Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Diabetes and Health Insurance Article
My article "Diabetic? Need Health Insurance?" is available for viewing.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Big Music Machine and Haydn
USC Symphony Celebrates Haydn
By Tiffany Brand
On Tuesday at the Koger Center, the USC Symphony Orchestra kicks off its celebration of “the Father of the Symphony,” Joseph Haydn.The event, titled A Tribute to Haydn, begins with a pre-concert lecture led by associate professor of music history Peter Hoyt at 6:45 p.m. The 7:30 p.m. concert will open with Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, a piece that expertly melds the timbres of the oboe, bassoon, violin and cello. The highlight of the evening, the Trumpet Concerto, was written in 1796 for Haydn’s longtime friend Anton Weidinger. Weidinger developed a keyed trumpet that could surpass the range of its predecessors, taking the instrument from a limited range of notes into new possibilities in several registers. Indeed, the concerto revels in the instrument’s new freedom, with Haydn incorporating lower ranges that were not possible on earlier trumpets. James Ackley, principal trumpet of the Augusta Symphony and associate professor of trumpet at USC, will be the soloist.
To conclude the evening’s performance, the orchestra will present Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. The five-movement whirlwind chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of a young artist — his obsession with his work manifesting itself in the haunting image of a woman. The music weaves through a raucous party, adds soothing melodies during a walk in the countryside and crescendos during betrayal and the nadir of opium use. The symphony culminates with the Rondo Sabbat, a movement written with no less than four timpani in mind, a thundering end to the concert.Back to the Haydn trumpet concerto, USC’s Ackley — who has toured the United States, South America, Asia and Europe — is glad to be performing it and always finds new depth to the work.“Trumpet literature is not as abundant as many other instruments, but we do have several pieces that are staples,” Ackley says. “I enjoy performing every one of them.“I approach the concerto in a different way each time I get the opportunity to perform it,” he continues. “It seems that the composition tends to grow and take on a different persona as I continue to grow as a musician.”Ackley is a seasoned musician who has performed with Placido Domingo, James Levine, Zubin Mehta and Leonard Bernstein, among others, as well as worked with several modern composers. With extensive experience as a soloist as well as in chamber groups and orchestras, he is a welcome addition to USC, where he has held the associate professor of trumpet position since 2007. A large part of his career focuses on fostering the growth of other musicians, creating opportunities for them to hone their craft. During his time as a performer, he helped form the National Trumpet Conference in Bogota, Colombia, now an annual event consisting of over 300 members. Ackley also works with the USC Trumpet Studio and recently conducted master classes with his group, Tromba Mundi, at the Trumpet Festival at the University of West Chester in Pennsylvania. The group released a CD, Tromba Mundi: Music for Trumpet Ensemble, a few months ago. Another release featuring Tromba Mundi member Jean-Christophe Dobzrelewski will be released in the coming months. Ackley is also planning a trip for the Trumpet Studio to a chamber ensemble event in Orvieto, Italy, this June.“USC has a wonderful history of excellence,” Ackley says. “The School of Music has some of the most talented people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. The university is applauded throughout the state and there’s a sense of [both] tradition and forward thinking on campus.” The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at the Carolina Coliseum box office, by phone at 251-2222, or online at capitoltickets.com. Tickets will also be available in the Koger Center lobby starting at 6:30 p.m.
Article can also be found here:
By Tiffany Brand
On Tuesday at the Koger Center, the USC Symphony Orchestra kicks off its celebration of “the Father of the Symphony,” Joseph Haydn.The event, titled A Tribute to Haydn, begins with a pre-concert lecture led by associate professor of music history Peter Hoyt at 6:45 p.m. The 7:30 p.m. concert will open with Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, a piece that expertly melds the timbres of the oboe, bassoon, violin and cello. The highlight of the evening, the Trumpet Concerto, was written in 1796 for Haydn’s longtime friend Anton Weidinger. Weidinger developed a keyed trumpet that could surpass the range of its predecessors, taking the instrument from a limited range of notes into new possibilities in several registers. Indeed, the concerto revels in the instrument’s new freedom, with Haydn incorporating lower ranges that were not possible on earlier trumpets. James Ackley, principal trumpet of the Augusta Symphony and associate professor of trumpet at USC, will be the soloist.
To conclude the evening’s performance, the orchestra will present Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. The five-movement whirlwind chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of a young artist — his obsession with his work manifesting itself in the haunting image of a woman. The music weaves through a raucous party, adds soothing melodies during a walk in the countryside and crescendos during betrayal and the nadir of opium use. The symphony culminates with the Rondo Sabbat, a movement written with no less than four timpani in mind, a thundering end to the concert.Back to the Haydn trumpet concerto, USC’s Ackley — who has toured the United States, South America, Asia and Europe — is glad to be performing it and always finds new depth to the work.“Trumpet literature is not as abundant as many other instruments, but we do have several pieces that are staples,” Ackley says. “I enjoy performing every one of them.“I approach the concerto in a different way each time I get the opportunity to perform it,” he continues. “It seems that the composition tends to grow and take on a different persona as I continue to grow as a musician.”Ackley is a seasoned musician who has performed with Placido Domingo, James Levine, Zubin Mehta and Leonard Bernstein, among others, as well as worked with several modern composers. With extensive experience as a soloist as well as in chamber groups and orchestras, he is a welcome addition to USC, where he has held the associate professor of trumpet position since 2007. A large part of his career focuses on fostering the growth of other musicians, creating opportunities for them to hone their craft. During his time as a performer, he helped form the National Trumpet Conference in Bogota, Colombia, now an annual event consisting of over 300 members. Ackley also works with the USC Trumpet Studio and recently conducted master classes with his group, Tromba Mundi, at the Trumpet Festival at the University of West Chester in Pennsylvania. The group released a CD, Tromba Mundi: Music for Trumpet Ensemble, a few months ago. Another release featuring Tromba Mundi member Jean-Christophe Dobzrelewski will be released in the coming months. Ackley is also planning a trip for the Trumpet Studio to a chamber ensemble event in Orvieto, Italy, this June.“USC has a wonderful history of excellence,” Ackley says. “The School of Music has some of the most talented people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. The university is applauded throughout the state and there’s a sense of [both] tradition and forward thinking on campus.” The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at the Carolina Coliseum box office, by phone at 251-2222, or online at capitoltickets.com. Tickets will also be available in the Koger Center lobby starting at 6:30 p.m.
Article can also be found here:
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
SisterLove Women's Health Education Collective Article Up
My profile of Dazon Dixon Diallo is available in the Winter 2009 issue of BITCH Magazine: A Feminist Response to Pop Culture. Ms. Diallo works in the Atlanta area doing city and college outreach on HIV and reproductive health issues.
Buy the issue here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)