Ravinia Steans Music Institute 2019

10 RAVINIA’S STEANS MUSIC INSTITUTE RSMI ALUMNI NEWS Achievements & Accomplishments PRESTIGIOUS APPOINTMENTS Alumni from all three RSMI Programs were recently appointed to prestigious positions in orchestras and conservatories around the world. Robert Scharmann (Jazz ‘14) was appointed Assistant Principal Bass for Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra in Nebraska, while Vicki Powel l (P&S ‘08, ‘09) became the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Violist. Baritone Gavin Carr (Singers ‘00) joined the Vocal Faculty of the Royal Academy of Music in London, and Soprano Rhoslyn Jones (Singers ‘08) announced her appointment to the Voice Faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in February of 2019. MUSIC AND #METOO Saxophonist Roxy Cross (Jazz ‘11) has made waves as an educator, activist, and advocate for women in jazz. This year, she joined forces with The Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble to perform music off her 2018 album “The Future is Female” in a collaborative process. Boston Lyric Opera approached the Benjamin Britten opera “The Rape of Lucretia” with particular care, arranging for additional resources for singers and audience members alike to help reckon with the disturbing subject matter. Baritone Duncan Rock (Singers ‘09), who portrayed Lucretia’s attacker Tarquinius, took part in “intimacy training” with his colleagues to make the staging safe for the participants while still believable to the audience. Many RSMI alumni took part in concerts and events celebrating International Women’s Day, including Washington D.C.’s newest music festival shining a light on female classical composers. WoCo Fest featured 50 performers over three days, and the Aizuri Quartet— made up of violinists Ariana Kim (P&S ‘06) and Miho Saegusa (‘09, ‘11, ‘14), violist Ayane Kozasa (‘10, ‘11, ‘14), and cellist Karen Ouzounian (‘10, ‘11, ‘14)—was the headline concert, performing commissioned works by composers Caroline Shaw and Gabriella Smith from their Grammy-nominated debut album, “Blueprinting.” ON STAGE WITH POP GREATS Keyboardist and singer-songwriter Rachel Eckroth (Jazz ‘03) hit the road with Rufus Wainwright on his “All These Poses” Tour at the end of 2018. In addition to playing in his touring band, she opened most shows as a standalone act, playing tracks off her recently-released third solo album “When it Falls.” Saxophonist Brandon Wright (Jazz ‘05) toured with “Goddess of Pop” Cher and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Niles Rogers as part of Chic! Part of the “Here We Go Again Tour” Chic—Rogers’ band—has been described as an “uber-sharp collection of musicians” and “the best disco band ever.” Dustin Laurenzi (Jazz ‘07) got some play on NPR Music for his part in a six-man saxophone ensemble performing with Bon Iver. The full December 2016 performance can be viewed on NPR Music’s YouTube page. ALUMNI AT CARNEGIE HALL Pianist Yuja Wang (P&S ‘04) curated a six-concert Perspectives series during Carnegie Hall’s 2018-2019 season. Her series offered a host of creative collaborations from Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, to classical music comedy duo Igudesman & Joo. RSMI Faculty Member and renowned pianist Leon Fleisher celebrated his 90th birthday a host of friends and colleagues, including fellow RSMI faculty and alums. Amongst those who appeared on stage with Fleisher were Jonathan Biss (P&S Faculty ‘15, ‘17) and Dover Quartet violinists Joel Link (P&S Fellow ‘09) and Bryan Lee (P&S ‘09, ‘10). RSMI has seen countless performance relationships take root during the summer and blossom beyond Ravinia’s stages. The duo of violinist YooJin Jang (P&S ’10, ’12) and pianist Renana Gutman , who was a Piano & Strings fellow in 2011 before returning as a staff collaborative pianist from 2012 to 2018, are just one example, having formed an artistic partnership at RSMI during the summer of 2012 that will lead them to Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall this past April. Soprano Jennifer Zetlan (Singers ‘07, ‘09) was featured in several performances, including a program of music by Poulenc and the Fauré Requiem with the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra of St. John the Divine under the baton of Kent Tritle, and “Magnificat: Music in Celebration of International Women’s Day.” The concert included an all-female choir, and was lead in part by DCINY guest conductor Nancy Menk. Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano (Singers ‘08) appeared in two separate recitals with operatic superstars: soprano Anna Natrebko— with whom she also performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago—and tenor Matthew Polenzani, who will hold a master class at Ravinia during the 2019 RSMI Program for Singers in August. PROMOTING REPRESENTATION Saxophonist Damani Phillips (Jazz ‘06) brought “Jazz in the Fight for Civil Rights: Jazz as Activist Music” to the University of Iowa. The musical program highlights the role that jazz played in the African American fight for civil rights featuring spoken word, visual presentation, and live performance. Originally created for a Martin Luther King Jr. campus event five years ago, it has “evolved and spread across the state of Iowa.” Violist Jensen Horn-Sim Lam (P&S ‘91, ‘93) is defying convention to champion “one of the most underrated instruments in China.” A professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, he created the biennial Viva la Viola festival, providing violists with concerts, workshops, seminars and masterclasses, and above all “something to be proud about.” The festival had its sixth installment this past November.