Chicago-based soprano Amy Conn will appear in Bach’s Cantata 152 “Tritt auf den Glaubensbahn” as part of the Grace Lutheran Church Bach Cantata Vespers Series with the Newberry Consort and Douglas Anderson, Baritone. The concert will take place at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division Street, in River Forest, IL, on Sunday, January 30th 4pm.

The following week, Ms. Conn will sing Steven Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians with chamber ensemble eighth blackbird at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago ave., on Saturday February 5th, 7:30pm (sold out) & 10pm.

Finally, on February 13 at 2pm, Amy will perform “Men and Women in Love,” a solo recital with Shannon McGinnis, pian;  featuring music of Clara Schumann, Germaine Tailleferre, Robert Kritz and Enrique Granados. The recital will take place at the Wilmette Public Library Auditorium, 1242 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, IL. Admission is free.

Soprano Amy Conn is known for her pure tone, communicative warmth and musical intelligence. Amy appears on both the concert and theater stage in music of many periods, with a special love for baroque repertoire. Ms. Conn has soloed with Music of the Baroque, Baroque Band, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Elgin Choral Union and Symphony, Chorus Angelorum, North Shore Choral Society, Lutheran Choir of Chicago and Bach Chamber Choir. She is a former long time member of Chicago a cappella. Stage appearances include lead roles in Acis and Galatea, The Turn of the Screw, Yeomen of the Guard and The Pirates of Penzance. In 2010, she made her debut with Chicago Opera Theater, covering the role of Isifile in Cavalli’s Giasone.

Pianist Carolyn Enger will perform at Tenri Cultural Institute, 43A West 13th Street, New York on Sunday, January  23rd at 3pm. Tickets will be available at the door: $20.00, students and seniors, $15.00; cash or check. Free admission for Leschetizky Association Members.

Program includes:

• Robert Starer: Three Israeli Dances
• Felix Mendelssohn: Venetian Gondola Song No. 6; Song Without Words Op. 19, No. 1
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata in A flat, Opus 110
• Franz Schubert: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. post., D. 946
• Paul Ben-Haim: Five Pieces for Piano

American pianist Carolyn Enger is a passionate and distinctive musician whose recitals express her joy of sharing great music with audiences. In an era when musical interpretation has become predictable, Ms. Enger’s memorable concert experiences make an indelible impression on the individuals who hear them. Ms. Enger has appeared in many venues throughout the New York City and New Jersey area including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, Bechstein Piano Centre, Yamaha Artist Services, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and the Puffin Cultural Center.

Her many recitals have also included numerous outreach concerts for libraries, community centers, churches, and synagogues. Ms. Enger presents programs designed to inspire audiences to engage deeply with classical music of all kinds. Her concert repertoire includes piano literature from all periods, ranging from the great masterworks of European history to fresh new discoveries from living composers. Her recital programs are carefully crafted to the venues and performance contexts in which she appears. She has recently created recital programs featuring music by a number of living American and Israeli composers including Ned Rorem, Lowell Liebermann, Avner Dorman, Lior Navok, and Menachem Zur.

Ms. Enger has released a recording entitled In Evening Air, which includes music of Beethoven, Scriabin, Hanson, Copland, Rorem, and Liebermann. She has also recorded a forthcoming CD devoted entirely to piano music of Ned Rorem. Ms. Enger is a graduate of Molloy College. She has furthered her musical study at the Manhattan School of Music, the Juilliard School, Vassar College, and the Adamant Music School in Vermont. Her teachers have included Marc Silverman, Arkady Aronov, Peter Vinograde, and Robert MacDonald. She has also participated in masterclasses and coaching with Ward Davenny, Golda Tatz, and Jacob Lateiner.

Ms. Enger was a student of the late Freda Rosenblatt, a musical descendant of Theodor Leschetizky, one of the world’s foremost piano teachers (whose students included the famous pianists Ignace Paderewski and Artur Schnabel). Leschetizky himself was a student of Carl Czerny, who in turn was Beethoven’s star pupil. Ms. Enger is honored to be a part of this distinguished tradition.

Furthering her interest in distinctive concert experiences, Ms. Enger is currently working on a multimedia project that will combine music, literature, and images, centering on the lives of Holocaust survivors.

Maestro Philip Morehead will conduct performances of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado at Lyric Opera of Chicago, January 11-21, 2011.

A veteran of almost thirty years as pianist and conductor at the renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago, Philip Morehead has extensive experience in the operatic repertory, as well as concert works, and contemporary chamber music. Morehead recently launched his new web site, designed by PerformSites (Peter McDowell and Ari Salomon).

Lyric’s new production of the Mikado stars James Morris and Stephanie Blythe and is directed by Chicago director Gary Griffin.

Congratulations to mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Buckley, who has been selected as a first place winner in the 2011 Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition. She will perform at the Winners’ Recital, which will be held Sunday January 23, 2011 at 1:30 PM in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Tickets are available at www.carnegiehall.org.

The Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition (BAIVC) has been designed as an entrée into the world of vocal performance for those seriously interested in pursuing a professional operatic career. BAIVC is open to students from age fifteen to adults, and divided into four categories.

Elizabeth Buckley, mezzo-soprano, has been praised by critics for possessing a voice of unique warmth and clarity. She is the recipient of the Presser Foundation Award for Outstanding Musician and the Grace Wilson Excellence in Singing Award. Elizabeth is also the winner of the Gunsalus Singing Competition, the 21st Century Piano Commission Competition, and the Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship. Recently she was selected as a semi-finalist in the Oratorio Society of New York Solo Competition, and a finalist in the Bel Canto Chorus Regional Artist Competition. Elizabeth was also selected as a Regional Finalist in the New York Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and a finalist in the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has performed the roles of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Mother Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Nancy in Albert Herring, Mrs. Splinters in Tender Land, Dafne in L’Euridice, Third Lady and Third Spirit in Die Zauberflöte, Iolanthe in Iolanthe, Phoebe Meryll in Yeomen of the Guard, Nettie and Julie Jordan in Carousel, Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!, and Sandy in Grease. In addition, she has an extensive background in recital and oratorio repertoire with an emphasis in Baroque performance practice.

The video you see above describes the making of saxophonist Dave Camwell‘s CD — Bach-centric — a collection of beloved works by Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged for saxophone, which came out on the Teal Creek label last month and is available on CD Baby. You can read my original post containing all the details about this release.

The CD is currently being played on the Beethoven Satellite Network,  a nationally-syndicated program (through the WFMT Fine Arts Network) of which Peter Van De Graaff is program director and host. The network is carried throughout the country to approximately 150 stations (mostly NPR affiliates).

The praise is starting to roll in about this extraordinary CD:

“I’ve discovered another masterpiece Bach CD recorded, and performed, all by saxophones.” – David J. Gibson, Saxophone Journal

“While doing research for my new documentary BACH & more friends, I came across the Bach-Centric CD. I fell in love with it immediately and knew Dave Camwell had to be a part of my new film. Dave’s playing and the ensemble work of the Oasis group is Bach performed at its highest level.” – Michael R. Lawrence, Director of BACH & friends

Here’s a video featuring a montage of images and audio samples from this recording:

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