Tag Archives: classical music

Lowell Chamber Orchestra Presents ‘Heroism’: A Free Concert Featuring Beethoven’s ‘Eroica,’ and an obscure work by Marianna Martines

LOWELL, Mass., April 15, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) will close its seventh season with “Heroism,” a powerful and thought-provoking orchestral program on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM at the Richard and Donahue Academic Arts Center in Middlesex Community College. True to LCO’s mission, the concert is free and open to the public.

Image Caption: Left: Guitarist Raley Beggs; Right: Composer Marianna Martines. Photo courtesy of LCO staff and Raley Beggs.

Centered around the theme of courage and resilience, “Heroism” brings together masterworks and contemporary voices in a program that culminates in Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) by Ludwig van Beethoven—a groundbreaking work that redefined the scope and emotional depth of the symphony.

A highlight of the program is the performance of Resiliens by Oliveira, the winner of LCO’s Call-for-Scores competition. The inclusion of this work reflects the orchestra’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging composers and bringing new music to the stage alongside established repertoire.

Additional works on the program include music by Marianna Martines, and a guitar concerto by Joaquín Rodrigo – featuring guitarist and Middlesex Community College faculty Raley Beggs – offering audiences a rich and varied exploration of heroism across time, style, and perspective.

Under the direction of Music Director Orlando Cela, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra continues to build a unique model in the region: presenting ambitious, high-quality orchestral performances without ticket prices, ensuring that all members of the community have access to live classical music.

“Great music must belong to everyone,” said Cela. “This program stands at the intersection of past and present—where Beethoven’s vision meets the voices of minority and contemporary composers, and where community itself becomes an act of heroism.”

Founded by Cela with a mission to remove financial barriers to the arts, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra serves audiences throughout the Merrimack Valley and Greater Boston area. The ensemble is the resident orchestra at Middlesex Community College, regularly collaborates with local institutions, and has become a growing cultural presence in the region.

ABOUT THE LOWELL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is a nonprofit ensemble dedicated to presenting high-quality classical music performances that are free and accessible to all. Through innovative programming and community partnerships, LCO seeks to expand access to the arts while supporting both established and emerging artists.

Learn more: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Concert: Heroism – Lowell Chamber Orchestra
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center’s Theatre, 240 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01851
Admission: Free and open to the public

MULTIMEDIA

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/BDTkSHiBFJk

Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0415-s2p-lcoreggs-300dpi.webp

Image caption: Left: Guitarist Raley Beggs; Right: Composer Marianna Martines. Photo courtesy of LCO staff and Raley Beggs

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT
Antonio Mak
Lowell Chamber Orchestra
EMAIL: admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org
PHONE: 617-319-5982

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Lowell Chamber Orchestra), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/lowell-chamber-orchestra-presents-heroism-a-free-concert-featuring-beethovens-eroica-and-an-obscure-work-by-marianna-martines/

Boris Cepeda releases ‘Andamios,’ a personal journey through Latin American and European piano music

ATLANTA, Ga., May 28, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Internationally acclaimed pianist and Steinway Artist Boris Cepeda announces the release of his latest solo album, “Andamios,” now available on all major digital platforms. Featuring works by Isaac Albéniz, Maurice Ravel, Astor Piazzolla, Gerardo Guevara and Leonardo Cárdenas, “Andamios” blends Latin American and European musical traditions in a deeply personal and emotionally resonant recording.

Image caption: Cover of “Andamios,” Boris Cepeda’s new solo piano album featuring works from Europe and Latin America.

Recorded in Atlanta on a Hamburg Steinway Grand Model B, “Andamios” captures the intimate nuances of Cepeda’s interpretation. The album is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and other platforms. Listen here: https://www.boriscepeda.hearnow.com.

“Sincerity, humanity, authenticity, those were my guiding lights while recording ‘Andamios,’” Cepeda said. “I wanted the sound to emerge from silence, as something natural and unforced. Not perfection in a studio sense, but truth in tone, in timing, in feeling. It’s a tribute to memory and identity, and to the invisible threads connecting composers and listeners across time and continents.”

The album includes works ranging from the Spanish romanticism of Albéniz to the French impressionism of Ravel, alongside modern voices from Latin America: Ecuadorian composers Gerardo Guevara and Leonardo Cárdenas, and Argentine legend Astor Piazzolla, with ‘Adiós Nonino’ arranged for solo piano.

