

Sammi Stone

Meet Sammi Stone, Walden's Director of Operations! Sammi is an alumna of the Creative Musicians Retreat. Sammi grew up in Baker City, Oregon, and played oboe in middle and high school band and a community orchestra. She went to chamber music summer camp growing up, went to undergrad at Williams College, then did a Masters in Composition at the University of California San Diego. Now she is back in Baker City, helping her family with their coffee business. Sammi does all the small batch roasting, except during the summer, when she is looking forward to being at Walden.

How and when did your relationship with Walden begin?

I learned about Walden from one of my professors at Williams, Matthew Gold, who is involved with the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR). I got into percussion in college, and Matt was my teacher. We worked together a lot, and I was also a composition student, so he encouraged me to go to CMR after I graduated from Williams. I had a really nice time at CMR, and really enjoyed the place and the people. I've been too busy in subsequent summers to think about going back, but I had a really wonderful time when I went.

What are music and creativity part of your life now?

My musical practice is pretty much private right now. I write music at home, make oboe reeds, and play the oboe. I teach oboe lessons to some high school students, which is really fun, and I learn a lot from that as well. I have a growing stack of composition sketches by my piano at home and I hope to get those out into the world and performed in the future, and to return to performing music myself. For now, I'm really enjoying being able to have a relaxed and solitary musical existence, after years in school for music.

What is a non-music hobby you love?

I love bird watching. It is really rewarding to me to see a bird and know what it is and know what its life history is like and what to call it. Even if I don't see the bird, it is a worthwhile challenge to hear a bird song and try recognize the caller just by that sound. I also love to go hiking and take walks in nature. And I love to cook.

Could you describe a favorite Walden memory?

One standout memory from CMR was doing a Pauline Oliveros meditation out on the quad on a beautiful day. I don't even remember which meditation, maybe the one with rocks, but the whole moment was just really beautiful. Everyone was joining in with a lot of sincerity, which in combination with the beautiful outdoor environment made for a meaningful memory.

What is something you're looking forward to this summer?

I am excited to meet people - coworkers, CMR participants, and YMP students. I am really looking forward to seeing YMP in action. I have never experienced or been a part of it, and the whole concept is really inspiring to me. I am especially looking forward to hearing compositions written by the students.

New Music Solidarity Fund

New Music USA is collaborating with composers and musicians to establish the New Music Solidarity Fund to help freelance performers with urgent financial needs following cancellations of their work in this initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 100 artists, arts leaders, and professors in the field have announced the New Music Solidarity Fund, an initiative that aims to grant emergency funding to musicians impacted by COVID-19. At the time of the announcement, more than $130,000 has been pledged, with donations coming first from musicians, composers, and others from the new music community wishing to show their solidarity for those whom they know to be suffering.

The New Music Solidarity Fund will distribute at least two hundred and sixty, $500 emergency assistance grants. Any musician who has had a project involving a living composer canceled because of the pandemic is invited to apply. The New Music Solidarity Fund opens to applicants at 12 pm Eastern time on March 31, and will run until April 30. Grants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis as funds last.

Community News

Our Community News looks a little different in this edition of InterNetzo, as so much of our community is impacted by cancellations and postponements. As we adjust to reduce the spread of COVID-19, new virtual gatherings are springing up. We are inspired by how community members are continuing to build creative connections, making this a time of physical distancing and social bridging.

Cyrus Chestnut performs concert via livestream.
Walden alumnus Cyrus Chestnut performed a concert online via Facebook live on March 22. If you are on Facebook, you can watch the concert here. Cyrus is a jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and educator. Executive Director Seth Brenzel also hosted a "Watch party" in the Walden Facebook group, so keep your eyes out for future watch parties!

Del Sol String Quartet livestream

Charlton Lee and Kathryn Bates of Del Sol String Quartet performed a concert on March 21 via Facebook live. If you are on Facebook, you can see a recording of that concert here. Del Sol String Quartet is a past visiting artist at Walden, and performed on our Alumni Composers Forum in San Francisco in February.

Rebekah Griffin Greene livestreams concert

On March 22, Rebekah Griffing Greene offered an all-improvised concert via Facebook live, her first performance on this platform. Rebekah performed number of pieces for bass, as well as bass and vocals, and even took requests. Rebekah is a Walden alumna, and has been on faculty at the Young Musicians Program.

Horszowski Trio performs on 24-hour virtual festival

Jesse Mills (violin) and Reiko Aizawa (piano) of the Horszowski Trio will participate in Music Never Sleeps NYC, a 24-hour virtual festival beginning at 6pm Eastern time on Friday, March 27. You can tune into this 24-hour livestream marathon on Facebook or YouTube. You can find the list of performers here--you may see some more familiar names! Reiko and Jesse are past visiting artists at Walden.

ICE hosts Pauline Oliveros' Tuning Meditation

On March 28 at 5 pm Eastern, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) will host Pauline Oliveros' Tuning Meditation, led by Claire Chase and IONE. This will be a world-wide musical exchange, and you can sing along live from your computer, no music experience necessary. Pauline Oliveros was a visiting artist at Walden, and served on Walden's Advisory Council. ICE is a frequent visiting artist at Walden.

Hilary Kole composer-judge for Young Jazz Composers Competition

Walden alumna Hilary Kole served as one of three composer-judges for The ASCAP Foundation 2020 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Competition. Winners were announced on February 26, 2020. The recipients, who receive cash awards, range in age from 17 to 29 and are selected through a juried national competition. Hilary is a jazz vocalist and composer, and attended the Young Musicians Program for five summers.

Nate May performs improvised piano concert

Nate May performed a concert of improvised piano music on March 18 at 9 pm Eastern. Intending to calm the nerves of anyone who tuned in, Nate streamed the concert live via Facebook. Nate has served on faculty at the Young Musicians Program for the past three summers. Nate is a composer, performer, and educator whose interest in human ecosystems has impelled explorations of a wide variety of sounds and interactions.

Henry Samuels performs Bach

On March 23, Henry Samuels performed Bach via Facebook live. If you're on Facebook, you can see the recording here. Henry is a double bass player and music teacher living in Cleveland, Ohio, and also adapts violin and cello repertoire for double bass players. He is an alumnus of the Creative Musicians Retreat.

 Steinberg Duo Online Concert Series

The Steinberg Duo, as part of their project Ashuelot Concerts, has launched a series of online lecture-concerts called Classically Curious? You can tune in on YouTube every Wednesday and Saturday at 8 pm Eastern time, and find the series schedule here. Each evening begins with a performance, then a talk about of the story of the composer and what makes the music so special. At the end, there is a repeat performance, allowing a new listening experience. Q&As will be available on their YouTube channel at the end of each event. The Keene-based Steinberg Duo was a visiting artist at Walden in 2019.

Drew Thams and The Liquorsmiths Virtual Concert

On March 25, Drew Thams performed a virtual concert with his band The Liquorsmiths. They streamed the concert live on both Facebook and YouTube. The Liquorsmiths (formerly Second Tuesdays) are a folk rock group born from a collision of contrasting ideas, styles and musicality. Vocalist/guitarist Drew is a past member of Walden's administrative team.

Tamsin and Freya Waley-Cohen launch Living Room Live

In light of current events, Tamsin and Freya Waley-Cohen are collaborating with George Fu and Daniel Ross to launch Living Room Live, a collaborative platform for world class musicians to share their music from their living rooms around the world. As musicians and audiences find their normal concert schedules fully cancelled, they hope that this will be a way to share the joy of live music-making for all involved! The first concert of the series was on March 26, and you can see upcoming concerts on their website or Facebook page. Freya is a YMP alumna, and her sister Tamsin has been a visiting artist at Walden.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – February 2020

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Greetings!

I'm glad to share with you this special February Leap Day edition of InterNetzo. We had a fantastic Alumni Composers Forum in San Francisco, and we are looking forward to delightful events in New York in March and DC in May. We are accepting applications for our Summer 2020 Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat; our Spring application deadline is April 3!

We caught up with Walden alumnus and past faculty and staff member Ian Munro--read all about it in our "In the Spotlight" section. Check out our Community News section to learn about your fellow readers and the goings on in their lives and careers throughout the year. I hope to see you at a Walden event soon, and until then, happy reading.

Best wishes,
Seth

Community Events

Alumni Composers Forum in San Francisco

CMR alumna Samara Rice discusses her piece, Microscopics, with Nat Stookey.

We had a fantastic Composers Forum in San Francisco on February 22, featuring works 10 wonderful Walden alumni, performed by the brilliant Del Sol String Quartet.

After each piece, the composer took the stage to answer questions from moderator Nathaniel Stookey, a past visiting artist at Walden, as well as audience members.

Del Sol String Quartet performs an excerpt of CMR alumnus Nathan Nokes' piece, Alone Together.

Our featured composers:

YMP alumnus Joaquin Feliciano performs his piece, Ninja Lullaby.

Bob Bassett
Brett Eastman
Joaquin Feliciano
Evan Ghislin
John Ivers
Lukáš Janata
Emil Margolis
Nathan Nokes
Samara Rice
Sarah Rose Stiles

Center for New Music co-presented the event, and special thanks to Brett Eastman for recording all the pieces.

Walden in Los Angeles

The Walden School had a delightful community gathering in the Arts District of Los Angeles on February 26.

