“There’s a credit crisis right now, but that hasn’t stopped Oregonians from giving to the Oregon Cultural Trust, which, in turn, is dispersing its funds in record amounts… The trust announced $1.65 million in grants for 2009, an increase of about 21 percent.”
Tag: 08.02.08
Remaking The Vatican Choir
St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican’s church, has a long and venerable history, but in recent years, the in-house choir had deteriorated, even becoming known as St. Peter’s Screechers. Then, Rev. Pierre Paul arrived, and began revolutionizing the Vatican’s approach to choral music.
Columbus Musicians Play On
The Columbus Symphony may be officially shut down, but “with the grass-roots support of volunteers and others, the musicians, acting as their own managers, have played on.” Still, the expense and logistical challenges of putting on orchestra concerts with no access to the CSO’s usual venue and library have been immense.
Emmett Till’s Tragedy Goes Operatic
A New Jersey opera company is presenting the world premiere of an operatic version of the tragic story of Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who was viciously beaten and shot in Mississippi in 1955. The opera was composed by Charles Lloyd, Jr, best known for his jazz compositions.
Alice Chalifoux, 100
“Alice Chalifoux, the diminutive, salty-tongued and beloved former principal harp of the Cleveland Orchestra, died Thursday at the age of 100… Chalifoux, who became a centenarian in January, was a legend in the music world. She served as principal harp in the Cleveland Orchestra from 1931 to 1974,” and taught many of the top harpists in the business at Oberlin and Cleveland Institute of Music.