With the conclusion of the Abreu Fellows program, I've decided to consolidate all of my internet content, blog and personal website, here at my redesigned home on the net. Menus have been simplified, information has been updated, but all previous blog content has been retained. I'll continue to blog, I promise, and post news from … Continue reading Welcome!
Vengo-zuela
It never rains but it pours: I’m returning to Venezuela, between July 1-18, to lead the orchestra for the multi-state seminario taking place in Acarigua-Araure, the site of afore-mentioned performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. I’m returning at the behest of Roberto Zambrano, the núcleo director for Acarigua and a major force for el Sistema in … Continue reading Vengo-zuela
London Calling…
I'm happy to announce that between June 18-28 I will be consulting in London, UK working with In Harmony Lambeth and the Lambeth Music Service programs with Brendon Le Page. I met Brendon at the LA el Sistema conference and was very impressed by what his group has accomplished, and am looking forward to seeing … Continue reading London Calling…
CityMusic Cleveland Rocks
Don Rosenberg, distinguished music critic of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, recently published this article on the organization I visited for the last 3 weeks of May. CityMusic Cleveland is a remarkable organization, a prototype of the orchestra of the future, proving that artistic excellence and social relevance can go hand in hand.
…the very next day…
No, I didn't think this particular cat "was a goner", but it seems my previous posting has been more than a little controversial. (Note to readers: please use the comment form below rather than e-mailing me directly, otherwise it looks like I'm censoring, which I'm not. The debate isn't just healthy, but necessary, and I … Continue reading …the very next day…
When Schroedinger’s Cat Came Back
I think I'm suffering from a proximity effect, mentioned before - I've become so close and so invested in the el Sistema movement that I forget that the ideas and concepts behind it aren't well known... or aren't universally agreed upon, for that matter. There's confusion and misunderstanding, and we're not helping. We've started throwing … Continue reading When Schroedinger’s Cat Came Back
In memoriam
My first conducting teacher died yesterday, after a long batter with cancer. He was a remarkable man: he enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a professional conductor in Europe before he found a corner of the world that he loved, uprooting his whole family from Hungary to move there. He was a man who, … Continue reading In memoriam
To learning much inclined…
I'm currently at the El Sistema conference in Los Angeles, an event jointly hosted by El Sistema USA, the LA Phil and the League of American Orchestras, and I was having a great time until the umpteenth person mentioned my blog in passing, thus making me feel very guilty about the dearth of recent updates. … Continue reading To learning much inclined…
Final FVS entry
The last video from Venezuela has been uploaded to the FVS site. There aren't as many clips as I would like, but together they represent a permanent collection and resource, a window into the Venezuelan world of music. Please take a moment to respond to the incredibly impenetrable questionnaire as best you can, understanding that … Continue reading Final FVS entry
Thank you, Dr. Abreu.
The following is a rough transcript of my brief comments to Dr. Abreu at our final meeting, Friday April 16th, in Caracas, presented here in the Spanish (as originally delivered) for my many new friends and colleagues in Venezuela. Gracias a todos. Quiero decir solamente que hicimos más que ver el trabajo de FESNOJIV, lo … Continue reading Thank you, Dr. Abreu.
Jonathan Andrew Govias 