It was great to catch up with Walden alumni from multiple programs and many different years, as well as past faculty, staff, and friends. We are looking forward to more Walden gatherings in LA!

Upcoming

New York celebration on March 7

The Walden School is having a celebration and fundraiser in Manhattan on March 7! We are so looking forward to part of a delightful evening of music, creativity, and conversation with our wonderful community of friends and supporters. Walden alumna Hilary Kole will be performing some of her own original compositions at the piano and singing some jazz standards as well. She'll have a wonderful bassist with her, collaborating in making inspiring music for us (performance starts at approximately 5:45 pm). Ian Munro, Walden alumnus and faculty member, is preparing delicious bites for our event.

While there is no charge for the event, we are asking for donations to support our student scholarship programs and artist residencies. If you would like to RSVP or find out more about the event, write to events@waldenschool.org.

Concert with Face the Music on March 10

We're thrilled to collaborate with Face the Music to present a concert showcasing both programs' young composers!

Original music by students of The Walden School and Face the Music

March 10, 2020 at 7 pm

Merkin Hall Upper Lobby
Kaufman Music Center
129 West 67th Street
New York, NY 10023

This event is free and open to the public!

While there are no tickets and no requirement to RSVP, we'd love to know if you are planning to attend. Please write to us at events@waldenschool.org.

This exciting concert will feature Laura Cocks and Erica Dicker, members of The Walden School Players, CMR Artist-in-Residence David Friend, and musicians of Face the Music. Repertoire includes compositions by alumni of both the Young Musicians Program and the Creative Musicians Retreat. Featured composers to be announced soon!

Summer 2020 Programs

Walden 2020

Applications for summer 2020 are pouring in, and our spring application deadline is coming up! We hope you (and all of the people you know!) will apply to join us at one of our programs this summer.

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020 (for musicians ages 18-98)
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020 (for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18)

Application materials are available for both programs at waldenschool.org/apply/.

Spring application deadline (postmark): April 3 

Please write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Hiring for Summer 2020 positions

Walden is hiring for our flagship summer 2020 Young Musicians Program.

Apply to join our incredible team of musical youth-serving professionals. Please spread the word with your colleagues and friends.

Open positions for summer 2020:

Young Musicians Program Faculty
Young Musicians Program Staff

Read full job descriptions and learn how to apply here. Positions open until filled.

In the Spotlight

Ian Munro

Ian Munro attended Walden's Teacher Training Institute for three summers, and served several years on the faculty of both YMP and CMR, as well as on staff. Ian is one of the wonderful donors whose support makes our program possible. He also gives to Walden by offering his time and care in making beautiful food for Walden events, including our upcoming celebration on March 7.

How and when did your relationship with Walden begin?

In 2008, I was studying with Andrea Clearfield, who has previously been a Composer-in-Residence at Walden. She had heard Walden was looking for participants in the Teacher Training Institute, so she mentioned it to me. Oddly enough, that same week I had gotten a postcard for TTI, maybe by way of the American Composers Forum. It seemed interesting, and I'd never heard of it before. At the time, I was in college and I wasn't really thinking of being a teacher, but both of these recommendations in the same week struck me, so I applied to TTI. I got really hooked on the approach to musicianship and creativity in music at Walden, so I did three levels of TTI. I joined the faculty as soon as I could when I graduated in 2010.

What has been your relationship with Walden since then?

I was on the faculty for four and half years, which was really great. I taught composition, musicianship, computer musicianship, and some jazz. I taught at the Creative Musicians Retreat for one year, and it was really fun to work with adults on similar material. I really enjoyed that. The half year I mentioned was when I was working fulltime in New York for Face the Music, and Walden partnered with Face the Music to create the Monadnock Institute. We brought 8-10 students to do a two-week, performance-focused version of Walden. Since then, I've tried to stay involved. I go to Walden events in New York and I'm a donor, but now that I work full time not in a school setting, I don't have summers free to work at Walden anymore.

Could you describe a favorite Walden memory?

There's a lot of them. But one in particular was in 2012, which was sort of the John Cage centennial, marking 100 years since his birth. Matt Gold was a visiting artist at YMP with the Walden School Players, and he put together a massive John Cage celebration. It was a Wednesday night, and there were performances all over the quad--inside, outside, choral works, solo pieces, number works--music all over the place. It was a happening. The YMP students, all these middle and high school kids, were performing and participating and spectating. I thought, "This is the weirdest stuff I've ever seen, and everyone is so into it. It's amazing."

How are music and creativity a part of your life now?

I play piano. But more than that, creativity is something that Walden really drives home--weaving creativity through everything we do. I've had periods when I don't play as much music, but I express creativity in other ways, such as spending a lot of time in the kitchen, trying a new recipe every night. I've gotten really into computer musicianship, working more with web audio, not as much composition, but creating interactive web apps and instruments and interactions. There's a lot of really cool stuff happening in that realm.

Why do you give to Walden?

I think Walden is a community that has given me a lot, and I believe in giving back. I got a lot from Walden in terms of approach to music, approach to life, seeing transformation happen in kids' lives over the course of the summer. It's really important to me that there are places like that in the world, so I give to Walden.

What is a non-musical hobby you love?

I'll skip cooking, because I already talked about it. I love woodworking. I feel like it's similar to music and composition in some ways. There's a lot of planning that goes into it, but the fun part is that you still get to a place where you have a physical connection to the art and craft that's happening. The actions you take are manifested in what's created. It's a good balance to music and cooking.

Community News

American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards

The American Academy of Arts and Letters has announced its 2020 Music Award winners! YMP faculty member Nate May has been awarded a Charles Ives Scholarship. Past visiting artist Pamela Z received the Walter Hinrichsen Award in Music, given for the publication of a work by a gifted composer.

Andrew Barnes Jamieson and Darnell Ishmel tour 
For the past three years, Andrew Barnes Jamieson and Darnell Ishmel have been collaborating on "radical musical (re)imaginings, somewhere between classical, liturgical, gospel and activism." They were in the Bay Area in late February for a series of performances at Pacific School of Religions in Berkeley, Music at the Royale in Oakland, and Island United Church. On March 1, they will perform at All Ears Interfaith Sangha, a group based on the work of Pauline Oliveros, who was a visiting artist at Walden and a member of our advisory council. Andrew is an alumnus of the Young Musicians Program.

Katie Condon wins Eric Stokes Song Contest
CMR alumna Katie Condon is one of four winners of Zeitgeist's 25th Annual Eric Stokes Song Contest. Named in memory of late composer Eric Stokes, the contest is designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. Katie's winning composition, Insomnia, will be performed by Zeitgeist at their annual Playing it Close to Home concert, March 6-8 at Studio Z. Interviewed by Studio Z, Katie explains, "A little while back, I attended the Walden Creative Musicians Retreat in New Hampshire in order to get some time away to prepare for a film score improvisation. I ended up starting to put pencil to paper a bit, and that's the origin of this piece (Insomnia)."

Kim Diehnelt starts with Me2/Burlington

CMR alumna Kim Diehnelt is starting a new position as the Conductor of the Me2/Burlington Orchestra. Me2/ is the world's only classical music organization created for individuals with mental illnesses and the people who support them. Me2/Burlington, the flagship ensemble, is a non-auditioned orchestra that rehearses weekly and performs 3-4 times annually in traditional concert venues, inside correctional and rehabilitation facilities, and for mental health events. As she settles into Vermont, the University of Vermont Orchestra will perform Kim's orchestral work, Striadica: A Symphonic Passage, on April 4.

Mary Fineman premiere in Berkeley

On February 7, Mary Fineman debuted debuted a new piano piece at Grace Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California. The piece was part of a free concert with Piano Composers, a collective of composers, improvisers, and arrangers that is part of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. The concert featured many new works, including the premiere of Mary's piece. Originally from Baltimore, Mary is an alumna of the Junior Conservatory Camp.

Yiseul LeMieux premiere featuring David Friend

CMR alumna Yiseul LeMieux's piece, Lullaby, premiered on February 9 as part of the faculty concert series at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York. CMR artist-in-residence David Friend (an adjunct faculty member at Concordia College) performed on the premiere, along with Sheri Hammerstrom and Marija Illic. The premiere was coordinated with a photo exhibit.

Chris Maikish starts at Inner-City Arts

Chris Maikish has started a new job as Senior Manager of Communications with Inner-City Arts. Inner-City Arts is a learning oasis in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Under the guidance of professional teaching artists, Inner-City Arts' students are immersed in a safe and supportive environment where they may engage in a variety of visual and performing art forms in a studio setting. Chris worked for The Walden School for a number of years, handling all our design projects.

 

Ted Moore and Katie Balch engaged

Walden alumnus Ted Moore and Katie Balch are engaged! They met while they were both serving on the faculty at the Young Musicians Program. Congratulations!

Ash Paris-Carter wins Penn State Young Composers Contest

Ash Paris-Carter won the Penn State 2019 Young Composers Contest with their piece, an unlit place, for solo soprano and piano accompaniment. The Penn State 2019 Young Composers Contest was announced in August 2019 and received over 70 submissions from 18 U.S. states and 13 countries. Ash's piece will be considered for programming on the Penn State New Music Concert in April 2020. Ash has attended the Young Musicians Program for the past six summers.

