Conductor and Music Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, he began in the eighties as rehearsal pianist for the Dance Theatre of Harlem. It was another era. “There were more difficult personalities and diva-type behavior.” The good old days. For the divas. Presented with the PTDC. Continue reading »
Category Archives: Music
594: Matias Tarnopolsky
The president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic describes their task: “It’s about the creation of those incredible moments that lead up to probably the most important moment in a concert, which is the silence before the first note.” Almost Zen. Presented with the Viñoly Foundation. Continue reading »
583: Marta Aznavoorian
From the day she was born, her father was determined to make her a musician: “When I was brought home, my father piped classical music throughout the house and in our bedrooms. All night. Newborns! We were newborns!” Today she’s a pediatrician. No no, a pianist. And a fine one. Presented with Yamaha Artist Services … Continue reading »
573: Kinan Azmeh
I’m reluctant to declare an artist a success or failure. This Syrian-born composer and clarinetist has a better characterization: doing well. “Staying true to what I wanted to do, and leading a fulfilled artistic life.” And he does. Presented with the Hunter College Office of the Arts. Continue reading »
571: the late Aaron Copland
As portrayed by Michael Boriskin, director of Copland House. “I decided from the time I was in my mid-twenties that there was no such thing as a rival or a competitor, that we were all colleagues.” So modest, and yet so dead. A conversation from beyond the grave. Sort of. Continue reading »
568 LaFrae Sci
The leader of the Willie Mae Rock Camp describes a device she uses to teach girls about blues and STEM: “It is a collision of culture and technology and future possibilities.” One of those robot vacuum cleaners? Her electronic banjo. Electronic Banjo! Continue reading »
565: Carlos Simon
“My father was a pastor. My grandfather was a pastor. My great-grandfather was a pastor.” Why didn’t this composer go into the family business? Perhaps he did. “I’m doing some of the same things as my father, just not in the same place.” Music sacred and secular at Klavierhaus. Continue reading »
546: Janis Siegel
As a member of Manhattan Transfer, she won ten Grammy awards, but “I was not going to be a singer at all, actually; I was going to be a nurse.” Medicine’s loss, music’s gain. Guitar: Sean Harkness. Presented with The Village Trip, whose annual festival begins September 19. Continue reading »
543: Bobby Sanabria
When this drummer was a kid, his father introduced him to an array of music, from Tito Puente to Dobie Gray. “He bought himself a La-Z-Boy chair. He would sit there after dinner, smoke a cigarette, and zone out listening to music.” Bad for the lungs, great for the soul. The making of a musician. … Continue reading »
527: Frederica von Stade
After fifty years as a mezzo-soprano, she still embraces this advice from her first teacher: “Sing as though it comes from the bottom of your heart, because that’s what it’s about.” Her most recent recording is And Crimson Roses Once Again Be Fair. She says it is her last. I hope not. Photo: Jack Colver. Continue reading »
512: Lea DeLaria
She’s a witty jazz singer, an astute comedian, an admired actor (Orange Is the New Black), and she has an economic policy: “Support your local dyke bar. Go. Spend a little bit of money. Have some fun.” She has my vote, and she’s not even running for anything. Presented with 54 Below. Music: Arcoiris Sandoval, … Continue reading »
509: Mireya Ramos
Flor de Toloache, a mariachi band cofounded by this Latin Grammy winner, is not just all women, it’s all world: “We had women from Australia, Korea, Egypt, Japan.” Which means it could only be formed in New York City. Additional music: Daniel Espiliz, guitar, Shae Fiol, vocals. Produced with Greenwich House School. Continue reading »