2013: Robert Spano
Conductor, pianist, composer, and pedagogue Robert Spano is one of the most imaginative talents of his generation. Serving Atlanta as Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 2001, he has created a sense of inclusion, warmth and community that is unique among American orchestras. As Music Director of the Aspen Music Festival and School, he oversees the programming of more than 300 events and educational programs for 630 students, including Aspen’s American Academy of Conducting.
=Under Maestro Spano’s guidance, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and audiences explore a creative programming mix. The Atlanta School of Composers reflects Spano’s commitment to American contemporary music, defining a new generation of American composers. Robert Spano has led ASO performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Ravinia, Ojai and Savannah Music Festivals. Guest engagements include the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, San Francisco, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago and Philadelphia Symphony Orchestras, as well as Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, BBC Symphony and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He has conducted for Covent Garden, Welsh National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera and the 2005 and 2009 Seattle Opera Ring cycles.
Robert Spano will make three appearances at New York’s Carnegie Hall this season in varied programming. This is the fourth consecutive season in which Maestro Spano has been presented by the prestigious venue in more than one medium – and will mark the eighth time that Maestro Spano leads his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium. In October, he joins the American Composers Orchestra for a concert of Ian Williams, Christopher Theofanidis, Peter Fahey and Julia Wolfe. Mr. Spano steps off the podium and joins soprano Jessica Rivera and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor as pianist for recitals at UC Berkeley, Pepperdine University, Kennesaw State University, the Constella Festival in Cincinnati and Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. In April 2014, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus join Maestro Spano for a performance of Britten’s War Requiem. Additional guest appearances are with the Minnesota Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonia de Galicia, Tampere Philharmonic and two weeks of performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Robert Spano is also an artistic curator at the Ojai Festival for a second season in June 2014.
=In addition to his work on the podium and at the piano, Robert Spano has continued to focus on composition. In 2014, Mr. Spano will release a digital recording of his solo piano work, under water, and a cycle of five songs written for soprano Jessica Rivera. In addition to the recording, Mr. Spano and Ms. Rivera will perform the first three songs of the cycle in recital at Pepperdine University.
In his 13th season as Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano has programmed five world premieres as well as six Atlanta premieres. An ASO commission by Atlanta School of Composers member Michael Gandolfi and works by Mark Grey, Philip Lasser, Richard Prior and Charles Zoll reflect Mr. Spano’s and the Orchestra’s commitment to defining a new generation of American composers by nurturing and championing their music through multi-year partnerships. Appealing to his passion and skill as a pianist, as well as his special chemistry and camaraderie with principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles, both gentlemen join forces for Ravel’s La valse and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring as featured piano soloists. The season culminates with a concert performance of Verdi’s Aida.
Robert Spano’s extensive discography of 21 recordings for Telarc, Deutsche Grammophon and ASO Media has garnered six Grammy Awards. An all-Sibelius recording is planned for release in November 2013. Dedicated to pedagogy and multi-disciplinary studies, he has lectured on “Community” for TEDx and recently completed a three-year residency at Emory University. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
Mr. Spano serves on the faculty of Oberlin Conservatory, and has received honorary doctorates from Bowling Green State University, the Curtis Institute of Music, Emory University and Oberlin. Spano served as director of the Festival of Contemporary Music at the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood Music Center in 2003 and 2004, and from 1996 to 2004 was Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He headed the Conducting Fellowship Program at the Tanglewood Music Center from 1998 to 2002. In May 2009, Spano was awarded Columbia University's Ditson Conductor's Award for the advancement of American music.
Born in Conneaut, Ohio, and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, he is a graduate of Oberlin, where he studied conducting with Robert Baustian, continuing at the Curtis Institute of Music with the late Max Rudolf. He has been featured on CBS’s “Late Night with David Letterman” and “CBS Sunday Morning.” Robert Spano was named Musical America’s 2008 “Conductor of the Year” and is proud to live in Atlanta.
