The American Viola Society :: Research, Performance and Network » November 2009 E-News

Think Free Project

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:32:56 +0000

Jazz bassist/composer Ben Allison has launched The Think Free Project. Musicians and filmmakers can be part of a virtual collaboration by going here and listening to Ben’s invitation to record and submit their own interpretations of two tracks posted on the site from his latest CD, “Think Free.”

Fall Membership Drive

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:29:59 +0000

The 2009 AVS Fall Membership Drive is now underway!

This year our theme is “Every Member Get a Member.” The AVS is committed to
maintaining its relevance and excellence as an organization for violists, but we cannot do it
without your continued support. We are all equal partners in this organization and I challenge
each of you to recruit at least one new member to the AVS before the end of the year.

If each of us responds to this modest request, our total membership will double! Tell your
friends what an incredible organization we have. Share your experiences from attending a
viola congress or other viola event. Show them the latest copy of our terrific member
resource, the Journal of the American Viola Society, and refer friends and colleagues to the
AVS website, where only members can post links to sell instruments or their own CDs or
printed music.

Consider giving a gift membership to a colleague or student, and encourage your institution’s
library to subscribe (institutional members are among our most consistent members). Include
viola advocates such as composers, patrons, and even violinists on your gift list!

It’s so easy to help us reach our goal – forward this email to your viola friends and students.

Clefworks Winner: David Crowell

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:26:33 +0000

ClefWorks® salutes composer David Crowell of Brooklyn, New York, for his winning
submission, “The Open Road,” in the third annual Composition Competition selected from
more than 150 entries representing 14 countries, 32 states and the District of Columbia. The
world premiere of his original score will take place in Montgomery, Ala., on January 30,
2010.

ClefWorks held its Premiere Season in Montgomery, Alabama, during the summer of 2007,
and extraordinary composers have been able to premiere their works each season since. The
number of high-quality compositions submitted continues to grow with a record 154 entries
for the third annual Call for Scores. Information on the Composition Competition, as well as
the upcoming Do you know JACK? season, can be found on ClefWorks’ website at
www.clefworks.org.

Hindemith's Viola Recordings

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:02:43 +0000

In the late 1930s and early 1940s Paul Hindemith made four recordings for RCA:
Trauermusic; Der Schwanendreher; the 1940 Viola Sonata; and the 1938 Sonata for Piano -
Four Hands. The last two were with Jesus Maria Sanroma. In 1994 the English record label
Biddulph Recordings reissued them on a CD, and the transfer was well reviewed in
Gramophone magazine. Obviously, these recordings are important, since Hindemith was a
major composer and violist of his generation and this CD contains a high proportion of his
recordings as a viola player. The CD has been deleted for more than five years and
secondhand copies are hard to find.

The independent CD producer J. Martin Stafford is keen to see the CD made readily available
once again and is negotiating to acquire the rights with a view to reissuing it on his Ismeron
label. The price would be £10 (payable by Paypal) or $15 payable in cash. This would
include postage for those who order in advance.

Any member of AVS who is interested could contact Mr. Stafford directly. No money should
be sent until the CDs are manufactured and ready for dispatch.

J. Martin Stafford: ismeron99@aol.com www.ismeron.co.uk

Graduate String Fellowships

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:50:25 +0000

The University of Miami Frost School of Music announces the First Mancini Institute
Fellowships. Five Graduate string players will receive full tuition and a stipend. These will
be awarded to two violinists, one violist, one cellist and one double bass player. Apply online.
www.music.miami.edu/graduate studies.

Contact: Professor Pamela McConnell, pmcconnell@miami.edu .