Carlsen Newsletter Fall 2011 - Carlsen Cello Foundation

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cellist on CCF's roster changes their world for the better every day ... In this way, the results of the Carlsen Cello Foundation's .... all of the Harry Potter books.
Carlsen Cello Foundation News deserving students Last fall, our newsletter focused on how CCF recipients channel their talent and energy to help personal causes and to make the world a better place. This is, of course, what music in general does, and each cellist on CCF’s roster changes their world for the better every day through their dedication, their passion, their discipline, their creativity, and their generosity of spirit. In this way, the results of the Carlsen Cello Foundation's work multiply exponentially. Out of the many such stories that regularly come in, one in particular seemed to call out for special attention. Along with impressive updates from recipients far and wide, in this newsletter we feature one single profile of an extraordinary young man.

PROFILE: Bruce Walker It is clearly difficult for Bruce Walker to contain his en-thusiasm about teaching, about playing the cello, about the piece of music he is listening to....about practically anything he loves. This enthusiasm is clearly infectious. Since he became Director of Orchestral Activities for the Sunny-side (WA) School District in 2007 (he is still there), the number of middle and high school students enrolled in the orchestra programs has grown dramatically - from 49 students in 2007, to 110 students today in the 2 programs combined. According to cellist John Michel, professor at Central Washington University and Bruce's teacher, "Bruce works in a school district in the lower Yakima Valley that is 76% Hispanic. He also directs Youth Orchestras in two cities almost 150 miles apart. I believe there are few people that have made such a profound difference in so many young lives." Bruce grew up in St. Louis, MO, in a pretty much inner-city environment. His father's family owns Smoky O's, a chain of BBQ's where Bruce worked throughout high school and where he developed a strong work ethic, along with a lifelong passion for anything BBQ. His mother is very involved in the church, which gave

…putting cellos in the hands of News and Updates Clark Pang "This past year, I was very fortunate to become the nation's Second Place winner in MTNA's National Competition as well as First Place winner in the American Fine Arts Festival's (AFAF) Inaugural International Concerto Competition. I was this year's California Junior Classical League Academic Winner and Overall Winner at the State Convention. I am 15 now and will be a junior this fall. This year, I will focus on entering the Klein International Competition as well as perform at Carnegie Hall for the third time in January 2012 (AFAF's Winners' Concert), and perform a solo recital for Rising Stars of California on the series, In-Concert Sierra, in Grass Valley. (See quote p. 4)

Joseph Novakavich Joseph is studying with the renowned and pioneering performer and teacher Matt Haimovitz at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University. This summer Joseph was invited to join and tour with Uccello, an all-cello ensemble made up of Haimovitz' top students. The group was recently nominated for a Grammy for best cross-over band from classical to pop, and they have just recorded a new CD at the Skywalker Ranch outside of San Francisco. Clips at http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=LBJdepkQs_I Samantha Gribble "I just finished my Masters of Music in Cello Performance at DePaul University, under Steve Balderston. Last year included a solo recital, premieres of chamber music by Dr. Kurt Westerberg, concerts with DePaul's Ensemble 20+ (including microtonal works), and joining the Chicago Composers Orchestra.  I've also done work with a quartet and on music collaborations with local composers and non-classical

Bruce Walker (cont. from p. 1) Bruce began playing cello in 7th grade, but had no private, formal training until college. He credits his public school music teachers with giving him a great foundation. In college and with steady private lessons, he quickly "shot up to the front" of the Southern Illinois University cello section and went from "loving the cello to being a cellist". Since 2004, he has given yearly solo recitals on the cello. But a concurrent passions have also evolved and received wide recognition....conducting and, especially, teaching. In 2010, after a formal interview process, Bruce went on a 6-week tour teaching cello and conducting orchestras in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon as a faculty member with the Youth Excellence on Stage/YES Academy, in collaboration with American Voices, a U.S. non-government, nonprofit, cultural exchange organization. He returned to the Middle East with them this past summer. These were life-changing experiences for him and for his students. Challenges ranged from language barriers - he became very succinct in his explanations, made sure he could count in Kurdish, and made full use of culturally-apt metaphors - to teaching groups of students from totally different backgrounds with a wide mix of abilities, and even to playing "Frankenstein" with instruments, taking pieces from one to complete another. John Ferguson, Executive Director of American Voices shares some thoughts: "Bruce has an amazing knack for getting the most out of his students, his orchestras and his cello. He has

With YES Academy students in Lebanon

been a prized guest teacher and conductor at our Youth Excellence on Stage/YES Academies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan since 2010 and we look forward to many more. Click here for an amazing performance he conducted with our 100-piece YES youth orchestra in Iraq in 2010:"  http://www.youtube.com/user/ americanvoices?feature=mhee#p/c/963105CC022D92EE/9/ Alu89GEF08w

Asked how he gets so much out of his students, Bruce talks about making learning fun. His philosophy is to "become the biggest cheerleader of whatever subject I am teaching", and to meet his students halfway, on their turf. For example, he has made it his business to read all of the Harry Potter books. And one need only glance at

