DRUMROLL PLEASE! THE WINNERS OF NEC'S SUPERLATIVES ARE.....
PG. 4
INTERVIEW WITH SECURITY GUARD TODD WAIER
NEC: UNDERGROUND A BENEFIT CONCERT PG. 12 PG. 19
10 PLACES TO SLEEP AROUND AT NEC
PERSPECTIVES FROM MARATHON MONDAY
PG. 6
PG. 8
THE PENGUIN
ISSUE 51
MAY 9, 2013
N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
The Penguin's going underground! It's May already?! NEC went from orientation to commencement faster than the Jordan Hall elevator (oh wait, that's not fast at all--oops!) It's been a whirlwind of a year, including incredible performances ranging from Brahms 4 to Rite of Spring, trying circumstances (we stuck together through a hurricane, a blizzard, and an attack on our city), and a million moments in between that brought our NEC family even closer together. Many of us will be embarking on new journeys after walking the Jordan Hall stage for the last time on May 19th, so for the last Penguin of the year, we'll celebrate and say goodbye to some of the many faces that have shaped our community.
We're stealing the name of Akenya Seymour's benefit concert "NEC: Underground" and going "underground" at NEC. We'll highlight all of the things you didn't know about our school: what musicians do when they're not practicing, the secrets of the Jordan Hall basement, the best places to "sleep around," what the security guards REALLY think of our school, etc.! Although many of you will be laying by the pool all summer, the Penguin never rests! We're already prepping for an orientation issue to scare welcome new students in the fall. As always, we would love your help, and you can reach us at thepenguin@necmusic.edu. Happy summer!
penguin CULTURE Jordan Hall: A Subterranean Odyssey Our Reply to Violence BY NICK TISHERMAN
BY ROBYN BOLLINGER, commencement speaker
Journey with me deep down into the depths of NEC to the—dare I say it—dungeon of Jordan Hall. There you will find ever-lurking percussionists, an instrument library that has everything from accordions to zithers, and practice rooms hotter than the gates of hell. This is the real NEC underground. Follow me through the labyrinth that is the basement of Jordan Hall. I wish that description were more poetic than necessary, but the basement literally resembles a labyrinth with the twisting curves of its hallway. Here in the basement, you can hear the xylophone excerpt from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the crack of dawn, and that one timpani lick in Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis over and over until two in the morning. The percussionists at this school seem to be subterranean beasts that only resurface for orchestra concerts and the occasional class or two. It should be a rite of passage for every NEC student to practice in one of the three cubicles in Jordan Hall’s lowest level. The rooms are half the size of the average room in the upper levels of Jordan Hall. The pianos seem to be neglected even though the Piano Services Department is on the same floor. One room has graffiti reminiscent of those practice huts at the music festival you went to after junior year of high school. And does that strange bird’s-nest soundproofing even make a difference? In an hour of practice in the basement practice rooms, one must take breaks just to escape the heat and breathe some fresh air. However, arguably the coolest part of the bottom level of NEC’s Jordan Hall is the instrument library. Students can come here if they have a spontaneous desire to pick up the accordion, or more likely if they are assigned a strange woodwind to play on an orchestra cycle (shout-out to Editor-in-chief Kate Lemmon, who sounded beautiful on the alto flute in the Philharmonia’s rendition of Le Sacre du Printemps). Woodwind players know the instrument library well; they associate the basement office with the circus act that is trying to find a working auxiliary instrument (i.e. English horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, or piccolo, etc.). There’s a reason they don’t show you the basement on tours until you enroll at NEC. Although it is a mostly-unrenovated, dully colored abyss, the underground level of Jordan Hall is a place where the magic of our percussion department happens, and where other brave instrumentalists go to get work done. Check it out the next time you go exploring around Jordan Hall.
