Tuesday, October 12, 2021 | 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 | Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater
US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music presents
Asian American Voices: Composing for History
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 | 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 | Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater
Music of Huang Ruo
Jindong Caiconductor
The Orchestra Now Del Sol Quartet China Now Festival Chorus
The opening event of the fourth annual China Now Music Festival, Asian American Voices, presents two major works by New York-based composer Huang Ruo: A Dust in Time, composed in 2020 in response to the pandemic; and a preview of excerpts from the oratorio Angel Island, composed in 2021 to honor the stories of immigrants from China. Performances by the Del Sol Quartet from San Francisco, Bard’s own The Orchestra Now, and the China Now Festival Chorus. The festival’s artistic director, Jindong Cai, will conduct. Website: http://fishercenter.bard.edu/events/asian-american-voices-1
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 | 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 | Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater
US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music presents
Asian American Voices: Undercurrents in American Contemporary Music
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 | 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 | Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater
A Multimedia Chamber Concert
Jin Hi Kim Del Sol Quartet
The second night of China Now features the festival’s ensemble in residence, the Del Sol String Quartet, and Guggenheim Composer Fellow Jin Hi Kim, in a showcase of Asian American composers of contemporary American music. The quartet will perform new compositions by Erberk Eryilmaz, Takuma Itoh, Vijay Iyer, Erika Oba, and Jungyoon Wie, representing many diverse voices to reflect various aspects of Asian American society and history. Kim will perform the world premiere of her latest work, A Ritual for COVID-19, a multimedia composition honoring the spirits of those who lost their lives to the pandemic. Website: http://fishercenter.bard.edu/events/asian-american-voices-2
Saturday, October 16, 2021 | 3:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 | Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater
US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music presents
Asian American Voices: Symphonic Portraits
Saturday, October 16, 2021 | 3:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 | Fisher Center, Sosnoff Theater The Orchestra Now
Jindong Cai conductor Yixin Wangguzheng Nina Yoshida Nelsenmezzo-soprano Helen Zhibing Huangsoprano Li Yitenor David Henry Hwang narrator
Jindong Cai conducts The Orchestra Now in a symphonic concert featuring works by Tan Dun, Huang Ruo, Peng-Peng Gong, and Xinyan Li. The program includes Tan’s Prayer and Blessing, his initial response to the pandemic, composed in early 2020; Li’s Awakening Light,concerto for guzheng and orchestra, commissioned by the festival to be performed by the winner of the 2019 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition, Yixin Wang; Gong’s A Chinese in New York, a raw description of the experience of a Chinese student confronting cultural differences in America.
The concert concludes with several moving episodes from composer Huang Ruo’s 2014 opera, An American Soldier. The opera tells the powerful and haunting true story of the death of US Army Private Danny Chen, who was born and raised in New York's Chinatown and died in Afghanistan in 2001 after being subjected to relentless hazing and racial maltreatment by his superiors. The episodes presented here will be introduced by the opera’s librettist, Tony award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang.
Website: http://fishercenter.bard.edu/events/asian-american-voices-3
This lecture will introduce modern and contemporary ink art, an area of artistic expression that reinterprets traditional ink painting and calligraphy and encompasses painting, sculpture, installation, and even animation. Using works from the permanent collection of M+, the new visual culture museum in Hong Kong opening in November 2021, the talk will highlight important themes and breakthroughs in the development of ink art since the 1950s and artists from diverse backgrounds who have invigorated the centuries-old heritage.
Moderator: Jindong Cai Director of the US-China Music Institute, Bard Conservatory of Music
Student Composers: Austin Leung, Hong Kong University Samuel Mutter, Bard Conservatory of Music OGA, Bard Conservatory of Music Jing Wang, Hong Kong University
Copresenters: US-China Music Institute; Bard College Conservatory of Music; Hong Kong University Cultural Management Office; Hong Kong University Department of Music; M+ Museum, Hong Kong
Cosponsors: Asian Cultural Council; Endowment Funds for Music & Fine Arts; Lee Hysan Foundation
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Over more than three thousand years of history, China has developed a unique musical aesthetic tradition which intertwined with its philosophy, culture and customs. This three-week course will present music in its social, philosophical, and cultural context and will be suitable for anyone who is interested in Chinese music and culture.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The class will be taught primarily in English. Knowledge of Chinese is not required, although Chinese speakers are welcome. You do not need to be a Bard student to attend.
Taught by Professor Mingmei Yip, on the faculty of the Bard Conservatory and an accomplished author, musician, scholar, and artist.
Monday, July 26, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Over more than three thousand years of history, China has developed a unique musical aesthetic tradition which intertwined with its philosophy, culture and customs. This three-week course will present music in its social, philosophical, and cultural context and will be suitable for anyone who is interested in Chinese music and culture.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The class will be taught primarily in English. Knowledge of Chinese is not required, although Chinese speakers are welcome. You do not need to be a Bard student to attend.
Taught by Professor Mingmei Yip, on the faculty of the Bard Conservatory and an accomplished author, musician, scholar, and artist.