Lance Reddick/The Wire at ABFF Honors

The Wire received the Classic Television Award at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors on February 23. ABFF Honors is an annual awards season gala dedicated to saluting excellence in the motion picture and television industry, which this year paid tribute to HBO's critically acclaimed television series, The Wire. Cast and crew gathered for a celebration and special presentation of this year's "Classic Television Award." YMP alumnus and past YMP faculty member Lance Reddick was a member of the cast of The Wire. 

Karalyn Schubring performs the music of David Lang  

On Friday, February 21, Karalyn Schubring performed with the Contemporary Directions Ensemble at the University of Michigan, presenting an evening of the music of composer David Lang. The concert was the final event of his William Bolcom Guest Residency. Karalyn is an alumna of the Young Musicians Program, and currently earning her Bachelors in Music Composition from the University of Michigan.

Noah Stein wins Emerging Composer Competition

Noah Stein's piece, Forest - A Rotation of the Earth, won first place in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York's Emerging Composers Competition. The piece will premiere on May 3, performed by the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra, in which Noah plays violin. It may also be programmed on the upcoming season of one of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras. Noah attended the Young Musicians Program in 2018 and 2019.

Jonathan Thomas at Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Jonathan Thomas, former Development Manager at Walden, started on a new position on February 3 as Senior Manager of Individual Giving at Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Located in the heart of Kansas City's Crossroads community, Lyric Opera creates transformational opera experiences through their performances and through their outreach and education initiatives.

Austin Wulliman premieres with Conrad Tao

Violinist Austin Wulliman had his first performance with pianist Conrad Tao on February 25 at Columbia University's Miller Theater. The concert featured two world premieres of Austin's works: Insurgentes Sur for violin and piano and Frame for solo violin. Austin is a member of JACK Quartet, and has been in residence at Walden with Spektral Quartet and Ensemble Dal Niente, and has also performed at Walden events outside the summer.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – January 2020

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Greetings!

I'm glad to share with you the first InterNetzo of 2020. We started the year with an amazing Alumni Composers Forum in New York, and we are looking forward to another in San Francisco on February 22. It is application season for the Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat--our next application deadline is February 21.

We caught up with Junior Conservatory Camp alumnus Larry Wetzler--read all about it in our "In the Spotlight" section. Walden holiday party season has come to a close, and we are looking forward to more exciting events this spring. Check out our Community News section to learn about your fellow readers and the goings on in their lives and careers throughout the year. I hope to see you at a Walden event soon, and until then, happy reading.

Best wishes,
Seth

Community Events

Alumni Composers Forum in San Francisco

Join us for an Alumni Composers Forum in San Francisco! Del Sol String Quartet will be performing pieces written by our amazing alumni, all of whom will be present to discuss their works. This event is free and open to the public.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

CMR alumnus Edward Shilts and Mivos Quartet's TJ Borden discuss Edward's piece for solo cello at our NY Composers Forum on January 19.

Featuring Del Sol String Quartet
Moderated by past visiting artist Nathaniel Stookey

Holy Innocents Episcopal Church
455 Fair Oaks Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
4-6 pm

While there are no tickets and no requirement to RSVP, we'd love to know if you are planning to attend. Simply write to us at alumni@waldenschool.org with your plans and question you might have.

We hope you'll join us for this inspiring afternoon of music-making.

We had a fantastic Composers Forum in New York on January 19, with 13 wonderful alumni of the Young Musicians Program and Creative Musicians Retreat. Mivos Quartet performed 12 world premieres. After each piece, the composer took the stage to answer questions from moderators Joan Tower and Loretta Notareschi, as well as audience members.

2019 YMP student Julian performs alongside Mivos Quartet on the world premiere of his piece, The Hedgehog's Dilemma.

Walden at Chamber Music America 

Lots of familiar Walden faces at Chamber Music America's 2020 National Conference: Music, Equity, and our Future, January 16-19. Executive Director Seth Brenzel was joined by faculty members Doug Hertz, D. J. Sparr, Kittie Cooper, and Loretta Notareschi. Loretta and Kittie both spoke at the session "Music and Healing: Understanding Cognitive Difference Through Music."

George Lewis, 2019 Composer-in-Residence at the Creative Musicians Retreat, was the keynote speaker. Past visiting artist Joan Tower was honored with the 2020 Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award, and still found time to moderate a Walden Composers Forum alongside Loretta.

Walden Holiday Parties

Many thanks to all our holiday party hosts! We had wonderful holiday potlucks in Boston, Chicago, McLean, New York, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Summer 2020 Programs

Apply to be part of Walden 2020!

Applications for summer 2020 are pouring in, and our winter application deadline is coming up! We hope you (and all of the people you know!) will apply to join us at one of our programs this summer.

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020 (for musicians ages 18-98)
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020 (for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18)

Application materials are available for both programs at waldenschool.org/apply/.

Application deadlines (postmark):

February 21 (winter)
April 3 (spring)

Please write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Hiring for Summer 2020 positions

Walden is hiring for our flagship summer 2020 Young Musicians Program.

Apply to join our incredible team of musical youth-serving professionals. Please spread the word with your colleagues and friends.

Open positions for summer 2020:

Director of Operations
Young Musicians Program Faculty
Young Musicians Program Staff

Read full job descriptions and learn how to apply here.

In the Spotlight

Larry Wetzler 

Dr. Larry Wetzler is an alumnus of the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC), the predecessor program to The Walden School. The JCC was founded in 1952 by Grace Newsom Cushman.

How did your relationship with the Junior Conservatory Camp and Walden begin?

Around the age of 10 or 11, I started taking musicianship classes with Shari Fleming. A few years later, I worked with Mrs. Cushman in her musicianship and theory classes. She would have ongoing potluck dinners at her home on Mt. Vernon Square, just across the street from Peabody. We would all gather for a great meal and some music. When I first attended the Junior Conservatory Camp with Mrs. Cushman in Lyndonville, Vermont, I was about 16 and already felt very much part of the community. I was taking piano lessons with Reynaldo Reyes at the time, and he was also on faculty at the camp.

Could you describe a favorite memory from JCC?

I have so many wonderful memories, but a few favorites. I loved studying Bach. We were analyzing Bach chorales in Mrs. Cushman's class at Peabody, and at the JCC, we studied one of the Brandenburg Concertos. Reynaldo Reyes performed Bach's Italian Concerto, and we would sing one of the Bach fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier.

I'll always recall Reynaldo Reyes, Zoltan Szabo, and others performing the Ravel and Debussy Quartets. Watching Linda Wilder perform a Martha Graham-inspired modern dance took my breath away.

What is a non-music hobby or activity you love?

For the past 25 years, I have been studying the work of Jacques Lacan, a French psychoanalyst. I attend an ongoing weekly Lacanian psychoanalytic seminar in Manhattan. I find his work fascinating and incorporate much of it into my own psychotherapy practice.

You support Walden in a very special way, by performing piano recitals and asking that attendees donate to Walden, rather than buying a ticket. How did this idea come about?

It came about through my belief in the power of great music to move us into a sacred dimension, transcending our ordinary lives. I want to encourage the Walden project, and enable young musicians to experience some of what I experienced in those early years.

How is creativity part of your life now?

I have written on the interface of music and psychoanalysis. Some of my work appears in the book Music and Psyche: Contemporary Psychoanalytic Explorations.

What advice would you give to would-be Walden students of today as they embark on their summer at Walden?

Be open to the miracle of music and the ways in which it taps into the heartfelt regions of existence beyond words.

Community News

Ben Adler to attend University of Chicago

YMP alumnus Ben Adler will be starting college this fall at the University of Chicago. Congratulations, Ben!

Katie Balch premiere at California Symphony 
This March, the California Symphony will premiere Katherine Balch's new song cycle, Illuminations. Illuminations is written for three voices and orchestra, and is based on Les Illuminations by French poet Rimbaud. The world premiere performance will feature the California Symphony led by Donato Cabrera, and soloists Alexandra Smither, Molly Netter, and Kelly Guerra. Performances will be March 14 and 15 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA. Katie is a past faculty member at YMP.

Nick Benavides opera comes to life

CMR alumnus Nicolas Benavides is working on a full-length opera, Gilberto, based on the life of his grandfather. West Edge Opera's Snapshot will present Act 1, Scene 1 of Gilberto on January 31 and February 1 in San Francisco and Berkeley, respectively. Libretto by Marella Martin Koch. With Earplay joining WEO music director Jonathan Khuner, this opera jumps between the world of war and the world of mambo and rumba, and is set in the historic Sweet's Ballroom (which still exists today in Oakland). To learn more about Gilberto, you can listen to an interview with Nick on San Francisco Classical Voice.

Del Sol performs Du Yun Concert 

On February 1, Del Sol String Quartet will perform Du Yun's Tattooed in Snow at Mills College in Oakland, CA. Tattooed in Snow "explores the temporary and fragile crystallization in nature and in space. The four players of the quartet form the four pillars of a musical space, and as a chant begins to move among theme, it layers, repeats and takes shape in the manner of a sculpture in sand or snow." Find concert details here. Del Sol is a past visiting artist at Walden, and will be performing at our Alumni Composers Forum in San Francisco on February 22.