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=Under Maestro Spano’s guidance, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and audiences explore a creative programming mix. The Atlanta School of Composers reflects Spano’s commitment to American contemporary music, defining a new generation of American composers. Robert Spano has led ASO performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Ravinia, Ojai and Savannah Music Festivals. Guest engagements include the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, San Francisco, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago and Philadelphia Symphony Orchestras, as well as Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, BBC Symphony and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He has conducted for Covent Garden, Welsh National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera and the 2005 and 2009 Seattle Opera Ring cycles.
Robert Spano will make three appearances at New York’s Carnegie Hall this season in varied programming. This is the fourth consecutive season in which Maestro Spano has been presented by the prestigious venue in more than one medium – and will mark the eighth time that Maestro Spano leads his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium. In October, he joins the American Composers Orchestra for a concert of Ian Williams, Christopher Theofanidis, Peter Fahey and Julia Wolfe. Mr. Spano steps off the podium and joins soprano Jessica Rivera and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor as pianist for recitals at UC Berkeley, Pepperdine University, Kennesaw State University, the Constella Festival in Cincinnati and Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. In April 2014, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus join Maestro Spano for a performance of Britten’s War Requiem. Additional guest appearances are with the Minnesota Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonia de Galicia, Tampere Philharmonic and two weeks of performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Robert Spano is also an artistic curator at the Ojai Festival for a second season in June 2014.
=In addition to his work on the podium and at the piano, Robert Spano has continued to focus on composition. In 2014, Mr. Spano will release a digital recording of his solo piano work, under water, and a cycle of five songs written for soprano Jessica Rivera. In addition to the recording, Mr. Spano and Ms. Rivera will perform the first three songs of the cycle in recital at Pepperdine University.
In his 13th season as Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano has programmed five world premieres as well as six Atlanta premieres. An ASO commission by Atlanta School of Composers member Michael Gandolfi and works by Mark Grey, Philip Lasser, Richard Prior and Charles Zoll reflect Mr. Spano’s and the Orchestra’s commitment to defining a new generation of American composers by nurturing and championing their music through multi-year partnerships. Appealing to his passion and skill as a pianist, as well as his special chemistry and camaraderie with principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles, both gentlemen join forces for Ravel’s La valse and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring as featured piano soloists. The season culminates with a concert performance of Verdi’s Aida.
Robert Spano’s extensive discography of 21 recordings for Telarc, Deutsche Grammophon and ASO Media has garnered six Grammy Awards. An all-Sibelius recording is planned for release in November 2013. Dedicated to pedagogy and multi-disciplinary studies, he has lectured on “Community” for TEDx and recently completed a three-year residency at Emory University. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
Mr. Spano serves on the faculty of Oberlin Conservatory, and has received honorary doctorates from Bowling Green State University, the Curtis Institute of Music, Emory University and Oberlin. Spano served as director of the Festival of Contemporary Music at the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood Music Center in 2003 and 2004, and from 1996 to 2004 was Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He headed the Conducting Fellowship Program at the Tanglewood Music Center from 1998 to 2002. In May 2009, Spano was awarded Columbia University's Ditson Conductor's Award for the advancement of American music.
Born in Conneaut, Ohio, and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, he is a graduate of Oberlin, where he studied conducting with Robert Baustian, continuing at the Curtis Institute of Music with the late Max Rudolf. He has been featured on CBS’s “Late Night with David Letterman” and “CBS Sunday Morning.” Robert Spano was named Musical America’s 2008 “Conductor of the Year” and is proud to live in Atlanta.
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2013: Petr Nouzovský
Czech cellist Petr Nouzovský has gone from strength to strength, having embarked upon an impressive career while still a student. As the winner of New Master on Tour (2007), of the Europäische Förderpreis für Musik (2007) and as laureate of the Val Tidone Competition (2011) or Johannes Brahms Competition (2013), he performed in important festivals in Italy, Austria, Japan, Slovakia, Germany, Algeria, Russia, Spain and USA.
