Violinist Maya Irizarry Lambright to Solo with 91ֱ�� Orchestra</h1> <article> <h1>Violinist Maya Irizarry Lambright to Solo with 91ֱ�� Orchestra</h1> <p>cstrauss — Thu, 09 May 2024 18:50:17 +0000</p> <span>Violinist Maya Irizarry Lambright to Solo with 91ֱ�� Orchestra</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-05-09T14:50:17-04:00" title="Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 14:50">Thu, 05/09/2024 - 14:50</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>With the 2023-24 academic year coming to a close, we'll hear the 91ֱ�� Orchestra, led by conductor <a href="/raphael-jimenez">Raphael Jiménez</a> in their final concert of the spring semester at <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_orchestra_3257">7:30 p.m. on Friday, May, 10</a> in Finney Chapel. The program opens with Senior Concerto Competition winner Maya Irizarry Lambright in a performance of Shulamit Ran's Violin Concerto. The second half of the program features the orchestra in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's <em>Scheherazade</em>.</p> <p>Ran is an Israeli-American composer who was based at the University of Chicago for many years and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for her Philadelphia Orchestra commissioned Symphony; she was only the second woman to ever win win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. She wrote the Violin Concerto in 2003. It was last performed in 91ֱ�� in 2017. </p> <p>Written in 1888, <em>Scheherazade</em> was composed for a ballet based on <em>One Thousand and One Nights</em>, a collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled in the Arabic language during the Islamic Golden Age. The much-played symphonic suite features gorgeous melodies distinguished by Rimsky-Korsakov's masterful orchestration and expansive violin solos that will be performed by Benjamin Seah, concertmaster of the orchestra for this performance.</p> <h6><em><strong>Meet the soloist</strong></em></h6> <p>Violinist Maya Irizarry Lambright, from West Hartford, Connecticut, studies violin performance at 91ֱ�� Conservatory with <a href="/sibbi-bernhardsson">Sibbi Bernhardsson</a>. Irizarry Lambright's musical journey is deeply rooted in a childhood surrounded by diverse musical influences, shaping a performance style that transcends genres. Their passion for improvisation, contemporary music, and small ensemble work fuels their artistic expression. As a member of the <a href="https://www.danielknapp.net/the-eris-quartet">Eris Quartet</a>, Irizarry Lambright has performed more than 50 concerts, including a 2023 tour to nine cities up the East Coast. Eris is dedicated to curating programs of traditional and contemporary repertoire and will be the Fellowship String Quartet in Residence at 2024 New Music On the Point (NMOP) in Vermont. In January 2022, Irizarry Lambright spearheaded "Why We Breathe," a project created as a result of the pandemic’s effects on collaborative music projects, uniting musicians and visual artists to create a fusion of art and music. At 91ֱ��, Irizarry Lambright leads a traditional Latin music band. Next academic year, they will attend the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, under the tutelage of Lina Bahn. With an unwavering dedication to pushing musical boundaries, they eagerly embrace the exploration of both notated and improvised music.</p> <h6><em>Q&A</em></h6> <p><em><strong>What moved you to select the Shulamit Ran Concerto?</strong></em></p> <p>Last spring my quartet, the Eris Quartet, took Shulamit Ran’s string quartet <em>Glitter, Doom, Shards, Memory </em>on tour. It is a beautiful piece that we really fell in love with. The different sound worlds and surprising compositional decisions that she made excited us as a group that enjoys playing less traditional repertoire. Additionally, it is an emotionally charged piece that we felt important to share with a large audience. When I was deciding which concerto to prepare for the competition, I knew I wanted to choose a 21st-century concerto. I am passionate about new music, and since it has been less common for violinists to prepare 21st-century concertos for competitions, I was very excited to present a less well-known piece. The violist of the Eris Quartet, Felix, recommended I listen to Shulamit Ran’s Violin Concerto, and told me that 91ֱ�� Conservatory music theory professor <a href="/christa-cole-17">Christa Cole</a> '17 had won the 2017 91ֱ�� concerto competition with this piece and teaches the third movement in her theory class as an example of an octatonic scale. </p> <p><em><strong>What has the piece taught you about your playing and how to reach an audience?</strong></em></p> <p>Working on a piece with only one public recording gave me the freedom to create a more original interpretation unaffected by preconceptions of how the piece “should" be played. I was given the space to take more ownership of how I personally wanted the piece to be received by the audience. In addition, because it is a 21st-century concerto, I have to be very convincing in my interpretation of it and prepare it to be enjoyable to the unfamiliar ear. I have become more confident in my creative decisions while working on this piece and have grown to appreciate myself as a solo player more than ever.</p> <p><em><strong>When you think back on your time at 91ֱ��, what stands out about the experience of going to school here?