Stacy Garrop's Terra Nostra in Chicago

On February 9, Stacy Garrop's oratorio about planet Earth, Terra Nostra, will be performed at Alice Millar Chapel in Evanston, Illinois. The performance will feature Alice Millar Chapel Choir and soloists, Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Evanston Children's Choir, and conductor Stephen Alltop. This is a free concert. Stacy is an alumna of the Young Musicians Program, and a former YMP faculty member.

Lucy McKnight wins ICEBERG New Music's Call for Scores 

ICEBERG New Music's 2019-2020 Call for Scores received over 220 pieces from 163 composers around the world. For Unheard-of Ensemble, the winning piece was Lucy McKnight's Infested. Unheard-0f features Ford Fourqurean (clarinet), Matheus Souza (violin), Issei Herr (cello), and Daniel Anastasio (piano), and will perform Lucy's piece in the upcoming season. Lucy is an alumna of the Young Musicians Program. Nathan Nokes, an alumnus of the Creative Musicians Retreat, received an honorable mention in the Hypercube division for his piece You Also.

Josh Modney Carnegie Hall solo debut

On January 28, Josh Modney made his Carnegie Hall solo debut, performing Jörg Widmann's Etude No. 2 for Solo Violin. The performance was part of a portrait concert of Widmann's music, alongside colleagues in the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). Josh is a frequent Walden visiting artist, most recently at the Young Musicians Program in 2019 with ICE.

 

Ben Richardson heads to curling championship

CMR alumnus Ben Richardson will be headed to the World Junior Curling Championship in Krasnoyarsk, Russia in February. Ben is a member of Team Violette, which won the Junior National Championship on January 19. Go Ben!

Freya Waley-Cohen premieres in January

On January 21, Britten Sinfonia performed the world premiere of YMP Freya Waley-Cohen's Spell Book, featuring the principals of the Britten Sinfonia and mezzo-soprano Katie Bray. Spell Book is a song cycle written for Britten Sinfonia, and is a setting of spell-poems from poet Rebecca Tamás' 2019 book WITCH. The concert also featured Frey's arrangement of Mahler's Rückert-Lieder for mezzo-soprano and chamber. Later that same day, the London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Oliver Zeffman gave the UK premiere of Freya's chamber orchestra work Changeling. The work was commissioned and performed by the LA Phil and John Adams in 2019.

Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Friends of the Albion Quartet 

Tamsin Waley-Cohen is a violinist in the UK-based Albion Quartet, which is launching a new project: Friends of the Albion Quartet. The project will extend and continue Albion Quartet's work with underprivileged schools, SEN and Schools for Autistic Children, bringing music, creativity, and engaging the imagination of children across the country who otherwise would not have access. They will begin workshops next week, in collaboration with the Cavatina Trust. Tamsin is a past visiting artist at Walden, and sister of alumna Freya Waley-Cohen.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – December 2019

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Happy holidays from all of us at The Walden School!

The holiday season has arrived, and as the decade draws to a close, we have lots of exciting news. Walden community members have gathered for festive holiday potlucks in two cities, with six remaining. We're starting the new year with Alumni Composers Forums in New York and San Francisco so mark your calendars! We are now accepting applications for the Young Musicians Program and the Creative Musicians Retreat for summer 2020.

Our Walden administrative office is welcoming Elizabeth Susskind--get to know her in our "In the Spotlight" section. Check out our Community News section to learn about your fellow readers and the goings on in their lives and careers throughout the year. I hope to see you at a Walden event soon, and until then, happy reading.

Upcoming Events

Walden Holiday Parties

Walden holiday party season is here! We have had two lovely gatherings in San Francisco and McLean, Virginia, and there are potlucks in six more cities still to come.

Join Walden and JCC alumni, faculty, staff, visiting artists, board members, family, and friends for one (or more!) of our festive holiday gatherings. RSVP to events@waldenschool.org or call (415) 587-8157.
Baltimore: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 4-6 pm
Boston: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 12-2 pm
Chicago: Saturday, December 28, 2019, 6-8 pm
New York: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 6-8 pm
Portland: Saturday, January 4, 2020, 4-6 pm
Seattle: Sunday, January 26, 2020, 4-6 pm

These are potluck-style events at private homes. When you RSVP, please let us know what you would like to bring (e.g. savory appetizer, dessert, beverages, other item to share) and we will send you the address.

Walden community members gather in San Francisco at the home of Lukáš Janata, an alumnus of the Creative Musicians Retreat.

 

The Raman family hosts a festive potluck for the Walden community in Washington, DC/Northern Virginia.

Alumni Composers Forums

We hope to see you at one or both of our Alumni Composers Forums! These events are free and open to the public. Come hear pieces written by our amazing alumni, who will all be present to discuss their works.

New York - Sunday, January 19, 2020
Featuring Mivos Quartet
Moderated by past visiting artist Joan Tower and Walden alumna and faculty member Loretta Notareschi.

Greenwich House
46 Barrow Street
New York, NY 10014
4-6 pm

San Francisco - Saturday, February 22, 2020
Featuring Del Sol String Quartet
Moderated by past visiting artist Nathaniel Stookey.

Center for New Music
55 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
4-6 pm

Summer 2020 Programs

Apply to be part of Walden 2020!

We are now accepting applications for summer 2020! We hope you (and all of the people you know!) will apply to join us at one of our programs this summer.

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020 (for musicians ages 18-98)
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020 (for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18)

Application materials are available for both programs at waldenschool.org/apply/.

Application deadlines (postmark):

January 3 (early)
February 21 (winter)
April 3 (spring)

Please write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Job Announcement: Summer Operations Director

The Walden School is seeking a Director of Operations to join our dynamic summer program team in Dublin, New Hampshire. The Director of Operations performs a wide range of functions that keep Walden's summer programs running smoothly and operating efficiently and that complement the curricular and musical components of the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) and the Young Musicians Program (YMP). See the full job announcement here.

Walden Needs Your Support

Is Walden on your list?
If you would like to include Walden directly on your holiday giving list, we gratefully accept donations. Checks payable to The Walden School can be sent to our office, 30 Monterey Blvd., Ste. E, San Francisco, CA 94131, or you can make a gift online at waldenschool.org/donate. Your generous gift of any amount brings more music and community into the world. If you have questions about giving, we are glad to hear from you at (415) 587-8157 or at donors@waldenschool.org.

In the Spotlight

Elizabeth Susskind

Elizabeth is a longtime friend of Walden who has just joined our San Francisco office as Administrative Assistant. Welcome, Elizabeth!

How did you get connected with Walden?

I sing in the Symphony Chorus with Seth, Walden's Executive Director, so I first heard about Walden through conversations with him. Seth's descriptions were very interesting, so I came to a couple events in San Francisco. I think what really appeals to me is that Walden students are not in competition with each other. I think that noncompetitive element is so important, when kids have so much competition in other areas of their life. Kids can fall through the cracks in those settings, but it seems like there are no cracks at Walden. They can just be themselves, and no one is judging them or telling them they're wrong or grading them. It seems like nothing you do at Walden is wrong-it's your way of being creative and expressing yourself. And no matter what you're doing, it's all about communicating, expressing, and listening.

How is music a part of your life?

It's always there--I can't imagine my life without it. I grew up listening to music, I listen to music all the time, and I perform music. I have a degree in Vocal Performance from Trinity College of Music in London, and I also did music theory and music history as part of that. When I came to the US, I sang in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and the Opera Theatre Chorus. When I moved to San Francisco, I joined the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and I continue to be a member of the symphony chorus. I also sing in a church choir and do a few other performances as a vocalist. As a performer, music connects me to something greater than myself, something universal, and as a listener, music is immensely comforting and soothing. I went with my daughter to a Paul McCartney concert in massive sports stadium, packed with thousands of people all experiencing personal versions of the same thing. And being there with my daughter, who also loves music, was so important. For me, music always brings connection-with history, with other people, and with myself.

What is a non-music hobby you love?

I love playing mahjong. I play every week. Friday is my mahjong day. I also love yoga, and I love walking my dog. I love the ocean, so I live by the ocean and walk by the ocean a lot.

What is something you're looking forward to in the coming year?

I don't make New Year's resolutions, but every year I adopt a theme, one word that I want to permeate the year. For example, balance has been a word I've chosen, as I worked at balancing the different elements of my life. Health is my word for the coming year, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I'm so lucky and so blessed, and I think physical things are becoming less and less important to me. Specifically, I'm looking forward to June, when the Symphony Chorus will be singing Mahler 8 and other amazing things to celebrate Michael Tilson Thomas' final season with the SF Symphony. I'm looking forward to being part of Walden, having this new community in my life. I'm looking forward to the continued journey, good health, wonderful friends, and beautiful music.

Community News

Kika honored at ASCAP awards 

YMP student Kika Charles-Pierre was honored at the ASCAP Foundation awards this year in New York. Three YMP alumni were on hand to cheer her on--Executive Director Seth Brenzel, faculty member Doug Hertz, and Giacomo Baldelli,  the teacher who first connected Kika with Walden. Kika also had a piece premiered by Giacomo in New York on December 5th at Arete Venue and Gallery. Congratulations, Kika!

