Musical Conversations with Anne Guzzo and Amelia Dicks

 Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you well.

I wanted to take a moment to introduce next week's program:

Anne Guzzo's Fanfare for Mountains and Peace, Vivaldi's Piccolo Concerto featuring Amelia Dicks, and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, "from the New World"

Dvorak's most popular work does not need much introduction, but I have been wanting to pair Anne's work with it for a while. Dvorak wrote this symphony after his visit to the "New World," and Anne's work was written as a celebration of distance and connection of North and South America. Take a look at the conversation I had with Anne:

I also had a conversation with our Principal Piccolo Amelia Dicks who will be featured on this concert: 

Looking forward to seeing you at Memorial!

Best,

Kayoko

Musical Conversations: Composer Kyle Kindred

 Dear Friends,

I'd love to introduce my new colleague at Sam Houston State University, Kyle Kindred. SHSU Symphony Orchestra is performing (Texas premiere!) his wonderful work A Longmont Overture on October 8 at 7:30pm central (8:30pm eastern). Here is my conversation with Kyle:

Please join us for the concert via live stream on Friday Oct 8 at 8:30pm eastern time:

<SHSU SO Live Stream>

Best,

Kayoko

Chamber Series #1

Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you well. I hope you were able to join us for the Opening Concert at Memorial Auditorium. What a glorious evening!

We have been waiting for about 2 years to present this upcoming concert to you! We originally had planned to perform this concert last year, but the Covid got in the way. It’s always so fun to feature one of our own composers. Ben Van Winkle is a Chattanooga composer and a cellist, and I am excited to present his Pure Music No. 1, which displays a his unique musical language and ambience.

Here is the conversation I had with Ben:

Eleanor Alberga’s Succubus Moon will feature an oboe and string quartet, which displays mysterious and beautiful oboe sonority with diverse color provided by the strings.

The final work on the program is Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring for 13 instruments, which was the original instrumentation. This work was originally written as a ballet, and it has wonderful characters, memorable melodies, distinct rhythms, and texture.

See you at Chattanooga State!

Best,

Kayoko

Opening Night

 Dear Friends,

CSO's 2021/22 Season is approaching, and I can feel the excitement!

It's been over 18 months since we have performed as a full orchestra. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished last season with "socially distanced" performances, but nothing beats a full orchestra with a hall full of audience.

The first concert will be a re-introduction of CSO to the community.

We open with Marquez's Danzon No. 2, which is a very fun and celebratory piece. This work features many musicians, including clarinet, trumpet, piccolo, piano, and violin. Here is my favorite YouTube video of this piece:

Then we move onto featuring different sections of the orchestra. Strings will be featured with Walker's Lyrics for Strings, which is reflective and beautiful. We would like to dedicate this piece to the victims of Covid-19.

Next, we will feature the brass section with Andrew Ardizzoia's settings of Ubi Caritas. 

Here is an interview I did with Andrew about this piece:

After the intermission, we will perform Faure Pavane, which features many woodwind instruments.

We will end the Opening Night with Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol. Much like Marquez's Danzon No. 2, this work will highlight many of my colleagues.

I hope you are able to join us. See you at the Memorial Auditorium!

Best,

Kayoko

Going home

 Dear friends,

I have an exciting news to share with you! 

I am so happy to announce that I have been appointed as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX (just north of Houston.) My husband and I grew up in Houston, so we are excited to return home and be close to family. But don't worry! While we are relocating, I will be back to Chattanooga frequently to continue serving as the Music Director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.  

I completed my Doctorate degree over 15 years ago, and I always knew that I wanted to share my professional conducting experience in a higher education setting. I can not be more thrilled to launch this part of my career in the region that helped me develop as a musician. (In fact, 2 of my band directors are alumni of Sam Houston!) 

I would like to thank my mentors, teachers, friends, colleagues, and family for helping me achieve this milestone. Of course the biggest "thanks" goes to my husband Andrew who has been so supportive of my career, ambition, and a little (?) bit of madness. 

I hope you and yours are well, and I look forward to sharing wonderful music with you in the upcoming season!

Best,

Kayoko

Thank you

 Dear Friends,

We wrapped up our extraordinary 2020-21 Season this past week, and I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who made it possible: the CSO Board of Directors, staff, musicians, volunteers, sponsors, patrons, donors, and community partners. 

This season was not perfect, but I am very proud of what we have accomplished:

-We performed an eclectic collection of chamber to small-orchestra size works.

-We pivoted and remained calm and flexible as we navigate every twist and turns that came in our way.

-We made new friends and community partners who enabled us to perform all over the region.

What I witnessed this season was nothing short of a victory. Every member of CSO family came together to make live performances happen in Chattanooga. I saw courage, creativity, flexibility, patience, humor, passion, gratitude, grit, and determination. I know this season made us stronger and even more committed to our mission.

I look forward to seeing you all again next season. Until then, please say safe and healthy.

With much gratitude, respect, and love,

Kayoko

Musical Conversation: Composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate

 Dear Friends,

Today I am excited to introduce to you my new friend, composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate.

We "met" via zoom to chat with him about his work called Chokfi’, Sarcasm for String Orchestra and Percussion, which CSO will perform on May 14 and 15th at First Horizon Pavilion. I first came across this work a few months ago, and I was immediately drawn to his unique language, high intensity, and beautiful melody. Here is our conversation:

For more information about Jerod's work, biography, etc, please visit https://jerodtate.com/

I hope to see you on May 14th or 15th!

Best,

Kayoko