Cepeda dedicates the album to the memory of his father, Gonzalo Cepeda, and to the love of his life, while acknowledging the many friends, family members and supporters who made the production possible through grassroots contributions.

“Andamios” has been submitted for consideration at the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards in the categories of album of the year and best classical album.

Learn more: https://www.boriscepeda.com/andamios-media.

About Boris Cepeda

Boris Cepeda is an Ecuadorian-German pianist and conductor with more than 40 years of international experience. A Steinway Artist since 2021, he has performed as a soloist and conductor across Latin America, Europe, the United States and Asia. He currently directs the European Piano Academy of Atlanta, where he also recorded ‘Andamios.’ Cepeda is widely recognized for his expressive clarity, cultural ambassadorship and commitment to expanding the reach of Latin American classical music. Learn more: https://www.boriscepeda.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Boris Cepeda
Email: info@boriscepeda.com

Press Assets: https://www.boriscepeda.com/andamios-media

NEWS SOURCE: Boris Cepeda

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Boris Cepeda), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/boris-cepeda-releases-andamios-a-personal-journey-through-latin-american-and-european-piano-music/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra Announces Bold and Diverse Seventh Season

LOWELL, Mass., May 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) is thrilled to announce its seventh season, promising an ambitious lineup of performances that continue to challenge the conventional boundaries of classical music. Building on its reputation for innovation, accessibility, and artistic excellence, LCO’s 2025–2026 season will spotlight groundbreaking works, emerging and established composers, and an unwavering commitment to community engagement — all presented free of charge. The season is once again organized in collaboration with “A World of Music” Concert Series at Middlesex Community College, where LCO is the college’s resident orchestra.

Image caption: The Lowell Chamber Orchestra performing. Photo: Noya Photo.

The season, titled “New Perspectives,” reflects LCO’s mission to bring underrepresented voices and contemporary compositions to the forefront, alongside reinvigorated interpretations of the classical canon.

The season opens with “Classical Magic” on October 12, featuring Boccherini’s evocative “La casa del diavolo,” Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 with soloist William Suh—the winner of the 2025 LCO International Young Artist Competition—and Mozart’s iconic Symphony No. 40.

In December, audiences will experience “String Virtuosity”, a program designed to showcase the technical brilliance of the string section through music by Corelli, Hindemith – featuring violist Jessica Cooper – a world premiere by Nancy Skolos, and J.S. Bach.

The season continues in February with a powerful and wide-ranging concert highlighting music from the African-American diaspora, embracing traditions that span classical, gospel, jazz, and beyond. This concert is done in collaboration with Berklee School of Music.

April’s performance, “Monumental Sounds”, juxtaposes the elegance of Martines’ overture to “Isacco”, the passion of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 performed by acclaimed pianist Chi-Chen Wu, and the dynamism of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8. This program also includes the US premiere of “Resiliens”, a work by composer Felipe Oliveira, selected as the winner of LCO’s 2025 International Call-for-Scores.

The season concludes in June 2026 with the annual Pride Month and a renewed celebration of LGBTQ artistry in “Pride: A Rainbow of Artistry.”

“Each season is an opportunity to explore music that speaks to the present moment,” says LCO Music Director Orlando Cela. “This year, we’re amplifying voices that deserve to be heard and crafting programs that ask audiences to listen differently — to reconsider what classical music can be.”

With performances that span genres, centuries, and cultures, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra continues to lead as a champion of inclusivity in classical music. By spotlighting living composers, emerging artists, and historically overlooked figures, the orchestra invites audiences to reconsider what classical music is—and what it can become. All concerts remain free and open to the public, reinforcing LCO’s commitment to accessibility and cultural enrichment for the Greater Lowell community.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/BDTkSHiBFJk

For media inquiries, interviews, or press passes, please contact:
Antonio Mak
Press Contact, Lowell Chamber Orchestra
Email: admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @lowellchamberorchestra

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NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/lowell-chamber-orchestra-announces-bold-and-diverse-seventh-season/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces winners of its fourth international young artist competition

As part of LCO's mission to increase the cultural footprint of the city of Lowell, LCO runs two competitions to help promote the careers of young talent

LOWELL, Mass., April 21, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) is proud to announce the winners of its fourth international young artist competition. Cellist William Suh won first prize, soprano Emma Robertson won second prize, and oboist Anqi Zhou won third prize. As part of his winning, Suh will be performing with LCO during next season.

