Congratulations Students - String Festival Competition 2012 Winners

Please join me in congratulating the following winning students from our studio the 2012 MTAC Pasadena String Festival Competition

 

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - Meredith Urschel 

EDWARD A. PFEIFFER AWARD

For Most Promising Talent

Sponsored by Judith Nesleny

Given for the best performance of the competition   

                   

Ages 8 to 9

2nd Place:     Alexander Yeh              

Ages 12 to 13

1st Place:     Andrew Mecum         

Ages 14 to 15

1st Place:     Meredith Urschel

                               

 

Congratulations!!!

American Youth Symphony Evening Concert at UCLA

Enjoy an evening with Ronald Leonard 

Sunday January 29, 2012

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Royce - Auditorium

See below for additional information.

Admission

Free and open to the public. Advance reservations required.

Contact

American Youth Symphony
            (310) 470-2332      

Website

http://www.uclalive.org/calendar/event_detail.asp?id=19...

Additional Information

Alexander Treger, conductor. Ronald Leonard, cello.

Stucky: Ancora. Elgar: Cello Concerto Op. 85, E minor. Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World”.

PYSO Winter Concert and Silent Auction

Southwestern Youth Music Festival Results

Several students from our studio participated at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival in the end of July with great success!

Sabrina An

• 1st prize  | Cello Open Solo - Category 2
• 2nd prize | Cello Baroque Compositions - Category 1

Andrew Mecum, 2nd prize | Ensemble - Category 1

Aileen Ro

• 1st prize | Cello American Compositions - Cateogry 2
• 4th prize | Cello Open Solo - Category 3

Kevin Wei, 2nd prize | Cello Qualified - Category 26

Alex Yeh, 3rd prize | Cello Qualified - Category 7

Nick Yeh, 4th prize | Cello Qualified - Category 12

Summer Movie Night: Itzhak Perlman

It's that time!  Summer Movie Night will begin with a film of Itzhak Perlman performing the Beethoven Violin Concerto.

from netflix.com:

Master violinist Itzhak Perlman performs Beethoven's "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D op. 61" and Brahms's "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D op. 77" in this 1992 concert at Berlin's Schauspielhaus, with Perlman's longtime friend Daniel Barenboim conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. The Israeli-born virtuoso is filmed from different angles, providing a close-up look at his masterful bowing and fingering techniques. [...click here for more info]

Don't miss this great opportunity.  See you there!

String Visions from Ovation Press

My former teacher, Hans Jensen, has launched a blog through his music publishing company, Ovation Press, that is geared towards exploring and discussing issues that are important to all contemporary classical musicians.

One recent entry that I found particularly interesting was on the subject of bow angle or 'skewness'.  I've shown the very begining of the entry below, but to get the full effect it is best to visit the website and read the fascinating comments made by the readers as well.

from stringvisions.ovationpress.com:

To play parallel or not? You might not realize it, but this is very controversial topic.

To play parallel to the bridge is an aspect of string playing that has often been misunderstood – one that results in some heated discussions among teachers and performers of stringed instruments even today.

Here at String Visions I would first like to write a series of articles about this topic from different perspectives, and then to open up a discussion forum. Please get involved and write comments about my articles and feel free to write a longer article yourself on this topic and let us know what you think. The factors involved in these issues relate to the biomechanics of the body, natural motion, and movement patterns of the bow arm and the physics of the vibrating string. [...read the rest of part I]

 

[part II]

[part III]

 

Student Success: PYSO String Orchestra

Congratulations to the follwing students for being being accepted into PYSO and the PYSO String Orchestra.

PYSO
Hester Liu

String Orchestra
Andrew Mecum
Taleen Mitchell
Nick Yeh

As a member of the PYSO family, students will grow and enhance their musicianship through weekly rehearsals, hands-on training and performances.  As part of the Pasadena Symphony Association, the PYSO has unique access to world class professional orchestra, the Pasadena Symphony and POPS.

