Community Music School Celebrates Winners of the Young Composers Competition
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Jenny Yao, Caroline Bragg, Paul Novak, Yusei Hata, Nathaniel Heyder, Niloufar Nourbakhsh
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On Saturday, March 23rd, the Community Music School
hosted its 15th annual Young Composer Competition workshops and Emerging Composers Concert. We were thrilled to host guest composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh from Brooklyn’s Stony Brook University and winning student composers from across the nation. Students rehearsed their winning works with professional players culled from St. Louis' rich musical milieu and attended workshops presented by Niloufar and Webster University's Dr. David Werfelmann, before finally hearing their sonic creations brought to life in concert on the CMS stage.
In addition to coaching the students on their winning
works, Mrs. Nourbakhsh, founder of the Iranian Female Composers Association, offered insight into her own creative work and the unique musical voice she is forging from her background in both western classical and Sufi music. Her workshop culminated in
The iPhone Drone Orchestra
, an aleatoric musical
exploration wherein audience participants-as-orchestra, utilizing a cell phone app, produced the long, droning tones of the Indian
tanpura
,
whilst the winning composers stood as singing soloists, each taking a turn conducting improvised musical meditations.
Dr. Werfelmann returned to reprise the role of composer-cum-life
coach with his excellent
Habits of The Highly Effective Composer
, wherein he discussed
concepts of time management and lifestyle choices germane not solely to the career path of a composer but, in fact, to anyone seeking greater efficacy in their life.
The weekend was a tremendous success. Friendships
were forged, ideations invigorated, and for a little while young minds felt the molecules in the air shift to and fro according exactly to their designs.
Justin Blackburn, Coordinator - Young Composers Competition
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Rader Quartet Advances to Quarterfinal of The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
The Rader Quartet has advanced to the live quarterfinal round of The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Co-sponsored by the Preparatory Program and the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, the quartet is comprised of
Theo Bockhorst
,
violin,
Ethan Mayer
,
violin
,
Molly Prow
,
viola
and
Alex Cho
,
cello
. Held annually the 2nd weekend of May at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. IN, the Fischoff is the largest chamber music competition in the world. The Rader Quartet will also play on the finals of the St. Paul String Quartet Competition on April 13, 2019. The four Prep students are all title chair holders in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, and have participated in the sequential CMS orchestras.
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Upcoming Concerts & Performances
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Location:
Luhr Building
475 E. Lockwood Ave. | 63119
FREE
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High School Jazz Ensemble to play at FunFest in Webster Groves
Saturday, April 6th at 12:00 noon
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The Webster Groves, Shrewsbury and Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce hosts this fun family event from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6th in the Luhr Building at
475 E Lockwood Ave. Come early for lunch and "Taste 63119" including
Nothing Bundt Cakes, Layla, Racanelli's Pizza, Nachomama's and Firenza Pizza! Then stay to hear the smooth stylings of the
Webster University High School Jazz Ensemble
at 12:00 noon! For more information about FunFest 63119
click here
.
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Concert Location:
CMS Center at Webster University
535 Garden Ave. | 63119
FREE
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Percussion Ensemble
Sunday, April 14th at 7:00 pm
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Get ready to hear intricate melodies played on a marimba or bells, and complex and thrilling rhythms performed on a conga or bongo! This performance explores a large selection of percussion instruments. This concert features
Slopes
by Paul Rennick,
Spanish Dance
by Kai Stensgaard,
Echolalia
by Mark Applebaum,
Angels of the Apocalypse
by David Gillingham,
Pegasus
by Ben Wahlund,
Katraterra
by Jim Casella, and
Bingo
by Yusuke Yamamoto.
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Concert Location:
CMS Center at Webster University
535 Garden Ave. | 63119
FREE
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Webster University
High School Jazz Ensemble
Friday, April 26th at 8:00 pm
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Nod your head and tap your toe during this funky and carefree concert! The High School Jazz Ensemble is a group of skilled high school musicians who work hard during the semester to produce a relaxing and engaging performance for their listeners. The chosen repertoire features the talent of each musician through an exchange of dynamic improvised solos and a driving drumbeat.
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Concert Location:
CMS Center at Webster University
535 Garden Ave. | 63119
FREE
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Young People's Symphonic Orchestra
Sunday, April 28th at 2:00 pm
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This orchestra is the most advanced of the Community Music School's orchestras, performing a wide range of orchestral literature. This concert includes
Summer Dances
by Brian Balmages,
Mambo
from West Side Story arranged by Robert Longfield,
Danzon No. 2
by Arturo Marquez,
Mother and Child
by William Grant Still, and
Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra
by Gioacchino Rossini.
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Concert Location:
CMS Center at Webster University
535 Garden Ave. | 63119
FREE
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Preparatory Program Concert
Sunday, April 28th at 6:00 pm
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Enjoy a performance of inspiring young musicians playing professional level repertoire! This concert features works from Ludwig van Beethoven,
Antonín Dvořák,
Alexandr Borodin, Christian Woehr, Leoš Janáček, and Franz Schubert.
