Saturday, June 25, 11am-12pm, outdoors at West Medford Open Studios
Sunday, June 26, 3-4pm, outdoors at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Free and open to all
Sunday, June 26, 3-4pm, outdoors at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Free and open to all
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Program Notes: Illuminated by the Light of Two Ships Passing in the Night; The Eleventh Hour; Reminiscence; The Beacon of the Bay; Fanfare for the Importance of Imagination; Springburst; A Vision of Hills
Musicians: Minjin Chung, Julia Carey, Justus Ross
Program Notes
Oliver Caplan
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Oliver Caplan writes: "The ephemeral has many forms: two strangers passing in the night; sun-dappled Monarchs migrating south; and all too familiar to us artists, fleeting bursts of inspiration evanescing like shooting stars into the darkness. This piece is an ode to moments of illumination. The title draws from a work of conceptual art by Lawrence Weiner (b. 1942). Weiner started as a sculptor, but in 1968 began to explore language as a new medium for presenting his ideas, creating installation art that consisted solely of words imprinted on white walls. Without binding his ideas to concrete physical form, much is left to the imagination of the beholder."
Oliver Caplan (Massachusetts), https://www.olivercaplan.com/bio.html. |
Joe Jaxson
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Joe Jaxson writes: "Written for two of my friends who graduated with me, I wrote this with them in mind. Something impactful, yet accessible. The clock keeps ticking but it's that penultimate hour, the Eleventh Hour, that we hold dear to ourselves until the clock resets and it's a whole new day, a whole new chapter for us to experience.”
Joe Jaxson (Virginia), https://www.joejaxsoncomposer.com/bio.html. |
Mari Kotskyy
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Mari Kotskyy writes: “This piece is about her emotions of when she immigrated to New York from her hometown, Hokkaido, an island in northernmost Japan. When she just came to New York, she felt homesick and she couldn’t stop thinking about her family, friends and the beautiful nature back home in Hokkaido. However, little by little, she was getting used to New York life, and her sentimental feelings have decreased."
Mari Kotsktyy (New York), https://www.marikotskyy.com/about.html |
Stacy Garrop
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Stacy Garrop writes: "When the Newport Music Festival commissioned me, I looked for a topic that would celebrate an aspect of the Newport community. I became fascinated with the lighthouse on the property of Castle Hill Inn, located at Narragansett Bay. In Beacon of the Bay, we first hear the lighthouse’s characteristic as its ruby light blinks on and off. As the piece progresses, we hear waves playfully lapping around its base; this is followed by a violent storm. But the steadfast lighthouse holds firm to the rocks. The music quiets back down to its simple theme, with yachts sailing by as the piece concludes."
Stacy Garrop (Illinois), https://www.garrop.com/About/Biography/ |
Oliver Caplan
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Oliver Caplan writes: "Everything great carries fingerprints of imagination; for with imagination we can envision beyond what rational thought allows. This fanfare’s title draws from a speech by J.K. Rowling, whose improbable success is an inspiration for imagination if there ever were one. I composed this music partially as a personal anthem to keep my chin up on doubtful days, and as an ode to everyone else out there who has ever excitedly shared their dreams only to see someone roll their eyes in return."
Oliver Caplan (Massachusetts), https://www.olivercaplan.com/bio.html. |
Carson Coonman
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Carson Coonman writes: "Springburst (2007) for piano trio is dedicated to composer Gwyneth Walker on her 60th birthday. It was composed for “Gwyneth Walker: A Celebration of the Music Makers”, a birthday music festival at Chandler Hall, Braintree, Vermont in October 2007, where it was performed by Trio Tulsa. The work is a brief and vibrant work with distinctly “American” characteristics. The music reflects Walker’s energetic personal and musical personality."
Carson Coonman (Massachusetts), https://carsoncooman.com/biography/ |
Gwyneth Walker
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Gwyneth Walker writes: "A Vision of Hills is an extended, one-movement musical exploration of the traditional Irish hymn tune, "Be Thou, My Vision." The reference to hills comes from the view of the hilly Vermont countryside as seen from the composer's studio. As the fullness of morning arrives, the piano descends into mid-range, and the melody is presented in the strings. The final statement of the theme is placed in a 2/2 meter to emphasize the triumphant nature of the hymn tune. This is intended to reflect the strength of faith, and of the hills."
Gwyneth Walker (Connecticut), https://www.gwynethwalker.com/index.html |
Musicians
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Minjin Chung is a cellist based in Boston who enjoys an active career as a freelance musician and is on the cello faculty of the Dedham School of Music. Praised by the Boston Music Intelligencer for her “beautiful sweeping melody played with grace” she has appeared in the top concert halls in the world such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. She is an avid performer of new music and has premiered countless new works throughout her years as a student and in her professional career. As an orchestral player, she has attended the Aspen Music Festival as a New Horizon Fellow and has performed with the Sinfonia da Camera, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the New World Symphony. As a soloist, she has received awards from the Richmond Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Virginia Lions Club Bland Music Competition, Virginia String Teachers Association Solo Competition, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Concerto Competition.
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Julia Scott Carey began her music training at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, where she received the Lanier Prize for Most Outstanding Graduating Senior. She was one of the first students admitted to the Harvard-New England Conservatory joint degree program, through which she received a master’s degree in composition. She received a second master’s degree in collaborative piano from Boston University. Julia is the Minister of Music at the Central Square Congregational Church in Bridgewater, where she leads the adult and children’s choirs from the keyboard. She is one of the accompanists for the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Symphony Children’s Choir. She also serves as the accompanist for the Metropolitan Chorale of Brookline, the Dedham Choral Society, the Boston College University Chorale, and the Boston Saengerfest Men’s Chorus. She previously served as the pianist for the Handel and Haydn Society’s Educational Vocal Quartet, the Wellesley College Chamber Singers, and the Boston Children’s Chorus. She is also a founder and core ensemble member of Juventas New Music Ensemble.
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ustus Ross completed his Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance at Texas Tech University under Professor Annie Chalex Boyle. During his studies at Texas Tech University, Justus became the first prize winner of the Texas Tech University String Concerto Competition in 2016; a national finalist in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition in 2017; and received second prize in the ENKOR International Chamber Music Competition in 2017. In the season of 2018-2019 Justus was the assistant concert master of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. He also performed in the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, The Myrska Trio, and other various small ensembles in the West Texas area. Justus has participated in music festivals such as the Heifetz International Music Institute, Round Top Music Festival, Hot Springs Music Festival, and Lake City String Academy. He has performed in master classes and lessons with Ani Kavafian, Scott St. John, Frank Almond, Tom Rosenberg, Kenneth Goldsmith, and Sally O’reilly. While in Los Angeles, California, Justus attended the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. There he received his Master of Music degree in Violin Performance under Dr. Lina Bahn. During his master’s degree, Justus was a finalist in the Thornton School of Music String Concerto Competition; a member of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee; and a section violinist of the American Youth Symphony.
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