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Over more than three thousand years of history, China has developed a unique musical aesthetic tradition which intertwined with its philosophy, culture and customs. This three-week course will present music in its social, philosophical, and cultural context and will be suitable for anyone who is interested in Chinese music and culture.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The class will be taught primarily in English. Knowledge of Chinese is not required, although Chinese speakers are welcome. You do not need to be a Bard student to attend.
Taught by Professor Mingmei Yip, on the faculty of the Bard Conservatory and an accomplished author, musician, scholar, and artist.
Monday, July 19, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Over more than three thousand years of history, China has developed a unique musical aesthetic tradition which intertwined with its philosophy, culture and customs. This three-week course will present music in its social, philosophical, and cultural context and will be suitable for anyone who is interested in Chinese music and culture.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The class will be taught primarily in English. Knowledge of Chinese is not required, although Chinese speakers are welcome. You do not need to be a Bard student to attend.
Taught by Professor Mingmei Yip, on the faculty of the Bard Conservatory and an accomplished author, musician, scholar, and artist.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Over more than three thousand years of history, China has developed a unique musical aesthetic tradition which intertwined with its philosophy, culture and customs. This three-week course will present music in its social, philosophical, and cultural context and will be suitable for anyone who is interested in Chinese music and culture.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The class will be taught primarily in English. Knowledge of Chinese is not required, although Chinese speakers are welcome. You do not need to be a Bard student to attend.
Taught by Professor Mingmei Yip, on the faculty of the Bard Conservatory and an accomplished author, musician, scholar, and artist.
Monday, July 12, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Over more than three thousand years of history, China has developed a unique musical aesthetic tradition which intertwined with its philosophy, culture and customs. This three-week course will present music in its social, philosophical, and cultural context and will be suitable for anyone who is interested in Chinese music and culture.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
The class will be taught primarily in English. Knowledge of Chinese is not required, although Chinese speakers are welcome. You do not need to be a Bard student to attend.
Taught by Professor Mingmei Yip, on the faculty of the Bard Conservatory and an accomplished author, musician, scholar, and artist.
Friday, July 9, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 During six two-hour long classes, students will be taught how to compose for Chinese instruments in various Chinese music styles and to orchestrate a piano work for Chinese ensembles and mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Taught by Professor Xinyan Li of the Bard Conservatory faculty, a distinguished musician, composer, and educator.
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 During six two-hour long classes, students will be taught how to compose for Chinese instruments in various Chinese music styles and to orchestrate a piano work for Chinese ensembles and mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Taught by Professor Xinyan Li of the Bard Conservatory faculty, a distinguished musician, composer, and educator.
Monday, July 5, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 During six two-hour long classes, students will be taught how to compose for Chinese instruments in various Chinese music styles and to orchestrate a piano work for Chinese ensembles and mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Taught by Professor Xinyan Li of the Bard Conservatory faculty, a distinguished musician, composer, and educator.
Friday, July 2, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 During six two-hour long classes, students will be taught how to compose for Chinese instruments in various Chinese music styles and to orchestrate a piano work for Chinese ensembles and mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Taught by Professor Xinyan Li of the Bard Conservatory faculty, a distinguished musician, composer, and educator.
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 During six two-hour long classes, students will be taught how to compose for Chinese instruments in various Chinese music styles and to orchestrate a piano work for Chinese ensembles and mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Taught by Professor Xinyan Li of the Bard Conservatory faculty, a distinguished musician, composer, and educator.
Monday, June 28, 2021
US-China Music Institute Summer Learning Series Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 During six two-hour long classes, students will be taught how to compose for Chinese instruments in various Chinese music styles and to orchestrate a piano work for Chinese ensembles and mixed ensembles of Chinese and Western instruments.
CLASS FULL; REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Taught by Professor Xinyan Li of the Bard Conservatory faculty, a distinguished musician, composer, and educator.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Online Event8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 The Bard Chinese Ensemble will present their annual spring concert from Beijing, China, where most of Bard's Chinese instrument majors are studying this year at the Central Conservatory of Music.
Online Event7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Two operas. A satire and a drama, both struggling with personalities at odds, fighting through desire, loss of innocence, manipulation of relationships, passive aggression, the battle between good and evil- all brilliant fodder for operatic therapy. Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins” utilizes an expanded cast featuring all thirteen members of the Bard Graduate Vocal Arts Program, with five different singers portraying Anna 1, one brilliant Anna 2, and a marvelous cast of singers mixing and matching to make up our family chorus. Each performance of Menotti’s “The Medium” features two different casts, with several overlapping artists. Just as we chose to expand the Weill cast, we expanded the cast of the Menotti by one, creating a separate character to play the role of “The Ghost.” Singing and playing masked, using minimal sets and props, we are incredibly thankful to have had an opportunity to rehearse and perform together in the same space with wonderful two piano reductions for each opera. --S. Blythe
Online Event7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 A special collaboration between the singers of the Graduate Vocal Arts Program along with violinists from The Orchestra Now and the Conservatory of Music, in a streamed performance of György Kurtág'sKafka-Fragmente, the monumental work for solo voice and violin. This program is part of a continuing project dedicated to the work of the great Hungarian composer, György Kurtág, that brings together visiting artists and Conservatory students for the study and performance of selected chamber works of Mr. Kurtág. The project, including this performance, is generously supported with funding from the László Z. Bitó and Olivia Cariño Foundation.