Image caption: (L-R) Anqi Zhou, William Suh, Emma Robertson (headshots courtesy of the artists).

Six judges chose three winners from among 194 entries from all over the world. “The level of playing is astounding,” says Music Director Orlando Cela. “We the judges had a very difficult time deciding who should receive which prize. Every contestant is a testament that classical music is alive and well, and its future secure.”

As part of LCO’s mission to increase the cultural footprint of the city of Lowell, LCO runs two competitions – one for composers and one for performers – to bring the best world talent to Lowell, and help promote the careers of young talent. All LCO concerts are free to attend, bringing down the socio-economic barriers to access prime quality classical music concerts.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, audiences will have a chance to hear last year’s young artist competition winner – violist Jeremy Kienbaum, who will be performing romances by Max Bruch and Adolphus Hailstork.

Other works in the program include the beloved “Pulcinella” by Igor Stravinsky, and the American premiere of “Till Voices Wake Us,” by Simon Andrews (winner of LCO’s 2024 Call-for-Scores).

For more information, visit http://lowellchamberorchestra.org/.

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/PlAQIxR3YCI
Nikki Huang, winner of the LCO 2023 International Young Artist Competition, performs Emmanuel Séjourné’s Marimba Concerto (2015 version).

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/the-lowell-chamber-orchestra-announces-winners-of-its-fourth-international-young-artist-competition/

Czech Composer Tatiana Mikova Debuts at Carnegie Hall with Her String Quartet ‘In Modo Lidico’

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Czech composer, Tatiana Mikova, presents her String Quartet, "In Modo Lidico," at Carnegie Hall's Progressive Musicians Laureate Gala. The piece will be performed by the Lehner String Quartet on July 1, 2024 in the intimate Weill Recital Hall, home to hundreds of recitals, chamber music concerts, panel discussions, and master classes.

String Quartet "In Modo Lidico" is an instrumental piece that blends minimalist elements with distinct themes influenced by Moravian folklore. Following its world premiere in New York in 2021, the composition will be performed alongside works by other composers.

The title of the piece, "In Modo Lidico," reflects its frequent use of Lydian mode, commonly found in Moravia - Mikova's homeland. Her ability to create cultural and stylistic fusions results in a classical music concert work with seamlessly incorporated folk music influences. This piece was composed in 2012 and 2016, with the first two movements crafted in Czechia and the final movement written in England, where Mikova currently resides.

"I am thrilled to present this composition to a live audience in the iconic Carnegie Hall. Music is a universal language, and I hope my work will resonate with listeners, offering them a memorable experience," Mikova says.

Mikova expressed gratitude to the Lehner String Quartet for premiering the piece during the pandemic, adding that the otherwise positive message of her work contrasted with this complex period.

Classical music enthusiasts can expect the release of the studio recording and sheet music in the Fall of 2024.

About the Composer

Tatiana Mikova is an eclectic, award-winning Czech composer whose works span symphonic pieces, chamber music and solo compositions, complemented by a career in film scoring across diverse genres. Her noteworthy achievements include two chamber works performed by the prestigious Czech Nonet, one of which was featured on Performance Today, and the awarded "Sinfonietta for Orchestra."

Her versatility extends to film music, where she has garnered more than 30 international festival awards and nominations. She holds a Master's degree in Music Composition for Film and Television from the London College of Music, University of West London.

For more information, visit: https://www.tatianamikova.com/

Czech composer, Tatiana Mikova, presents her String Quartet, "In Modo Lidico," at Carnegie Hall's Progressive Musicians Laureate Gala. The piece will be performed by the Lehner String Quartet on July 1, 2024 in the intimate Weill Recital Hall, home to hundreds of recitals, chamber music concerts, panel discussions, and master classes.

Related link: https://www.tatianamikova.com/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra to premiere new edition of Julia Perry’s symphony

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- On Sunday, February 18, 3 p.m., The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will present the first Massachusetts performance of Julia Perry's "Symphony for Violas and Basses," from a new edition by LCO's music director Orlando Cela.

The new edition looks to celebrate Perry's centenary of her birth, and provide a clear template from which other ensembles can perform this work from one of America's most influential and underappreciated composers.

"This work is a fabulous example of Perry's modernist style," says LCO music director Orlando Cela. "One can hear Perry as a mature composer, masterfully handling complex rhythms and harmonies, and presenting a piece that moves from the majestic to the introspective, and then to an electrifying ending."

