Brown University Orchestra

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Brown University Orchestra
Brown Orchestra at Sayles Hall Mar 2018.jpg
Formation1918;104 years ago (1918)

The Brown University Orchestra (BUO) was founded in 1918 and is composed of approximately 100 members of the Brown University community. It was led by conductor Martin J. Fischer at its inception, until his faculty retirement. Paul Phillips lead the orchestra from 1989 until 2017, [1] with Mark Seto currently serving as conductor. [2] [3]

Contents

Performances

The Brown University Orchestra has performed twice in Carnegie Hall, the latter concert featuring the Dave Brubeck Quartet; twice with Itzhak Perlman; once in a Providence concert that featured his daughter Navah Perlman '92 as piano soloist; and once in a benefit concert at Avery Fisher Hall. Recent special events include a 2002 tour to Montreal, a 2004 performance of Peter Boyer's multimedia composition Ellis Island: The Dream of America at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence featuring actors Barry Bostwick and Brown alumna Kate Burton, and a 2006-7 tour of China, which made the BUO only the second American college orchestra to tour China. [4] Most recently, the orchestra toured Ireland in 2013, performed with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2017, and co-commissioned Tracy Silverman's electric violin concerto Love Song to the Sun in 2018, featuring an interactive multimedia display designed by Brown professor Todd Winkler. [5] [6]

The university has historically performed in Sayles Hall, though plans to move to Brown's new performing arts center following its completion. [7] [8] The orchestra was a driving force behind the construction of the facility. [9]

Musicians

Mstislav Rostropovich, Isaac Stern, Pinchas Zukerman, Eugenia Zukerman and Joseph Kalichstein are among the renowned musicians who have appeared as soloists with the Brown University Orchestra. Composers-in-residence hosted by the orchestra include Steve Reich, Steven Stucky, Michael Torke, Nico Muhly, Lukas Foss, Samuel Adler, Philip Glass, and Joan Tower.

The Brown University Orchestra at Sayles Hall on 2 December 2016. Brown University Orchestra.jpg
The Brown University Orchestra at Sayles Hall on 2 December 2016.

Conductors

Previous conductors of the orchestra have included Martin J. Fischer, Paul Phillips, and Brandon Keith Brown. [10] [11] In December 2006, Daniel Barenboim served as a guest conductor when he visited with the West-Eastern Divan orchestra. [12] Brown additionally partnered with Barenboim's Barenboim–Said Akademie. [13] [ weasel words ]

Awards

In 2009, the Brown University Orchestra received the 3rd Prize ASCAP Award for "Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music" in the Collegiate Orchestra Division. [14] This is the seventh time that the Brown University Orchestra, a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League, has won this prestigious national honor, having received ASCAP Awards previously in 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, and 2005. [15]

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References

  1. University, Stanford (2017-06-12). "New conductor appointed for Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford Philharmonia". Stanford News. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  2. Maskati, Liyaan (2018-10-15). "New orchestra director talks background, future projects". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  3. Smith, Andy. "Mark Seto to head Brown Univ. Orchestra". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  4. Skocpol, Michael (26 January 2007). "U. orchestra greeted 'like rock stars' during tour in China". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  5. Thenor-Louis, Isabelle (2013-03-22). "Orchestra to launch Ireland tour". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  6. Ryan, Elise (2018-03-05). "Orchestra accompanies electric violinist". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  7. Goldstein, Li (2019-03-06). "Arts community reacts to PAC design". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  8. List, Madeleine. "New hub for performing arts on Brown campus under construction". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  9. Goldstein, Li (2019-02-13). "University unveils design of new Performing Arts Center". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  10. Smith, Andy. "Brown University orchestra director relieved of duties". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  11. Davies, Priyanka Podugu,Emily (2017-11-09). "Orchestra upset by conductor turnover". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  12. The orchestra is currently under the direction of Mark Seto, PhD. "Brown to Host Daniel Barenboim, West-Eastern Divan Orchestra". Brown University Media Relations. November 27, 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  13. Burton-Hill, Clemency (2013-01-25). "An Academy Seeks to Touch the Mideast With Music". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  14. "ASCAP Announces Year 2009 Orchestra Awards for "Adventurous Programming"". American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers . Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  15. "ASCAP Concert Music News". American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Retrieved 2009-07-09. (2004 and later)