Christine Guter directed a group of our vocalists for a recording session at the famed Studio A at the iconic Capitol Records Building just north of Hollywood and Vine last weekend. They recorded the closing credits for a film scored by Christopher Caliendo.
Studio A was inaugurated by Frank Sinatra in 1956. Among others to have recorded there are Judy Garland, the Beach Boys and the Beatles.
Alumnus Ryan Brown is the inaugural recipient of the Hoefer Prize, named for former San Francisco Conservatory of Music Trustee Jacqueline Stanhope Hoefer. The prize is a commission to write a new work for the BluePrint New Music Ensemble. The award also covers a week-long residency of rehearsals, seminars, and master classes in preparation for the work’s premiere performance next spring. At that time the work will also be recorded.
Craig Richey was interviewed on the “Live With Keya and Dave” show on KBeach Radio (which is the University Radio station) last week. He spoke about the Cheney Documentary, his work as a film composer, and life at Cole Conservatory.
Silvia Carluccio (Musicology) has been awarded the 2013 ”Outstanding Thesis” award for the College of the Arts. Her paper, “Fitter Happier”: The Psychological Effects of Fame on The Creative Process,” was an examination of the effect of fame on the music of Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Radiohead. The award will be conferred at commencement.
Alumnus David Ortega (MM Composition 1995) completed his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2004. David is a critically acclaimed composer and sound designer with 17 years of experience in the video game industry. David’s music and sound can be heard on over 100 million sold products ranging from video games, television, mobile devices, and toys. David most recently composed the theme song and all in-game music for Disney’s #1 app store games “Where’s My Water” and “Where’s My Perry” for iOS and Android.
He also recently co-authored a paper with Dr. David Pincus, Associate Professor of Psychology at Chapman University, entitled “Orbital decomposition for the comparison of multiple categorical time-series.” in Stephen J. Guastello and Robert Gregson (Eds.), “Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences: Real Data.” Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press/Taylor and Francis.
Dr. Alicia Doyle (Musicology) presented a workshop at the SAI Province Day event on April 13 entitled “Singing Authentic Melodies: An Examination of the Complex History of Chant Performance Practice.” Province Day was attended by members of SAI from central and southern California, and Nevada.
Alumni Jon Bradley and Nic Chafee played in the backup band for Wu Tang Clan at Coachella. They performed many tunes from their classic album (this is its 20th anniversary) “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” in front of a crowd of 90,000.
Pacific Standard Time, directed by Christine Guter, was the headliner act for the Oceanside Jazz Festival last weekend at Mira Costa College. The festival has always engaged a professional ensemble to be the headliner, but this year PST was asked by the director of the festival to have the prime spot.
Noted jazz educator, Kelly Kunz, wrote, “I was sitting here today thinking again about your concert last night. It was with no doubt, the best vocal jazz choir I’ve ever heard. Great charts, strong rhythm section, great ensemble singing, really good sound, intonation and balance, tight, energetic and entertaining, the whole 9 yards. I’m not one to gush or heap praise all that much, but I’m left without too many other words. Your work, your group and those kids were so inspiring and have clearly become the model that others should be looking to. It was joyous for me to witness such a high level of musical and personal integrity.”
This past weekend, alumnus Chris Wabich was guest artist with the university of Montana percussion ensemble and steel band playing the music of the band “gong” and premiering his own panorama tune “Tarzan and Jane.” He also presented a clinic with Brad Dutz at the CA day of percussion in Fresno.
A video clip of their performance at the Day of Percussion is here.
On April 11, Faculty cellist David Garrett performed a recital of unaccompanied works at the Laguna Art Museum on the Laguna Beach Live Series. Garrett also played works for cello and piano by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff in Glendale for the Second Saturday series.