Trio con Brio

Hi everyone,
Outside of school, I'm working with two other people in a piano trio, and I'm also in a duet-- in addition to my orchestra work in school and regular private solo lessons. I've been working with my trio (named Trio con Brio) for about 6 weeks, and with my duet partner off and on since 2nd grade-- although this is the first time we're being serious about it, and performing for money at nursing homes and weddings and coffee shops, etc. Last weekend, my trio and I made our performance debut as an introduction for a wonderful concert that was part of the Salon Concerts program, in which the professional musicians Douglas Harvey, Elizabeth Kufferath, and Stephen Perry performed. We played the first movement of Beethoven's Piano Trio No. 3 Op. 6, and we are now working on the rest of the trio with our fabulous coach, Steinway artist Toby Blumenthal-Phillips. Ms. Blumenthal-Phillips is also the President and CEO of Luzerne Music Center, the summer camp in NY that I attended last summer.

 <-- Toby Blumenthal-Phillips

I'm very excited for my trio, because it is my first long-term out of school chamber ensemble-- the violinist, Dylan Feldpausch, is a freshman from McCallum Fine Arts Academy and the pianist, Wells Leng, is a sophomore from Westwood High School, and the trio will last for the next three years-- until Wells graduates. He is headed to Juiliard School of Music! Wells also is principal cellist of the Austin Youth Orchestra, and he composes and arranges music. Recently, he arranged a Chopin quartet for orchestra, and also entered and won the Austin Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition. On April 20, the Austin Symphony will perform his work, Deprivation of B, at the Long Center. Admission is $8, check it out at austinsymphony.org! Dylan and I are also in a duet together. Dylan is an amazing violinist, and he was placed co-concertmaster in high school All-Region Orchestra as a freshman-- virtually unheard of. He studies violin with the concertmaster of the Austin Symphony, Jessica Mathaes. I've known Dylan since 2nd grade, and we've always been supportive of each other's music. I'm so grateful  to have this opportunity to work with them in the trio! :)

Love,
Eve

Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy was born October 5, 1974 in Helena, Montana. He is now the lead singer and guitarist of The Decemberists based out of Portland, Oregon and has released six albums with The Decemberists: Castaways and Cutouts, Her Majesty the Decemberists, Picaresque, The Crane Wife, The Hazards of Love, and The King is Dead. They have also released four EPs: 5 Songs, The Tain, Picaresqueties, and Connect Sets. The Decemberists have played at Austin City Limits in 2009, 2007, and 2005 and will probably play at ACL 2011 with the release of their new album (The King is Dead). The King is Dead was #1 on the Billboard 200 (top 200 highest selling albums  in the U.S.) when it was released. Colin Meloy has a sister Maile Meloy who is an author often published in The New York Times. Right now the Decemberist are on a tour around the U.S. coming to Austin on April 30th! 

Here is the Decemberists' website.

Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz was born June 23, 1977 and was raised in the small town Mechanicsville, Virginia. His first hit single "The Remedy" was released in 2002 with the album Waiting for My Rocket to Come and achieved commercial success with his second album, Mr. A-Z. In 2008 Mraz released his third album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. which contained his first top ten single "I'm Yours". Another of Mraz's hits "Lucky" was sung as a duet with singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat. Mraz is most known for his clever way with words and his quirky touch to each song, and is fun, inspiring way of looking at life. "What I love about mankind is that yes, we sing and we celebrate and we dance when we're foolish and we steal things," Mraz says on his blog, "It's hard to have a new idea in music, in fashion, the land we walk on. It's all recycled. I think to say we stole it is a lot more fun." Referring to his latest album, Mraz says "This album, I'm so excited to share it with people," and adds, "I can't see myself getting too lost there on the road... There's certain new roles I'm playing and a new me." Mraz is planned to perform in West Palm Beach, Florida on April 28, Memphis, Tennissee on April 29, and New Orleans, Louisiana on April 30. To learn more about Jason Mraz visit his website at http://www.jasonmraz.com/.

lerf,

Cara

saxophone joke!

The soprano, not being smart enough to use birth control, says to her saxophophonist lover, "Honey, I think you better pull out now."

He replies, "Why? Am I sharp?" 

lerf, 

cara

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Sup yall
So the PHJB is performing at the Dell Hall in the Long Center on Saturday the 5th at 8:00. Sophie says they're pretty dang awesome.If you come early enough before the concert and bring your Student ID, you can get the best available tickets for $5 each. Pretty great. More info on this at austinsymphony.org. See you there!

Love,
Eve