</strong></em></p> <p>91ֱ�� is the type of school where exploration and experimentation are encouraged. I have had the opportunity to be proactive in my education and guide it in a way that works towards my personal goals, no matter how unique they are. The faculty at 91ֱ�� is talented, encouraging, and supportive. Additionally, they have created an environment where the students always encourage and support each other. We are always collaborating on student-led projects, which is very unique to the environment at 91ֱ��. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Concerto competition winner will perform Shulamit Ran's Violin Concerto in Finney Chapel</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-05-09T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/09/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss '84</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4052">Concerto Winners</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3155">91ֱ�� Orchestra</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35116">Violin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/sibbi-bernhardsson" hreflang="und">Sibbi Bernhardsson</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christa-cole-17" hreflang="und">Christa Cole ’17</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/conducting-and-ensembles" hreflang="und">Conducting and Ensembles</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Pianist Jiongli Wang to Perform with 91ֱ�� Chamber Orchestra</h1> <p>cstrauss — Fri, 03 May 2024 03:26:48 +0000</p> <span>Pianist Jiongli Wang to Perform with 91ֱ�� Chamber Orchestra</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-05-02T23:26:48-04:00" title="Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 23:26">Thu, 05/02/2024 - 23:26</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Each spring, 91ֱ�� orchestras feature four student soloists who have been awarded the honor in the annual Senior Concerto Competition. On <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_chamber_orchestra_7138">Friday, May 3</a>, the 91ֱ�� Chamber Orchestra performs a program that will showcase fourth-year pianist Jiongli Wang in Frédéric Chopin’s First Piano Concerto. </p> <p>91ֱ�� Orchestras Director <a href="/raphael-jimenez">Raphael Jiménez</a> has also programmed Ludwig van Beethoven’s compellingly rhythmic and inventive Symphony No. 7, as well as the world premiere of Black River Prelude, composed by fourth-year composer Cashel Day-Lewis, commissioned by 91ֱ�� Conservatory in honor of the Lorain County Bicentennial. </p> <p>The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Finney Chapel and is free, open to the public, and <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/live-webcasts/finney-chapel-live-webcast">streamed live at concert time</a>.</p> <p><em><strong>Meet the soloist</strong></em></p> <p>Born in Wenzhou, China, Jiongli Wang started to play the piano at the age of 6. From 2017 to 2020, he studied at Gulangyu Piano Academy at the Central Conservatory of Music. Wang is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at 91ֱ�� Conservatory, where he studies with Professor <a href="/alvin-chow">Alvin Chow</a>. He has performed in major concert halls in China including Shanghai Concert Hall, Gulangyu Concert Hall, and Ningxia Grant Theatre, among several others. He has attended several piano festivals, including Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival, Adamant Piano Festival, Shanghai International Music Festival, and Europe International Music Festival. He has been honored to play in master classes for well-known musicians such as Lydia Artymiw, Kathryn Brown, Angela Cheng, Marc-André Hamelin, Douglas Humpherys, Ewa Pobłocka, and Mikhail Voskresensky. At 91ֱ��, Wang has been a prize winner of the 2022 Peter Takács Beethoven Piano Competition and 2023 Arthur Dann Competition, in addition to the 2023 Senior Concerto Competition.</p> <p><em><strong>Q&A</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>What was your reason for choosing the Chopin first piano concerto?</strong></em></p> <p>Chopin's First Piano Concerto is undoubtedly one of the most popular piano concertos in the world. He composed this work at the remarkably young age of 20. Despite his youth, the concerto exhibits not only passion, but also a maturity and depth of emotion that belies his age. These qualities deeply resonate with me, and more importantly, this concerto offers the performer an incredible opportunity to showcase their creativity. Listening to and playing this concerto is such fun, and I never grow bored discovering new things in it.</p> <p><strong><em>What has the piece taught you about your playing and how to reach an audience?</em></strong></p> <p>Music is the art of sound and time, each of which needs to be balanced in delicate proportion. Alongside the emotional depth, mastering various sound qualities is required. Every time I play Chopin's First Concerto, it's an experimentation with different touches in order to explore more possibilities. Moreover, this piece has also taught me about the proportion of rubato. Playing with an orchestra makes it impossible to do the same rubato as in a solo performance. It requires maintaining the steady pulse of the music as well as having flexibility in tempo. Reaching an audience is always a major concern for a musician. For me, aside from fine technique and a wide range of sound, it is even more crucial to play with authenticity and sincerity. </p> <p><em><strong>When you think back on your time at 91ֱ��, what stands out about the experience of going to school here?