Monday, May 24, 2021
Online Event2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 PROGRAM: Weilan Li, viola with Ryan McCullough, piano
Henryk Wieniawski Caprice Op.18, No.3 for viola and piano
Max Reger Suite No.1 in G minor for Solo Viola, Op. 131d I. Molto sostenuto II. Vivace IV. Molto vivace
Intermission
Johannes Brahms Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.120 for viola and piano I. Allegro appassionato II. Andante un poco Adagio III. Allegro to grazioso IV. Vivace
Sunday, May 23, 2021
Three members of the Bard Conservatory faculty perform Brahms’s trio for viola, cello, and piano in A minor, Op. 114. Recorded in Olin Hall in March 2021. Online Event8:00 pm – 8:45 pm EDT/GMT-4 About the Artists Grammy-nominated violist Melissa Reardon is artist in residence at Bard College and Conservatory, the artistic director of the Portland Chamber Music Festival in Portland, ME, and a founding member and the Executive Director of the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO). As a member of the Ensō String Quartet from 2006 until its final season in 2018, Melissa toured both nationally and internationally, with highlight performances in Sydney, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center to name a few. Melissa won first prize at the Washington International Competition, and is the only violist to win top prizes in consecutive HAMS International viola competitions. She has appeared in numerous festivals across the United States and around the world, including tours with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, and with Musicians from Marlboro. She earned degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory.
As a member of the Horszowski Trio, cellist Raman Ramakrishnan has performed across North America, Europe, India, Japan, and in Hong Kong, and recorded for Bridge Records and Avie Records. For eleven seasons, as a founding member of the Daedalus Quartet, he performed around the world. Mr. Ramakrishnan is currently artist in residence at Bard College and Conservatory. In addition to solo recitals in New York, Boston, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., he has performed chamber music at Caramoor, at Bargemusic, with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and at the Aspen, Bard, Charlottesville, Four Seasons, Kingston, Lincolnshire (UK), Marlboro, Mehli Mehta (India), Oklahoma Mozart, and Vail Music Festivals. He has toured with Musicians from Marlboro and has performed, as guest principal cellist, with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. As a guest member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, he has performed in New Delhi and Agra, India and in Cairo, Egypt. He has served on the faculties of the Taconic and Norfolk Chamber Music Festivals, as well as at Columbia University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University and a Master’s degree in music from The Juilliard School. His principal teachers have been Fred Sherry, Andrés Díaz, and André Emelianoff. He plays a Neapolitan cello made by Vincenzo Jorio in 1837.
Benjamin Hochman is a musician of exceptional versatility who regularly appears in multiple guises as orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He serves on the piano faculty of Bard College Conservatory of Music and is currently a Research Associate at Bard College Berlin. In recent years he has ventured into the orchestral repertoire as a conductor. His wide range of partners and projects is matched by his curiosity, focus, and ability to communicate deeply with audiences. Since his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman, Hochman has enjoyed an international performing career, appearing as soloist with the New York, Los Angeles, and Prague Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras under conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Trevor Pinnock, John Storgårds, and Joshua Weilerstein. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied from 1997-2001 with Claude Frank, and the Mannes College of Music, where he studied from 2001-2003 with Richard Goode. A Steinway Artist, his full bio is on his website at benjaminhochman.com.
Audio and video credit for this Olin Hall recording: Ian Striedter
Sunday, May 23, 2021
Online Event7:00 pm – 7:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Benjamin Hochman, piano
Bach: Prelude and Fugue in B minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book One, BWV 869 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Benjamin Hochman is a musician of exceptional versatility who regularly appears in multiple guises as orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He serves on the piano faculty of Bard College Conservatory of Music and is currently a Research Associate at Bard College Berlin. In recent years he has ventured into the orchestral repertoire as a conductor. His wide range of partners and projects is matched by his curiosity, focus, and ability to communicate deeply with audiences. Since his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman, Hochman has enjoyed an international performing career, appearing as soloist with the New York, Los Angeles, and Prague Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras under conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Trevor Pinnock, John Storgårds, and Joshua Weilerstein. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied from 1997-2001 with Claude Frank, and the Mannes College of Music, where he studied from 2001-2003 with Richard Goode. A Steinway Artist, his full bio is found on his website at www.benjaminhochman.com.
Audio and video credit for this Olin Hall recording: Ian Striedter
Handel Aria Project 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 HANDEL ARIA PROJECT Bard Baroque Ensemble Renée Anne Louprette, Director
Graduate Vocal Arts Program Bard College Conservatory Stephanie Blythe, Artistic Director Kayo Iwama, Associate Director
The HANDEL ARIA PROJECT features a selection of George Frideric Handel’s most exquisite and beloved arias from his operas Rodelinda and Giulio Cesare. Graduate students and faculty members from Bard College Conservatory’s Vocal Arts Program join the Bard Baroque Ensemble under the direction of Renée Anne Louprette to present these works in video-recorded performances captured throughout the Spring 2021 academic semester. The program will be framed by movements from Handel’s Organ Concerto, Op. 4, No. 4 and Trio Sonata, Op. 2, No. 4.
