Intermezzo on KRWG

Several years ago, the string quartet Ethel – often acclaimed as America’s first “first post-classical” quartet -- began reaching out to master musicians from other cultures to see what kind of music they could perform together. In 2008, they began working with Grammy-Award winning Native American flutist, composer and artist Robert Mirabal, and since then, have come to the southwest every year to work with him and the Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project.

When he was in high school. David Rogers alternated each week between classical guitar and jazz guitar lessons, a training that well-prepared him for his multi-faceted career as performer, composer and ensemble guitarist. “Musicians’ Survival 101 -- be versatile,” he told Intermezzo Host Leora Zeitlin in this interview that ranges from the improvisational demands of baroque and renaissance music, to the arrangements he has made of songs by Leonard Cohen and the Rolling Stones.

Organist John Hutchinson knows pipe organs inside and out, having worked with organ builders, built them, fixed them, and studied and performed on the instrument since he was a kid. Hutchinson was invited to perform the first concert in the Ben & Janis Boykin Organ Series at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, playing on the very organ that inspired him when he was in sixth grade to be an organist. He is now the Director of Music & Arts and Organist at Cumming First United Methodist Church, outside of Atlanta.

Among the many musical innovations made by 20th-century composer John Cage were his experiments with “prepared piano,” whereby he put various objects on and between the piano strings to alter the sound. Pianist Michelle Schumann has performed tribute concerts marking Cage’s birthday every September since 2000. She came to KRWG’s studios to talk with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin about how one prepares a piano, her interest in Cage’s music, this centennial year of his birth, and her own musical pursuits in Austin, Texas and around the world.

Marianna Gabbi's life-long passion for music and teaching is bringing her back onto the podium, with baton in hand, as she becomes the new conductor for the New Horizons Orchestra for the 2012-2013 season. The former conductor of the Las Cruces Symphony was the first woman to conduct an orchestra in China, and the first American woman to conduct in Russia. She came to the KRWG studios to talk with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin about her love of music and her new role with New Horizons.

Lonnie Klein, long-time conductor of the Las Cruces Symphony, makes his debut with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra this weekend with a pops concert featuring the Beatles tribute band, "Magical Mystery Tour." Klein came by the KRWG-FM studios to chat with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin about the concert, the Beatles and their early use of orchestral instruments in their music.

Bill Hastings has performed in more 40 musicals and plays, and choreographed more than 40 productions around the world, and has worked with some of the biggest names in show business, including Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Chet Walker, Gwen Verdon and others. While in Las Cruces teaching a week-long workshop at the Las Cruces Academy of Music and Dance, Hastings came to the KRWG studios to talk about some of the highlights of his career and the inspiration he received from his teachers.

While New Mexico is commemorating its 100th anniversary as a state this year, three choruses joined forces to celebrate through song. A special Centennial Concert at the Rio Grande Theatre featuring the Albuquerque Civic Choir, the Singing Out Chorus, and the Mesilla Valley Chorale will showcase composers from New Mexico, including Las Cruces' own Christine Sanders and Bob Diven.

High-energy music and dance from the 1940s, 50s and 60s will highlight the summer concert of the New Desert Harmony Singers, called "Jukebox Saturday Night!" In addition to the 30-person community mixed chorus, the NMSU Dance Theater Group will perform dances choreographed by Dr. Debra Knapp. Conductor Dave Kinkaid came to the KRWG studios to chat with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin about what the night will offer.

Classical pianist and composer Jeffrey Biegel was one of the students of the famed Juilliard School piano professor, Adele Marcus, as was songwriter and pop/rock star Neil Sedaka, before he went into the pop world. In this interview with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin, Jeffrey Biegel -- who was in Las Cruces for a performance with the Las Cruces Symphony -- talked about his recent collaborations with Neil Sedaka, the lasting influence of their teacher Adele Marcus, and his experience of being deaf until the age of three.

We've all seen beautiful paintings and photographs of doors; far less common is music inspired by them. NMSU tuba professor Dr. Jim Shearer asked his colleague, Lon Chaffin (Music Department Chair) to write a work inspired by doors -- and using photographs taken by Albuquerque artist Jim Gale, Chaffin incorporated the images into a multi-media composition. Shearer also commissioned Arkansas-based composer Lester Pack and NMSU alumnus Justin Raines to compose new works.

Two horn players -- professor Nancy Joy of NMSU, and Victor Valenzuela, third horn player for the Tucson Symphony and an NMSU graduate -- came to the KRWG studios to talk about their love of music, playing the horn, and their collaboration on a concert to honor Dr. Warner Hutchison, professor emeritus and former composer-in-residence here. The concert brought together Prof. Joy's "Corno Crew" -- her affectionate name for the horn choir she leads on campus -- and horn players from all around the area. They spoke with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin.

The Good Time Singers, under the direction of Diane Schutz, will take audiences back in time this week with two concerts dedicated to the music of the 1940s, and presented in the style of the famous USO variety shows that were performed -- and are still being performed -- for troops overseas. Diane Schutz came over to the KRWG studios to talk with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin about the concerts.

When they were 9 and 10, respectively, guitarists Meng Su and Yameng Wang traveled every week from their homes in Quindao, China to Beijing -- a train ride of 16 hours each way -- to study with the renowned guitar professor Chen Zhi. They both went on to win numerous awards and competitions, and at the urging of their current teacher, renowned Cuban guitar virtuoso Manuel Barrueco, they formed the Beijing Guitar Duo. During a visit to Las Cruces, they came by the KRWG studios to talk with Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin.