Opera on the Avalon is delighted to present Three Decembers, a chamber opera in two acts, composed by Jake Heggie, with a libretto by Gene Scheer. Based on the unpublished play Some Christmas Letters by Terrence McNally, Three Decembers is set during the month of December in three years – 1986, 1996, 2006
New album collaboration ‘Moods and Miniatures’
buy it here Moods and Miniatures Music by Clifford Crawley — Moods and Miniatures presents solo piano and chamber music composed between 1978 and 2010 by Canadian composer Clifford Crawley (1929-2016). The works on this recording demonstrate Crawley’s genius in writing miniatures that make impactful statements in short movements. These delightful, exquisitely crafted character pieces are densely packed […]
The Clarinet reviews ‘Homage And Inspiration’
Michelle Kiec writes in The Clarinet Journal of the International Clarinet Association: “Simply, this disc by Iris Trio is immaculate in its musical and technical presentation, bringing forth depths of sound palettes for the listener’s delight.”
The Strad: Learning at the speed of childhood
A willingness to engage in challenges outside of our ability level and to embrace making mistakes can help adults to learn as efficiently as young children. Read more on ‘The Strad’
Fanfare Magazine reviews ‘Homage And Inspiration’
Fanfare Magazine’s recently featured two fantastic reviews (by Colin Clarke and Huntley Dent) of the Iris Trio’s album “HOMAGE AND INSPIRATION”, calling it “…a stunning recording, having just the right amount of warmth and yet allowing for utter clarity.”
Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight – PART 2
It has been a number of years since I first wrote about “random practice” for Noa Kageyama’s Bulletproof Musician Blog. Since then, I have been excited to see the discussion, experimenting, and even controversy that has resulted.
Where There is a Way There is a Will: Overcoming the Procrastination Trap (Part 2)
Once we are honest with ourselves that, just like yesterday and today, there are going to be temptations tomorrow, we can use Ulysses contracts to pre-commit to specific actions that are in line with our goals. These plans need to be in place before we want to do the work…
Where There is a Way There is a Will: Overcoming the Procrastination Trap (Part 1)
When we go to bed at night, we seem to be the best versions of ourselves. As we think forward to tomorrow, our great intentions are clear. We will wake up early, exercise, practice for many hours, finish that large project on our to-do list, clean the house, and catch up on all of our email. It seems easy to imagine that we will accomplish more work in one day than we have ever accomplished before.
Residency at Manhattan School of Music
This fall, Christine has been invited for a woodwind residency at Manhattan School of Music in NYC.
Motivation in Isolation
It is no secret that musicians are struggling with motivation right now. I have been hearing this week after week from musicians around the world as we experience the global pandemic and a long overdue reckoning with systemic racism in our communities and institutions. The gulf between the world we know and the world we want is immense.