As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this episode, we speak with Makiko Hirata, who has curated our final Next Up program of the 2021-22 Season. Her program will explore the life and music of Ernst Toch in historical context, performing pieces in chronological order with narration from Toch's grandson, author Lawrence Weschler. The program begins with the Brahms and Mozart of Toch's early days in Europe—before fleeing the influence of Nazi Germany—through Toch's very last piano pieces written in Southern California in 1962.

The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Thursday, May 12. Register for the concert.

Music in this Episode:

JAMES STEPHENSON Celestial Suite for Brass Quintet

V. Hawking

Jackson Prasifka, Horn

Diego Stine, Tuba

Gracie Potter, Trombone

Forrest Johnston, Trumpet

Tyler Norris, Trumpet

From Next Up: Celestial Suite, April 27

As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Kyle Kremer (Conservatory ’15) who has curated the upcoming program for the Next Up Series. His program is called Celestial Suite: Combining Music and Astronomy, which will feature a brass quintet from the Colburn Conservatory of Music along with Kyle’s narration and visual projections of the cosmos.

The concert takes place in Thayer Hall on Wednesday, April 27. Register for the concert.

Music in this Episode:

MENDELSSOHN  String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13

I. Adagio – Allegro vivace

Zi Yang Low, Violin

Blues Zhang, Violin

Haixin Wan, Viola

Angeline Kiang, Cello

From the Music Academy Young Artist Performance, March 19

RACHMANINOFF  Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos in C Major, Op. 17

III. Romance

Daniel Wang, Piano 1

Ukki Sachedina, Piano 2

From the Music Academy Young Artist Performance, February 12

As part of Colburn’s Next Up Series, which showcases alumni, we’re speaking with the alumni curators of each program and sharing these conversations as minisodes. In this minisode, we talk to Evin Blomberg (Conservatory '15). Evin curated a program that features solo violin repertoire by Kreisler, Ysaÿe, Marsalis, and Bach. The beautifully rendered solo performance is her inspired answer to the isolated realities brought on by the pandemic. 

Music in this Episode

KREISLER Recitativo und Scherzo-Caprice<, Op.6

BACH Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004

V. Chaconne