Ravinia 2023 Issue 1

JAZZ June 6 – 13 BILLY CHILDS , RUFUS REID , and STEVE WILSON , co-program directors The Bridges Composition Competition calls on young composers from around the globe to add their creative perspectives to the “bridge” between RSMI’s jazz and classical focuses with new works written for string quartet and jazz ensemble. Up to three winners are selected annually to receive the David Baker Prize—an award of $2,500 and a week to further develop their music with the Program for Jazz directors as well as the ensemble that will premiere their work at the culmination. The Program for Jazz is focused on composition and small-group collaboration. From the moment they arrive, the 15 fellows are rehearsing in different instrumental combos and workshopping new music with the guidance of standard-bearers in the vitality of jazz, together learning to adapt to gigging with ever-changing personnel. Within a week, the musicians form three quintets to premiere their original works. Meeting and working with Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, and Steve Wilson has encouraged me to continue pursuing my craft to the highest degree and never give up my artistic integrity, even when I’m faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. — 2022 Jazz fellow PIANO & STRINGS June 19 – July 22 MIRIAM FRIED , program director In my first lesson with Miriam Fried, she said, ‘It doesn’t matter if I hate it. I can hate it and it would still be all right, just say something to me with your music.’ I think that’s very much the philosophy of this program. It’s not about trying to make people a certain way. It’s about making people try to express and externalize something that is already inside of them. — Natania Hoffman (cello), 2018 Piano & Strings fellow The Program for Piano & Strings concentrates on interpretation and small-group collaboration through the practice and performance of classical sonata and chamber repertoire. This year, 35 violinists, violists, cellists, pianists, and members of a pre-existing chamber group will gather for five weeks of immersive and intensive rehearsals and coachings with a rotating roster of some of the world’s finest teaching artists. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished in this environment where you feel that the faculty and your colleagues are truly on your side As Beethoven once said, I had the opportunity to not merely practice my art, but to force my way into its secrets. — Kyle Orth (piano), 2019 Piano & Strings fellow SINGERS July 29 – August 19 KEVIN MURPHY , program director The Program for Singers offers a unique setting for 15 classical singers to delve deeply into the vast repertoire of art song for three weeks. Fellows are paired with staff collaborative pianists to work with a faculty of distinguished musicians, pedagogues, and scholars on varied aspects of the musical tradition, including style, technique, language, diction, dramaturgy, performance, and career preparation. This is a place for exploration. You’re already an artist, you’re already a great singer and communicator, and this is not the place to try and ‘prove’ that to anyone. This is the place for you to discover all of the crayons in the box, test them out, decide which ones work for you in this specific place and time, and share them. — Brandon Bell (bass-baritone), 2021 Singers fellow In the opera world, it’s very easy to fall into a scary routine of competition; Ravinia released me from that. It made me go back to the origin of why I’m singing. — 2017 Singers fellow RAVINIA.ORG • RAVINIA MAGAZINE 81