The concert will also include a world premiere by Martin Max Schreiner - his score being one of the winners of the 2023 LCO Call-for-Scores - and conclude with a rendition of Béla Bartók's "Music for String Instruments, Percussion, and Celesta."

Two soloists, Yukiko Shimazaki on piano, and Nikki Huang on marimba - winner of the 2023 LCO Concerto Competition - will also be featured.

The concert is free to attend.

About The Lowell Chamber Orchestra:

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra. We provide the area with an ensemble that presents music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population. Now in its fifth season, the LCO has presented concerts that encompass established orchestral repertoire as well as multimedia works, stage works, lecture-presentations, and chamber music. As part of its mission of promoting, preserving and educating, the repertoire include works from the Baroque, to current commissions.

ABOUT EVENT:

Fantastic Landscapes

Sunday, February 18, 3 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center

240 Central Street, Lowell, MA

Presented by Middlesex Community College's "A World of Music" Concert Series

INFORMATION:

For more information, please visit: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/9tD_jwXJcKY

On Sunday, February 18, 3 p.m., The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will present the first Massachusetts performance of Julia Perry's "Symphony for Violas and Basses," from a new edition by LCO's music director Orlando Cela. The concert will also include a world premiere by Martin Max Schreiner.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra Inaugurates Fifth Season with a Concert that Redefines the Symphony

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra opens its fifth season Saturday, September 16, 2023, with music that redefines the symphony as genre. The evening will feature music by Brittney Benton, Yoko Nakatani, Vincent Persichetti, and Arnold Schönberg, bringing a historical approach to the ever changing façade of this genre.

Both Benton and Nakatani are very active composers who were commissioned by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra back in 2020 - at the height of the pandemic - to write works for "Lowell Threads," an initiative by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra to enlist composer into writing works around a particular genre. In this case, Nakatani, Benton, and two other composers, were asked to write works in response to the eccentric chamber symphonies of Darius Milhaud. The results was the album "Miniature Symphonies." On Saturday, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra will perform in public these two pieces since the recording's release in 2021.

The concert begins with Nakatani's one-movement "La Giclée" takes its inspiration from the joy of children as they splash through water, and produced a homage to George Gershwin in a short work that requires an unusual seating arrangement. Benton's "The Sentinel" is the musical telling of a fantastic tale in which a stone golem guards the entrance to a town, and the different movements as the creature slumbers, awakens. The evening will end with Arnold Schönberg's Chamber Symphony No. 1, the work that started a trend in which composers had to learn to use much smaller forces than usual because of World War I.

The concert will also feature Adam Gallant, principal trumpet of the Lowell Chamber Orchestra, as a soloist in Persichetti's "The Hollow Men." This piece, while not technically a symphony, encompasses the profoundly deep meaning of the T. S. Eliot poem that inspired it.

As always, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra is presenting this concert for free, but donations are most necessary in order to keep its mission of providing the best of classical music without a socio-economic boundary to the Lowell population.

For more information, please visit https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events/.

MINIATURE SYMPHONIES

Saturday, September 16th, 7:30 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center

240 Central Street

Lowell, MA

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/LYjVrtT3v1Q

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra opens its fifth season Saturday, September 16, 2023, with music that redefines the symphony as genre. The evening will feature music by Brittney Benton, Yoko Nakatani, Vincent Persichetti, and Arnold Schönberg, bringing a historical approach to the ever changing façade of this genre.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces the winners of its Call-for-Scores and Concerto Competition

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra congratulates composers Cory Brodack and Martin Max Schreiner for winning the orchestra's 2023 Lowell Chamber Orchestra Call-for-Scores, and marimba player Wei-Hsing Nikki Huang, for winning the 2023 Lowell Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition.

In this third edition of the call for scores, two composers tied for first place. Both winners agreed to split the monetary prize, as well as the free year of publishing through Universal Edition's scodo. The seven judge panel chose both winners after two rounds, the last round completely anonymous, from among 182 entries, written by professional composers, students, amateurs, and ranging in a wide variety of genres - opera scenes, sinfoniettas, concertos, and diverse combinations of chamber ensembles.

The second edition of the concerto competition was also comprised of two rounds. The first round, being virtual, was comprised of about 140 videos of an eclectic and varied mix of instruments. Twelve finalist were invited to participate, one coming from as far as Japan. Huang, who will be heard performing in the LCO concert of February 3rd, 2024, is a Taiwanese artist based in Toronto. The second prize winner was a 12-years-old violinist who impressed with his technical mastery.

