Pearson/Lopez duo performs at HMS

Moby Pearson, violinist, and George Lopez, pianist, performed an all-Romantic Era program at their concert today in HMS's newly expanded Big Room. The concert was made possible by the David Anderson Music Fund.

Moby is well known to most people affiliated with HMS and with Pine Hill, although he recently moved to Brattleboro. George Lopez (pictured) teaches at Phillips Exeter Academy. Both have concertized around the world.

The HMS community enjoyed an intimate afternoon of exquisite chamber music on a rainy early spring day. Thank you, Moby and George!

World-renowned vocal clinician Nick Page visits HMS

World-class singer, composer, arranger, director, and clinician Nick Page visited HMS on Saturday, 12 January 2008 for a workshop with all HMS students. Nick had visited HMS five or six years ago, and was a big hit then. His return was just as wonderful, and had the entire student body and faculty singing and smiling. After lunch, he conducted a smaller workshop with a group of particularly committed HMS student singers.

Nick has worked with artists from Ladysmith Black Mambazo to Bobby McFerrin and has deeply studied the music of Africa and Eastern Europe, as well as music of the Jewish people.

Nick's website

Much thanks to the Anderson Fund, Virginia Buhr, and the Cultural Life Committee for bringing Nick to campus.

Classical Guitarist Frank Wallace performs at HMS 10/5/07

Classical guitarist and baritone vocalist Frank Wallace performed a solo concert in HMS's chapel on October 5th at 8 pm. Proceeds benefited the David Anderson Music Fund. Wallace performed his own works for guitar and guitar/voice, after having given a preview concert to the entire school at noon in the Science/Tech Building.

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From Wallace's website:

American Record Guide calls Frank Wallace's compositions “exciting, unpredictable, and fresh”. Fanfare magazine has dubbed him a composer with “an authentic expressive voice” who writes with a “high standard of musical interest” and performs with “flawless technical proficiency”. New music reviewers have also honored Wallace's compositions: NewMusicBox.org calls it “contemporary musical emancipation”. Wallace's works showcase the classical guitar in solo, duo trio and quartet, as well as in chamber works with voice, flute and cello. His compositional style has many influences, from the blues and jazz to medieval and avant garde . His melodies are memorable, his harmonies and rhythms complex. Great passion and a sense of humor infuse his work.

In the past ten years Frank Wallace has become one of the most prolific composers of songs with classical guitar of our time. He has written over 75 songs set to classical guitar, most of them in groups (cycles) ranging from six to fifteen songs, set to poetry from many sources, including Pulitzer-prize winning poet Theodore Roethke, Robert Creeley, Henriette de Saussure Blanding, Deborah Dill, Guillevic, Shem Tov Ben Palquera, Rumi, and Nancy Knowles. The richness and complexity of his song accompaniments and his compelling vocal melodies highlight the influence of his mentors, from Dowland to Schubert to Britten.

Wallace's compositions have been twice honored by the New Hampshire Council on the Arts' prestigious Artist Fellowship Award, in 2001 for Frank Wallace, his own new works (Gyre 10012), his debut recording on Gyre of his own compositions, and in 2006 for the Duo LiveOak CD Woman of the Water (Gyre 10082)

Von Chossy Trio returns to HMS

The Franz von Chossy Trio, featuring HMS alum Sean Fasciani on acoustic bass, performed in the Center Room of HMS's Science & Technology Building on Friday, September 21st at 8:00 pm.

HMS pianist Henry Lewers (HMS '08) opened for the trio.

The trio won Best Soloist and 2004 Jazz Album of the Year at the Dutch Jazz Competition/North Sea Jazz Festival (see photo). The Trio's recent release, "Awakening", is now available on iTunes.

The link to the Trio's website and MySpace page can be found in the "Alumni Musicians" box in the right-hand margin.

HMS music teacher Elise MacDonald performs at Chapel with Sonorite Flute Trio

Elise MacDonald, HMS music teacher and flutist, performed at the Chapel given tonight by Patrice Pinette. Her new group, the Sonorite Flute Trio, performed works of McKay, Zempleni, Casterede, and Tcherepnin. Vocalist Michiko Takahashi ('08) also performed an unaccompanied version of the Japanese "Sakura" (Cherry Blossom) song.

Founded just recently, the Trio's other members are Rebecca Jeffries of Pepperell, MA (a flute teacher, director of flute choirs, and soloist; also mother to Jacob, a student at Pine Hill) and Marjorie Hogan of Nashua, NH (director of the Merrimack Valley Flute Choir, principal flutist with the NH Philharmonic, and long time pal of Elise's).

The Trio were really pleased to have a chance to play in the chapel, with its amazing acoustic and receptive listeners.

Rebecca's website can be found in the "visiting artists" section in the left-hand margin.

Franz von Chossy Trio performs at HMS

The Franz von Chossy Trio, featuring pianist Franz von Chossy on piano, HMS alum Sean Fasciani ('98) on bass, and Flin van Hemmen on drums, gave a transcendent performance in the Big Room on September 29, 2006. The trio, fresh from their recent win for Best Soloist and 2004 Jazz Album of the Year at the Dutch Jazz Competition/North Sea Jazz Festival, were nonetheless remarkably accessible as they delivered a long program of von Chossy's originals and then humbly accepted the audience's appreciation.

HMS was truly honored to have a live performance of this caliber at the school --- particularly one which involved an alumni. Proceeds from the concert benefited the David Anderson Music Fund.

The Trio's recent release, "Awakening", is now available on iTunes.

The link to the Trio's website can be found in the "Alumni Musicians" box in the left-hand margin.