Alex Johnston new director of DiMenna Center
Alex Johnston, a longtime friend and supporter of Walden, has been named director of The Dimenna Center for Classical Music. Alex has previously worked at the NY Philharmonic and National Sawdust. The DiMenna Center is committed to serving the musical community and its Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, and hosts hundreds of neighbors, families, and school children each year for free community events.

Sky Macklay featured by Sheet Music Plus

Walden alumna and longtime faculty member Sky Macklay was interviewed by Sheet Music Plus. The interview, which took place during Sky's residency at Civatella Ranieri in Umbertide, Italy, focuses on Sky's process as a composer, and how she collaborates with instrumentalists in bringing new chamber music to the concert stage. Read the full interview here.

Mackenzie Melemed makes Carnegie Hall debut
Pianist Mackenzie Melemed, an alumnus of the Young Musicians Program, made his Carnegie Hall debut on Friday, December 13. Currently studying in the two-year Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald and Emanuel Ax, Melemed holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School.

Holiday performances by Nat Osborn

The Nat Osborn Band collaborated with No. 11 Productions as they presented A Christmas Carol. Nat Osborn Band worked on a portion of the show, and also provided the entertainment at the post-show afterparty on December 16. Nat also performed at Aimee Bayles' Holiday Music Extravaganza at Rockwood Music Hall. Nat is an alumnus of the Young Musicians Program.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – November 2019

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Walden School!

The holiday season has arrived. This edition of InterNetzo includes the cities and dates for our Walden holiday potlucks, as well as other community events coming up. Alumni Composers Forums are just around the corner in New York and San Francisco, so submit your scores and/or mark your calendars! Read our "In the Spotlight" section to hear from Dede Ondishko, Walden alumna, and a past faculty, staff, and Board member. Check out our Community News section to learn about your fellow readers and the goings on in their lives and careers throughout the year. I hope to see you at a Walden event soon, and until then, happy reading.

Upcoming Events

Featured Event: Walden alumni/teacher/student collaboration

On Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 7:30 pm, guitarist Giacomo Baldelli will present an electric guitar solo set featuring the world premiere of "Lost in Dull Time" by Young Musicians Program student Kayenne Charles-Pierre. The concert is at Areté Venue and Gallery in Brooklyn, New York.  The concert will also feature a 1981 David Byrne/Brian Eno work -  to be soon released as a single, and an improv set for electric guitar and electronics.

Kayenne Charles-Pierre attended the Young Musicians Program in 2018 and 2019, and received the 2019 ASCAP Irving Berlin Scholarship. She initially came to Walden with the recommendation and encouragement of her music teacher, Giacomo Baldelli.

Giacomo Baldelli is focused on exploring the 20th century, but also developing a new 21st century repertoire for guitar. Most recently, he has been interested in expanding the contemporary repertoire for electric guitar. He is an accomplished soloist and chamber musician, and has performed throughout Europe (Italy, Germany, France, England, Czech Republic, Poland), as well as the United States. In 2010, he attended The Walden School Teacher Training Institute, where he met pianist Laura Barger, to whom he is now married.

Walden Holiday Parties

Walden holiday party season is here! Join Walden and JCC alumni, faculty, staff, visiting artists, board members, family, and friends for one (or more!) of our festive holiday gatherings.

These are potluck-style events at private homes. When you RSVP, please let us know what you would like to bring (e.g. savory appetizer, dessert, beverages, other item to share) and we will send you the address.

RSVP to events@waldenschool.org or call (415) 587-8157.
Baltimore: Saturday, January 11, 2020, 4-6 pm
Boston: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 12-2 pm
Chicago: Saturday, December 28, 2019, 6-8 pm
New York: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 6-8 pm
Portland: Saturday, January 4, 2020, 4-6 pm
San Francisco: Sunday, December 8, 2019, 3-5 pm
Seattle: Sunday, January 26, 2020, 4-6 pm
Washington, DC/McLean: Sunday, December 15, 2019, 4-6 pm

Alumni Composers Forums

Be part of our Alumni Composers Forums! All JCC and Walden alumni are eligible to submit scores by Dec 1 (New York) or Dec 15 (San Francisco).

>Whether or not you plan to submit a score, mark your calendars! These events are free and open to the public. Come hear pieces written by our amazing alumni, who will all be present to discuss their works.
New York - Sunday, January 19, 2020
Featuring Mivos Quartet
Moderated by composer Joan Tower and composer Loretta Notareschi.
Scores must be submitted by December 1, 2019.

Greenwich House
46 Barrow Street
New York, NY 10014
4-6 pm

San Francisco - Saturday, February 22, 2020
Featuring Del Sol String Quartet
Moderated by composer Nathaniel Stookey.
Scores must be submitted by December 15, 2019.

Center for New Music
55 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
4-6 pm

All alumni of the Creative Musicians Retreat, Teacher Training Institute, Young Musicians Program, and Junior Conservatory Camp are eligible to submit scores for music for any combination of string quartet players. If you can provide other performers (including yourself) for the event, you are welcome to submit scores that include other instruments beyond violin, viola, and/or cello. A committee of Walden faculty and staff will determine which pieces will be programmed on each of the two programs. We will notify you approximately two weeks after the deadline whether your piece has been selected for performance at the Composers Forum.

If you have any questions, please write to us at alumni@waldenschool.org.

Walden 2020

As we all settle into the winter season, it's not too early to plan for summer in Dublin! We hope you (and all of the people whom you know!) will apply to join us at one of our programs this summer.

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020 (for musicians ages 18-98)
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020 (for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18)

Application materials will be available soon on our website, but you can make sure you receive application materials via email by signing up at: waldenschool.org/invite to apply/

Application deadlines (postmark):

January 3 (early)
February 21 (winter)
April 3 (spring)

Please write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Job Announcement: Summer Operations Director

The Walden School is seeking a Director of Operations to join our dynamic summer program team in Dublin, New Hampshire. The Director of Operations performs a wide range of functions that keep Walden's summer programs running smoothly and operating efficiently and that complement the curricular and musical components of the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) and the Young Musicians Program (YMP). See the full job announcement here.

Holiday Giving

Walden Gear
Is there someone in your life who has been wishing for a Walden t-shirt? Or sweatshirt? Or tote bag? 'Tis the season! Of course, Walden gear is never out of season. To order merchandise, fill out this form and send it to us by fax ((415) 337-4557) or mail to The Walden School, 30 Monterey Blvd., Suite E, San Francisco, CA 94131.

Bandcamp
Have you seen Walden's bandcamp page? It has music from every Composers Forum of the Creative Musicians Retreat and the Young Musicians Program, as well as the YMP Choral Concerts from the past six years. You even can send a digital album as a gift!

Amazon Smile
If you shop on Amazon.com, ever, for anything, you can support The Walden School while you're shopping! Just go to smile.amazon.com and choose to support "Walden School" (you'll see San Francisco listed as our location). You'll know you've found the right Walden, because it lists our mission to inspire artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. Once you've selected Walden, you can do all your Amazon shopping at smile.amazon.com, and it will save Walden in your settings. A portion of the proceeds of anything you buy will go to support Walden's programs.

Is Walden on your list?
If you would like to include Walden directly on your holiday giving list, we gratefully accept donations. Checks payable to The Walden School can be sent to our office, 30 Monterey Blvd., Ste. E, San Francisco, CA 94131, or you can make a gift online at waldenschool.org/donate. Your generous gift of any amount brings more music and community into the world. If you have questions about giving, we are glad to hear from you at (415) 587-8157 or at donors@waldenschool.org.

In the Spotlight - Dede Ondishko

How and when did your relationship with Walden begin?

I was a piano student at Peabody Conservatory Preparatory Department. Peabody required all private students to take music theory, but somehow I was enrolled in both theory and musicianship. I really loved musicianship. Cindy Brackbill was my teacher, and she told me about Walden. My parents got really excited about it, because I was something of a wayward child, so they hoped it would reform me. And it did. In fact, it transformed me. I was a C-student before Walden. I didn't care about school or improving myself. But then I went to Walden, and I've been an A-student and an overachiever ever since! It was like I found the "on" button. I became an engaged person because of my first year experience at Walden.

What has been your involvement with Walden since then? 

Today some of my best friends are kids and colleagues I went to camp with. I began as a student in 1974 at age 14 and was a student for four summers. I was on staff for one summer. I was on faculty for seven summers, and I also served a term on the Board of Directors 1998-2004. When I was on faculty, my stepdaughter, Danielle, was 12 and came for the shorter program, and she was hooked! She went every year that she could, then she served on faculty, and now she has joined the Board. As a music teacher I've sent my students to Walden. I'm also a contributor, and I've held concerts to raise scholarship money for YMP students. I was only able to go to Walden on scholarship, so I really want to thank and repay the people who gave to scholarships and basically paid for me to attend Walden. Walden is family. Like Lynn Hebden said, "You take Walden with you wherever you go." You never really leave.

Could you describe a favorite Walden memory?