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra produces these competitions as part of their mission to promote the advancement of contemporary music, and give opportunities to young performers at the beginning of their performing careers. All of the LCO concerts are completely free and provide the Lowell greater area with a professional ensemble producing extremely high quality concerts without a socio-economic barrier.

Please consider donating to our end-of-season appeal by clicking here: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/endofseasonappeal

For more information about the winners, click on the links below:

2023 Lowell Chamber Orchestra Call-for-Scores: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/2023-call-for-scores

2023 Lowell Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/2023-concerto-competition

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra congratulates composers Cory Brodack and Martin Max Schreiner for winning the orchestra's 2023 Lowell Chamber Orchestra Call-for-Scores, and marimba player Wei-Hsing Nikki Huang, for winning the 2023 Lowell Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its fourth season

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its fourth season, with five free concerts that look to entertain, educate, and enlighten Lowell audiences. "The season is designed to turn the western classical musical canon on its head," says Music Director Orlando Cela. "The programming elevates contemporary works above established masterpieces, demonstrating that music keeps evolving in the orchestral medium."

The season will feature works by very well-known composers such as Manuel de Falla, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Franz Joseph Haydn, but these will have very unusual features, such as flamenco style chanting, a vanishing orchestra, and unusual instruments. The newer works will have influences by grindcore punk, Latin-American rhythms, Cornish traditions, and more.

Most of the works have an important social message, such as Gabriele Vanoni's multimedia oratorio "Island of Peoples," about the immigrant experience, and Estefanía Pardo Perez's "Paikuna Saqinku," about displacement of ethnic communities due to environmental disasters - the latter piece being the winner of LCO's second call-for-scores.

"Even the last movement of Haydn's 45th symphony is a social commentary," continues Cela. "The ending is not so much about requesting to go back to Eisenstadt, as it is about demonstrating the importance of teamwork and working together (as told by Giaccomo Ferrari); and in a world where war and political tensions plague our everyday life, we program this piece as a call for global unity and peace."

The season features many guest artists: for the first time ever, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra will feature Canadian conductor Geneviève Leclair as the LCO's first ever guest conductor, and Roi Karni, the winner of LCO's first ever concerto competition. Vocalists Sophie Michaux and Rose Hegele, and cellist Leo Eguchi will also be featured, among others.

All of the concerts are completely free, consistent with the LCO's mission to provide extraordinarily high level classical music performances and take down socio-economic barriers to access these concerts. The LCO survives only through donations.

To see the entire upcoming season, click here: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events

To donate to the Lowell Chamber Orchestra, click here: https://tinyurl.com/LCOdonate

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/h_IHd23O9-s

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its fourth season, with five free concerts that look to entertain, educate, and enlighten Lowell audiences. All of the concerts are completely free, consistent with the LCO's mission to provide extraordinarily high level classical music performances and take down socio-economic barriers to access these concerts.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra makes landmark agreement with Universal Edition

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra and Universal Edition have partnered to give composers an unusual opportunity to promote their works in print. The orchestra recently announced its second call-for-scores in order to stimulate the creation of new works for chamber orchestra. Just like in the first, very successful call-for-scores, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra will select a work to be performed during its fourth season.

However, this time, in conjunction with Universal Edition, the winning composer will also win a way to publish their work with Universal Edition through their web tool scodo for one year - a value of about €600. Six finalists will win a voucher with which to publish a limited amount of works through Universal. Scores submitted through scodo can be obtained immediately via the Universal Edition website. Composers retain the large majority of rental fees.

"We are very happy with this new cooperation between the LCO and Universal Edition," says LCO's music director, Orlando Cela. "The orchestra provides a performance and professional grade audio and video for the composer to promote their work, so it's a perfect companion to have Universal Edition also promote the score in print."

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra. LCO provides the Merrimack valley area with an ensemble that presents music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population.

Now in its third season, the LCO has presented concerts that encompass established orchestral repertoire as well as multimedia works, stage works, lecture-presentations, and chamber music. As part of its mission of promoting, preserving and educating, the repertoire include works from the Baroque, to current commissions. The LCO has presented over a dozen local and world premieres by Anna Clyne, Dana Kaufman, Brian Raphael Nabors, José Luis Elizondo, Anthony R. Green, Bongani Ndodana-Breen, Jeremy Gill, and many others.