</strong></em></p> <p>Undoubtedly, I've had a very memorable study experience at 91ֱ��. The vibrant and inclusive community fostered a sense of belonging that enriched both my academic and personal growth. 91ֱ�� Conservatory gathers a group of talented musicians, and I truly felt inspired by my peers. In addition, 91ֱ�� offers an excellent academic environment. The world-class faculty challenged and mentored me to expand my knowledge and develop my skills. Most importantly, many thanks go to my teacher Professor Alvin Chow, who provided me with extremely valuable guidance. Under his tutelage, I’ve cultivated a deeper understanding of music. His unwavering support and encouragement empowered me to push beyond my limits and I’m deeply grateful for his mentorship.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Program also includes world premiere work by composition student Cashel Day-Lewis</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-05-02T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/02/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss ’84</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2396">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4052">Concerto Winners</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=29541">Piano</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/alvin-chow" hreflang="und">Alvin Chow</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/keyboard-studies" hreflang="und">Keyboard Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Cellist Drew Dansby to Perform Jazz-Influenced Cello Concerto</h1> <p>cstrauss — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 03:30:37 +0000</p> <span>Cellist Drew Dansby to Perform Jazz-Influenced Cello Concerto</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-11T23:30:37-04:00" title="Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 23:30">Thu, 04/11/2024 - 23:30</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Each October seniors in the Conservatory are eligible to compete in the annual Concerto Competition. An external jury selects four young artists to perform complete concertos with 91ֱ��'s orchestras, conducted by Raphael Jiménez.</p> <p>This year cellist Drew Dansby entered the competition with David Baker’s 1987 Concerto for Cello and Jazz Band, and earned one of these four solo spots. On <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_orchestra_oberlin_jazz_oberlin">Friday, April 12</a>, he'll perform this work accompanied by an ensemble of students from 91ֱ��'s Jazz Division under the leadership of <a href="/chris-anderson">Chris Anderson</a>, director of the 91ֱ�� Jazz Ensemble. It is the first time a jazz ensemble has been employed as collaborators for a Concerto Competition winner's solo date.</p> <p>The evening's program in Finney Chapel will also showcase the 91ֱ�� Orchestra, with <a href="/raphael-jimenez">Raphael Jiménez</a>, in performances of Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 and Carlos Simon's AMEN!, written in 2017 and revised in 2019.</p> <h6><em>Meet the soloist</em></h6> <p>At 23, Drew Dansby is the youngest member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and he is the cellist of the award-winning <a href="https://poiesisquartet.com/">Poiesis Quartet</a>, formed at 91ֱ�� in the Advanced String Quartet Seminar. Dansby won the position with Cincinnati last spring. He will graduate from 91ֱ�� this spring with dual degrees—a Bachelor of Music in cello performance and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, along with minors in sociology and comparative American studies. He is a student of <a href="/darrett-adkins">Darrett Adkins</a>.</p> <p>With the Poiesis Quartet, Dansby won the Grand Prize at the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as the gold medal at the 2023 St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Highlights of the quartet's 2023-24 season include a recording project with Grammy-winning producer Elaine Martone and mezzo-soprano Nancy Maultsby, the quartet's New York City debut on the Schneider Series at the Mannes School of Music, and a summer residency at the Emilia Romagna Festival in Italy. The Poiesis Quartet is continuing their studies in the Graduate Quartet Program at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.</p> <p>Dansby began playing both violin and cello at the age of 4 and continues to perform on both instruments. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States for three international summer tours, and was recognized as the first person in the history of that orchestra to be accepted on two instruments. </p> <p>He made his solo debut with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra at age 15, and he has performed with the Eastern Festival Orchestra as a winner of the Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition. He was recognized as a National YoungArts Winner and was awarded the gold medal in the Cleveland Cello Society competition. </p> <p>Committed to using music as a tool for community building, Dansby has worked as a volunteer to expand access to music education for young people and created organizations and programs that have served as fundraisers and outreach vehicles to nursing homes, hospitals, and after-school programs.