A few years ago, I was interviewed as part of a Teacher of the Year award, and they asked about my favorite teacher, and my answer was David Hogan (we called him Hoagie). I was in my early fifties, but I started choking up right there in the interview, describing how much he gave me as a student. He showed me what I could do! He gave me opportunities no one had ever given me. He was the first teacher who saw what I could do, stood by my side and waited for me. He lit a fire in me!
Another example of that was Saturday hiking at Walden. I was a bit of a laggard, so I was in the last group, which basically went at Sunday-stroll pace-no one really even expected us to make it to the top! I was having fun, but I went to Jeff Hebden, who was on staff as activities director, and I asked if I could move to Group I, the group that was practically running up the mountain. He looked it at me the same way Hoagie looked at me and said, "You want to do it? Okay, go for it!" That Saturday, I hiked in Group I, and I was the first one to the top. This is something I didn't know I could do, but they believed in me.
I also loved listening to music in a new way. After Goodnight Music, a group of us would go to the listening library, turn off the lights, lie on the floor, and put our heads together like we were spokes of a wheel, and just listen. It was amazing to have this music listening hour with just us kids. We wanted to share the music we liked, and we were expanding each other's ears. That music sunk in on a level that transformed me, on a cellular level. Having that musical communing with kids my own age was transformative. That's when I heard Arnold Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht for the first time. I think I've spent my whole life trying to rewrite and recapture that piece!

How are music and creativity part of your life now?

I went to Eastman for graduate school, and I majored in Music Composition, specializing in Computer Music. After I graduated, I ended up going into computer network engineering, which I was able to do because of my computer music training. But sadly, I stopped playing or writing music! Kyle Horch, a saxophone performer in London who commissioned a series of pieces from me, single-handedly kept me writing. Later, after 12 years of working in computer networking, I realized there wasn't enough music in my life, so I applied for a job as a public school music teacher, even though it meant going back to school to get licensed. At age 39, I went into teaching music full time, until my husband and I decided to retire. Now I perform all the time as concert pianist and accompanist, as a symphony violist, and I sing in a vocal jazz group. I'm very active as a musician. I recently started writing symphonies-I just finished my third. And I hope to get them performed. I love creating music. Kurt Vonnegut said, "Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow," and I keep that quote above my workstation.

What is a non-musical hobby you love?

Music is intangible, you can't touch it or hold onto or see what you've accomplished so to counter that I've picked up some great concrete hobbies. I make paper cards and send notes to my family and friends. I sew. I garden. I play tennis and go biking and do lots of hiking. I just love hiking.

What advice would you give to an earlier-career musician as they are setting out along their path?

If you have the chance to take a music marketing or business class, do not miss out! Learn about promotion, marketing and production, learn how to send out scores and cover letters to perfect strangers. Pay attention, get informed, and reach out for guidance.

You have to feed your artistic spirit. As Vonnegut says, you've got to keep creating! Be careful of the gap of what you are doing and what you can imagine, or what you hear other people are doing. We're at a time when the best artists in the world are so easily accessible, so we can see world class musicians at any time. That can be discouraging! So I've learned to say to myself, "I know I'm not there yet, but I have the potential." I know that because my Walden teachers believed and told me so. As Ira Glass says, "Don't let the gap get you down!" Even though that gap is always there, you can strive and be happy with those moments when the gap shrinks a little bit. You've just got to go for it!

About: Denise Ondishko, Ph.D., is a composer, performer, and educator. Her works cover a wide, eclectic range of genres, including solo piano, solo violin, wind ensemble, orchestra, saxophone and piano, chamber ballet, children's theatre, elementary school band, and a number of works for live instrument and computer-synthesized tape. Dede won the Northern California Viola Society's 2018-2019 Composer Competition for her piece, Out of Mud.
Dede is active as a performer and collaborator. She studied at Carnegie Mellon University and the Eastman School of Music. Her teachers included Joseph Schwantner, Warren Benson, Barbara Kolb, David Hogan, and Leonardo Balada. She has done extensive research into the work of computer music pioneer Paul Lansky, a member of Walden's Advisory Council. She has taught composition at The Walden School and Oberlin Conservatory. In addition to her compositional work and research she has also developed a parallel career as an information technology management specialist.

ACF NextNote High School Music Creator Awards

The American Composers Forum is pleased to announce the sixth annual NextNotes High School Music Creator Awards. Whether you write for voices, electronics, or instruments, are a singer/songwriter or improviser, hip-hop artist or sound designer, ACF welcomes you to apply. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply with a single piece in any genre or style. NextNotes rewards and celebrates creativity, originality, skill, potential, risk-taking, bravery, and passion!

Deadline: January 6, 2020

For details and to apply, visit composersforum.org/education/nextnotes/

Community News

Grace Brigham wins Emerging Composer Competition

Grace Brigham, a CMR alumna, has won Cantus Vocal Ensemble's Young and Emerging Composer Competition. Her piece Discoveries explores the experiences of of female scientists, and includes the words of Euphemia Haynes, Marie Curie, Florence Nightingale, Ada Lovelace, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Maria Mitchell. Grace wrote the piece for male voices, and workshopped it at Walden's Creative Musicians Retreat this summer. Grace is attending St. Olaf College. Cantus is a men's vocal ensemble based in Minneapolis, and will perform Discoveries at St. Olaf, as well as on tour.

Shawn Crouch premiere with Aperio
Aperio, Music of the Americas, in collaboration with New American Voices, will present the world premiere of Shawn Crouch's Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird. Featuring the poetry of Wallace Stevens, this new work explores multiple perspectives on the poet's blackbird motif through a collection of enigmatic haiku-like poems. Crouch's concept incorporates evocative lighting, live projections, and interactive staging to illuminate the relationship between perspective, repetition, and social dynamics. The concert will take place in Houston, Texas, in February 2020. Shawn is a YMP alumnus and former faculty member.

Annie Gosfield Composer Portrait in Austin
On November 23, Austin-based Tetractys Ensemble performed a Composer Portrait of Annie Gosfield, a past Composer-in-Residence at Walden. The concert featured Flying Sparks and Heavy Machinery, a double quartet for strings and percussion that's inspired by factory environments; Long Waves and Random Pulses for violin and jammed radio signals; Daughters of the Industrial Revolution inspired by Annie's immigrant grandmother's sweatshop days; and Burn Again With a Low Blue Flame for cello, that was originally an installation work. Annie is spending the fall semester as a visiting professor of composition at UT Austin.

Julian Hofstetter receives PRISM/Walden commission
For  more than 20 years, PRISM Quartet has partnered with The Walden School to make a yearly award to one deserving high school student. This year's recipient of The PRISM Quartet/Walden School Commissioning Award is Julian Hofstetter. A native of Newark, Delaware, Julian attends Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he studies music performance, theory, and composition. His works span a wide range of idioms and instrumentations, with an emphasis on electronic music. Julian will create a new saxophone quartet that PRISM will premiere in Philadelphia on May 23, 2020, and perform in New York City on May 24, 2020.

Ned McGowan flute and contrabass flute tour

Ned McGowan, a past visiting artist at Walden, is on tour offering concerts, masterclasses, workshops, and lectures. The concerts will feature Ned's most recent repertoire on the contrabass flute and flute, plus a new work written for contrabass flute and piano by HyeKyung Lee. Ned is currently based in the Netherlands, and his tour will take him to Ohio and California, notably to the Cleveland Institute of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Upcoming publications from Russell Nadel

Russell Nadel, an alumnus of YMP and TTI, will have three choral octavos published in the next few months. I'm Sick of 'Mustn't's, for two-part treble chorus and piano, and Early Winter Tree, for SATB chorus and piano or harp, will both be published in the Henry Leck Creating Artistry Choral Series by Hal Leonard; these two works will join Eldorado (SSA and piano) and Windy Nights (two-part treble and piano), which are already in the series. Tov L'Hodot, a setting of the Hebrew text of the 92nd Psalm for SATB chorus and piano, will be published by Transcontinental Music Publications. Tov L'Hodot won the 2017 Ben Steinberg Young Composer's Award, sponsored by the Guild of Temple Musicians.

Osnat Netzer premiere at National Sawdust 
On Saturday, November 23, Osnat Netzer's Philomelos received its world premiere at National Sawdust. The piece was commissioned and premiered by vocalist Lucy Dhegrae, 2019-20 Artist-in-Residence at National Sawdust. The performance was the first in The Processing Series, More Beautiful Than Words Can Tell, a series of four concerts exploring trauma recovery. Works written for Lucy Dhegrae by past Walden visiting artist Eve Beglarian, Angélica Negrón, and Katherine Young will also be featured on the series. Osnat Netzer is a Walden alumna and faculty member.

Congratulations to the Schoepflin Jimoh family

Congratulations to Katie Schoepflin Jimoh and her husband Ayo Jimoh on the birth of their daughter! Joan Aisha Jimoh was born on November 7, and everyone is doing well. Katie was most recently a member of the 2019 Walden School Players. Welcome to the family, Joan Aisha!

 

Dennis Sullivan performances on both coasts
As a member of Wavefield Ensemble, Dennis Sullivan performed a concert on  November 16 at University Settlement Society of New York, featuring the world premiere of You would be like diving into the ocean, written by YMP alumna Victoria Cheah. On November 18, Wavefield performed a concert at UConn, featuring a new arrangement of Axamer Folio, written by Eric Wubbels, a member of the 2019 Walden School Players. On December 7, Dennis and Levy Lorenzo will be performing at UC Berkeley as Radical 2. The concert will feature new works by UC Berkeley students and is the culmination of a four-day residency. Dennis was on faculty at the Young Musicians Program in 2018 and 2019.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

 

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: InterNetzo – October 2019

Message from Seth Brenzel, Executive Director

Greetings!

