Ensemble 20/21 Begins New Virtual Season March 6

PHILADELPHIA, PA—February 26, 2021—Ensemble 20/21, the contemporary music ensemble at the Curtis Institute of Music, begins a new season with three online concerts running from March 6 through May 15. These free, streamed performances are the culmination of virtual activities and research by Curtis’s student performers on the music of Alvin Singleton and Julius Eastman, and a guest appearance by harpist Coline Marie Orliac.

The season opens with Portrait of Alvin Singleton, featuring a performance of the composer’s complete Argoru series for solo instruments as recorded by Curtis students. Audiences can view the concert on-demand with advance registration beginning Saturday, March 6 or watch the concert via broadcast on Sunday, March 7 at 3 p.m. ET on YouTube (Curtis.edu/YouTube) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CurtisInstitute). “Argoru” comes from the Twi language spoken in Ghana and means “to play.” These pieces span a compositional period from 1968 through 2002 and highlight the virtuosity and versatility of solo piano, strings, woodwinds, and percussion instruments.

As Ensemble 20/21’s current composer in residence, Mr. Singleton will participate in master classes, specifically for the school’s six composition students, and to the entire student body of approximately 150 about his own music. He will also provide individual coachings to the eight performers of the Argoru series leading up to the concert. Mr. Singleton will soon compose a ninth Argoru installment for solo violin, commissioned by the Curtis Institute of Music with the support of the Allen R & Judy Brick Freedman Venture Fund for Music.

Ensemble 20/21’s season continues with a performance of Julius Eastman’s The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc on Tuesday, March 23. Mr. Eastman, a 1963 piano graduate of Curtis, pushed his minimalist aesthetic with this piece for ten cellos, the score of which was lost, as was much of his work. It has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, following a transcription by Clarice Jensen. The piece will be performed by Curtis’s entire cello studio in a special video project.

The season concludes on Saturday, May 15 with a concert featuring 2010 harp alumna Coline Marie Orliac. She will perform new works commissioned from fellow Curtis alumnae Dai Wei, Rene Orth, and Kat Souponetsky. Additional program details are forthcoming.

Free, advance registration for each concert and more information is available at Curtis.edu/Ensemble.

Flexible in size and scope, Ensemble 20/21 performs a wide range of music from the 20th and 21st centuries, including works by Curtis students and alumni. The ensemble has appeared at major U.S. venues such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Miller Theatre, as well as international venues, including the Intimacy of Creativity festival in Hong Kong. The ensemble has presented concert portraits of iconic composers in residence Unsuk Chin, John Corigliano, George Crumb, Krzysztof Penderecki, Augusta Read Thomas, and Chen Yi, among many others. Of the ensemble’s Joan Tower portrait program, the New York Times wrote, “Ms. Tower could hardly have hoped for more passionate performances.” Ensemble 20/21 is led by artistic director David Serkin Ludwig.

Alvin Singleton was born in Brooklyn, New York and completed his studies at New York University and Yale University. As a Fulbright scholar, he studied with Goffredo Petrassi at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. After living and working in Europe for 14 years, Mr. Singleton returned to the United States to become composer in residence with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a post he held from 1985 to 1988. He subsequently served as the Unisys composer in residence with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to 1997, composer in residence with the Ritz Chamber Players from 2002 to 2003, and composer in residence in Tirana, Albania. In Spring 2004 Mr. Singleton joined the American Composers Orchestra as the “Music Alive” composer in residence and artistic advisor for the Improvise! Festival. He has also served as visiting professor of composition at the Yale University School of Music.

Mr. Singleton’s music is notable for combination of influences and moments of theatricality and surprise. He has worked extensively with major orchestras worldwide and has written significant works for chamber and vocal ensembles, as well as works for the theater. His works have been premiered by such renowned ensembles as VocalEssence, Imani Winds, the Momenta Quartet, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Astral Artists, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chamber Choir, and the American Composers Orchestra with Ursula Oppens at Carnegie Hall, and the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Russia. Notable commissions include those from the ASCAP Foundation and Spivey Hall, the Orchestra of the League of Composers, the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation, and the American Composers Orchestra.

Mr. Singleton is the recipient of a 2003 Guggenheim Fellowship. Other awards include the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis from the city of Darmstadt, Germany; the Musikprotokoll Kompositionspreis from Austrian Radio, which he received twice; the Mayor’s Fellowship in the Arts award from the city of Atlanta; and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2014, Singleton was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Mr. Singleton’s music is recorded on the Albany Records, Elektra/Nonesuch, First Edition, Tzadik, and Innova labels. Sweet Chariot was released in July 2014 on Albany Records and is the third album in the label’s series devoted to his music.