</p> <p>As a chemistry major at 91ֱ��, Dansby conducted molecular dynamics and computational chemistry research under Professors <a href="/manish-mehta">Manish Mehta</a> and <a href="/shuming-chen">Shuming Chen</a>, and he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honors society. He also interned as an air quality analyst at the Charlotte branch of Civil and Environmental Consultants and conducted atmospheric chemistry research with Dr. Terry Miller at The Ohio State University. </p> <h6><em>Q&A</em></h6> <p><strong>How did you come to choose the David Baker Concerto for Cello and Jazz Band?</strong></p> <p>I first learned about David Baker in 2020 during the George Floyd uprisings, when there was increased interest in the classical music community in platforming works by Black composers. David Baker was a prolific multi-instrumentalist (including cellist), improviser, and composer, who many remember for his warm sense of humor and his brilliant teaching at Indiana University. He wrote a concerto for cello and chamber orchestra and a solo cello sonata, which are perhaps more well known. But, I came across his Concerto for Cello and Jazz Band and was really curious. No recordings were publicly available at that time. I reached out to the Conservatory Library, where Deborah Campana (Head of the Conservatory Library at the time) was able to find a recording of the first movement from a limited edition CD recorded shortly after Baker finished the composition in 1987. The piece sounded wicked hard, but also had some achingly beautiful moments, and I knew I had to learn it. The library also had a scan of Baker’s handwritten manuscript of the big band score, which gave me the idea to make a transcription of the composition for cello and jazz piano so I would be able to play it for the rounds of the 91ֱ�� Concerto Competition. I eventually met and partnered with Mitchell Galligan, a really talented jazz piano student who agreed to play my arrangement with me. I hoped this piece would be a good alternative to playing a canon cello concerto with orchestra, and thought it could also be an opportunity for collaboration between the classical and jazz departments of the Conservatory.</p> <p><strong>What has the piece taught you about your playing and how to reach an audience?</strong></p> <p>Baker wrote this work to encompass a variety of Black American music styles that are generally grouped under the blanket term “jazz,” including bebop improvisation, early R&B, and soul. The structure of the work—featuring three movements, two extended cadenzas that open and close the piece, and big band sections—bring aspects of the jazz idiom to closely resemble a European concerto for soloist and orchestra. Every main melody in the work is very accessible, almost cinematic. There is a beautiful waltz that opens the second movement, and the driving main theme of the third movement could be heard as an intro in a 90’s action film. However, each theme is cloaked in very technical cello writing. It’s been a challenge to explore how the solo part’s virtuosity contributes to the spirit of each melody or line, while not getting distracted by its difficulty. For me, this piece is also a reminder that every aspect that is cool and popular in classical music—especially contemporary American music—is Black American music adapted to more traditional European forms. </p> <p><strong>When you think back on your time at 91ֱ��, what stands out about the experience of going to school here?</strong></p> <p>91ֱ�� has incredible professors and an academic culture that encourages critical inquiry, and I felt like I had the resources and support to pursue anything I was interested in. But I also feel like I learned as much from my classmates as I did from my classes and professors. The conservatory is a place where we often end up spending more time than even our homes or dorms. Everyone I’ve met at 91ֱ�� is deeply passionate about community building, and it reflects in the ways we all show up and look out for each other.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">In a "first" for the 91ֱ�� Concerto Competition, the soloist will be accompanied by a jazz ensemble.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-04-11T12:00:00Z">Thu, 04/11/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss ’84</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4052">Concerto Winners</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35261">Cello</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/darrett-adkins" hreflang="und">Darrett Adkins</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/chris-anderson" hreflang="und">Chris Anderson</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/manish-mehta" hreflang="und">Manish Mehta</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/shuming-chen" hreflang="und">Shuming Chen</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Concerto Competition Winners Take Finney Stage This Spring</h1> <p>cstrauss — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 04:30:56 +0000</p> <span>Concerto Competition Winners Take Finney Stage This Spring</span> <span><span>cstrauss</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-05T00:30:56-04:00" title="Friday, April 5, 2024 - 00:30">Fri, 04/05/2024 - 00:30</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� Conservatory’s annual Concerto Competition identifies four winners that earn featured solo spots with the 91ֱ�� orchestras each spring. The first rounds were adjudicated by Conservatory faculty, while the public final round was adjudicated by a guest jury.