the meat in the orchestral sandwich
April 25th, 2009 — chamber music
TAPESTRY STRING QUARTET
Special Guest, Harris Orem, English Horn
May 6, 2009
Old Church 12:00 Noon
Quartet No. 7 (1960) Opus 108* Dmitri Shostakovich
Allegretto
Lento
Allegro
Berceuse Armas Jarnefelt
Arr. Peggy J. Swafford
Guest, Harris Orem, English Horn
String Quartet No. 1 (1952) Einojuhani Rautavaara
Presto
Andante
Vivace Assai
TAPESTRY QUARTET
Catherine Noll, 1st violin
Janet George, 2nd violin
Peggy Swafford, viola
Gayle Budd O’grady, cello
February 11th, 2009 — Uncategorized, chamber music
The Salem Viola Day at Willamette University (click there for directions) on Sunday, February 22nd from 1-4pm is shaping up to be a fun and inspiring event. If you have questions or would like more information, contact Miriam.
There will be a masterclass at 1pm with performances from Brahms to Seitz and more, a talk about instrument set-up from Oregon luthier Paul Schuback, some demonstrations of instruments from more luthiers and alternative gear, plus of course a chamber jam-play-in! Rumor has it there will even be door prizes.
We are happy to announce the clinician for our masterclass will be violist Mara Gearman.
Mara Gearman
While still early in her career, violist Mara Gearman is already an accomplished player with extensive experience in both orchestral and chamber music settings. She regularly performs with the chamber groups American String Project and Seattle Chamber Players, and has collaborated with such prestigious performers as Ani Kavafian, Peter Wiley, Vladimir Feltsman, and Dale Clevenger, the legendary principal horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is also a founding member of the Barston String Quartet as well as Trio Tara with pianist Oksana Ezhokina and Laurie DeLuca, clarinet.
Gearman has held or been awarded a number of orchestral appointments, including principal viola (at age twenty) under maestro Rossen Milanov, and principal viola at the Kansas City Symphony and at the Oregon Symphony under music director James DePriest. Currently she is the second desk violist for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra under maestro Gerard Schwarz.
As a solo performer Gearman has won awards at the Primrose and Tertis International Viola Competitions, performing viola solos ranging from American composers Alan Shulman and Derek Bermel to Hungarian composer Miklos Rozca.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, her primary teachers included Roberto Diaz, Pinchas Zukerman, and Karen Tuttle, as well as additional study in Canada, Germany, Holland, and Switzerland with Nobuko Imai, Barbara Westphal, and Gerard Causse.
Gearman has just been appointed to the faculty at Cornish College of the Arts, in Seattle.
January 7th, 2009 — Uncategorized, chamber music
The get-together and play-in this Saturday from 1-3pm will be held at the Viola Society Presidential Residence (i.e. my place!). Please come by for some snacks, violist cameraderie and chamber reading.
**IF you are coming, please do let us know! 503-341-1071 or email Miriam.**
You are welcome to decide at the last minute- no worries and everybody’s welcome, we just want to know how many stands to break out!
To get there: 7905 SW Matheny Dr., Beaverton 97008
So from the Washington Square Mall/217 area, take Hall Boulevard toward Beaverton. (That’s northwest-ish.)
About a mile up Hall you’ll go through the intersectionwith a light for Greenway Boulevard. Stay straight on Hall and you’ll go over a hill. At the bottom of that hill you’ll see some cream colored townhomes on the left. That’s us.
Turn left on Green Lane (no light here). Take the second entrance to the complex- we are the home on the right of that as you enter. Park in any open spot or along Green Lane.
April 6th, 2008 — chamber music
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7th,
THE OLD CHURCH
12:00 Noon
The Tapestry String Quartet is happy to announce they will be performing a concert at the Old Church on Wednesday, May 7th at 12:00 noon. Our guest performer will be Bill Leonard, clarinet.
Tapestry will be performing the Bernt Cruesell Quartet #1 Opus 2 for Clarinet and strings; Shostakovich String Quartet #11. The program will be rounded out with selections: “Begin the Beguine” by Cole Porter; “Romance” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “2008” by Peggy Swafford.
Tapestry members are Catherine Noll, 1st Violin; Janet George, 2nd Violin; Peggy Swafford, Viola; and Gayle Budd O’Grady, Cello.
March 5th, 2008 — chamber music, workshops
When: April 28, 2008 to May 1, 2008
Where: Parlors of Bed & Breakfasts in Wallowa County, OR
contact via Bronze Antler B&B, 309 S. Main St.
Joseph, Oregon
Program:
Celebrate the music of string quartets in the solitude and majestic beauty of early spring in the Wallowa Mountains of Northeastern Oregon. The Wallowa Valley Music Alliance in cooperation with local Bed & Breakfasts is hosting an exciting mid-week retreat for string chamber music players (vn/va/vc) designed to celebrate music for string quartets and other small string ensembles.
Participants are invited to bring along their favorite string ensemble music. Delicious catered meals featuring Eastern Oregon’s bounty, fellowship opportunities with other string players, and the gracious hospitality of Wallowa County’s bed & breakfast inns are included. Bed & breakfasts are located in/around the towns of Joseph and Enterprise, surrounded by spectacular scenery of the Upper Wallowa Valley.
The retreat is a self-directed event designed for the adult recreational string musician. No coaching or instructions will be provided. Musicians of Amateur Chamber Music Players level C+ and above are welcome (visit www.acmp.net for more information about levels).
Indoor recreational opportunities for spouses and traveling companions are planned, including a tour of an artistic bronze foundry or a local artist studio on Tuesday.
To register, or for more information:
Call 541.426.3390 or email bantler@eaglecap.net
website: www.wvmusicalliance.org