Grace Kelly wins Lionel Hampton awards. Andrew Beer with Midori in Vietnam.
Midori (L), Andrew Beer (on R). Quartet with Ho Chi Minh
Jazz phenomenon Grace Kelly, the 14-year old triple threat (sax, voice, composition) from Brookline, added more honors to her resume in late February. Traveling to the University of Idaho in Moscow for the 40-year old Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Feb. 21-24, she won both the Outstanding Alto Vocalist and Outstanding Woodwinds Prizes in the junior high school division. The largest educational jazz festival in the world, the Lionel Hampton attracts about 14,000 students from middle school through college. Kelly so impressed the judges with her precocity that she was chosen to play on a mainstage festival concert with the Trio of Four. “That’s the group that used to play with Lionel Hampton,” Kelly explained in her blog. The young jazz star also played and hung out with veteran players Christian McBride, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Benny Green, Russell Malone and Freddy Cole until late into the night. Coming back to Boston on Saturday, Feb. 24, Kelly played in two galas that same evening—at NEC’s A Feast of Music and at Betting on a Cause, to benefit The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care, The Leary Firefighters Foundation, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Then, on Wednesday, Feb. 28, she took part in a fundraiser for bluesman James Montgomery's Devil Blue Foundation at the Hard Rock Cafe. Among those jamming with Grace and Montgomery were ex-Monkee Peter Tork.
Violinist/Violist Andrew Beer ’06 M.M. ’07 G.D. spent his winter break in Vietnam touring with violinist Midori and her Music Sharing organization. Originally intended to bring music of the highest caliber to Japanese audiences, Music Sharing this year embarked on its first International Community Engagement program with a tour of Vietnam, Dec. 22-30. Beer, who studies violin at NEC with Donald Weilerstein, was one of three young musicians chosen to accompany Midori and her regular ensemble. The group performed at schools, hospitals, and other venues, including the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh National Conservatories.
Violinist Julia Glenn, 17, a student of Magdalena Richter, and double bass Nicholas Santangelo Schwartz, 17, a member of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform with the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, March 4. Julia, of Wellesley, was First Place Winner in the 2006 Young Soloist Competition and Nicholas won the Special Recognition Award. Max Hobart will conduct the orchestra, which is in residence at MassBay Community College. Two other Preparatory School students will also appear with the orchestra later this season, on the Special Mother’s Day Concert, May 13. Sixteen year old Oren Ungerleider, violin, and twin brother Tavi Ungerleider, cello will collaborate in a performance of the Brahms Double Concerto.
George Nickson ’09, a student of Will Hudgins, has been named guest Principal Percussionist for the National Orchestra of the Dominican Republic during the Santo Domingo Music Festival, March 5—17. George will perform under the baton of Phillipe Entremont with pianist Andre Watts as soloist on the opening night performance of the Brahms Second Piano Concerto. Guest principals for each section are brought in from orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. Other guest artists include conductor José Antonio Molina and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. All performances take place in the National Theater Eduardo Brito in Santo Domingo and the repertory ranges from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Aquino.
Speaking of percussionists, Richie Barshay ’05 will be back in Boston with the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics, March 11. A frequent collaborator with the group, Barshay and the ensemble will perform at the Museum of Fine Arts in a joint production with the MFA and the Boston Jewish Film Festival. The Klezmatics just won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music for their album, Wonder Wheel, based on lyrics by Woody Guthrie. For tickets, call the MFA box office at 617-369-3306.
Jazz vocalist Rachael Price ’07, a student of Dominique Eade, is headed to the Mesa (Ariz) Arts Center, March 10 for a return engagement and the media is eagerly anticipating the appearance by this “next Diana Krall.” In EastValleyLiving.com, Price is interviewed, her many prizes and awards described, and her family’s involvement in music detailed. The article quotes the famous singer and actress Kathryn Grayson who says of Price: “The best young voice I’ve heard, period. No one around can even touch her voice and style—a style all her own.”
From the Top, the popular NPR program that showcases America’s best young classical musicians, returns to its broadcast home, NEC’s Jordan Hall, to record a new radio show, March 24 at 8 p.m. Hosted by pianist Christopher O’Riley ’81 A.D., the show will present 11-year old violinist Mindy Chen from Fremont, CA, 17-year old accordionist Samuel Thomas from Cheney, WA, 14–year old pianist Clare Yeo from New York, 17-year old cellist Marvin Brown from Charlottesville, VA and a piano quintet from New York. To order tickets, call 617-585-1260 or email