Richard Cooke Podcasts
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2024-05-14
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Today we bring you four graduating seniors from Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative – a violinist, a horn player, and two percussionists. Amarin Sharma Amarin Sharma recently graduated from York Community High School in Elmhurst. Amarin started playing the violin at 7 years old. At the age of 8 she joined Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO), progressing through to the flagship Symphony Orchestra, as well as chamber groups and the Classical Orchestral Repertory Ensemble (CORE). In addition to CYSO, Amarin was involved in York Symphony Orchestra and Northwestern Music Academy Virtuosi Strings throughout high school. Amarin was a Fellow of Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI) and a Mellon Foundation Scholarship recipient for three years. Through CMPI, she received guidance and support to further develop her passion in violin performance and orchestral music in preparation for music education in college. She has competed in violin competitions including the Illinois Music Association Annual Olympic Contest where she earned first place. Amarin also enjoyed participating in the ILMEA District 1 and All-State Honors orchestras festivals, as well as OPUS, Credo, and Fulton Music Academy summer camps. In developing her musical skills, Amarin was mentored by Ayako Kikuchi and Stacia Spencer at Northwestern University. In the fall she will study Violin Performance at Vanderbilt University. Sophia Luong (Photo: Lucy Anderson) Sophia Luong is a percussionist from Des Plaines and a recent graduate of Maine West High School. She has been playing percussion for six years and studying under John Ringor for three. Sophia was a fellow with Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative as well as a student at Merit School of Music. She has also been a member of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and National Youth Orchestra 2. In the fall, Sophia will attend the Cleveland Institute of Music to study Percussion Performance. Aleo Esparza Aleo Esparza, 18, is a Mexican-American percussionist from Chicago, where he graduated from the Francis W. Parker School. He was a fellow in Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative from 2019 to 2023, and studied classical percussion at Merit School of Music with Brandon Podjasek. As a student at Merit, Aleo played in the Philharmonic Orchestra and the percussion chamber group Sticks and Stones. Additionally, Aleo served as Principal Percussionist of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Timpanist of the CYSO Classical Orchestral Repertory Ensemble for the 2022/23 season. In 2021-22, Aleo was selected for the ILMEA Honors All-State Band and received the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. The latter led to a performance on Show 423 of NPR’s From The Top. In the summers, Aleo has attended Interlochen Arts Camp twice – once in 2019, and then again in 2021, where he was selected to play in the World Youth Wind Symphony. Last summer, he attended the Brevard Music Center Summer Festival in North Carolina. In the fall, Aleo will attend the DePaul University School of Music for his undergraduate studies in classical percussion. Elena Miller Elena Miller is an 18-year-old horn player from Orland Park, and a recent graduate of Victor J. Andrew High School. She was a member of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras for five years, taking part in the flagship Symphony Orchestra for three years and the top woodwind quintet for one. She studied horn with Dr. Randall Faust, and in the fall she heads to the Cleveland Institute of Music to study Horn Performance. The post Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative Class of 2023 appeared first on WFMT.
In this episode we explore the intersection of identity and opera with University of Florida musicologist Leo Walker. Opera, with its grandeur, emotion, and powerful storytelling, has been a stage for human experiences throughout history. Amidst the vast repertoire of operatic works, there are narratives that explore the diverse spectrum of queer identities. These stories, often overlooked or overshadowed, have found their place within the canon, enriching the operatic landscape. Unveiling the queer threads in the operatic fabric allows us to appreciate the richness and diversity of human experiences. Composers like Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, and many others, have contributed to this exploration, often drawing inspiration from their own lives and relationships. By examining their music, letters, and historical context, scholars like Leo Walker have shed light on the queerness within the works of these composers, deepening our understanding and appreciation of their contributions to the art form. These narratives illuminate the beauty and struggles of love, desire, and self-discovery. They transcend boundaries and foster belonging for audiences of all backgrounds and identities. Episode Credits: Host - Ashley Daniel FootGuest - Leo WalkerEditor - Mack McGillivray Music Credits: “Adziu! Adziu!” from Act I of Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice. Performed by the English National Opera with John Graham Hall as Aschenbach. Conducted by Edward Gardner. “To Know” from Laura Kaminsky’s As One. Performed by Sasha Cooke, Kelly Markgraf, and The Fry Street Quartet. Produced by American Opera Projects in association with BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). “Without You What Am I” from Act III of Rufus Wainright’s Hadrian. Performed by the Canadian Opera Company with Thomas Hampson as Hadrian and Isaiah Bell as Antinous.
Special guest Kevin Olusola co-hosts this commemoration of Juneteenth featuring outstanding young Black musicians performing works by Florence Price, Coleridge-Taylor, Sam Cooke and more.
Special guest Kevin Olusola co-hosts this commemoration of Juneteenth featuring outstanding young Black musicians performing works by Florence Price, Coleridge-Taylor, Sam Cooke and more.
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