The deadline for submission to the call-for-scores is Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Learn more at: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/2022-call-for-scores

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/QXzrMgRyUng

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra and Universal Edition have partnered to give composers an unusual opportunity to promote their works in print. The orchestra recently announced its second call-for-scores in order to stimulate the creation of new works for chamber orchestra.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra opens their third season with cosmic music, premieres

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra opens its third season this Saturday, September 25, with music inspired by the cosmos. The three works by Anna Clyne, Micah Roberts, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, all allude to a cosmic object.

The program starts with "Hypernovae," written by Tennessee composer Micah Roberts. "Hypernovae" was written for the Lowell Chamber Orchestra's first ever call-for-scores. Roberts' score was measured against about other 120 from nine different countries, and the judges were impressed by its driving force and unusual orchestration. "Hypernovae" will receive its first ever performance at the beginning of the program, and the composer will be present.

Following a world premiere, the second work in the program will be heard for the first time in Massachusetts. Anna Clyne's "Three Sisters" is a concerto for mandolin and string orchestra inspired by the three stars that make the "belt" of the constellation Orion.

About her piece, Clyne says "It's a piece I actually wrote in 3 locations. And one of the locations was my apartment in Brooklyn that had access to a rooftop and I would sit on the rooftop looking at the stars, often seeing the constellation Orion, which is also known as 'Three sisters.' So just thinking about the stars, the passage of time, and that journey."

Joseph Brent will be the featured soloist of the evening. Called, "one of the truly exceptional musicians of his generation," Brent has worked closely with many of the great modern composers, and has performed with many well-known chamber ensembles, including The International Contemporary Ensemble, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, among many others. He is a published author of mandolin pedagogy, and has released a few albums. "By the time I was 13 I knew mandolin was my voice," says Brent about his musical career's beginnings. Today, Brent plays mandolins with 5, 8, and 10 strings, all custom-made for him.

The concert ends with the very well know forty-first symphony by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Truthfully, Mozart was not thinking about Jupiter - the planet after which the symphony is named - when he wrote this symphony. According to a story, the nickname comes from a British publisher, who upon hearing the opening chords, thought of the thunderbolts of the ancient Greek god Jupiter. However, the symphony's majestic structure and use of instruments does compare with the largest planet of the solar system.

The concert is free to attend, but donations are most welcome. Audience is required to show proof of vaccination, and to be masked while indoors.

Learn more at: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

WHEN AND WHERE:

Saturday, September 25

7:30 p.m.

UTEC

35 Warren Street, Lowell MA

MEDIA CONTACT

Antonio Mak

Lowell Chamber Orchestra

admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org

Phone Number: 781-583-6160

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: Interview with composer Anna Clyne about her work "Three Sisters." https://youtu.be/j7ktdbLM44k

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra opens its third season this Saturday, September 25, with music inspired by the cosmos. The three works by Anna Clyne, Micah Roberts, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, all allude to a cosmic object.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Driving Rhythm and Soaring Lyricism Combine in Brian Field’s Fifth Album, STRING PLAY

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Olim Music is proud to announce that "STRING PLAY" by Brian Field, will be released worldwide on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Music and all digital platforms on April 15, 2021. The classical album highlights a diverse mix of contemporary works for strings ranging from solo violin, duos, quartets to works for string orchestra.

On this fifth album, Field explores a wide range of forms, moods and ensemble groupings, combining driving rhythmic impulses with hints of jazz and post-romantic sensibilities. Fanfare Magazine calls Field "a very fine composer...his music comes across as having a great deal of conviction."

The album opens with his Sonata for Violin and Piano, highlighting the skills of Diana Sargsyan, the concertmaster of the Kandinsky Symphony Orchestra, and transitions to his work for string orchestra performed by the Budapest Philharmonic, "Oliana's Dream of the Sea," which is based upon a short story by the American author William Lychack.

The album also highlights the jazz-inspired work for string orchestra "Four by Four," performed by the Lviv Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, filled with syncopated rhythms and memorable thematic material.

The collection concludes with Field's "String Quartet #1" in four movements, performed by the ÉxQuartet. Guy Rickards, Gramophone, says, "Listening to [Brian Field's] First Quartet makes me want to hear more. Its four very rhythmic movements are models of concision, real dialogues between the four musicians." The American Music Guide further notes that, "Field's Quartet #1 has a true gem of a second movement: here we get that delicious sense of longing, of needing, as the strings climb higher and higher on their fingerboards: almost like they're attempting to touch heaven."

