Eastman Showcase 2003
Eastman Student Performs at Kennedy Center
Eastman Student Performs at Kennedy Center
It’s a modern-day Cinderella story: a young singer who dreams of being an opera star is plucked from relative obscurity and given the chance to perform with an acclaimed orchestra and conductor in one of America’s most prestigious concert halls.
The fairy tale came true this spring for voice major Christina Gill, who graduated from Eastman in May. Last winter, the Rochester native was invited by award-winning composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch to make her national debut in March a “Stars of Tomorrow” concert, part of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Pops Series.
The mezzo-soprano, winner of two Eastman voice competitions, performed two arias from Bizet’s Carmen with the NSO Pops and Hamlisch at Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
She had a busy month of March; back at Eastman, Gill, took part in a vocal master class with Eastman alumna (MM ’83) Renée Fleming, singing arias from Carmen and Così fan tutte. Master’s candidate Mari-Yan Pringle also took part in the class. (Super-soprano Fleming recently graced the cover of the September 2003 Opera News, not to mention a Rolex ad inside. The cover story anointed her “America’s number-one diva.”)
Down Beat honors Eastman Professor and Students in Annual Awards Issue
Down Beat, one of the country’s most respected jazz publications, selected pianist Harold Danko, chair of Eastman’s Jazz and Contemporary Media department, as one of only three recipients of the 12th annual “Down Beat Achievement Awards for Jazz Education.” Danko’s honor was announced in the June 2003 issue of the magazine.
There were also multiple Down Beat awards for Eastman students and ensembles:
The Dave Guidice Quartet (Dave Guidice, piano and vocals; Josh Rutner, saxophone; Ike Sturm, bass; Ted Poor, drums) and the Robert-Koenigsberg Sextet (Toby Robert-Koenigsberg, piano; André Canniere, trumpet; James Hirschfeld, trombone; Josh Rutner, saxophone; Ike Sturm, bass; Ted Poor, drums) were cited for outstanding college performance in the jazz group category.