The League of American Orchestras' National Food Drive

This March, The Phoenix Symphony will once again partner with St. Mary’s Food Bank as participants in the League of American Orchestras' "Orchestras Feeding America."

This nationwide project had its start last year and was inspired by the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted Juilliard-trained string player who was living on the streets of Los Angeles as a result of a mental illness. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez noticed Nathaniel, and was drawn to his talent, intelligence, and passion for Beethoven. The fascinating story led to the film, The Soloist, a film about Mr. Ayers, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.

This film and the Orchestras Feeding America project are testaments to the power of music. Last year’s Orchestras Feeding America project involved 250 orchestras collecting over 200,000 pounds of food.

Phoenix Symphony patrons can donate items at Symphony Hall during the “Symphonic Star Wars” and “Star Wars Mania” concerts beginning one hour prior to the start of each concert. Concerts on March 26 and 27 begin at 8 pm and the Sunday matinee on March 27 begins at 2 pm. The Family Series concert on March 27 starts at 2:30 pm. The most needed items include the following:

 Dry Soup

 Rice

 Powdered / Canned Milk

 Macaroni and Cheese

 Cereal

 Peanut Butter

 Beans

 Canned Fruit and Vegetables

 Tuna

 Canned Meats

 Soup

 Pasta

 Fruit Juices / Sip-sized Juices

For every 10 accepted items donated, Phoenix Symphony patrons will receive a voucher good for two tickets for an upcoming 2009/10 Symphony concert (some exclusions apply.)

Vocalist Auditions!

Are you a trained vocalist? Have you always wanted to perform with The Phoenix Symphony? If you answered yes to those two questions, then you are in luck! Next month, vocalists across Arizona are invited to audition for The Phoenix Symphony’s 2010/11 Season. Performance opportunities will be available in Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah, as well as parts in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hans Krása’s opera Brundibar.

“We have great talent throughout the State and I want to provide a much needed outlet for people to make their vocal ability known to us” says The Virginia G. Piper Music Director, Michael Christie.

Auditions will be held Saturday, April 3 from 8 am to 5 pm at Symphony Hall in Downtown Phoenix. If needed, Phoenix Symphony pianist Larry Loeber will be available for hire to provide accompaniment.

For more information regarding these auditions, please contact Jennifer Castan at 602-495-1117 ext. 465.

Good luck!

Former TPS Composer-in-Residence receives award

One of the most prestigious awards in music was awarded to a former Composer-in-Residence of The Phoenix Symphony, Daniel Asia.

Asia, a Phoenix Symphony Composer-in-Residence from 1991 through 1994, was honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was one of around 50 composers, artists, architects, or writers to win a cash award from the Academy, a nominating body of 250 members.

For his specific award Asia was one of sixteen composers who won awards that totaled upwards of $170,000. In May, Asia will be presented with this impressive honor at the Academy’s annual Ceremonial.

Asia has composed nationally and internationally and is a Professor of Composition and Dean of the Composition Department at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

He has also won over 10 different highly competitive grants, including the “Meet The Composer/ Reader's Digest Consortium Commission”, “United Kingdom Fulbright Arts Award Fellowship” and a “Guggenheim Fellowship”.

One of Asia’s 13 recordings, “Daniel Asia: Symphonies No. 2 & No. 3” was performed by The Phoenix Symphony and the resident conductor at the time, James Sedares. This highly acclaimed recording was released in 1993 by New World Records and showcases Asia’s unique, complex and creative approach to his art.

Musician Profile - Mike and Dian D'Avanzo

TPS - What is the best part about being a married couple within the Orchestra? Is there a negative aspect to being married within the Orchestra?
D'Avanzos - It's really nice to be able to understand each other's work place issues, even if we have differing view points! We both know when the other one is under stress for a performance, when to leave them alone to let them practice, and when to help. We play for each other to get critiques all the time. I guess the main thing is that we support each other absolutely in our work, and it's amazing to have a partner who really knows what a life in music is like, and shares that passion. The bad? Mostly the schedule. Although it's great to work together all the time, we do run into issues with childcare, and who can go to the children's events. When you work on the weekends, you end up missing some things.

TPS - What piece(s) have you yet to perform that are on your wish list?
D'Avanzos - We can't think of anything in particular, but what amazes me is how many pieces I am really loving that I didn't know I would get so much out of. The John Adams piece Nixon in China was amazing a musical experience, and this year's "Argentine Tango" concert was also one of my new favorites. The wonderful thing about music is that you're never done learning, and that's what makes it so fascinating.

TPS - What is your favorite orchestral piece to play, and why?
Dian D'Avanzo - Wow, there are too many to count. I'm sure we'll have different choices on this, but I love the Brahms symphonys, all of them, Scheherazade is just one of Rimsky-Korsakov's pieces that I always enjoy (the huge violin solo might have something to do with that), Vivaldi's Four Seasons (violin again) and Dvorak's New World Symphony (it just feels good to play!). These come to mind at the moment. Ask me next week, and I'll probably have some different choices. :)
Mike D'Avanzo - I have so many favorites it's easier to list the pieces I don't like, and I'd rather not say!

TPS - What non-classical music do you enjoy listening to? Any favorite bands?
Dian D'Avanzo - I grew up in a classical-only household, but my horizons have greatly expanded since then, largely due to Mike's influence! I listen to Sinatra, Tony Bennett (incredible phrasing of melody), and a lot of Big Band (often while I clean the house). I love Gypsy violin music by Gyorgy Lakatos and Stephan Grappelli for Jazz violin, what they do with timing is amazing! I also love choral music. Lately I've enjoyed a recording from Macedonia of a women's choir - the sound is so rich and warm. Little Walter and Louis Jordan are pure fun, but my latest favorite is a CD Sheila Falls, my college roommate at New England Conservatory, made this year called "All in the Timing." She was the all-Ireland fiddle champion at 18 years of age, and this CD has a lot of her favorite Irish music along with some that she wrote herself. As far as bands go, I like Coldplay and Harry Connick Jr.

Mike D'Avanzo - I enjoy listening to folk and traditional music both from Europe and Asia, and South America. I'm game to give a try to just about everything that's out there except rap, techno, hair band, and disco. Lately I've been listening to Harry Connick Jr., with whom my sister is touring at the moment as a violinist band member. Although I like a lot of other music, the reason why I do this for a living is that none of it touches me like the best of the classical repertoire does.

Musician Profile - Steven Moeckel, Concertmaster

TPS - What is your favorite orchestral piece to play, and why?
SM - Mahler Sixth Symphony. I love playing this piece. To me it is a perfect combination of depth, virtuosity and truly wonderful composition skill.

TPS - Tell us a little bit about your experience as principal soprano soloist for the renowned Vienna Boys Choir.

SM - As an 11 year old boy, everything about being in Vienna was amazing. Living in the Augarten palace, learning to sing in five new languages and just being surrounded by history and music all the time. I think my favorite part of those years were the performances with the Vienna State's Opera. Getting to perform with great singers and just the fun of being a part of these huge stage productions had a huge impact on me.

TPS - Who has been the most influential teacher in your studies as a musician?
SM - Though I have to say that all my teachers throughout my life have been inspiring in different ways, Miriam Fried really made me the violinist I am today.

TPS - What pieces have you yet to perform that are on your wish list?
SM - Elgar: Dream of Gerontius; Rozsa, Korngold, Shostakovich violin concertos, Brahms G minor Piano Quartet to name a few...