The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry. For nearly a century Curtis has provided each member of its small student body with an unparalleled education alongside musical peers, distinguished by a “learn by doing” philosophy and personalized attention from a faculty that includes a high proportion of actively performing musicians. To ensure that admissions are based solely on artistic promise, Curtis makes an investment in each admitted student so that no tuition is charged for their studies. In a typical year, Curtis students hone their craft through more than 200 orchestra, opera, and solo and chamber music offerings in Philadelphia and around the world.

 


 

CURTIS ENSEMBLE 20/21

 

Portrait of Alvin Singleton
Available for on-demand streaming Saturday, March 6

Broadcast: Portrait of Alvin Singleton
Sunday, March 7 at 3 p.m. ET on YouTube (Curtis.edu/YouTube) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CurtisInstitute)

ALVIN SINGLETON      Argoru I
Zitong Wang, piano
SINGLETON Argoru II
Matthew Christakos, cello
SINGLETON Argoru III
Calvin Mayman, flute
SINGLETON Argoru IV
Hae Sue Lee, viola
SINGLETON Argoru V/a
Simon Bakos, bass clarinet
SINGLETON Argoru VI
Yoonseo Kang, marimba
SINGLETON Argoru VII
Hamza Able, vibraphone
SINGLETON Argoru VIII
Julien Bélanger, snare drum

Registration: Free; register for on-demand streaming at Curtis.edu/Ensemble.

 

The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc
Available for on-demand streaming Saturday, March 20

 

JULIUS EASTMAN                  The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc

 

Registration: Free; register for on-demand screening at Curtis.edu/Ensemble.

 

Generous support for Ensemble 20/21 is provided by the Daniel W. Dietrich II Foundation.

 

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Composer in Residence Alvin Singleton Coaches Three Decades of Works

Award-winning composer, Fulbright scholar, and Guggenheim fellow Alvin Singleton is working with Curtis students throughout the 2020–21 season as composer in residence. Notably, he will provide individual coachings to members of Ensemble 20/21, Curtis’s contemporary music ensemble, as they prepare his complete Argoru series for solo instruments for Portrait of Alvin Singleton on March 6.

Argoru—meaning “to play” in the Twi language of Ghana—comprises eight stand-alone solo works for strings, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. Astoundingly, even for the composer himself, the series was composed between 1968 and 2002, and represents the progression of his skills and aesthetics as an artist. Each piece brings its own unique character from “playfulness and spontaneity”i to “deafening silences,”ii though technical virtuosity, extreme contrasts, and an improvisatory feel are hallmarks of the series. Mr. Singleton will soon add a ninth Argoru installment for solo violin, commissioned by the Curtis Institute of Music with the support of the Allen R & Judy Brick Freedman Venture Fund for Music.

David Serkin Ludwig, artistic director of Ensemble 20/21, recently spoke to Mr. Singleton from his home in Atlanta. In this short video, he shares memories of what drew him to composition and some adventures while living in Europe, thoughts on his musical voice, and disbelief in how three decades can fly by!

About the composer

Alvin Singleton was born in Brooklyn, New York and completed his studies at New York University and Yale University. As a Fulbright scholar, he studied with Goffredo Petrassi at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. After living and working in Europe for 14 years, Mr. Singleton returned to the United States to become composer in residence with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a post he held from 1985 to 1988. He subsequently served as the Unisys composer in residence with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to 1997, composer in residence with the Ritz Chamber Players from 2002 to 2003, and composer in residence in Tirana, Albania. In Spring 2004 Mr. Singleton joined the American Composers Orchestra as the “Music Alive” composer in residence and artistic advisor for the Improvise! Festival. He has also served as visiting professor of composition at the Yale University School of Music.

Mr. Singleton’s music is notable for combination of influences and moments of theatricality and surprise. He has worked extensively with major orchestras worldwide and has written significant works for chamber and vocal ensembles, as well as works for the theater. His works have been premiered by such renowned ensembles as VocalEssence, Imani Winds, the Momenta Quartet, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Astral Artists, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival Chamber Choir, and the American Composers Orchestra with Ursula Oppens at Carnegie Hall, and the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Russia. Notable commissions include those from the ASCAP Foundation and Spivey Hall, the Orchestra of the League of Composers, the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation, and the American Composers Orchestra.