About Brian Field

Brian Field's music is an eclectic fusion of lyricism and driving rhythm that brings together elements of post-romanticism, minimalism and jazz. A graduate of Connecticut College and the Juilliard School in New York City with a doctorate from Columbia University, Field has studied with Noel Zahler, Milton Babbitt, George Edwards and Mario Davidovsky, among others. A recipient of dozens of awards, his compositions are widely performed, recorded, and distributed worldwide. He has written music for solo, chamber ensemble and orchestra, ballet, stage and television.

For more about Field: https://www.brianfield.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.field.779

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_T._Field

Media Contact:
Pam McCarthy, Olim Music
olimmusicdistribution@gmail.com

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0406s2p-field-stringplay-300dpi.jpg

Olim Music is proud to announce that "STRING PLAY" by Brian Field, will be released worldwide on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Music and all digital platforms on April 15, 2021. The classical album highlights a diverse mix of contemporary works for strings ranging from solo violin, duos, quartets to works for string orchestra.

Related link: https://www.brianfield.com/

Music for Choir and Orchestra Becomes Mystical Reflection of Life and Memory in Brian Field’s New Album

LONDON, UK /ScoopCloud/ -- RMN Classical is excited to announce that "CHORAL & ORCHESTRAL WORKS" by Brian Field, produced by Rick Romano and distributed by RMN Music, will be released worldwide on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Music and all digital platforms on October 15, 2020. The album, a collection of 12 works written by the composer in recent years, explores mysticism and includes instrumental works for ensemble, large orchestra and choral works. His works are performed throughout the U.S. and internationally.

The jazz-flavored instrumental track, "Nine, Four by Four," opens the album followed by a section of choral works with English lyrics. The orchestral "Shiva Tandava" completes the first half of the album and unlocks an exotic mysticism. Mirroring the opening, it's followed by the second section of choral works - this time based on Latin text.

"Beatitudines," a far-reaching work, sees the choir and a large orchestra conjunct. Two tracks for choir and organ close the Latin section leading the listener to the final track. A little gem, gospel-like song, "Sweet Forgiveness," brings the album to completion in a coda-like style.

"This compilation of 12 works showcases some of my more recent choral and large-scale instrumental/orchestral works," Fields, an internationally-acclaimed and renowned composer, says.

The music is an eclectic fusion of lyricism and driving rhythm that brings together elements of post-romanticism, minimalism and jazz.

"Apart from the jazz-influenced, 'Nine, Four by Four,' the works in this compilation embrace and celebrate the mystical. In many cases, these are mystical elements of faith and in others the secular, though equally mystical reflections of life and memory," Fields says.

The album features performances by esteemed musicians, ensembles and orchestras including the Budapest Symphonic Orchestra and Choir conducted by Peter Illénay; the Composes' Choir conducted by Daniel Shaw; the Lviv Philharmonic Society & Chorus conducted by Ferdinando Nazzaro; and Heelan Chorale conducted by John Flannery.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to work with Brian, a truly rare contemporary talent and an all-around great person," RMN Classical music director, Romano, says. "He was the winner of our competition for new music - which is how we discovered him - and I'm incredibly excited to release this album and showcase all his music ideas."

Guy Rickards, Gramophone, says, "Listening to [Brian Field's] First Quartet makes me want to hear more. It's four very rhythmic movements are models of concision, real dialogues between the four musicians."

About Brian Field

Field began his musical endeavors at a very early age. He studied piano and then received an undergraduate degree in music and English literature; a master's in music from the Juilliard School in New York City and a doctorate from Columbia University. Field studied and deepened his musical knowledge with Noel Zahler, Zosia Jacynowicz, John Anthony, Linda Skernick, Milton Babbitt, George Edwards and Mario Davidovsky, among others. An award-winning composer, his compositions are recorded on various classical record labels and distributed worldwide. He has written music for solo, chamber ensemble and orchestra, ballet, stage and television.

For more information about Field: https://www.brianfield.com/

About RMN Classical

RMN Classical is a specialized label - part of RMN Music, and launched by composer-producer, Rick Romano, to promote and nurture the contemporary and sound-art music scene in all its ramifications developing and producing original ideas and voices through a range of projects and releases curating and nurturing an ever-growing catalogue of works and artists.

