Whoever said that life was over once you hit 30, either didn't know what they were talking about, or was not a musician! My thirties have been monumental so far, with each year breaking new barriers. I suspect 32 will be on a similar path forward! My practicing regimen is more thorough and consistent than it ever was before, and I have learned to listen to myself more critically. I am trying to be more careful about my sleeping habits, and I am more mindful of what I ingest and how I exercise. Perhaps it is an internal sense of having higher stakes, or a recognition that I can be successful if I do "x, y and z."
January 2016 was a month of a some memorable performances and projects! After the holidays, I was on tour with the Strauss Orchestra of America, performing with several dear friends in Philadelphia, New Brunswick (New Jersey), New York, and the outskirts of Washington, D.C. It was a real thrill performing with ballroom and ballet dancers, and some phenomenal opera singers. I was also fortunate enough perform with some fine colleagues at Carnegie Hall (on my birthday, no less). I had a chance to return to the Cornelia Street Cafe, performing Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartets song cycle, The Juliet Letters, with Lisa Flanagan, a fine soprano, and the Archipelago Quartet. While the snow marred some plans, it gave me a chance to regroup for an awesome recording session for Rhymes With Opera. I had the privilege of working with some really awesome musicians (and dear friends), while recording the orchestral part of Ruby Fulton's opera titled Adam's Run. To find out more about this project, please take a look at their website, www.rhymeswithopera.org, or at their Indiegogo campaign site, https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/adams-run-a-rhymes-with-opera-video-production#/.
(Rhymes With Opera recording session. Photo courtesy of Ruby Fulton.)
Now that January is out of the way, I can return a majority of my focus to practicing and working on the Dissertation. As I have become entrenched in the writing process, I am realizing that the two do have to go hand in hand, at least to some degree. My writing as able to improve and grow when I am feeling confident about my playing, and vice versa. February is going to be a relatively calm and quiet month, which will enable me to be productive. I may not surface as much this month, but I encourage you to reach out and say hi! An occasional coffee with a friend or two will definitely be welcomed!
And now for the exciting part... I am thrilled to announce a series of recitals that I am organizing. I will joining forces with Juliana Han, a fine pianist, for three performances. The first will be on Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 2 PM at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library in Shirley (NY), and will be hosted by Kara's Hope Foundation. https://www.facebook.com/events/1056353064428658/ For those of you who do not know of this organization, Kara's Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established in honor of Kara Lynn Williams, (my younger sister) a senior at William Floyd High School who passed away suddenly in 2010. Kara's Hope Foundation hosts an annual 5K Run/Walk for Scholarships every May in Southaven Park. For more information, please visit www.karashopefoundation.org.
The second recital will take place in LeFrak Concert Hall, at the Aaron Copland School of Music, CUNY Queens College on Thursday, March 24th at 7:30 PM. https://www.facebook.com/events/185833641774478/ If you haven't been to LeFrak, I highly recommend exploring it, as it is one of the finest concert halls in New York City (especially outside of Manhattan), and it is a real thrill to return there. The third recital (which also happens to be my last degree recital at the CUNY Graduate Center) will take place at the Elebash Recital Hall at the CUNY Graduate Center, at 5th and 34th Street in Manhattan. The performance will be Monday, April 4, 2016, at 7:30 PM. https://www.facebook.com/events/717762368359380/ This performance will be live streamed, (for those of you who are out of town) and will give you a glimpse of the music of the composer that I have been researching for my Dissertation, Günter Raphael. I will be performing Raphael's Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 46, No. 4, along with Hans Gál's Sonata for Viola and Piano, Johannes Brahms' Sonata for Viola and Piano in F minor, Op. 120, No. 1, Alan Hovhannes's Chahagir for Solo Viola, and Miklós Rózsa's Introduction and Allegro for Solo Viola.
Stay in touch, and be on the lookout for a few more exciting announcements in the weeks and months ahead!
-Greg Williams
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