The Preparatory Program prepares a select group of high school students for a career in music and enables them to produce stunning and memorable concerts.
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2019- 2020 Orchestra & Ensembles Booklets Coming Soon!
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The 2019 Orchestras & Ensembles booklet will be mailed out this week! It contains all the information you need to audition for our sequential orchestra program (
String Ensemble, String Orchestra, Young People's Concert Orchestra, Young People's Symphonic Orchestra
) and our ensembles including the
Percussion Ensemble
, and the
Webster University High School Jazz Ensemble
. It also contains information on how to audition for our highest level program for students interested in pursuing a career in music - the
Preparatory Program
. The information and applications to audition are also on our
website
.
Please note: the application deadline for the Percussion Ensemble is coming up soon on
May 10, 2019
!
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AMI Violin Competition
Registration Deadline: April 6, 2019
Barlow Prize Competition
Application Deadline: June 1, 2019
Union Avenue Opera Seeks to Fill 8 Youth Roles in Puccini's
La Bohème.
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Stringwood Chamber Music Festival
June 9-30, 2019
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition
Application Deadline: May 10, 2019
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Check out the
Guitar Exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center
January 19 - April 14, 2019.
Click Here
for more information.
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The CMS
Ensembles Representative
position will be available in mid-May. This is a part-time job supporting all 4 CMS orchestras, Jazz and Percussion Ensembles, as well as assisting with the Preparatory Program and the String Orchestra Camp.
CMS Ensembles Representative – Posting S0604
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Faculty member
Kyu Butler
(piano) presented
Measuring Up to Prevent Injuries: Handspans, Repertoire, and Alternatively-Sized Piano Keyboards
at the MTNA Conference on March 18
th
& 19
th
.
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On March 17
th
, faculty members
Soo Kyung Kim
,
piano
and
Jun Seo
,
cello
performed at the 15
th
House Concert in Chicago.Their concert featured works by Beethoven, Schumann, Shostakovich and Piazolla and was co-sponsored by The Korea Times Chicago and the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago.
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Chloe Babel
,
piano
(Butler) and
Emily Simmons,
piano
(Butler) received "Superior" from Missouri Federation of Music Club.
Jonah Meyer
,
piano
(Butler) “Superior” – St. Louis Area Music Teachers Association (SLAMTA) Sonatina Festival
At the Mid-Missouri Percussive Arts Trophy Competition, CMS percussion students
Aaron Zoll
,
percussion
(Elstner) and
Jack Stiens
,
percussion
(Elstner) placed 3rd in the duet category,
Alex Zhou
,
percussion
(Elstner) placed 2nd in the solo marimba category and
Asher Gunn
,
percussion
(Elstner) placed 1st in the multiple percussion solo category.
The following students achieved an
Exemplary
rating at the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association (SLSMEA) Solo and Ensemble Festival:
Nirupama Shanbhag
,
flute
(Hoyer)
Ashley Chung
,
flute
(Hoyer)
Stella Bauer
,
flute
(Hoyer)
Madeline Sweeney
,
flute
(Hoyer)
Hope Johnson
,
cello
(Gitto)
Tucker Hall
,
clarinet
(York-Garesche)- (1) Superior
Evelyn Kastner
,
clarinet
(York-Garesche)- (1) Superior
Pablo Buitrago
,
clarinet
(York-Garesche)- (1) Superior
Lily Sheets
, clarinet (York-Garesche)- (1) Superior
The following students achieved an
Outstanding
rating at the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association (SLSMEA) Solo and Ensemble Festival:
Emma Baum
,
clarinet
(York-Garesche)
Megan McGhee
,
clarinet
(York-Garesche)
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Arianna String Quartet
Bach Society
Cathedral Concerts
Chamber Music Society
Chamber Project St. Louis
CHARIS Women's Chorus
Forte Chamber Orchestra St. Louis
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Gateway Festival Orchestra
Jazz St. Louis
The Kingsbury Ensemble
Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis
New Music Circle
Sheldon Concert Hall
St. Louis Chamber Chorus
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St. Louis Classical Guitar
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Town & Country Symphony
UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center
Washington University Department of Music
Webster University Department of Music
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Community Music School of Webster University | 314-968-5939
Our Locations:
CMS Center (headquarters), 535 Garden Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119
Strauss Center (in Faust Park), 14941 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017
Holy Communion (University City), 7401 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130
The Community Music School is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and is a certified member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. The Community Music School receives assistance from the Arts and Education Council of Greater Saint Louis.
Thank you to the many individual donors, alumni, and parents who support the Community Music School programs through annual gifts.
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Community Music School of Webster University | 314-968-5939 | cms@webster.edu| webster.edu/cms
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