</p> <p>This year, concerto so opportunities were won by <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_chamber_orchestra_929">clarinetist Juan Pedro Espinosa Monteros</a>, <a href="http://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_orchestra_oberlin_jazz_oberlin">cellist Drew Dansby</a>, <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_chamber_orchestra_7138">pianist Jiongli Wang</a>, and <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_orchestra_3257">violinist Maya Irizarry Lambright</a>—all fourth-year students. They will each present full performances of their winning pieces in concerts on four Friday evenings in Finney Chapel. Each performance will also be <a href="/conservatory/on-stage/live-webcasts">streamed live</a> at concert time.</p> <p>Three of the young artists will collaborate with the 91ֱ�� Orchestra and 91ֱ�� Chamber Orchestra, conducted by <a href="/raphael-jimenez">Raphael Jiménez</a>. And, this year there is an 91ֱ�� “first.” Later this month, Dansby will perform David Baker’s 1987 Concerto for Cello and Jazz Band, which will be accompanied by an ensemble of students from 91ֱ��'s Jazz Division. </p> <p>Performances get underway on <a href="https://calendar.oberlin.edu/event/concert_oberlin_chamber_orchestra_929">Friday, April 5</a> at 7:30 p.m., with Juan Pedro Espinosa Monteros and the 91ֱ�� Chamber Orchestra leading the way in Carl Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto. The program also includes Gioachino Rossini's Overture to <em>William Tell</em> and Alberto Ginastera Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23. </p> <h6>Meet the soloist</h6> <p>Born and raised in Ecuador, clarinetist Juan Pedro Espinosa Monteros studies with Professor <a href="/richard-hawkins">Richard Hawkins</a>. His quite notable professional achievements include an appointment as principal clarinetist of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Guayaquil, under the direction of conductor Dante Anzolini. He joined the orchestra in 2019 and played in the ensemble for three seasons as the youngest member in the organization. He made his solo debut with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Loja at the age of 15 and has since served consistently as a substitute clarinetist with that ensemble. And in 2017, he won the gold medal at the Solo Competition of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador—the first woodwind player to earn this prize—securing his appearance as soloist with the orchestra. He has also performed as a soloist with the symphony orchestras of Guayaquil and Cuenca. </p> <h6>Q&A</h6> <p><em><strong>How did you come to choose the Nielsen Concerto?</strong></em></p> <p>I picked the Nielsen clarinet concerto because my heart beats fast whenever I play it. I get excited, and it is a feeling that I try to give to the people that listen to me. I want the audience to be as enthusiastic about the music as I am. This concerto is like a roller coaster of emotions.</p> <p><em><strong>What has the piece taught you about your playing and how to reach an audience?</strong></em></p> <p>This concerto is an extremely difficult piece for the soloist and orchestra. And working on it has taught me a lot about patience. Nielsen’s writing allows for tons of freedom and variety. It lets me express myself a lot. It is one of the pieces where I can do more and give the work a little bit of my personality.</p> <p><strong><em>When you think back on your time at 91ֱ��, what stands out about the experience of going to school here?</em></strong></p> <p>Friends and music. 91ֱ�� is a special place. As an international student, the conservatory has been like a second home, people are welcoming and warm, and the sense of community is always there. I have felt seen and cared for by all the friends I’ve made through music here. </p> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Clarinetist Juan Pedro Espinosa Monteros kicks off the festivities on April 5</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-04-04T12:00:00Z">Thu, 04/04/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Cathy Partlow Strauss ’84</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3878">Conservatory of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4052">Concerto Winners</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2396">International Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37266">Clarinet</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/richard-hawkins" hreflang="und">Richard Hawkins</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/raphael-jimenez" hreflang="und">Raphael Jiménez</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/conducting-and-ensembles" hreflang="und">Conducting and Ensembles</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Fourth-year clarinetist Juan Pedro Espinosa Monteros.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>