News and Updates (cont. from p. 1) Jay Campbell Jay (Jeremiah) was profiled here in Fall 2009. He sends rave reviews for his January '11 performance of the Lutoslavski Cello Concerto, which he played as winner of the Juilliard Concerto Competition. "Mr. Campbell—playing the piece from memory —seemed completely inside the composer’s hairpin turns and sharp edges. It was an unusually confident, even rapturous performance, with this astonishing cellist finding some humor in the composer’s sighing glissandi. At the conclusion, the cheers were legion...I don’t expect to hear this piece done as well for a very long time.” SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL Jay writes further: "Last September (2010), I was asked to perform the solo part in Pierre Boulez' cello concertino, Messagesquisse. Boulez came in and worked on it with us; we did a lecture/performance for Swiss and German radio, and then a live performance the next day. Next year in Carnegie Hall, I'll be performing a new cello concerto commissioned by the New York Youth Symphony, so I'm really looking forward to that. I'll also be presenting several lecture recitals at the Austrian Cultural Forum." Emma Childs I was (and still am) practicing about 4 hours a day... I have now decided to stay at the University of Minnesota and study cello with Tanya Remenikova. I was just accepted into the program last week :) I'm also going to be majoring in French studies. I am looking forward to the coming years of hard work and musical growth. In other news, I recently wrote a grant, and received an amount to help me purchase a new cello bow made by Lee Guthrie. I work as a barista at a coffee shop, and have been saving all of this year and last to make the purchase :) Over the last year I have subbed for a few University Orchestra concerts, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony concerts, and have been a member of the campus orchestras. I also played in a concert for the local chamber music series, Chamber Music ff. Ruby Brailler I am currently Principal Cello of the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra.  In June I passed my qualifying exam to be a cello performance major. I am also currently teaching strings at the Lawrence Academy String Project.  This year I plan to compete in the Lawrence Conservatory Concerto Competition.  I will also be preparing for my Junior recital in the winter, featuring the Barber Cello Sonata. I plan on attending graduate school in two years. Thank you so much for your continued

Alumni News Dong Gyun Kim Throughout this year, I've been the Principal Cello of the Spokane Youth Symphony, and I've also won SYS's concerto competition on the Elgar Cello Concerto fourth movement. The Elgar will be performed with the SYS on May 22nd in the finale of the 2011 SYS season, which also happens to be the last concert for our long time conductor, Verne Windham. I was also a finalist in the Couer d'Alene Young Artist competition." (See quote, p. 4)

Stephane Tetrault The only non-US Carlsen cello recipient, Stephane, from Montreal, Quebec, still keeps CCF updated on his impressive career several years after acquiring his own cello. Here are highlights:

In October 2010, performed as soloist with violinist/conductor Maxim Vengerov alongside the I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra. Youngest participant, personally selected by maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, to participate in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, performing at Carnegie Hall in April 2009. Stephane Tetrault Performs Dvorak Cello Concerto with l'Orchestre Metropolitain and the Variations on a Rococo Theme with the Malaysia Philharmonic in 2012.

(cont. on p. 4)

--------------------------------------------------------------The cello from the foundation is wonderful - I keep noticing great new nuances about it through each practice session; I love it more and more every day. Thank you so much for providing me with this instrument. It has been such a blessing in my life!

Awarded CBC / Radio-Canada 2011-2012 Revelation in Classical Music (2011) 2010 Grant Recipient the Hnatyshyn Foundation's Classical Music Category

Emma Childs

! The average cost of a cello is $8,500. 70 young cellists now play Foundation cellos, up from 60 cellists at the same time last year. Little of the joy and achievement Carlsen Cello Foundation th 2330 130 Avenue NE Suite 201 Bellevue, WA 98005 (425) 455-9945 [email protected] g

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Almuni News (cont.) Christian Kay Christian recently returned from the Conservatory Music in the Mountains Camp in Durango, CO. While at the camp, he auditioned and was selected to perform a solo recital.  The students selected were from locations all over the world including Finland, China, Korea, Uzbekistan, New York, and Italy. Here is a link to the video of the performance of Gluck's Melodie (from Orfeo): http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=fd9h3rZVMsE Also, Christian has had another great success due in part to his training with your cello. He won the Tyler Youth Orchestra's concerto competition

***An Important Request*** Please help us keep in touch, stay green, and save money for more cellos. 1) Become a Friend on our Facebook Carlsen Cello Foundation page

l-r: Barbara Balatero, Tanner Rodriguez, 8, Ray Carlsen

Thank you so much for letting me borrow the cello. I hope that generations of young aspiring cellists get to enjoy it as I did. I thank you, Dr. Carlsen, for letting so many of these young cellists progress in their studies without limitation from monetary barriers. D. G. Kim

Clark Pang

I continue to enjoy playing your cello and love the tone quality. It is so direct and clear,Thank you for all you are doing to help support me. I am grateful beyond words.

Carlsen Cello Foundation 2330 130th Avenue NE Suite 201 Bellevue, WA 98005