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Lyric baritone LOUIS TIEMANN believes in the healing potential of music and its ability to bridge divides. Mr. Tiemann brings opera and song to audiences of all walks of life, removing the stigma of elitism by helping to create a space that welcomes everyone. He is driven by the connection to nature and the world around us found in art song, particularly the works of Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert, as well as Gioachino Rossini for the vocal fireworks that are woven throughout his compositions.
From the moment Mr. Tiemann first touched a keyboard, music making has been a central part of his life. From playing flute in his high school’s marching band to singing Irish folk music in a world music ensemble and playing bass guitar for local bands in Baltimore, his eclectic experiences make him an especially thoughtful and unique artist.
Mr. Tiemann is currently earning his master’s degree at Bard College in the Vocal Arts Program, where he studies with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell.
Online Event7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Tenor MAXIMILLIAN JANSEN, known for “his confident timbre and pleasing voice” (Millbrook Independent), is a versatile performer who is comfortable performing works from the Renaissance to the present day. He is committed to elevating works of silenced and underrepresented artists and strives to build a musical landscape that is inclusive for all. Maximillian has performed such roles as Acis in Acis and Galatea, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, the titular role in Albert Herring, and Monastatos in Die Zauberflöte. He has appeared as a soloist with the Battenkill Chorale, Concerts in the Village, Cincinnati Fusion Ensemble, and the Victoria Civic Orchestra. Maximillian has worked with Libby Larsen, Jake Heggie, and John Musto in master classes on their own compositions.
Online Event3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Hailed for her “delicate yet strong vocalism” (Millbrook Independent), Jardena Gertler-Jaffe is a soprano from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Jardena is passionate about finding ways that the vocal arts can challenge, transform, and innovate in the 21st century. Her personal projects merge classical music with issues of social justice and representation within the arts. Her ongoing project Our Singing Bodies, which treats the singer’s body as the site for the negotiation of power and identity, was launched in January 2021. Later this season, Jardena is performing excerpts from György Kurtág’s Kafka Fragments, perform the role of Mrs. Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium, as well as sing the world premiere of Yiddish songs by Dan Shore and Daniel Schlosberg at the YIVO Institute of Jewish Research.
UPSTREAMING8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 The Orchestra Now and the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra present two concerts celebrating one of the greatest composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven, after the pandemic shut down many of the concerts planned last year for the 250th anniversary of his birth.
Both concerts will be introduced by Congolese chemist and novelist Emmanuel Dongala, author of the 2017 historical novel The Bridgetower Sonata. May 1 at 8 pm • The Orchestra NowLeon Botstein conducts the first of two concerts celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven. The program features his beloved 5th and 7th symphonies, as well as his Triple Concerto for violin, cello, and piano.
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Stuart Stritzler-Levine, professor emeritus of psychology and emeritus dean of Bard College, who passed away on May 1, 2020. Stritzler-Levine joined the Bard faculty in 1964 and devoted 56 years of continuous service to the College.
Leon Botstein conductor Adele Anthony violin Peter Wiley cello Shai Wosner piano
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 Triple Concerto Symphony No. 7 Read more about Stuart Stritzler-LevineRead more about Emmanuel Dongala May 8 at 8 pm • Bard College Conservatory OrchestraMaestro Leon Botstein leads the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra in the second concert in this series. The program features his 3rd and 4th symphonies, Wellington's Victory, and Drei Equali for four trombones.
Leon Botstein conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 4 Wellington's Victory Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" Drei Equali (Three Equals) for four trombones
Friday, May 7, 2021
Online Event7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Program: Sonata in E minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 38 (1865) Allegro non troppo Allegretto quasi Menuetto Allegro
Sonata in F major for Cello and Piano, Op. 99 (1886) Allegro vivace Adagio affettuoso Allegro passionato Allegro molto
Conservatory students perform a special program of works by Schubert, Meyerbeer, Taktakishvili, Poulenc, Mendelssohn, Beethoven and more... Online Event12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Recital by the 2020 winner of the Avery Fisher Prize and member of the Bard Conservatory faculty. Online Event3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Reserve your free tickets for this event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-condo-concerts-anthony-mcgill-clarinet-tickets-139756606773
Clarinetist Anthony McGill is one of classical music’s most recognizable and brilliantly multifaceted figures. He serves as the principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic — that orchestra’s first African-American principal player — and maintains a dynamic international solo and chamber music career. Hailed for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (The New York Times), as well as for his “exquisite combination of technical refinement and expressive radiance” (The Baltimore Sun), McGill also serves as an ardent advocate for helping music education reach underserved communities and for addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music. He was honored to take part in the inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing alongside violinist Itzhak Perlman, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and pianist Gabriela Montero.
McGill’s 2019-20 season includes the premiere of a new work by Tyshawn Sorey at the 92Y, and a special collaboration with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato at Carnegie Hall. He will be a featured soloist at the Kennedy Center performing the Copland concerto at the SHIFT Festival of American Orchestras with the Jacksonville Symphony, and will also perform concertos by Copland, Mozart, and Danielpour with the Richmond, Delaware, Alabama, Reno, and San Antonio Symphonies. Additional collaborations include programs with Gloria Chien, Demarre McGill, Michael McHale, Anna Polonsky, Arnaud Sussman, and the Pacifica Quartet.