Way to go students on a job well done!

Student Success: Sabrina An, Nick & Alex Yeh

Join me in congratulating students Sabrina An, Nick Yeh and Alex Yeh on receiving prizes at the ASTA Area VI & I Competitions. Congratulations on a job well done.

 

 

PYSO on Glee

from pasadenasymphony-pops.org: 

Students from the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra have been chosen to perform on Glee. Last night was the first of 3 episodes taped so far in which they backed up Gwyneth Paltrow. Our kids are really playing – grades 6-9! It was a great learning experience for them.

Congratulations PYSO!

PYSO: Pre-Audition Masterclass

PYSO Rehearsing in Colorado Springs for a concert with the Air Force band, Blue SteelMr. Sweeney will be holding a masterclass on Sunday, May 8th from 3-4:30pm to help applicants to the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra in their audition preparation.  

The class is meant for any prospective student who would like to get some additional coaching and advice before the auditions that are to be held May 21st & 22nd.

The class will be limited to 6 participants, but will be open for any additional students who would like to audit.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Mr. Sweeney via email at ryansweeneycellist@gmail.com

PYSO Pre-Audition Masterclass

Sunday, May 8th 3:00-4:30pm

Barth Community Room

Crowell Public Library, San Marino 

Free Admission

Update on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 03:54PM by Ryan Sweeney

The auditions held last weekend were a great success.  We had a great turnout of accomplished young cellists, so it looks as though we'll have a fantastic section next season.  Congratulations to all who participated.

LA Philharmonic: Van Zweden Conducts Prokofiev and Beethoven

Mr. Sweeney will be performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall from  April 29th to May 1st.

Click here to order tickets.


 

 

Concert Dates:

Friday, April 29, 2011, 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 30, 2011, 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 1, 2011, 2:00 PM

Program:

Escher: Musique pour l’esprit en deuil
Prokofiev: Sinfonia concertante
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

Walt Disney Concert Hall (Map/Directions)
111 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
323.850.2000

from: laphil.com
Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante in E minor (also called Symphony-Concerto) is a large-scale work for cello and orchestra (premiered 1952), a revised version of his earlier Cello Concerto, written in 1933–8.

According to renowned cellist Rostropovich, who premiered the work, “Shostakovich thought that the Sinfonia Concertante was Prokofiev's most brilliant work.”

LAVS Competition Results: Sabrina An receives 2nd Place!

I'm very happy to announce that from our studio Sabrina An (13) was awarded 2nd Place at the Los Angeles Violoncello Society Scholarship competition this past Saturday.

Sabrina will perform the 1st movement of the Shostakovich cello concerto No. 1 on the Winners' Recital which will take place on Sunday, April 10th. Please come support her!

 

LAVS Scholarship Audiion Winners' Recital

Sunday, April 10th @ 4:00pm

Crossroads School

1714 21st Street

Santa Monica, CA 90404-3917

(google map)

Free Admission

Fiato Quartet at LA Music Salon

On Saturday April 9th the Mr. Sweeney's Fiato Quartet will perform at the Regency Club for the LA Music Salon series.

Program:
Corigliano - Snapshot, Circa 1909
Dvořák  - String Quartet No. 12 in F, Op. 96 McLean - Tango Chromatique

Concert Date:

APRIL 2011

Saturday, 9th

6 pm – 9:30 pm:

LA Music Salon Series at the Regency Club

LA Philharmonic: Znaider Plays Elgar

Mr. Sweeney will be performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall from  April 14th to 16th . Click here to order tickets.