Autumn is here--time to appreciate another wonderful Walden summer and turn our attention to the year ahead. This edition of InterNetzo offers a preview of winter events, with Walden holiday potlucks and Alumni Composers Forums just around the corner. Check out our Community News section to learn about your fellow readers and the goings on in their lives and careers throughout the year. I hope to see you at a Walden event soon, and until then, happy reading.

Upcoming Events

Walden Holiday Parties

The holiday season is just around the corner! Walden community members will be gathering for holiday potlucks in cities throughout the country in December and January.

Look for an email listing dates and cities soon, and if you are interested in hosting a party in your area or want to learn more in the meantime about these upcoming gatherings, please write to us at alumni@waldenschool.org.

Alumni Composers Forums

New York - Sunday, January 19, 2020
Featuring Mivos Quartet

Greenwich House
46 Barrow Street
New York, NY 10014
4-6 pm

San Francisco - Saturday, February 22, 2020
Featuring Del Sol String Quartet

Center for New Music
55 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
4-6 pm

Watch out for a call for scores to come shortly! All alumni of the Creative Musicians Retreat, Teacher Training Institute, Young Musicians Program, and Junior Conservatory Camp are eligible to submit scores for music for any combination of string quartet players. If you can provide other performers (including yourself) for the event, you are welcome to submit scores that include other instruments beyond violin, viola, and/or cello. These events will be free and open to the public.

If you have any questions or would like to express interest now, please write to us at alumni@waldenschool.org.

 

Walden 2020

Creative Musicians Retreat: June 13-21, 2020
Young Musicians Program: June 27 - August 2, 2020

Application materials will be available beginning in early November on our website, but you can make sure you receive application materials via email by signing up at: waldenschool.org/invite to apply/

Application deadlines (postmark):

January 3 (early)
February 21 (winter)
April 3 (spring)

In the Spotlight - Nate May

2019 was Nate's third summer on faculty at the Young Musicians Program. He has taught musicianship, composition, and specialty classes, and is our current Goodnight Music faculty leader. When not at Walden, Nate teaches at Thurnauer School of Music (along with faculty members Doug Hertz and Rebekah Griffin Greene) and at Montclair State University John J. Cali School of Music.

What is something about Walden you found surprising?

I heard about Walden from my friend Evan Williams, who had been on faculty, and it sounded awesome. In my head I imagined this utopic place, and Walden met that pretty well, which was surprising. Usually when I build castles in the sky, they come crashing down eventually. So I was surprised something like Walden can exist in the real world.

Why music?

I love the combination of rational and irrational that music has or can be approached with. I have both those elements--I am really interested in abstract things, but I also have very visceral reactions to sounds. I'm fascinated by combining those two sides.

What is a piece of Walden you carry with you outside the summer?

Practically, I use the pedagogy and approach to musicianship in my teaching all the time. I felt very affirmed that Walden is so big on the overtone series, because it's very important to me. It's pretty much missing from most music theory curricula, but I make it a big part of theory in my teaching.
The community of faculty and staff is also important to me year-round. I move a lot, so I love having those summers with people I've grown really close to. I really look forward to being back each summer.
I also think Walden has taught me a way of interacting with students that I carry with me. There are ways to unlock things with a student, but that unlocking takes time, and Walden gives students that time. Now when I encounter students elsewhere, I see those potentials.

What is a non-music hobby that you love?

I know this was meant to be a non-Walden question, but I love hiking. I'm not always able to fit trips in, and on the East Coast a lot of sites are closed some seasons. But I love just being in the woods.

Can you describe a favorite Walden memory?

We went to visit Caroline Shaw at the MacDowell Colony, and I drove one of the buses. She gave a presentation and then had everyone sing pitches and change the vowel shapes, really paying attention to the timbre of those pitches. When we got back in the van, I turned on the radio, but I turned it to AM, and it was static, but it had a sort of a drone to it. So I turned it up, and the kids started singing along with the drone with overtones! That lasted the whole drive back to campus, at least 20 minutes, and no one was talking, no one was laughing, no one took it as a joke. They were just communing with this AM static drone. Then we got back, I turned off the radio, and everyone just got off the bus. It was just another day.

About: Nate May is a composer, performer, and educator whose interest in human ecosystems has impelled explorations of a wide variety of sounds and interactions. Raised in Huntington, West Virginia, much of his work stems from a "fascination, love, and respect for the people" of Appalachia (Soapbox), including his oratorio "State," the result of interviews he conducted with Appalachian migrants on a fellowship from the Berea Sound Archives, and "Licorice Parikrama," a networked performance featuring a live conference call with West Virginians affected by the 2014 Elk River chemical spill. Nate is an accomplished keyboardist and improviser as well as an electronic musician and producer, collaborating with Paris-based choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu on the world-touring work Spiral and indigenous experimental trio Khoi Khonnexion on their debut album Kalahari Waits, recorded during a year in South Africa on a Reese Miller scholarship from the Telluride Association.

Walden donors set a new record

Walden's fiscal year ended on September 30. In the 2019 fiscal year, 500 donors gave more than $377,000--Walden's largest-ever class of donors! This year also set the record for new members of our donor community. Thank you! We are inspired by your generosity, and the transformative experiences of music and community you make possible.

 

BMI Foundation launches 2020 Scholarship Season

The BMI Foundation announced that it is now accepting online applications for its 2020 scholarship season, open to students attending colleges and universities nationwide.
The Foundation will administer five distinct songwriting and composing scholarship competitions, judged by panelists of international musical acclaim. These annual programs include the BMI Future Jazz Master Scholarship, BMI Student Composer Awards, John Lennon Scholarship, peermusic Latin Scholarship and the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship. In addition, the Foundation administers two scholarship competitions outside the area of music creation: the BMI Founders Internship Program for broadcasting students, and the Woody Guthrie Fellowship for scholars pursuing topics or themes related to the American folk music progenitor.
Most applications must be completed no later than January 15, 2020, though the Founders Award, Woody Guthrie, and Student Composer Awards have extended deadlines.
For details and to apply, visit bmifoundation.org/programs.

Community News

George Brandon's Blue Unity Sextet

George Brandon's Blue Unity Sextet performed in New York at Local 802 American Federation of Musicians on October 10. The concert was part of the Jazz in the Afternoon concert series, sponsored by Local 802, and all proceeds go to assist musicians in times of need. George is an alumnus of the Creative Musicians Retreat.

 

Eliza Brown's 'Figure to Ground" on MusicNow
Eliza Brown's "Figure to Ground" was performed on October 7 on the opening concert of the 22nd season of Chicago Symphony Orchestra's MusicNow series. As described in the Chicago Tribute, "Figure to Ground" reveled in understatement, its hushed dynamics, transparent textures and hauntingly simple melodic fragments inducing the listener to lean in, the better to savor its whisperings." Eliza is a Young Musicians Program (YMP) alumna, has served on YMP faculty and staff, and in 2019 was an academic dean and faculty mentor for YMP.

 

Daniel Felsenfeld premiere with FearNoMusic
"Indelible in the Hippocampus is the Laughter," a piece written by Daniel Felsenfeld, premiered on September 23 in Portland, Oregon. The piece was part of HEARINGS: New Music inspired by the 2018 "Kavanaugh Hearings," a concert of world premieres presented by FearNoMusic. Danny was on faculty at the Young Musicians Program in 2018 and 2019.

 

Del Sol residency at Avaloch Farm 
Del Sol String Quartet, a past visiting artist at Walden, will be in residence for one week at Avaloch Farm Music Institute in Boscawen, New Hampshire. Based in the Bay Area, Del Sol is dedicated to bringing the voice of living artists to our diverse community and making contemporary chamber music a dynamic part of today's culture.

 

Douglas Hertz premieres on the West Coast

On October 1, "A Small Measure of Warmth," a piece written by Douglas Hertz for soprano, baritone, and piano, premiered at Meyer Sound Labs in Berkeley, California. The piece was the culmination of Doug's time as a Composer Fellow at the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy. On October 21, "Fixtures in the Fold" was premiered in Portland, Oregon, by Portland Percussion Group. This piece won first prize in Portland Percussion Group's 2019 Call for Scores. The concert also featured the music of Paul Lansky, a member of The Walden School Advisory Council.

 

Alicia Jo Rabins - A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff

YMP alumna Alicia Jo Rabins wrote A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff based on her experience working in an artist residency on Wall Street during the 2008 financial collapse. Premiered in 2012, the solo chamber-rock opera has been adapted into a film with animation by Zak Margolis, in collaboration with Boom Arts, and is now in post-production.

 

Kate Soper and Sam Pluta open Wet Ink season
Wet Ink Ensemble, a past ensemble-in-residence at Walden, is opening their 21st season with Dialogues, a concert in Seattle on November 3. Kate Soper and Sam Pluta will present a new evening-length set of collaboratively developed music, alongside Kate's solo works. Sam served for 17 years on Walden's faculty, and was Walden's Academic Dean for nearly a decade at the Young Musicians Program. Kate has been a visiting artist with Wet Ink at both Walden's Creative Musicians Retreat and Young Musicians Program.