McGill appears regularly as a soloist with top orchestras around North America including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony. As a chamber musician, McGill is a favorite collaborator of the Brentano, Daedalus, Guarneri, JACK, Miró, Pacifica, Shanghai, Takacs, and Tokyo Quartets, as well as Emanuel Ax, Inon Barnatan, Gloria Chien, Yefim Bronfman, Gil Shaham, Midori, Mitsuko Uchida, and Lang Lang. He has led tours with Musicians from Marlboro and regularly performs for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. Festival appearances include Tanglewood, Marlboro, Mainly Mozart, Music@Menlo, and the Santa Fe, Seattle, and Skaneateles Chamber Music Festivals.
In January 2015, McGill recorded the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto together with Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic, which was released on DaCapo Records. He also recorded an album together with his brother Demarre McGill, principal flute of the Seattle Symphony, and pianist Michael McHale; and one featuring the Mozart and Brahms Clarinet Quintet with the Pacifica Quartet that were both released by Cedille Records.
A dedicated champion of new music, in 2014, McGill premiered a new piece written for him by Richard Danielpour entitled “From the Mountaintop” that was commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and Orchestra 2001. McGill served as the 2015-16 Artist-in-Residence for WQXR and has appeared on Performance Today, MPR’s St. Paul Sunday Morning, and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. In 2013, McGill appeared on the NBC Nightly News and on MSNBC, in stories highlighting the McGill brothers’ inspirational story.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, McGill previously served as the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera and associate principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In-demand as a teacher, he serves on the faculty of the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and Bard College’s Conservatory of Music. He also serves as the Artistic Advisor for the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School, on the Board of Directors for both the League of American Orchestra and the Harmony Program, and the advisory council for the InterSchool Orchestras of New York.
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Online Event7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Meg Jones is a soprano who takes great pride in filling the stage with her vivacious voice and dynamic storytelling. She performs repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music, taking every opportunity to explore new pieces. She was the 2018 concerto competition winner at Ithaca College, where she performed “Où va la jeune Hindoue” from Lakmé with the Ithaca College Orchestra. In addition, she sang the lead role of Laetita in IC’s production of Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, The Old Maid and the Thief. The recipient of the Roberta Peters Scholarship at Ithaca College, Meg is currently a second-year student in the Graduate Vocal Arts Program at Bard College-Conservatory in the studio of Edith Bers. At Bard, she has had the honor of performing the role of Laurie in Bard’s very own pastiche, Rest in Pieces directed by Stephanie Blythe. Meg was noted to have “exceeded on stage” (Millbrook Independent) and thoroughly enjoyed exploring Laurie’s story from Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land in a brand-new context. She has also appeared as the soprano soloist for Bach’s Trauerode CantataBWV 198 with the Bard Baroque Ensemble. During this time of unprecedented global disruption, Meg is exploring new ways to create, collaborate, and communicate virtually. Throughout Meg’s last entirely remote semester at Bard College, she will be a part of a world premiere of a Yiddish song cycle in collaboration with composer Derek David, and Bard’s productions of Menotti’s The Medium and Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins, in addition to her graduate recital.
UPSTREAMING8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 The Orchestra Now and the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra present two concerts celebrating one of the greatest composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven, after the pandemic shut down many of the concerts planned last year for the 250th anniversary of his birth.
Both concerts will be introduced by Congolese chemist and novelist Emmanuel Dongala, author of the 2017 historical novel The Bridgetower Sonata. May 1 at 8 pm • The Orchestra NowLeon Botstein conducts the first of two concerts celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven. The program features his beloved 5th and 7th symphonies, as well as his Triple Concerto for violin, cello, and piano.
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Stuart Stritzler-Levine, professor emeritus of psychology and emeritus dean of Bard College, who passed away on May 1, 2020. Stritzler-Levine joined the Bard faculty in 1964 and devoted 56 years of continuous service to the College.
Leon Botstein conductor Adele Anthony violin Peter Wiley cello Shai Wosner piano
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 Triple Concerto Symphony No. 7 Read more about Stuart Stritzler-LevineRead more about Emmanuel Dongala May 8 at 8 pm • Bard College Conservatory OrchestraMaestro Leon Botstein leads the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra in the second concert in this series. The program features his 3rd and 4th symphonies, Wellington's Victory, and Drei Equali for four trombones.
Leon Botstein conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 4 Wellington's Victory Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" Drei Equali (Three Equals) for four trombones
Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major, Op. 22 (1800) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Allegro con brio Adagio con molto espressione Menuetto Rondo: Allegretto
Skazka in F minor, Op. 14 No. 1 “Ophelia’s Song” (1905-07) Nikolai Karlovich Medtner (1880-1951) Skazka in B minor, Op. 20 No. 2 “Campanella” (1909)
Sunday, April 25, 2021
Student chamber music groups perform throughout the day. Online Event12:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Conservatory students perform a half-hour long program. Online Event12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Program: Morceau Symphonique Alexandre Guilmant Andante sostenuto (1837-1911) Allegro moderato Ameya Natarajan, trombone
Images, 1ere série Claude Debussy Reflets dans l’eau (1862-1918) Hommage à Rameau Mouvement Sindy Yang, piano
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Free, live-streamed concert with with violinists Leila Josefowicz and Jesse Mills; violist Hsin-Yun Huang; and cellist Fred Sherry. Online Event7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Reserve your free tickets for this special one-time performance of Schubert's String Quartet No. 15 in G Major and German Dances here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/bard-college-conservatory-of-music-32430490385
THE CONDO CONCERTS is a series of concerts streamed from the Bard Conservatory with the generous support of artist George Condo. Featured musicians for the next concert on May 2 are clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Anna Polonsky.