Mr. Singleton is the recipient of a 2003 Guggenheim Fellowship. Other awards include the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis from the city of Darmstadt, Germany; the Musikprotokoll Kompositionspreis from Austrian Radio, which he received twice; the Mayor’s Fellowship in the Arts award from the city of Atlanta; and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2014, Singleton was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.


iWritten by Laura Gordy in 2009 for the Schott edition of Argoru I for piano

iiWritten by Carman Moore in 2009 for the Schott edition of Argoru VIII for snare drum

Diane Monroe is WRTI Featured Artist

Diane Monroe (Violin ’80) penned articles, shared recordings, and appeared on air on WRTI-FM throughout the week of February 15. “One of the great cross-genre artists of our time,” Ms. Monroe was one of four Black artists featured by the station for Black History Month.

Coverage began with an introductory piece about Ms. Monroe’s varied career, focusing on early influences that led to her success in jazz, including performances with Max Roach and an appearance in the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center. Curtis faculty member Arnold Steinhardt (Violin ’59) remembers her from her years at Curtis as “a brilliant violinist whose heart, wit, and intelligence give unforgettable meaning to every performance.”

WRTI also shared a first-person article by Ms. Monroe about the healing power of music, the emotional intelligence it requires, and her hopes for the future of music “genres.” Read the article HERE.

As a featured artist, Ms. Monroe’s music aired across the jazz and classical playlists all week long. Archives of the broadcasts remain available on WRTI Replay for a limited time.

Selections from Classical Weekdays with Debra Lew Harder include:

  • Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115, performed with fellow Curtis alumni (February 16 stream, begins around 46:20)
  • Paul Salerni: The Big Sword and the Little Broom (February 18 stream, begins around 1:18:31)
  • César Franck: Sonata for violin and piano in A major (February 19 stream, begins around 23:40)

Selections from Late Evening Jazz with Courtney Blue include:

  • “Eronel” (February 18 stream, begins around 11:42)
  • “Pithecanthropus Erectus” (February 18 stream, begins around 2:47:53)

 


Curtis students, alumni, and faculty, are making remarkable accomplishments in the music world and beyond. Learn more about Curtis in the News.

Curtis Mentor Network Session Begins March 15

The Curtis Institute of Music invites classical musicians ages 14–28 to learn more about the Curtis Mentor Network (CMN), a six-week remote program that provides high-quality, personalized mentorship. Participants receive one-on-one lessons with alumni mentors and attend studio classes led by current Curtis students. The program develops participants’ overall musicianship and prepares them for auditions, competitions, and performances.

To date, over 100 students from 17 states and nine countries have benefitted from CMN. Said one participant: “Having a program like this was the special gem I did not know I needed!”

A new session begins on Monday, March 15; registration opens on Monday, March 1 at Curtis.edu/CMN. Want to learn more? A free informational webinar takes place on Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m. ET. Current mentors and administrators will answer questions and provide more details about the program.

CMN mentors are some of the most celebrated professional musicians and accomplished teachers in the field, drawn from the alumni body and Curtis’s summer program faculty. View mentor roster.

The online program is currently available to students around the world in cello, clarinet, composition, conducting, flute, oboe, piano, viola, violin, and voice. Program fees total $1,000 USD (limited financial aid is available) and include:

  • six 45-minute lessons via Zoom (optimized for audio quality)
  • three one-hour studio classes
  • three one-hour professional development seminars
  • additional support and guidance from current Curtis students and staff
  • a Certificate of Completion signed by mentor and CMN artistic director

Michelle Cann Delivers “Knockout” Debut Says Philadelphia Inquirer

In a recent review, the Philadelphia Inquirer lauded Michelle Cann’s (Piano ’13, ArtistYear ’15) debut as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. In “a knockout” performance of Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, “[she] sets a standard,” the review says.

“I feel I am bringing her dream to life,” said Ms. Cann of performing the concerto, in a story from WHYY. She has been a champion of Ms. Price’s composition since reading it in 2016. At the same time Ms. Cann feels the composer played a role in helping her achieve her own dreams; both women have achieved significant firsts as Black female pianists. “I didn’t just get here; I got here with her piece,” she said in an interview for 6ABC. This is a piece she wanted to be heard.”

The Broad Street Review added to the praise: “Cann brings flawless technique and measurable passion to her assignment.”

Ms. Cann was appointed the Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies in November.

 


 

Curtis students, alumni, and faculty, are making remarkable accomplishments in the music world and beyond. Learn more about Curtis in the News.