Mr. Nouzovský made his debut in Amsterdam’s famed Concertgebouw hall in 2008. Other important venues include the Pablo Casals Festival (2010), Moritzburg Festival (2010), Santander Festival (2011) and Kasseler Musiktage in (2011). He has had the singular honor of being a regular guest at the Prague Spring Festival since 2005, and has also appeared in major venues in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kyoto, Alger, The Hague, and Buenos Aires.
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Mr. Nouzovský made his debut in Amsterdam’s famed Concertgebouw hall in 2008. Other important venues include the Pablo Casals Festival (2010), Moritzburg Festival (2010), Santander Festival (2011) and Kasseler Musiktage in (2011). He has had the singular honor of being a regular guest at the Prague Spring Festival since 2005, and has also appeared in major venues in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kyoto, Alger, The Hague, and Buenos Aires.
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2012: Michael Mermagen
MICHAEL MERMAGEN cello (M.M. The Juilliard School, B.M. The Peabody Conservatory of Music) is associate professor of cello and chamber music, and faculty adviser in orchestral instruments for bachelor’s and master’s degree students at Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America.
He made his debut at the age of sixteen with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra after receiving its Young Soloist’s Award. Michael began his studies at Peabody Preparatory where he studied with Paula Skolnick-Childress and Mihaly Virizlay. Principal teachers in college were Stephen Kates at Peabody Conservatory, and Zara Nelsova at The Juilliard School. As The Juilliard School’s concerto competition winner, he performed with Juilliard Orchestra under Otto-Werner Mueller in Alice Tully Hall. He was soloist with National Orchestra of New York, where he held the prestigious Emanuel Feuermann principal cello chair and performed in Violoncello Society of New York Master Classes lead by Yo-Yo Ma, Janos Starker, and Bernard Greenhouse.
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He made his debut at the age of sixteen with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra after receiving its Young Soloist’s Award. Michael began his studies at Peabody Preparatory where he studied with Paula Skolnick-Childress and Mihaly Virizlay. Principal teachers in college were Stephen Kates at Peabody Conservatory, and Zara Nelsova at The Juilliard School. As The Juilliard School’s concerto competition winner, he performed with Juilliard Orchestra under Otto-Werner Mueller in Alice Tully Hall. He was soloist with National Orchestra of New York, where he held the prestigious Emanuel Feuermann principal cello chair and performed in Violoncello Society of New York Master Classes lead by Yo-Yo Ma, Janos Starker, and Bernard Greenhouse.
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2012: The Aspen Trio
Sold-out houses and standing ovations characterize the performances of the renowned Aspen String Trio. After twenty years of friendship and music-making, Aspen String Trio members David Perry, Victoria Chiang, and Michael Mermagen have joined together as an ensemble with magical synergy. These three world-class instrumentalists each have a long-time association as artist-faculty with the Aspen Music Festival; combined they have performed across the globe in the world’s most prestigious venues. “The energy, spontaneity, and sheer enjoyment we find together is a constant inspiration to us, and a joy to our audiences!” They delight in offering—with humor and insight—virtuoso performances of the rich string trio repertoire, including works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert, as well as lesser known blockbuster works by Dohnany, Hindemith, Martinu, Rozsa, Gideon Klein, Veress, Villa-Lobos and Ysaye, among others. Recent and upcoming performances and residencies include Chicago, Arlington and Waco, Texas, The University of Delaware, and Baltimore, Maryland, and at the University of Baltimore where they are the Ensemble in Residence. A notable upcoming recording project includes recording the string trios and other music of Martinů for the Naxos label.
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- 2012: Jesús Castro-Balbi
Concert cellist Jesús Castro-Balbi enjoys an active presence in prestigious venues and series around the globe, from 10 appearances at Carnegie Hall and four visits to China, to Leipzig's Gewandhaus, Colombia's Cartagena International Festival, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Peru, Scandinavia, receiving critical acclaim and features in major media including BBC World, TV5-Arte Europe, Japanese National Television NHK, Korean National Television KBS, National Public Radio, Strings Magazine, and The Strad. Concerto engagements include the Leipzig MDR, Dallas, Fort Worth, Aarhus, Cannes, Aguascalientes and Xalapa Symphony Orchestras, the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, and the National Symphony in Lima. His vast repertoire ranges from gems of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods to music of our time, offering 44 world premiere performances and premiere recordings, including 11 works written for him. In 2013, he presents a new concerto for cello and orchestra by Jimmy Lopez.
