Mu Phi Epsilon receives award

The New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving presented its first "Grace Note" awards October 4, 3:30 pm at the opening concert in their Sundays at the Symphony series in the Irving Arts Center, 3333 North MacArthur. Five organizations will be honored.

"We want to recognize some of the creative efforts in north Texas to build an audience for great music," the orchestra's president, Gretchen Cabrera, explains.

Grace notes are the small, extra notes that make music more beautiful in classical scores, she says. "Our awards recognize these extra efforts that help create the audiences for our music."

The 2009 honorees include:

"Every musician knows that it's the audience that creates the excitement in a concert," the New Philharmonic's president explains. "We want to honor our audiences."

Members of the Grace Note Award-winning groups were honored at a reception during the October 4 concert. 

Receiving the awards were Gae Hatton, executive director of the Fine Arts Chamber Players; Gigi Antoni, president/executive director of Big Thought, for their "Thriving Minds" program; Pat Hill of Friends of WRR; Angela Pendleton, president, Sigma Alpha Iota; and Susan Poelchau, Dallas Public Library concert series chair for Mu Phi Epsilon.

Also recognized during the Grace Note Awards ceremony were eight other music groups in the north Texas area nominated for the award: The Wagner Society, The Puccini Society, Music Study Club, Melodie Club, Pro Musica, Musical Arts, Van Katwijk Club and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Sponsors and in-kind contributors include the City of Irving through the Irving Arts Board, Irving Arts Center, Texas Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, WRR 101.1, NorthLake College, LMP Specialties and The Communications Department, Inc.

The concert was held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4, in Carpenter Auditorium at the Irving Arts Center,3333 North MacArthur - about a mile north of Highway 183, and a mile south of NorthLake College. The Grace Note Awards were presented just after intermission.

Help using public transportation to the library is available here: http://dallaslibrary2.org/directions-publicTransit.php. All programs are free and open to the public.

August 15
Janie Bergamasco, soprano with Mark Metcalf, piano

Janie Bergamasco is a senior at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. She will graduate in December with a double major in music and Spanish. She has studied with Barbara Hill-Moore, Rose Taylor, and David Grogan, and is currently studying with Colleen Mallette. Her program will include works by Mozart, Handel, Faure, Gounod, Quilter, and Pergolesi.

August 22
Fenia Chang, piano 
Shu Lee, violin

Steinway artist Fenia Chang’s career as a concert pianist has seen her performing in a variety of venues in Asia, Europe, and across the United States. In addition to her performance activities, the multiple award winner teaches private lessons, master classes, and workshops, is and active collaborative pianist, and is the founder and artistic director of the Asian American Performing Arts Association. She will perform solo works by Chopin and Granados.

Shu Lee is a member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Diploma d'Honour at the Maria Canals International competition in Barcelona, Spain. He frequently appears in recital, concerto appearance and chamber music performances throughout the United States, China, Europe and Mexico. He will perform Ernst’s Etude VI, "The Last Rose of the Summer." 

Together the two will play Beethoven’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 5 (“Spring"), op. 24.

August 29
Carolyn Lee Jones, soprano 
Roland Elbert, accompanist

Carolyn Lee Jones is a jazz vocalist whose distinctive repertoire includes popular American standards, Broadway show tunes, jazz, and contemporary “retro pop” with a jazz sensibility. Her latest CD, Bon Appétit!, has garnered excellent reviews. Her program here, "Songs From My Mother's Piano Bench," will feature both familiar and lesser-known jazz vocal selections from the 1930s, ‘40s, and 50’s

September 5
Madelyn Brene Fortner, soprano 
Jason Smith, accompanist

Madelyn Fortner is both a singer and an actress, whose "Musically Madelyn Concert Series" includes opera, jazz, musical theatre, and oratorio. She has performed various roles in the U.S. and in European cities. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and a student of Nancy Elledge. Her program at the library will include songs by Fauré, jazz standards, and spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan.

September 12
HsiaoLing Chang, piano
Chie Watanabe, piano
Viet Chuong Vu, violin
NanCheng Chen, cello

In May 2010, HsiaoLing Chang received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas, where she studied with Gustavo Romero. She has served as a faculty member at the Music Institute of North Texas since 2009. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan recently invited her to perform in New York.

Chie Watanabe is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas, where she studies with Gustavo Romero. She holds a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. She has won many prizes and awards in Japan and the United States including the 2009 Virginia Warning International Piano Competition.

Nan-Cheng Chen is a student at the Juilliard School of Music studying with renowned teacher and cellist of the Juilliard String Quartet, Mr. Joel Krosnick. He has won a number of awards, and most recently first place in the Queens Symphony’s Young Soloist Competition. In April, he played in the Juilliard Orchestra under the baton of conductor Leonard Slatkin and gave a solo recital at Juilliard’s Paul Hall.

Piano Duet team Watanabe and Chang will perform music by Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Ravel. Then Chang,Vu, and Chen will conclude the program with piano trios by Shostakovich and Schoenfield.

Programs may be subject to change without notice. To confirm information on a specific performance on the day of the program, please call the Fine Arts Division at 214-670-1643.

Musicians' Meeting

From Tina Murdock at the Dallas Public Library: 

The planning committee for our North Texas Musicians Meetings has come up with a plan for a different kind of gathering for the summer months. Instead of inviting a speaker for one large meeting at the library, we’ll have several small, informal gatherings around the Metroplex. The only agenda for these meetings will be to give you an opportunity to meet other musicians, learn what others are doing, and share ideas to help all of us in our efforts to bring a little more music to the world! One of our committee members will be there at each meeting to help get the ball rolling. If you have suggestions/requests about things you’d like to see covered in future large-group meetings, this is a great opportunity to let them know. They’ll also ask you for your current e-mail address so we can be sure you know about future meetings that could be of help to you. Look for news about fall meeting plans in future e-mails.