Donations from the live-stream audience will benefit the Conservatory Scholarship Fund, including a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarships. Donate online at www.bard.edu/conservatory/giving
AN ONLINE CONFERENCE AND PERFORMANCE SERIES, APRIL 8-10, 2021 Day Three Online Event7:30 pm – 9:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 This year’s annual conference of the US-China Music Institute will explore forms of Buddhist musical practice through online discussions, performances, and demonstrations. Speakers will provide historical, sociological, and musicological context for musical rituals in Buddhist traditions. Performances will draw from different regions and styles of traditional chanting, ceremonial music, and contemporary composition.
All events are free and open to the public. Learn more and register to receive links prior to each event at barduschinamusic.org/harmony2021 CONFERENCE EVENT SCHEDULETHURSDAY, APRIL 8BUDDHISM, MUSIC, AND SOCIETY
Panel Discussion (Zoom) 5:30-7pm EST Speakers Andrew Quintman, Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University Mingmei Yip, Visiting Professor of Chinese Music History, Bard College Chen Tao, Professor of Chinese Music, Bard College; Artistic Director, Melody of Dragon, Inc. Zhai Fengjian, Associate Researcher, China National Academy of Fine Arts Performance (Streaming) 8-9pm ESTFeaturing ceremonial chanting from Daxiangguo Temple, Kaifang, Henan Province Zhihua Temple, Beijing Mount Wutai Buddhist Monk Ensemble, Shanxi Province Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Huafan University, Department of Buddhist Studies, Taipei International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS), North America (multiple locations) Labrang Monastery, Gansu Autonomous Tibetan Prefecture FRIDAY, APRIL 9ENTERING THE WORLD, THE PATH OF MUSIC
Panel Discussion (Zoom) 5:30-7pm ESTModerated by Dominique Townsend, Professor of Religious Studies, and Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute
with Jamyang Dolma, Founding Director, Academy of Himalayan Art and Child Development Drukmo Gyal, singer Ganavya Doraiswamy, singerPerformance (Streaming) 8-9pm ESTModern Tibetan chant, traditional instrumental music, and modern works from composers Tan Dun and Qu Xiaosong. SATURDAY, APRIL 10A BLESSING FROM BHUTANThe final day of the Harmony and Compassion takes us on a virtual journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan, “the happiest country on earth.”Performance (Streaming) 7:30-8:30pm ESTDiscussion and Q&A (Zoom) 8:30-9:30pm EST
Presented by: US-China Music Institute
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Online Event3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Friday, April 9, 2021
AN ONLINE CONFERENCE AND PERFORMANCE SERIES, APRIL 8-10, 2021 Day Two Online Event5:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 This year’s annual conference of the US-China Music Institute will explore forms of Buddhist musical practice through online discussions, performances, and demonstrations. Speakers will provide historical, sociological, and musicological context for musical rituals in Buddhist traditions. Performances will draw from different regions and styles of traditional chanting, ceremonial music, and contemporary composition.
All events are free and open to the public. Learn more and register to receive links prior to each event at barduschinamusic.org/harmony2021 CONFERENCE EVENT SCHEDULETHURSDAY, APRIL 8BUDDHISM, MUSIC, AND SOCIETY
Panel Discussion (Zoom) 5:30-7pm EST Speakers Andrew Quintman, Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University Mingmei Yip, Visiting Professor of Chinese Music History, Bard College Chen Tao, Professor of Chinese Music, Bard College; Artistic Director, Melody of Dragon, Inc. Zhai Fengjian, Associate Researcher, China National Academy of Fine Arts Performance (Streaming) 8-9pm ESTFeaturing ceremonial chanting from Daxiangguo Temple, Kaifang, Henan Province Zhihua Temple, Beijing Mount Wutai Buddhist Monk Ensemble, Shanxi Province Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Huafan University, Department of Buddhist Studies, Taipei International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS), North America (multiple locations) Labrang Monastery, Gansu Autonomous Tibetan Prefecture FRIDAY, APRIL 9ENTERING THE WORLD, THE PATH OF MUSIC
Panel Discussion (Zoom) 5:30-7pm ESTModerated by Dominique Townsend, Professor of Religious Studies, and Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute
with Jamyang Dolma, Founding Director, Academy of Himalayan Art and Child Development Drukmo Gyal, singer Ganavya Doraiswamy, singerPerformance (Streaming) 8-9pm ESTModern Tibetan chant, traditional instrumental music, and modern works from composers Tan Dun and Qu Xiaosong. SATURDAY, APRIL 10A BLESSING FROM BHUTANThe final day of the Harmony and Compassion takes us on a virtual journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan, “the happiest country on earth.”Performance (Streaming) 7:30-8:30pm ESTDiscussion and Q&A (Zoom) 8:30-9:30pm EST
Presented by: US-China Music Institute
Friday, April 9, 2021
Works by Franck, Mozart, and Piazzolla Online Event4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
https://youtu.be/iqogMb0sqM0
Thursday, April 8, 2021
AN ONLINE CONFERENCE AND PERFORMANCE SERIES, APRIL 8-10, 2021 Day One Online Event5:30 pm – 9:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 This year’s annual conference of the US-China Music Institute will explore forms of Buddhist musical practice through online discussions, performances, and demonstrations. Speakers will provide historical, sociological, and musicological context for musical rituals in Buddhist traditions. Performances will draw from different regions and styles of traditional chanting, ceremonial music, and contemporary composition.