Excerpted from her May 19 speech: In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, a quote by Leonard Bernstein- “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before”- went viral. The quote is taken from the end of a speech Bernstein delivered following the assassination of J.F.K. Empowering for us as artists, the quote assures us of our validity in a spiraling political world; but the more the quote popped up around me, the more I questioned my easy interpretation of the sentiment. I worried – and I still worry – that to many, this quote means, "If I just keep practicing, that'll make the world a better place." Merely practicing is not enough in today’s society. Our world today is full of people living from one electronic screen to another; we must prove to those people that music is the antidote society needs. It is the secret to better attention, fuller relationships, and richer means of interacting with the world. To prove our worth, we must find our audiences. We cannot expect people to come to us if they don’t understand what we offer; we must bring it to them. Leonard Bernstein accomplished this supremely. He was one of the first to bring concerts to television, an effort that culminated in his Young People’s Concerts with the New York Philharmonic broadcast on CBS Primetime TV. An entire generation grew up watching these broadcasts, learning about music from a charismatic performer in the most up-todate medium possible. Through music, these casual audiences learned to communicate new ideas based on shared experiences. I believe that music is both for and about people. It is something we do for ourselves and for each other; it is the most effective way we learn communication, empathy, and expression. It is a way to establish a social connection, whether it’s between teacher and student, members of an ensemble, performer and audience, or even between listeners. These kinds of deeper connections are shut down in violent events like the Boston Marathon bombings. In the chaos and panic of a deathly situation, there is no room for communication or empathy- there is only survival. For me, this powerful context gives even more weight to Bernstein’s words. As we go forward from the bombings, from NEC, and from each other, it is our job as musicians to bring people together in every way we know how, wherever those people are and whatever they know, so that our generation won't have to face more tragedies like the Boston Marathon.
2
MAY 9, 2013
WHAT WE'LL MISS ABOUT NEC: THREE PERSPECTIVES DREW CRYER, HARP
MATT SZYMANSKI, CONDUCTOR
After going here for four years, there are certain aspects of this place that I am accustomed to, like Special Elvis. Living on the seventh floor of the Residence Hall (almost eye-level with Mr. Elvis), I had grown to dislike his incessant belting every evening at about 6pm. Now I can’t imagine the NEC experience without him. Another great staple of NEC life is Stan, the security guard in 295 Huntington, who always greets me with "Hello, my friend!"
The NEC campus isn’t really a campus. Any NEC student who attended a University before coming to NEC will tell you that four (well, let’s be real, 3.5) buildings don't make a campus. We go to a pretty small school. It’s a school so small that it would be impossible to inhabit the halls of our non-campus and not have an impact on its community. Any community as small as this one is bound to be shaped by the individuals that comprise it. After spending four years of my life walking around Jordan Hall I still find myself amazed by those individuals on a daily basis. Whether it be four orchestras rehearsing at 9AM in the morning, an 8PM big band concert in Jordan Hall, or a piano player still practicing at 2AM, every year in the spring a seemingly irreplaceable quarter of the student body leaves a hole to be filled. Every year I’ve said goodbye to friends and colleagues who have become the most amazing part of my life. Every year that hole seems impossible to fill. But every year, four months later in Sep tember, that hole overflows all over again. I wish I could stay at NEC forever to meet the endless supply of amazing people that will call themselves Penguins in the future. I wish I could go back in time to meet some of the people that already have. I can’t, but I’m impossibly thankful for the time I’ve spent getting to know everyone who’s here now. If you’re reading this, my favorite part of NEC is you.
I couldn’t imagine NEC without thinking of one thing: orchestra. I am going to miss having such fantastic players to work with. I can’t leave out the person who improved my playing so that I could have a better chance at playing in orchestra, Ann Hobson-Pilot, my teacher. I will miss the energy with which she teaches, as well as her strength of mind. She always knows exactly what to say and what to do to fix anyone’s playing. The teachers at NEC are unlike anywhere else—I have been especially grateful to have had teachers like John Heiss, Stratis Minakakis, Lyle Davidson, Jerry Leake, Katarina Miljkovic, and Robin Dash, to name a few. They teach such diverse classes—I have learned so much about jazz history, theory, Turkish music, world rhythms, and many other aspects of music that I never dreamed of learning when I entered the Jordan Hall building for the first time in 2009. Most of all, I will miss the friends that I have made, and how the place where everyone meets up with each other is on the Jordan Hall steps. Many schools have hang out spots, but I think ours is the best, the perfect place to sit if you feel like chatting with people. I like to just sit, perched up on one of the giant stone blocks next to the steps and wait for friends to walk by. The friends that we make at NEC are a special breed of friend; we all have this weird interest that connects us. I am so lucky to have been able to go to NEC; the incredible memories of friends, performances, and learning will never be forgotten.
