Kander: dwb at Urban Arias in DC

On April 30, 2021, UrbanArias presents the digital premiere of its film adaptation of Susan Kander’s chamber opera dwb (driving while black), featuring soprano Karen Slack joined by cellist Rosanna Butterfield and percussionist Eric Plewinski. Kander’s 45-minute, one-woman monodrama was written in collaboration with librettist and soprano Roberta Gumbel. Gumbel — along with New Morse […]

Lee: Songs for the People Premieres

“Songs for the People has such beauty and depth. It has rich, musical sonorities that touch me to my core!” — Denyce Graves And so, celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves shares her thoughts about James Lee III’s new song, which premieres on May 1, as part of the Tulsa Opera’s “Greenwood Overcomes” concerts. Commissioned by the […]

Frazelle: Composer’s Corner Q & A

In this edition of “Composer’s Corner,” we’re highlighting Kenneth Frazelle — composer and pianist. The North Carolina-native’s large catalog ranges from solo piano works to choral music and songs, chamber music, orchestral works and concertos. Frazelle is also an artist specializing in watercolors! We checked-in with him to find out what he’s been doing during […]

Lee: Composer’s Corner Q & A

Welcome back to Subito’s “Composer’s Corner.” This issue features James Lee III, a sought-after composer and pianist in American contemporary music. During this challenging era of how the pandemic has effected artists, we talked with him about: composing in a virtual world; his compositional process; some of his favorite works, and the desire to “compose […]

Hemphill: Rediscovering Julius Hemphill

“I think music as we know it, is autobiographical.” – Julius Hemphill With New World Records’ recent 7-disc release of Julius Hemphill’s The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony (ASIN : B08SP172PM), it’s time to celebrate and rediscover this singular American voice. Hemphill (1938-1995) — composer, performer, and improviser of the New Jazz movement — gained […]

Zaimont: Born to Write Music

“When I was growing up…nobody ever told me that any women wrote music. Did it stop me? No. I knew I was born to write music…” Judith Lang Zaimont – award-winning composer and pianist – is featured in the March 2021 edition of NewMusicBox (NMBx). Zaimont chats with NMBx Composer Advocate Frank Oteri and talks […]

In Memoriam: Chick Corea

“Like a runner loves to run because it feels good, I like to play the piano because it feels good.” — Chick Corea We are saddened by the passing of jazz legend Chick Corea (1941 – 2021). With a career spanning five decades, the Massachusetts-native was a prolific artist and one of the most popular […]

Zaimont: Important & Groundbreaking

From February 14-19, 2021, The University of South Florida (USF) School of Music (Tampa, FL) presents Judith Lang Zaimont in a virtual composer-residency, hosted by the school’s New-Music Consortium. Zaimont’s residency includes: an interview with local station Classical WSMR; a presentation to the USF Composition Department, and a portrait concert of her music featuring three […]

Frazelle: A Wonderful Journey

“It’s been a wonderful journey.” And so, choreographer Gary Taylor offers enthusiastic insight into his new ballet “From Appalachia,” which is set to nine excerpts from Kenneth Frazelle’s Appalachian Songbooks 1 and 2. The ballet — presented by the Piedmont Opera — will be premiered by the Winston-Salem Festival Ballet as part of the “Echos […]

Lee: Principal Brothers Premieres

On October 11, celebrated clarinetist Anthony McGill premieres James Lee III’s Principal Brothers No. 3 with pianist Gloria Chien in a live-streamed concert. The performance will be presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. Written for McGill (principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic), the five-and-a-half-minute piece is the third in Lee’s new group of […]