For more information: https://rmnmusic.com/classical-home/

About RMN Music

London-based, RMN Music is an independent music company created to empower contemporary artists and audience through a series of strategic services and projects, connecting music and people crafting unique experiences, fueling ideas and imagination.

Its labels - RMN Records, RMN Classical - promote musical diversity through production, promotion and development of a variety of different projects including new album releases and events across a wide range of genres with no distinction of countries, age or background.

More information: https://rmnmusic.com/

Twitter account: @RMNMusicProd

Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/rmnmusiclabel

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-1012s2p-brian-field-works-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: Brian Field, "Choral and Orchestral Works."

RMN Classical is excited to announce that "CHORAL & ORCHESTRAL WORKS" by Brian Field, produced by Rick Romano and distributed by RMN Music, will be released worldwide on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Music and all digital platforms on October 15, 2020.

Related link: https://rmnmusic.com/

Former Manager to a Japanese ‘Carnegie Hall’ Singer Has Released a New Piano Album to Inherit an Encouraging Message

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Today, Mikiko Miyakawa, the New York-based composer/pianist, originally from Japan, announced that her classical piano album "Elegy In Violet" was released Sept. 20 by Centaur Records. Mikiko is a former new wave keyboardist and manager to Eiko Shuri.

Eiko was the second Japanese performer at Carnegie Hall, and released R&B albums from Warner Records in America. However, the English words were the obstacle, which was hindering the singer from realizing her potential. Therefore, Mikiko inherits Eiko's dream and mission without using words.

Before Mikiko met Eiko in Japan, Eiko already had some domestic hit songs including "Joe's Diamond" written exclusively for her by Paul Anka. Also, two of Eiko's U.S. recordings in 1975-78 were the collaboration with Tower Of Power, American R&B-based horn section and band with eight Billboard Hot 100 Hits. (VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI7_dMyzEWo ).

Eiko appeared on TV shows including "The Tonight Show" and "The Jerry Lewis Show." In 1976, Eiko's performance with Reycards Duet at Carnegie Hall was described as "little Liza Minnelli" by American newspapers.

At that time, in a magazine interview, Don Costa, Eiko's recording producer said "Eiko has potential to produce hits in America. However, the English pronunciation is an obstacle."

Also, in Japan, Eiko struggled because she did not get as big hits as she deserved. The mainstream was young idol singers whose focus was not vocal charm and skills.

Unfortunately, Eiko started suffering from mental illness. But she never stopped singing. During Mikiko's tenure (1990-2004), Mikiko booked for Eiko to appear on Japanese major TV shows, most of which resulted in Eiko's No. 1 peak viewing rates. At the same time, Eiko's old vinyl records quoted high on Internet auctions.

In 2004, Eiko sadly passed away. Mikiko says "I then decided to pursue Eiko's dream and mission of serving music in the U.S. Why? I had the same dream since I was sixteen." This dream was born when Mikiko visited Menlo Park, Calif. at her high school's sister school. There her piano was loved by hearty students, teachers, staffs, and residents nearby the school.

Before acting as Eiko's Manager, Mikiko recorded a major new wave album "Gang Busters" (King Records) with Haruomi Hosono. Hosono is a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra with world-wide hits, whose other member is Academy/Grammy awarded Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Mikiko switched to classical music in which exciting cultural chemistry is happening, known as Post-Classical, Indie Classical or Contemporary Classical.

Although Mikiko's piano album is from an authentic independent classical label, her calm compositions have a variety such as minimal, R&B and pieces sounding like Japanese anime songs.

Mikiko hopes her new album "will be of help to keep you going on," because Eiko would always say these words at the very end of her show.

Learn more at: https://www.mikikopiano.com/

Find Mikiko's music online at:
https://soundcloud.com/mintpiano22/14-elegy-in-violet

https://music.apple.com/us/album/elegy-in-violet/1478807929?l=es

https://open.spotify.com/album/1UwS54X4YM1j343V4ywbiM

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/19-0926s2p-Elegy-In-Violet-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: Cover of Mikiko Miyakawa's classical piano album "Elegy In Violet."

*VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/f7ZBaTrQBDk

Today, Mikiko Miyakawa, the New York-based composer/pianist, originally from Japan, announced that her classical piano album "Elegy In Violet" was released Sept. 20 by Centaur Records. Mikiko is a former new wave keyboardist and manager to Eiko Shuri.

Related link: https://www.mikikopiano.com/