Sonatas and Soundscapes

A performer’s musical journey usually includes countless hours in the practice room, time spent poring over scores, and participation in numerous recitals, auditions, and competitions. For musicians like violinist Kristin Lee, that musical journey may also involve a move to another country.  Kristin, who was born in South Korea and began studying violin at the age of five, remained in the United States in order to continue her study of the instrument with a teacher who saw her potential.

With six massive columns, a strikingly symmetrical façade, and a remote location outside of Pinewood, SC, Millford has captured the eye since its completion in 1841. But on Saturday, September 23rd, the Greek Revival house and National Historic Landmark also captured the ear with The Classical Ideal: Music and Architecture in Harmony.

Dr. Scott Weiss was recently appointed interim conductor of the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Scott, who will continue to conduct the university’s Wind Ensemble and teach graduate conducting courses, shares about the ensembles’ upcoming seasons and his outlook on teaching in this interview with SCPR’s Bradley Fuller which aired on Wednesday, August 30th. 

Spoleto Chamber Music Series Director Geoff Nuttall's eclectic approach to programming concerts at the festival has its roots in a record collection he started in his youth. Nuttall says that, while eclecticism is important to him, the quality of a program should never suffer "just for the sake of eclecticism."

In "Haydn Dialogues," pianist Pedja Muzijevic creates a "conversation" among four Haydn sonatas four 20th century works. Muzijevic's recital is part of the Music in Time series at Spoleto Festival USA.

It may go without saying that Ken Lam, music director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, is well-versed in matters relating to the study and performance of some of the world's greatest works of music--several conducting awards and time spent learning from maestros like Leonard Slatkin are proof enough of that. What might be more surprising is that his resume also includes an economics degree from Cambridge and a decade of experience in law.

As Observatory Manager at the South Carolina State Museum, Dr. Matthew Whitehouse is keeping busy with a few preparations for the upcoming solar eclipse on August 21st—he has even written a piece of music inspired by the event. The astronomy educator is also an organist and composer, and doesn’t mind taking an interdisciplinary approach when it comes to celestial phenomena. In fact, merging seemingly separate fields is one of his major interests.

Alfred Turner had a chance to talk with musician and composer Béla Fleck a few days before his visit to Columbia, SC, to perform his new banjo concerto, the Juno Concerto. Beck was scheduled to perform the work on November 13, at the Koger Center, with the South Carolina Philharmonic, under music director Morihiko Nakahara. Just in case you aren't familiar with Béla Fleck, there are some who say he's the world’s premier banjo player. 

On October 15th, Maestro Sarah Ioannides led the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra in works by Kenneth Fuchs, Copland and Brahms. The SPO celebrates Sarah's 12th and final year with the ensemble with the "One Legacy" season. In this segment, SCPR's Kate McKinney shares highlights from an interview with Sarah which aired on Wednesday, October 12th. 

The iconic opera of the Jazz Age, Porgy and Bess, by George and Ira Gershwin with DuBose Heyward, returns to Charleston, its city of origin, in a Spoleto Festival USA production. David Herskovits, whose 1998 production of Mamba’s Daughters by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward won an OBIE award and sold out at Spoleto Festival USA in 1999, returns to direct. Celebrated Lowcountry artist Jonathan Green is Visual Designer, creating the fictional "Catfish Row," based on the actual "Cabbage Row."