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- 2011: David Ying
Cellist David Ying is well known to concert audiences as the cellist of the Grammy Award winning Ying Quartet. With the Quartet he has performed worldwide in celebrated music venues from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. The quartet is also known for its enterprising view of concert performance, which has led to visits to the White House as well as correctional facilities, and to business schools as well as hospitals. In its collaborations, the quartet has performed with chamber music greats Menachem Pressler, Gilbert Kalish, and Paul Katz, as well as explored new musical territory with folk musician Mike Seeger, the Turtle Island Quartet, and even actors, dancers, chefs and magicians.
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- 2011: Ying Quartet
The Ying Quartet occupies a position of unique prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today's world. Now in its second decade as a quartet, the Quartet has established itself as an ensemble of the highest musical qualifications in its tours across the United States and abroad. Their performances regularly take place in many of the world's most important concert halls, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House.
At the same time, the Quartet's belief that concert music can also be a meaningful part of everyday life has also drawn the foursome to perform in settings as diverse as the workplace, schools, juvenile prisons, and the White House. In fact, the Ying Quartet's constant quest to explore the creative possibilities of the string quartet has led it to an unusually diverse array of musical projects and interests.
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At the same time, the Quartet's belief that concert music can also be a meaningful part of everyday life has also drawn the foursome to perform in settings as diverse as the workplace, schools, juvenile prisons, and the White House. In fact, the Ying Quartet's constant quest to explore the creative possibilities of the string quartet has led it to an unusually diverse array of musical projects and interests.
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- 2011: Eighth Blackbird
eighth blackbird lives dangerously. The Chicago-based, two-time GRAMMY Award-winning sextet combines the finesse of a string quartet with the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company. Its musical aerobatics delight, provoke and entertain audiences around the world.
The lure of wet ink draws eighth blackbird into collaborations with a motley crew of composers, young and old, modernist and indie. Recent commissions include Steve Reich's Double Sextet, Jennifer Higdon's On a Wire and Steve Mackey's Slide, and future collaborators include Amy Beth Kirsten, Brett Dean, Aaron Jay Kernis, John Luther Adams and Mayke Nas.
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The lure of wet ink draws eighth blackbird into collaborations with a motley crew of composers, young and old, modernist and indie. Recent commissions include Steve Reich's Double Sextet, Jennifer Higdon's On a Wire and Steve Mackey's Slide, and future collaborators include Amy Beth Kirsten, Brett Dean, Aaron Jay Kernis, John Luther Adams and Mayke Nas.
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2010: Pacifica Quartet
Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often-daring repertory choices, over the past two decades the Pacifica Quartet has gained international stature as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. The Pacifica tours extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, performing regularly in the world’s major concert halls. Named the quartet-in-residence at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music in March 2012, the Pacifica was the quartet-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2009 – 2012)—a a position previously held by the Guarneri String Quartet—and received the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance. Prior to their appointment to the Jacobs School, the Quartet was on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana from 2003 to 2012. The Pacifica Quartet also serves as resident performing artist at the University of Chicago.
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- 2009: The Biava Quartet
Winner of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award and top prizes at the Premio Borciani and London International Competitions, the Biava Quartet has established an enthusiastic following in the United States and abroad. Formed in 1998 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Quartet takes its name from Luis Biava, a mentor since its inception. The members of the Biava Quartet, violinists Austin Hartman and Hyunsu Ko, violist Mary Persin, and cellist Jason Calloway, hold the Lisa Arnhold Quartet Residency at the Juilliard School, serving as graduate quartet in residence and teaching assistants to the Juilliard Quartet, having previously held the same position with the Tokyo Quartet at Yale University. The Biava Quartet has performed to acclaim in important venues throughout North America, Europe, and Asia and has recorded for the Naxos and Cedille labels, with frequent national and international broadcasts.
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