eNews: InterNetzo – April 2020

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.

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.