DREW CRYER
DANIELLE WIEBE, VIOLA When I finally wrapped my head around the fact that I was graduating, the first thing that popped into my mind was the way people were saying, “I can’t wait to get out of here.” Of course it’s natural to be excited to meet new people, to explore a new campus, or to finally be at a University, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia towards everything NEC. It’s funny how I never realized the things I’d miss until I actually stopped and thought about it. Strangely enough for me, Solfege classes were first to come to mind. Initially I was surprised at myself, but it lead me to realize how truly great my classes at NEC have been. For starters, Mr. Buys: Love him or hate him as you will, but I think you should love him. He’s great. I remember the story about the time he stepped on a rat and thought the ‘crunch’ was just a leaf until he looked down. Or the way he’d politely tell you that you’re wrong: “You’re wonderful?” These and so many other stories have come tumbling back and have got me thinking about other teachers; about classmates and friends. I’ve realized that the things I’m going to miss most about NEC aren’t the things that have happened just within the old brick walls, they’re the simple things I hadn’t realized have been happening in front of me every day. Like how if you see someone from NEC anywhere outside NEC, you say hi; it just happens. Or the way you see the same people at Pavement every day. Or how everyone complains about orchestra mornings. Or how you'll see the bass players taking the elevator after rehearsals at noon, or the way you know you’ll run into someone in the computer lab. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the things I’ll be missing the most are the little things that have made up my last four years. The stuff of NEC: The everyday, the mundane, the ordinarily perfect.
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
3
penguin SUPERLATIVES HAPPIEST PERSON TO RUN INTO ON THE SIDEWALK
MOST LIKELY TO LIVE IN A PRACTICE ROOM
Linnaea Brophy
Colby Parker
HAPPIEST PERSON PASSION TO RUN FORINTO FASHION ON THE SIDEWALK
PARTY CHAMPION
A-Larenée Davis John Marano 4
MAY 9, 2013
After an extensive and grueling nomination / voting process, these eight NEC students have emerged victorious. Give them a high Five next time you spot them in the hallway!
MOST HILARIOUS
MOST LIKELY TO COMPLETE HOMEWORK ON TIME
Talya Buckbinder
Akenya Seymour MOST LIKELY TO BE SPOTTED ON A COFFEE RUN
BEST NON-MUSICAL TALENT
Liz O'Neil
Julia Partyka WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
5
10
TOP PLACES TO SLEEP AROUND AT NEC
There will most likely come a time in your life at NEC when you get a little desperate and find yourself needing just one or two blessed hours to close your eyes in a safe place around school. These moments always come up when exams are looming just around the corner, you’ve got back-to-back 4-hour rehearsals, assignments up to your eyeballs with no bed in sight, and you stayed MUCH later at that party than you intended. With this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the top ten places to dreamily recharge around NEC, our home away from home.
THE LOBBY OF THE SAINT BOTOLPH BUILDING If you can handle sleeping in rather public places, I don’t think anyone is going to hold you back from getting some shuteye in the foyer of SB. You may wake up with black marker drawings on your face, but it’s worth a try.
THE BASS CASE MANEUVER (by Dara Blumenthal Bloom) Get a double bass case, place it underneath a piano and hop inside. Use a scarf or sweater as a pillow for your head and zip up! Dara’s tried it and highly recommends it during the colder months of the year. Just find a bass player who's willing to loan out their bass case for an hour or two…
WOODWIND REPERTOIRE CLASS It’s a fact that woodwind players get a serious workout around NEC. They rehearse endlessly, spend hours each day carving out reeds and then the rest of their days partying hard, second to no other musicians at NEC. As this photo reveals, Professor Svoboda’s rep class is too good to resist.
STUDENT LOUNGE Those couches aren’t soft and those of you who are over 4 foot might get frustrated with the lack of space, but if you’re desperate, the Student Lounge awaits you. It’s a quite place to chill out (if you can ignore the random guy singing loudly at his laptop). There’s also wi-fi for those sneaky FB checks…
BISTRO COUCH Come on guys, let’s be honest… we (or a “friend of a friend” of ours) have all felt a little shame after waking up on the Bistro couch. However, let’s look at the positives… It’s central. You can stay in the action whilst catching a few ZZZZs. It’s easy to plug in so that you can tune out with your headphones. On the negative side, it is the "Beastro"...
6
MAY 9, 2013
Liz Tobias, originally from Adelaide, Australia, is a first-year master's student majoring in jazz vocal performance. She is passionate about life at NEC and spends much of her time trying to shake thing up in the MIE department. Liz loves learning about how a student's comfort in the classroom can translate into stellar results. When she's not roaming Jordan Hall, Liz loves cooking for her friends, hanging out at Unos (way too often)… and attempting a workout at the Marino gym. If you have any questions, you can contact her at elizabeth.tobias@necmusic.edu or check out MAMAJAZZ.COM.AU.
