The Competition

14. June 2008 · Comments Off on The Competition · Categories: Ramble

So I’m home from the Russian Music Piano Competition, but I don’t yet know who won. We played with three stunning pianists, and I enjoyed each one. I must admit I didn’t enjoy them completely as I was on edge due to the incredibly limited rehearsal time we had on the works, but I was entirely impressed. We performed with 18 year old Tomer Gewirtzman (Israel), 22 year old Chaoyin Cai (China), and 24 year old Christopher Falzone (USA). After the final performance the jury was to spend something like 30 minutes deliberating, and I’m repeatedly checking this page for the results. I don’t know if they’ll post it tonight … hope so, though!

The audience and orchestra members were to vote for the audience favorite. I just couldn’t. Voting for one meant nixing the other two. So never mind that.

Tomorrow is the 4:00 awards ceremony and 5:00 winners’ concert at Le Petit Trianon, in case anyone is interested!

Orchestra Etiquette

14. June 2008 · 10 comments · Categories: Ramble

I’m thinking that universities and conservatories need to set up a new class, that covers a multitude of things. Some, I know, are beginning to understand that they need to teach young musicians how to survive; it’s not just “Out you go now … win that audition and enjoy life!” That doesn’t happen for everyone. So a survival skills class seems necessary these days.

Included in that class —something I think is rarely taught‐ should be musicians’ etiquette. I’m finding that far too many don’t know that little dos and don’ts of our somewhat confusing world. I do have to remind myself on occasion, in fact.

Recently I’ve heard of or observed some major rule breakers. Not following simple rules can alienate yourself from your section, another section, the conductor, or even the entire orchestra.

And it’s so easy to stay in the safe zone, if only you understand what not to do.

Yes, some of the rules may seem silly to some of you … take ’em or leave ’em. You choose. (But I highly recommend you seriously consider them if you are on tenure track!)

So check out my Musicians’ Etiquette page. Feel free to add to it. (Feel free to argue, too, but I’m probably not going to change my mind about most of this stuff.)

Someday I’ll tell some stories (I think I have already) … even tattling on myself for some very stupid things I’ve done.

Now it’s time to get ready to teach … which makes me remember that I should really write up a page for that someday. I hate to be and uptight old lady who thinks manners matter, but … well … they do.

Jessica Pearlman

14. June 2008 · Comments Off on Jessica Pearlman · Categories: Concert Announcements

Oboe/English Horn recital to benefit the Coastside Community Orchestra

featuring Juilliard graduate student
Jessica Pearlman

Including special guests
Lisa Spector and Media Luna Ensemble

Sunday, June 22, 4:00PM
Community United Methodist Church
777 Miramontes Street
Half Moon Bay, California

Suggested donation $15.00

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Biography – Jessica Pearlman

Oboist Jessica Pearlman grew up on the coast south of San Francisco, California and attended the School of the Arts High School in San Francisco. She began studying oboe with Kathy Conner at the age of 12 and was a member of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Since moving to New York in 2007, Ms. Pearlman has performed and toured with some of the city’s most esteemed ensembles, including the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Last Fall she participated in a ten-city American and European tour as oboist of the Verbier Festival Orchestra led by Charles Dutoit. As a soloist Ms. Pearlman was featured with the San Jose Chamber Symphony, a performance MetroActive described as “extraordinary… [she] dazzled through the overlapping melodies and 32nd note runs of a bravura show-off piece by Antonino Pasculli…[a] barrage of acclamation followed her tour de force…” Other solo appearances include Mozart’s Concerto with the Colorado College Summer Music Festival and the Bach Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin with the Mansfield (OH) Symphony Orchestra where she also served as Principal Oboe during the 2005 – 2006 season. Among Pearlman’s other talents, she is a dedicated and passionate teacher. While pursuing her own studies she taught oboe to undergraduate students at Oberlin College and Yale University, and in 2006 served as woodwind professor for the Associaciòn Nacional de Conciertos youth music festival in Panamà. Ms. Pearlman received degrees in both oboe performance and neuroscience from Oberlin College, where she studied with the late James Caldwell. Her research on brain tumor models conducted at Johns Hopkins University was presented at the 2006 conference for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Ms. Pearlman is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School as a student of Elaine Douvas, Nathan Hughes and Pedro Diaz, all of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

You know how I’ve written in the past about how, after flubbing something, we musicians have been known to say, “Well, at least I’m not a brain surgeon”? Heh. I guess some people might not be able to say that. Or at least have the brains to be a brain surgeon! I couldn’t have majored in neuroscience if you put a gun to my head and said I had to. Ms. Pearlman sounds like one amazing person!
And yes, it’s 3:17 AM and I’m blogging. Ah, sleep … I could use some!