Seth Parker Woods in Recital in Seattle  
Seth Parker Woods, a member of The Walden School Players, will perform with the Seattle Symphony on December 11. That Which is Fundamental is an exploration of language and essential truths of the human condition.  The program presents compositions by Anton Lukoszevieze, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Vinko Globokar, Tonia Ko, Gustavo Tavares and Julius Eastman. The concert will feature percussionist Bonnie Whiting, also a member of The Walden School Players.

We want to hear from you!
What's been going on? If you have a recent or upcoming premiere, publication, award, new job or program, or a celebratory life event, please share the news. Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch
You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year, including upcoming regional alumni Composers Forums and Holiday Parties. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, and at waldenschool.org.

 

by Noah Mlotek

The Walden School 2019 Season Highlights

Transformative Programs:

Young Musicians Program

Walden’s 47th Young Musicians Program (June 29-August 4) brought 49 young composers, ages 9-18, to Dublin from 17 states and two other countries. Of these creative, talented students, 27 were new to Walden, and 22 were returners. Eight younger students attended a shortened, three-week session, and all students spent life-changing weeks working with incredible faculty, dedicated staff, and top-notch artists and ensembles. Our guest Composer-in-Residence, Kati Agócs, was a wonderful presence, as she moderated three Composers Forums with thoughtful curiosity and gave a fascinating lecture-demonstration of her work. Two of her works were featured on other concerts, including a beautiful performance of Hyacinth Curl on Walden's Choral Concert, arranged for 12 voices by Walden's Choral Director, Dr. Sarah Riskind. Addressing YMP students at Walden’s Choral Concert, Kati said:

"I’ve been absolutely blown away by all of your works, your individual voices that I’ve heard. To me you’re like a firmament of stars, which has no limit to its potential—each one unique and brilliant. I feel the world really needs you and your passion for new music, and it gives me hope that you’re going to be going out there sharing that passion.”

As happens each summer, all YMP students took classes in musicianship and composition, as well as chorus. We welcomed back entirely returning faculty, and welcomed three new staff members to the team, including alumnus Theo Trevisan. Faculty members taught specialty classes in orchestration, film and video game scoring, Renaissance music, music for social change, jazz improvisation, and several other topics.

In the words of YMP student Ash Paris-Carter, reflecting on her 6th summer at Walden:

Year after year, every time I arrive at Walden, my heart glows. I’m always struck by the natural beauty of New Hampshire, combined with being surrounded by creative and talented individuals who love music as much as I do. My favorite thing about Walden is that music is tied into everything we do, from hikes, to meals, and even “Halloween in July.” I love that it is the only place in the world where a bunch of teenagers can rock out to Stravinsky and Philip Glass at a dance. I love that my teachers are so engaged and passionate about music, and that they will always have my back. I love that Walden has opened me up to the fact that music can take many different forms. That people write music of every genre and every technique and style and how Walden is more welcoming to that than anywhere else I’ve studied. This community lifts everybody up and reveals to them that music is everywhere, in every moment of time.

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Creative Musicians Retreat

For Walden's eighth year of the Creative Musicians Retreat, 45 participants, ranging in age from 18 to 77, came from 22 states and Canada for nine immersive days of composing and learning from renowned faculty and guest artists. 14 of the participants were alumni of YMP, CMR, and/or TTI, and all participants came together in a wonderful community spanning many musical styles, talents, and backgrounds. Our fantastic Composer-in-Residence, George Lewis, shared excellent insights with the composers in master classes, three nights of Composers Forums, as well as during private lessons. We offered an evening of chamber music for the second time at CMR, with an amazing repertoire of entirely contemporary pieces. The wonderful Matthew Gold, David Friend, and Mivos Quartet were in residence this summer, and their enthusiasm and dedication shone through in their performances of participant works.

Award-winning Concert Series:

Our Composers Forums are at the heart of Walden's programs and are a unique element of our Concert Series. Whether or not students have written music before coming to Walden, all students compose at least one piece at Walden, and most complete more. Participants write in a wide array of musical styles, and these works are premiered on 11 Composers Forums (3 during CMR, 8  during YMP) by visiting artists, faculty and staff members, and other students. After their piece is premiered, the composer takes the stage to answer questions from faculty, other students, and audience members about their piece, their process, and their intentions going forward. We hope you enjoy this glimpse of a Young Musicians Program Composers Forum:

Walden’s Summer Concert Series included more than 20 performances, all free and open to the public. The Young Musicians Program had a wonderful opening concert with the Steinberg Duo, featuring the U.S. premiere of a sonata written for them by Philip Sawyers. Aurora Nealand & the Royal Roses gave a lively outdoor performance of New Orleans jazz, delighting an audience of more than 300 before leading a musical parade down to the lake to watch 4th of July fireworks. The YMP Faculty Commissioning Concert featured four members of Ensemble Dal Niente, who performed eight new pieces by Walden faculty. The International Contemporary Ensemble gave an amazing performance of works by contemporary composers, including Walden faculty member Osnat Netzer, as well as performing student works on two of the Young Musicians Program Composers Forums. Eight returning members of The Walden School Players performed numerous student works during Festival Week, and also gave an exciting concert of works entirely written in the past 15 years, including works by Walden faculty member Ted Moore and 2019 YMP Composer-in-Residence Kati Agócs.

Our visiting artists also held community connections concerts at three locations. Aurora Nealand & the Royal Roses performed at RiverMead Retirement Community, The Walden School Players performed at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, and the Steinberg Duo performed at the Keene Public Library.

Click on date to view program details:

Saturday, June 15: Mivos Quartet (string quartet); Matthew Gold, percussion; David Friend, piano, and Hai-Ting Chinn, voice. Included works by George E. Lewis, Composer-in-Residence

Sunday, June 16: Composer Presentation: George E. Lewis, CMR Composer-in-Residence

Tuesday, June 18: Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) Composers Forum I

Wednesday, June 19: CMR Composers Forum II

Thursday, June 20: CMR Chamber Music Concert

Friday, June 21: CMR Composers Forum III

Sunday, June 30: Steinberg Duo - Louisa Stonehill, violin; Nicholas Burns, piano

Tuesday, July 2: Young Musicians Program (YMP) Composers Forum I

Friday, July 5: Aurora Nealand & the Royal Roses (New Orleans jazz)

At this lively outdoor concert, the band announced their set from the stage, with music primarily drawn from New Orleans jazz traditions, including, but not limited to, Gypsy Jazz and traditional New Orleans/American jazz music.

Tuesday, July 9: YMP Composers Forum II

Friday, July 12: Ensemble Dal Niente performing world premieres by Walden faculty members

Tuesday, July 16: YMP Composers Forum III

Thursday, July 18: YMP Composers Forum IV

Friday, July 19: International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)

Tuesday, July 23: YMP Composers Forum V

Friday, July 26: The Walden School Players. Included works by Kati Agócs, Composer-in-Residence

Sunday, July 28: Composers Presentation: Kati Agócs, YMP Composer-in-Residence

Monday, July 29 – Wednesday July 31: Festival Week Composers Forums

Composers Forum I  |   Composers Forum II  |  Composers Forum III

Friday, August 2: The Walden School Choral Concert, Sarah Riskind, Choral Director

 

Collaborative Partnerships:

Dublin School

Walden’s 37th season at our wonderful host Dublin School was particularly lovely as we celebrated our second season in the remodeled, air-conditioned Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall, with a beautiful, spacious stage and a Meyer sound system.

PRISM Quartet

Long-term collaborator PRISM Quartet performed PREMIERES in Philadelphia and New York, the 19th year of premiering Walden student pieces. The performance featured YMP alumna Francesca Hellerman, winner of the PRISM/Walden School Commissioning Award.

Ensemble Dal Niente

In March, Ensemble Dal Niente gave the world premiere of Meditation on Collision, a piece written by YMP alumna Ruby Landau-Pincus, winner of the 2018 Walden Dal Niente Commissioning Award. In May, Dal Niente performed Ruby's piece again, on a concert featuring the world premiere of Undersea, a piece by YMP alumna Victoria Cheah.

The MacDowell Colony

Walden continued a decades-long association with its annual visit to this preeminent artist colony. Students met with two composers--Philippe Bodin and Martha Mooke. French–born composer Philippe Bodin is a Guggenheim fellow and a laureate from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Composer and electric-acoustic violist Martha Mooke is a pioneer in the field of electric five-string viola. She allowed students to tour the MacDowell Colony studio where she is in residence, and even let several YMP students try out her electric viola.

Regional Events

We celebrated Walden with events in Dublin, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., featuring world-class performances by past faculty members, visiting artists, and friends of Walden. At our Washington, D.C. event, Eric Huebner, pianist for the New York Philharmonic, performed a piano recital featuring Ligeti, Chopin, and a piece written at Walden by a 2018 YMP student. Our New York event featured an amazing performance by the Claremont Trio, featuring a piece written at Walden by a recent YMP alumnus. In San Francisco, guests heard an astounding performance by cellist Dave Eggar, along with Phil Faconti, Waway Saway, and Charith Premawardhana. Our August event in Dublin featured violinist Violaine Melançon, a former faculty member and visiting artist at Walden, performing solo works by Jörg Widmann, Lei Liang, and Bach. These four events brought together more than 350 friends, alumni, and supporters of the Walden School for celebrations of Walden’s programs and people, all while delighting in music and community.

 

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by Noah Mlotek