THE MUSIC STAND MANEUVER Find a sturdy NEC music stand that can support your head and half of your torso. Open a nice thick music book or find a soft pencil case to balance on the stand. Lean forward and close your eyes. Caution: Watch out for potential face creasing and sore necks. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
FIRESTONE LIBRARY LISTENING ROOM This one is my personal favorites. Take your student I.D. to borrow a CD or LP and shut the door to fly off into la-la land. Make sure you set an alarm because the lack of sunlight makes Firestone a black hole of time.
JAZZ/CI OFFICE COUCH I need to ask – Have you even been in there? Oh.My.Gosh. This is the most comfortable couch known to all of mankind. If you sit down you won’t be able to get up! Hankus, Ken and Greta are all about having friends visit and you’ll be able to find out the latest goss in the NEC Jazz/CI world.
SPAULDING LIBRARY You’re guaranteed silence with this one. The couches are mostly comfortable and the opening hours are fairly reasonable. You’ll be able to recharge in serenity and you’ll be warm and safe, getting smarter each minute that passes purely via osmosis.
STUDENT LOCKERS Did you know that there are some massive lockers in the basement of Jordan Hall that comfortably fit human bodies in them? If you're one of those random people who are capable of sleeping standing up, then this is for you! Bring your comforter from off of your bed at home, wrap yourself in it and get settled in for a few hours. DO IT.
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
7
NEC PERSPECTIVES:
M A R AT H O N
MONDAY 04.15.2013 JULIA PARTYKA, WHO CHEERED AT THE FINISH LINE EARLIER IN THE DAY: The experiences over the week of Marathon Monday are still very surreal, but the resilience and support in and around Boston continue to be strong and unbreakable. I am so proud to be a part of a community that stands together and is one big, dysfunctional but happy family. Because of this, it is important to keep in our memory those who were affected in these tragedies and to reinforce positivity and love. MLK Jr. said, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Do not givhe infamous glory to those who do not deserve your attention. Instead, think well of those who are suffering, hug a friend, spread love to your closest tribe as well as strangers. Negativity takes entirely too much energy out of you and leaves you with nothing in return. A simple smile goes a long way. Appreciate what you have, love your truth, and be kind to one another.
RANDOLPH PALADA, WHO TOOK A VISITING FRIEND TO SEE THE MARATHON FINISH LINE: We slowly shuffled through the crowd until we could see the finish line, but at that point there was so much crowd congestion that we felt like a can of sardines. I was starting to become impatient, so I talked my friend into cutting through the Lord and Taylor store to get closer to the finish line. As soon as we exited the store, we heard the first blast. I’ll never forget witnessing the massive wave of people running for their lives, or the scores of police and first responder vehicles racing toward the danger. I felt like I was in a movie. From that moment I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if we decided to stick around a little longer on Boylston. I also wondered if my impatience was a blessing! These events reminded me to be aware, respect life and do what I set out to do with the best of my ability.
8
MAY 9, 2013
MARGIE APFELBAUM, WHO LIVES IN WATERTOWN: “Why are cars drag racing on my street?!” I thought at 1 a.m. on April 19 as I awoke to the sound of speeding cars. Like a cranky old lady, I peeked out my bedroom window to see what was going on so I could describe it to the police. Imagine my surprise when I saw that it WAS the police racing in both directions on my street! “What the *%& is going on here?!” I thought as I flipped on the TV and fired up my laptop to watch the events unfolding in my town. Those online started to lend support and relay news they were hearing from various networks, Twitter, and police scanners. Friends in Israel, New York, Spokane etc., started checking in. At 2 a.m., my wife woke up to the sound of loud helicopters shaking our house, and together we learned that “Suspect Number One” was dead and “Suspect Number Two” was on the loose somewhere in our sleepy little town. After receiving an automated warning to stay indoors and report any suspicious activity, adrenaline made sleep impossible. As the morning sun started to light our window shades, we received a call from my mother-in-law telling us we needed to shower and pack a bag because they were evacuating everyone in Watertown! We knew she was mistaken, but appreciated her love and concern (not to mention a bit of comic relief!). We live just outside of the so-called perimeter; nonetheless, we were aware it was best to stay alert and upstairs as much as possible. Throughout the day armored vehicles, bomb squads, and police cars roamed our street. When the Governor lifted the “ban,” we went outside. As we congregated with neighbors, we noticed the heavy police presence on our street had suddenly started to move extremely quickly, and helicopters began to approach our area again. We ran indoors to watch what everyone else was watching, and it was surreal to hear gunfire and explosions outside followed by the same sounds echoing on our TV. They captured Suspect Two less than a five-minute walk from our house. RELIEF! As soon as the operation ended, we ran outside to applaud our law enforcement officials and the next day, we bought a new lock for our shed!
