Category: Blog

The vision was to present a highly varied show that balances music and visuals, orchestra and choir, large ensembles and soloists, instrumental music and songs. Danny Elfman decided instead of just performing the music as originally created for the films, he would reconceive his music as concert works by arranging original orchestral suites created uniquely […]

With the release of Star Wars: Episode VII approaching, I thought it was appropriate to share this announcement from the American Film Institute naming composer John Williams the recipient of the 44th AFI Life Achievement Award. Established in 1973, this prestigious award recognizes individuals in the film industry who have furthered the field and enriched […]

Below is a brief project I completed for my film scoring class where we’ve discussed the various ways music can support visual drama and have even worked on creating our own original scores.  We were asked to study and describe a recent film score of our choice! The Martian (2015) – Directed by Ridley Scott, Music […]

Music, like many careers, is an expensive pursuit, so it’s important to support organizations that give generously to up and coming artists. This past May I was contacted by the Harmonia Music Association of Lebanon, PA – one of six clubs active in the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs and one of the 6,000 forming the […]

I wanted to share a source rich with knowledge of preeminent experts in the world of musical arts.  Greenroom Conversations is a collection of podcast interviews featuring performers, pedagogues, conductors, producers, actors, and many more. Your hosts Dr. Carol Ann Aicher of the Manhattan School of Music and professional musician and collaborator Kevin Chavez present questions for insightful discussion of […]

Preparing for a concert requires disciplined, focused practice.  While one’s mental and physical state can fluctuate from day to day, identifying performance conditions is vital for effective practice.  Ultimately, whatever a musician prepares ahead of time, he/she strives to maintain a sense of freedom and spontaneity in each new performance. There is a well-worn saying: practice makes perfect. […]

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, Black Pudding, Shepherd’s Pie – just some of the many dishes I tried during my family’s recent trip to the United Kingdom.  We’d been planning a trip for a while and wanted to learn more about our Scottish heritage.  It was a busy two weeks as we wanted to do as […]

The world recently lost a terrific musician and composer, James Horner, who passed away in a tragic plane accident.  He played an important role in the film score world with his work on Titanic (1997) and A Beautiful Mind (2001), among many others.  Just as important was the impact his music had on fans worldwide, […]

Most musicians intuitively understand the relationship between music, learning and academic achievement.  While there are always exceptions, I have always found that music arms me with thinking skills that help me in everyday life and in seemingly unrelated subject areas like math, science, and even English! Music training, from learning an instrument to developing aural skills, […]

I recently participated in the 2014 Thousand Islands International Piano Competition in Cape Vincent, New York, sponsored by the Cape Vincent Arts Council. The Thousand Islands International Piano competition is celebrating its 12th year along the beautiful St. Lawrence River. The primary focus of this event is to provide a venue for exceptional young pianists […]