 

Thursday, April 14, 2011, 8:00 PM
Friday, April 15, 2011, 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 16, 2011 2:00 PM

Program:
Elgar: Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
323.850.2000

from: laphil.com

“It's good! awfully emotional! too emotional, but I love it.” That’s how Elgar described his Violin Concerto, one of his longest orchestral works and the greatest English contribution to the treasury of Romantic violin concertos. The Royal Philharmonic Society of London commissioned it in 1909 when Elgar (52) was at the height of his fame. He dedicated it to virtuoso Fritz Kreisler, the soloist at the formal premiere (November 1910), which was Elgar's last great popular success. Nikolaj Znaider plays the very same Guarneri del Gesu violin with which Kreisler gave the premiere.

Japanese Benefit Concert

Lilian Mecum, sister of cellist Andrew Mecum, organized a concert in order to help aid the relief effort in Japan.  The concert was held on April 2 at 7:00 PM at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, where young people came together to express their compassion for the people of Japan through music.

Thanks to the large audience in attendance, the Japanese Tsunami Relief Benefit concert was a great success - over 3000 dollars were raised for Japan with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. 

Lilian commented in an email; "We couldn't have done it without your kindness and generosity. Contratulations to all of the performers; you played wonderfully.

Fiato String Quartet: Glendale Noon Concert

Mr. Sweeney will be performing with his ensemble, the Fiato String Quartet, for the Glendale Noon Concert Series held at the First Baptist Church of Glendale.  This performance features LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, String Quartet No. 16 in F major, op. 135.

Wednesday April 16, 2011  --  12:00pm

209 N. Louise St., Glendale, CA 91206 (google map)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, String Quartet No. 16 in F major, op. 135

 

Fiato String Quartet (website)

Carrie Kennedy - violin
Ina Veli - violin
Charles Hebenstreit - viola
Ryan Sweeney - violoncello

Pasadena Community Orchestra Concert

The upcoming program for the Pasadena Community Orchestra concert will be held Friday, March 25th at the First Church of the Nazarene. It includes the Brahms double with LA Phil players Paul Stein and David Garrett as the soloists.

If you attend you will also see Andrew Ruys de Perez's mother, Kim, performing in the cello section!

It is a free concert if you're interested in attending.

http://www.pcomusic.org/

Student Success: Sabrina An

Congratulations to Sabrina An who was recently named principal cello of the Symphony of Canyon Orchestra in Santa Clarita!

Learn more about the Symphonys of Canyon Youth Orchestra at http://scvyo.org/

Way to go Sabrina!

PYSO Pre-Audition Masterclass

05-16-2010

Mr. Sweeney will be holding a masterclass on Sunday, May 23rd from 2:30-4:00pm to help applicants to the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra in their audition preparation.  The class is meant for any prospective student who would like to get some additional coaching and advice before the auditions that are to be held June 5th & 6th.

The class will be limited to 6 participants, but will be open for any additional students who would like to audit.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Mr. Sweeney via email at r_sweeney@earthlink.net.

PYSO Pre-Audition Masterclass
Sunday, May 23rd  2:30-4:00pm
Barth Community Room
Crowell Public Library, San Marino
Free Admission

Jeffrey Solow Masterclass: Chris Cho plays Shostakovich Concerto

Following a successful performance at the LAVS Competition Winners' Recital, student Chris Cho has been asked to participate in a masterclass to be given by the renowned cellist Jeffrey Solow.  The class will be hosted by the Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale on Sunday, May 23rd from 2:30-5:00 pm.

From metzerviolins.com:
We have scheduled to perform four talented young cellists, ages 14-27, from the studios of Andrew Cook, David Garrett, Ryan Sweeney, and John Walz.  The program will include movements from Saint Saens Concerto, Dvorak Concerto, Shostakovich Concerto and Barber Sonata. We hope to see you on Sunday.  Please encourage your students and colleagues to attend this special master class!

RSVP requested.  (Admission is $15, ASTA members receive $5 off).

Jeffrey Solow Master Class

Sunday, May 23, 2010 

2:30-5:00 pm at the Metzler Violin Shop

604 S. Central Ave, Glendale, CA 91204

Admission to audit:  $15.00, reservations required.  

Please call 818-246-0278