Below is the list of meetings currently scheduled. Additional information on some of these will come in later e-mail messages. It is possible at least one more meeting may be added to the list, as well. We look forward to visiting with you in the weeks ahead!

Wednesday, July 14, 4:00-7:00 pm (Bastille Day), 
Cynthia Wunsch - info@voixdetemps.com
Addison Point
4578 Belt Line Road
Addison, Texas 75001
Free food for Happy Hour!

Saturday, July 3, 9:00-11:00 am
Scott Whitfield - jazzbanjo@earthlink.net

Saxbys Coffee Shop
227 E. FM 544, Suite 601
Murphy, TX 75094
972-363-5129
North side of FM544, E. of Murphy Rd. In the Lowes/Sprouts Shopping Center, fronting the street. They have a meeting room for us. Tell them you're there for the North Texas Music Meeting.

Monday, August 2, 4-8 pm (Armadillo Day)
Stoney Burns - barzune@swbell.net
Sons of Hermann Hall
3414 Elm (at Exposition in Deep Ellum)
214-747-4422
http://www.sonsofhermann.com
Sons of Hermann Hall will provide finger food and will offer happy hour prices ($2 beers, $3-4 mixed drinks). Stoney notes: “We will have the run of the place, but they'll be willing to give guided tours for those who have never been there before. The Hall has a Texas State Historical designation, and the tours will include the bowling alley and the upstairs ballroom, as well as the rest of the place. We'll also have access to the meeting room which has a recently tuned upright piano. Manager Jo Nicodemas said if an impromptu performance or jam session breaks out she will do nothing to break it up, so if anyone wants to bring an acoustic instrument, go for it.”

Saturday, August 14, 11:30 am
Tim Cissell - tcissell@wt.net

Potbelly Sandwich Shop
101 W. Campbell
972-235-5848
http://www.potbelly.com/Home/Default.aspx

(SW corner of Campbell Road and I-75 Central Expressway, just west of the Starbucks and facing Campbell Road)

August 19, 4:00-7:00 pm
Gregory Isaacs - gregorysullivanisaacs@yahoo.com
Opening Bell Coffee
South Side on Lamar
1409 S. Lamar Street
Basement Retail #012
Dallas, TX 75215
214-565-0383
http://www.openingbellcoffee.com
In the basement of the South Side on Lamar Lofts (the Historic Sears Roebuck Building) just south of I-30 between the Dallas Convention Center and the Jack Evans Police Headquarters. Parking is free in the black gated Retail Parking Lot. Take a right from the light at Lamar onto Belleview.

Tina Murdock, Music Librarian; Dallas Public Library, Fine Arts Division
1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201
214-671-8337; 214-670-1646 (fax)
tina.murdock@dallaslibrary.org

More about North Texas Music meetings

North Texas Music meetings provide an opportunity for area musicians and music organizations to cooperate, communicate, and share resources. Everyone is welcome. Tina Murdock, music librarian at the Dallas Public Library, announced the next meeting of the group.

Topics and Speakers
Managing music organizations can be a difficult undertaking, even in the best of circumstances. In economically challenging times such as these, the task can be formidable. This meeting will address two of the topics most often of concern and interest to musicians and support staff charged with keeping music organizations operating in our uncertain financial environment.

First, in a climate where entertainment options seem unlimited, but the time and money most people have to spend on the arts may be more limited than ever, how can music organizations capture public attention to build audiences, encourage donor contributions, and promote awareness of all the musical and educational programs their institutions offer? What strategies have proven most effective over time, which can be undertaken by staff on a limited budget, and when should an organization hire a professional marketing representative? What new technologies really are improving marketing efforts, and which might require more time or financial commitment than may be cost-efficient?

Second, when expenses often seem to exceed income, how can your organization avoid the financial crises that are causing so many arts organizations to close their doors? What management practices can bring greater efficiencies to your operations? Would merger with another organization help both groups survive? What are the legal implications for such a choice? What risks are involved? Are there partnership possibilities that can give two organizations the strengths a merger might bring, but let both groups maintain their separate identities?

Experienced and knowledgeable speakers to help us explore these important topics. Time and places are arranged throughout the year at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201.
Please visit: http://ntxmusic.eventbrite.com

As always, please feel free to forward this information to others you think may be interested. 

Tina Murdock, Music Librarian - Dallas Public Library, Fine Arts Division
1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201
214-671-8337; 214-670-1646 (fax) 
tina.murdock@dallaslibrary.org

Sept 25: Notes Available from North Texas Music Meeting

Looking for a volunteer opportunity? The Irving Symphony Orchestra is rolling out a new volunteer initiative that you may enjoy. Not only are individuals able to earn discounted or free tickets and recognition, but if five or more members of Mu Phi Epsilon volunteer together for a special event, they will provide valuable public acknowledgement of our organization for your service! 

The Irving Symphony Orchestra is a different symphony for a different audience. In its metamorphic 09|10 season, we will be the first professional symphony in the Southern United States to devote the entire season to the interdisciplinary staging of symphonic works. They will also be producing an annual FREE “Concerts 4 Kids”  designed to engage, educate, and inspire every 5th and 7th grade student in the Irving ISD, representing approximately 5,700 students. To learn more about the ISO, education programs and their signature musical experiences, please take a look at the ISO website at www.irvingsymphony.com.

Interesting Music Websites

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2006/04/21

See video on the new Performing Arts Center!

Electronic mail

President/ General Information - Patricia HIll  pattylou915@yahoo.com

Mary Williams: txtravel@flash.net