So, How’s That Going?: Recent Episodes
So, How’s That Going?
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this episode, we speak with Makiko Hirata, who has curated our final Next Up program of the 2021-22 Season. Her program will explore the life and music of Ernst Toch in historical context, performing pieces in chronological order with narration from Toch's grandson, author Lawrence Weschler. The program begins with the Brahms and Mozart of Toch's early days in Europe—before fleeing the influence of Nazi Germany—through Toch's very last piano pieces written in Southern California in 1962.
The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Thursday, May 12. Register for the concert.
Music in this Episode JAMES STEPHENSON Celestial Suite for Brass Quintet V. Hawking Jackson Prasifka, Horn Diego Stine, Tuba Gracie Potter, Trombone Forrest Johnston, Trumpet Tyler Norris, Trumpet From Next Up: Celestial Suite, April 27
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Kyle Kremer (Conservatory ’15) who has curated the upcoming program for the Next Up Series. His program is called Celestial Suite: Combining Music and Astronomy, which will feature a brass quintet from the Colburn Conservatory of Music along with Kyle’s narration and visual projections of the cosmos.
The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Wednesday, April 27.
Register for the concert
Music in this Episode MENDELSSOHN String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13 I. Adagio – Allegro vivace Zi Yang Low, Violin Blues Zhang, Violin Haixin Wan, Viola Angeline Kiang, Cello From the Music Academy Young Artist Performance, March 19
RACHMANINOFF Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos in C Major, Op. 17 III. Romance Daniel Wang, Piano 1 Ukki Sachedina, Piano 2 From the Music Academy Young Artist Performance, February 12
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Evin Blomberg (Conservatory '15). Evin curated a program that features solo violin repertoire by Kreisler, Ysaÿe, Marsalis, and Bach. The beautifully rendered solo performance is her inspired answer to the isolated realities brought on by the pandemic.
The concert takes place virtually on March 17.
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Music in this Episode KREISLER Recitativo und Scherzo-Caprice, Op.6
BACH Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 V. Chaconne
In this episode, we spoke with ballet dancer Samuel Melnikov. After studying in the Dance Academy from 2014 to 2017, Sam joined the New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2020.
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Kako Miura (Conservatory '19), who curated our first in-person program, To Be Bach or Not To Be Bach, which paints a picture of the musical world in which the composer lived.
The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Thursday, December 9.
Register for the concert
Music in this Episode BACH Suite in G Major, BVW 1007 Benjamin Chilton, Viola
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Ryan Davis (Conservatory '19), who curated the first Next Up concert of the year, Chromatophores, which will premiere on Thursday, October 14.
Register for the concert
Music in this Episode RYAN DAVIS: “Colour You Like”
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Community School alum Maya Paredes, who curated the fifth and final program, Modern and Popular Music Jukebox, which premiered Saturday, May 29, 2021.
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Conservatory alum Alicia Lee, who curated the fourth program, Styles and Textures for Solo Clarinet, which premieres Saturday, May 8.
Register for the concert Read more about the program
In this episode, Emmy Award-winning composer, jazz pianist, and Community School alumnus Kris Bowers talks about his remarkable 2020, his family’s unwavering support of his music from a young age, and the changing landscape of the music industry.
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Conservatory alum Eric Byers, who curated the third program, Retrouvé, which premieres Saturday, April 10.
Music in this Episode from the Next Up Concert: ROBERT SCHUMANN Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 MARIN MARAIS Voix Humaines
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Conservatory alum Conrad Jones, who curated the second program, Eclectic Classical, which premieres Saturday, March 13.
Links and Resources Next Up Series The Two Gabagools Official Website The Two Gabagools Instagram The Two Gabagools YouTube Stracotto recipe*
- Note from Conrad: “I slightly caramelize fresh mushrooms separately with red wine, garlic, thyme, and a lot of black pepper. Then, I add them on top of the plated beef. This is all great over super al dente rigatoni.
As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Conservatory alum Ben Ullery who curated the first program of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which premieres Saturday, February 13. Don't forget to register for the event.
Links and Resources Next Up Series Music in This Episode BACH Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, Variation II, arr. DMITRY SITKOVETSKY for String Trio
In this episode, we speak with internationally renowned violinist and Community School alumnus Anne Akiko Meyers. Get her perspective on the year behind us, the year ahead of us, her earliest days at Colburn, and being tenacious.
Links and Resources Anne Akiko Meyers’ Official Website January 30: Live from the Draylen Mason Music in This Episode VIVALDI Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "Summer" (L'estate) I. Allegro non molto Anne Akiko Meyers (Community School ’83), Violin David Lockington, Conductor English Chamber Orchestra
VIVALDI Concerto in F Major, RV 551, for Three Violins II. Andante Anne Akiko Meyers (Community School ’83), Violin David Lockington, Conductor English Chamber Orchestra
Music for this episode was selected from Anne Akiko Meyers’ album The Four Seasons: The Vivaldi Album.
In this episode, we touch on issues around the pandemic, social justice movements, and the state of the performing arts from multiple perspectives. Our guests are Blake Lanesskog (Dance Academy ’18), Andrew Brady (Conservatory ’13), and Nokuthula Ngwenyama (Community School ’93). Jazmín Morales, Assistant Director for the Center for Innovation and Community Impact at Colburn, joins us at the end to discuss her experience with the Sphinx Organization and the EDI work going on at Colburn.
Just before our Los Angeles campus shut its doors due to COVID-19, we spent some time with alumnus David Fung (Conservatory ’09), the first piano graduate of the Colburn Conservatory of Music who is now what you might call a Renaissance person.
We catch up with Anatalia Hordov (Dance Academy '16), Nicholas Rose (Dance Academy '15), and the members of the Calidore Quartet (Conservatory '16), and our own Dr. Nate Zeisler of the Center for Innovation and Community Impact to talk about how the current pandemic is changing the performing arts community and affecting alumni as artists and humans.