All events are free and open to the public. Learn more and register to receive links prior to each event at barduschinamusic.org/harmony2021 CONFERENCE EVENT SCHEDULETHURSDAY, APRIL 8BUDDHISM, MUSIC, AND SOCIETY
Panel Discussion (Zoom) 5:30-7pm EST Speakers Andrew Quintman, Professor of Religious Studies, Wesleyan University Mingmei Yip, Visiting Professor of Chinese Music History, Bard College Chen Tao, Professor of Chinese Music, Bard College; Artistic Director, Melody of Dragon, Inc. Zhai Fengjian, Associate Researcher, China National Academy of Fine Arts Performance (Streaming) 8-9pm ESTFeaturing ceremonial chanting from Daxiangguo Temple, Kaifang, Henan Province Zhihua Temple, Beijing Mount Wutai Buddhist Monk Ensemble, Shanxi Province Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Huafan University, Department of Buddhist Studies, Taipei International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS), North America (multiple locations) Labrang Monastery, Gansu Autonomous Tibetan Prefecture FRIDAY, APRIL 9ENTERING THE WORLD, THE PATH OF MUSIC
Panel Discussion (Zoom) 5:30-7pm ESTModerated by Dominique Townsend, Professor of Religious Studies, and Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute
with Jamyang Dolma, Founding Director, Academy of Himalayan Art and Child Development Drukmo Gyal, singer Ganavya Doraiswamy, singerPerformance (Streaming) 8-9pm ESTModern Tibetan chant, traditional instrumental music, and modern works from composers Tan Dun and Qu Xiaosong. SATURDAY, APRIL 10A BLESSING FROM BHUTANThe final day of the Harmony and Compassion takes us on a virtual journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan, “the happiest country on earth.”Performance (Streaming) 7:30-8:30pm ESTDiscussion and Q&A (Zoom) 8:30-9:30pm EST
Presented by: US-China Music Institute
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
One-hour program with piano, violin, clarinet, and mezzo-soprano Online Event12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Online Event7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Works by Michel Corrette, Launy Grøndahl, Adolphus Hailstork, and Camille Saint-Saëns
Gabrielle Hartman studies with Marc Goldberg at the Bard Conservatory, where she is completing a double degree in bassoon performance and biology with a concentration in global public health. She holds both the Conservatory’s Alexander Borodin Scholarship and Bard College’s John W. Boylan Scholarship in Medicine and Science.
Degree Recital Concert with Conductors Micah Gleason, Shutong Li, and David Mascari and Members of The Orchestra Now Online Event8:00 pm – 10:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Performance streaming live from the Fisher Center at https://youtu.be/N-FdIVUctmo PROGRAM Souvenir de Florence Tchaikovsky Tartarus (World Premiere) David Mascari David Mascari, conductor
Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 Antonín Dvořák Shutong Li, conductor
Inure (World Premiere) Christopher Bell Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout Gabriela Lena Frank Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 Gustav Mahler Micah Gleason, conductor
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Works by Elgar, and Hu-guang Xin Online Event5:00 pm – 6:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Alexander Levinson, currently a third-year student in the dual-degree program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music, is studying cello performance with Peter Wiley. Growing up in Chicago in a musical family, Alexander has played chamber music with his parents and brother, and has given many concerts in the Chicago area. In 2017, Alexander was the cellist for the Cerulean Quartet made up of musicians in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Cerulean Quartet won 2nd place in the 22nd annual Rembrandt High School Chamber Music Competition and 3rd place in the Barnett Chamber Music Competition, and participated in the 44th annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
with Francis Huang, piano Online Event3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 Program: Brahms - Sonata No. 1 in F Minor Op. 120 Piazzolla - Le Grand Tango
Violist Jonathan Eng is in his third year at the Bard College Conservatory of Music where he studies under Ira Weller. He began playing the viola at the age of eight, and studied with Katherine Rife throughout his high school years. He continued his studies on the viola at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division with Karen Ritscher. Along with viola performance, he is majoring in mathematics through Bard College, as well as pursuing a computer engineering degree through Bard’s 3+2/4+2 joint-degree engineering program with Columbia University.
Bard Conservatory Students Perform an Hour-long Program Online Event12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 The Noon Concert will be streamed live on the Conservatory's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/KgSmGtkKr78
A Recorded Performance at Blithewood Online Event12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 This recorded performance will be available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJNHMc9xZpU beginning at noon on March 20, and will remain posted on the the Conservatory YouTube channel for viewing at any time this semester.
