Mock auditions

Always so much to learn from a tuba master class!

Back stage for Mock Auditions

Always something to learn from a tuba player!

Master classes coming up and things I have learned.

There are a collection of fantastic master classes coming up this spring at Pacific, and I am very excited to have my students have the opportunity to go to these. The first one is by a tuba player I have admired for a long time, Gene Pokorny of the Chicago Symphony.   I met him when I was in my 20s, as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  We would go to talks and presentations by different members of the orchestra, and I remember his particularly well as it landed at a particular time in my development as a musician.   In those days, I was pretty much a nervous wreck about every element of performing.   His talk was about being a “smart” player.  He gave us a 4 or 5 page handout with many, many differences between smart and dumb players listed, but the one I remember the most is this one:  “dumb” players are those that play differently when they know someone in the audience.  This challenged me.  Being on that stage in Civic, you could look up and see your coach in the audience, the kids that were your colleagues at school that hadn’t gotten in (and who you may perceive as gunning for your spot), or faces of relatives who were visiting.   I was able to realize the full extent to which I was really caught up in trying to impress in those days, and I began to break that down, to recognize it and to build the skills to be able to move from “dumb” to “smart.”  Pokorny’s talk really helped me learn to play the music for the music, and not to play to impress or prove something.    

Fantasy Studios

I have been working on a recording for the past six months at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Alberto Hernandez has been an incredible engineer for this project-- here he is putting the final touches after a three hour editing session. Next week I go in and record the last work! Not telling what is on the recording yet-- stay tuned.

Auditioning at Pacific

This prospective student's father caught this photo while we were visiting in my studio last weekend. It is so much fun to be able to meet these young people who are in the process of figuring out where they are going, what path to choose. To be a part of it is exciting. Fun!

Sextet Reading in Studio Class

A prospective student for composition shared a new sextet the other day. The reading of it was far from perfect, but a great experience for all.  Amanda Gieseke did a great job conducting and leading the reading. 

Former Student News - Nathan Koch

Congratulations to my former student, Nathan Koch, who recently completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts and became DR. Nathan Koch. It was amazing to be able to see and hear him again recently at the 2012 MQVC Bassoon Symposium.  He performed a very entertaining (and excellent) Papageno/Papagena duet from the Magic Flute with Kristin Wolfe Jensen and Eun-Hye Grace Choi.

His bio:

Nathan J. Koch served as the Teaching Assistant for the bassoon studio of Kristin Wolfe Jensen at the University of Texas at Austin for four years where received his DMA and MM. His freelance work has included bassoon and contrabassoon performances with the Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, Tulsa Symphony, Victoria Symphony, and the Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra. He has appeared as a featured soloist at the 2008 Kansas Bandmasters Association convention in Wichita, KS, and as a contrabassoon clinician for the online subscription service I Compete in Texas.  Festival appearances include the Round Top Music Festival, Texas Music Festival, Pierre Monteux School Orchestra, and the Festival de Música de Santa Catarina in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. In addition to performing, Nathan is also an active freelance arranger, specializing in bassoon ensembles.  Several of his chamber music arrangements are available through TrevCo Music, including works by Franck, Beethoven, Vivaldi and Debussy. Nathan also received his BM, summa cum laude, from Wichita State University under the guidance of Nicolasa Kuster.

2011 Pacific Bassoon Holiday Studio Party

Pulled off another dinner for the students.  No real theme this year, due to how busy I am with planning the MQVC Symposium.  Someday, when Leona is older, I might be coordinated and collected enough to get back to the theme idea.

This year's Holiday Party menu:
Garlic Soup and Fontina Crostini
Glazed ham and mashed potatoes
Candied yams (special request from husband, Bert)
Sauteed chanterelles and green beans
Salad
dessert

The White Elephant gift exchange game was great fun this year.  No one cried.  The gag gift (a chicken ornament)  that got put back in the pile from last year was received with great joy by Bernadette, who actually collects chicken things.

Cane

Larry has identified the spot to take people for the cane expedition of the MCVC.

Lieurance Woodwind Quintet Music from the Americas

New Woodwind Quintet CD!

Flute: Frances Shelly; Andrea Banke, oboe; Suzanne Tirk, clarinet; Nicholas Smith, horn.

Bassoon:  Nicolasa Kuster on Mucziynski, Wilder and Harbison; Scott Oakes on Pitombeira and Valjean. 

The LWQ began recorded those works right before I left Wichita to come to my job at Pacific. The project was completed with bassoonist Scott Oakes, a University of the Pacific graduate who now teaches in Wichita.  

To order with free shipping, go to http://lieurancequintet.flyovermedia.net/