Friday, March 19, 2021
Beitong Liu, erhu, with pianists Diana Borshcheva and Frank Corliss Online Event6:00 pm – 7:00 pm EDT/GMT-4 PROGRAM 曾侯⼄传奇 Li Bochan (b. 1992) The Legend of Zenghouyi
迷胡调 LuRirong (b.1933) Mi Hu Melody
闲居吟 Liu Tianhua (1895-1932) Chant of a Leisure Life
第⼆⼆胡协奏曲《追梦京华》 第四乐章 除⼣ Guan Naizhong (b.1939) Erhu Concerto No.2: Nostalgic Dreams of Beijing, Movement IV Winter
雪⼭魂塑 Liu Wenjin (1937-2013) The Brave Spirits of the Snow Mountains
Free, live-streamed concert with with violinists Leila Josefowicz and Jesse Mills; violist Hsin-Yun Huang; and cellist Fred Sherry. Online Event3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EST/GMT-5 Reserve your free tickets for this performance of Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/bard-college-conservatory-of-music-32430490385
THE CONDO CONCERTS is a series of concerts streamed from the Bard Conservatory with the generous support of artist George Condo. Featured musicians for the next two concerts are the Fred Sherry String Quartet with violinists Leila Josefowicz and Jesse Mills; violist Hsin-Yun Huang; and cellist Fred Sherry on April 18, and clarinetist Anthony McGill on May 2.
Donations from the live-stream audience will benefit the Conservatory Scholarship Fund, including a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarships. To donate: wwww.bard.edu/conservatory/giving
Saturday, March 13, 2021
UPSTREAMING8:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Leon Botstein Music Director Andrés Rivas Assistant Conductor
Richard Strauss Serenade in E flat major, Op. 7 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Prologue and Variations William Grant Still Ennanga for Harp, String Orchestra, and Piano Béla Bartók Divertimento for String Orchestra
Program subject to change based on Bard campus COVID protocols and NY State health regulations.
Viewing information
Visit this page on the date/time of the event to watch the performance.
Saturday, March 6, 2021
with collaborative piano fellows Ryan McCullough and Elias Dagher Online Event7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EST/GMT-5 Program: Beethoven Violin and Piano Sonata No.9 "Kreutzer" short intermission Bernstein Serenade After Plato's "Symposium"
Zongheng Zhang is completing his fifth and final year in the Bard College Conservatory of Music, studying violin and viola performance with Todd Phillips and Melissa Reardon, and orchestra conducting with James Bagwell. As the winner of the 2020 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition, he will perform as soloist with The Orchestra Now under the baton of maestro Leon Botstein on April 10, 2021 at the Fisher Center. He also won the 2019 Bard Community Orchestra Concerto Competition. At the Bard Conservatory, he holds the Y.S Liu Scholarship.
After giving his first solo recital when he was 15 years old in Wuhan, China, he was invited to join several international summer music festivals, such as Napa Valley Music Festival, The Great Wall Music Summer Academic, and the Summer Violin Institute at Northwestern University, among others. He has often served as the concertmaster and principal violin in the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and the Bard Community Orchestra.
Link for viewing this recital: https://youtu.be/SpMeeSIoA7A
This recital will be archived and available for later viewing.
Online Event8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST/GMT-5 Join the members of the Bard Graduate Vocal Arts Program for a concert of German arias as the culminating event of our German Opera Workshop. Enjoy beloved arias from a variety of composers, including Richard Strauss, W. A. Mozart, Erich Korngold, Englebert Humperdinck, and Carl Maria von Weber.
Streamed student recital with guest musicians on guzheng, cello, flute, percussion, and piano. Online Event8:30 pm – 9:30 pm EST/GMT-5 Streaming at https://youtu.be/CDJbyMIpTEs
Friday, February 19, 2021
Conservatory Scholarship Fund Benefit Recital--Reservations Required for Free Tickets Online Event8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST/GMT-5 Reserve your free tickets for this one-time streamed performance here.
Leila Josefowicz’s passionate advocacy of contemporary music for the violin is reflected in her diverse programs and enthusiasm to perform new works. Winner of the 2018 Avery Fisher Prize, she was also awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2008. Recent performances include concerts with the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the London, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Finnish Radio symphony orchestras.
THE CONDO CONCERTS is a series of four concerts in spring 2021 streamed from the Bard Conservatory with the generous support of artist George Condo as a benefit for the Conservatory Scholarship Fund.
A Chinese New Year Concert with The Orchestra Now and Guests UPSTREAMING8:00 pm EST/GMT-5
The US-China Music Institute presents the second annual production of The Sound of Spring, a concert of symphonic music to celebrate the Lunar New Year in collaboration with musicians both here and abroad.
The Sound of Spring features a new performance by The Orchestra Now conducted by Jindong Cai, along with performances from special guests including the Central Conservatory of Music Chinese Ensemble, the China NCPA Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.
Hosted by acclaimed pipa performer Wu Man and conductor Jindong Cai, the program will feature works by Tan Dun, Bao Yuankai, Julian Yu, Li Shaosheng, and more. Musical selections will send a message of hope, renewal, and new beginnings, in the spirit of the Chinese New Year tradition of the Spring Festival. For more information about The US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, please visit their website.