EMILEIGH VANDIVER, VOLUNTEER CELLIST:
When I arrived at the Brigham, I spoke with several receptionists and administrators. By the time all of my friends arrived I had learned that we couldn’t play in the hospital so instead we played outside of the hospital. I bartered with an Emergency Room guard to loan me two (cello) chairs in exchange for a private performance of a Bach Gigue! We set up outside next to the front doors and opened with Mozart’s Ten Celebrated Quartets. A crowd quickly gathered and people listened intently. In the midst of taxis and ambulances dropping off one patient after another, we were not ignored by anyone. It was truly a moving morning. I’ve called Boston home for almost seven years. As I type this I’m still stunned that my home away from home has been bombed. I find comfort knowing that as a cellist I have the power to heal and comfort others through music. I think we often get swept up in the chaos of being young professionals. No matter the situation, we can’t forget that performing touches people.
RACHEL ROBERTS, 2013 MARATHON RUNNER:
people (the fourth on Friday) who will never again return home. The next few days felt like I was walking through life in a dense fog. My brain couldn't digest all that was endlessly running through my head. The thought most present in my mind was realizing (again) that every one of our lives will someday end. Upon returning home Monday evening, then again Tuesday after collecting my phone (and other belongings) that were waiting at the finish line, I was absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the magnitude of phone calls, text messages, emails, and Facebook messages from individuals throughout all parts of my life. I was most saddened by, though still thankful for, the friends and colleagues sharing a longer-than-normal hug then looking in my eyes to say "I'm so thankful to see you today." People care. At our core, we want to be happy - many of us fulfill this need by sharing beautiful music together. The events of Marathon Monday helped me to realize (again) that we are never alone. There were times in my life that I would have argued otherwise - yet looking from today's perspective, I couldn't have been more wrong. Strangers were reaching out to help in every way imaginable. Family and friends were absolutely genuine when extending a helping hand to comfort me or others involved. Had I needed anything on Monday - or any other day, for that matter - all I need to do is ask. That's all anyone needs to do - just ask. Sometimes we get busy or are stressed, and we excuse ourselves for not finding time to do the little things that really matter in fulfilling our lives. I’d encourage all of us to find time to discover what it means to enjoy life and live it with meaning. Take time to do the little things that bring a smile to someone's face. Take time to share what you really think with those that care. And most of all, take time to let your loved ones know just how much love you have for them.
On the afternoon of Marathon Monday, I was watching the news when I suddenly saw the horrific headlines about a bombing at the finish line. That evening I posted on my facebook wall, “BOSTON STRING PLAYERS- Does anyone want to join me at Brigham and Women's Hospital tomorrow? I think the victims and heroes, our faithful doctors, nurses etc, deserve to hear a live string quartet or two. Please let me know, I want to head over at 10am.” I couldn’t believe the reaction. So many musicians, old friends and teachers emailed to thank me for reaching out to my community using music. I started calling the Brigham immediately, but call after call led me from one voice machine to another. I drew the conclusion that I should “go rogue.” I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time at the hospital but I was determined to contribute. I organized a sextet of volunteer musicians, Ethan Wood (NEC Alum), Perry Tal (NEC Alum), Dr. Michelle Rahn, Sean Larkin, and Sassan Haghighi. I brought a stack of Mozart quartets and told all my friends to bring a stand and to show up in hospital lobby.
I was 6.3 miles away from the finish line when the bombs at the Boston Marathon exploded on Monday, April 15. Six and three-tenth miles until I crossed the finish line. Arguably, 6.3 miles is quite a distance from the immediate danger that ensued that day, but considering that I'd already run nearly 20 miles, 6.3 miles seemed quite close. My first reaction was confusion. Depleted by complete physical exhaustion, I just couldn't comprehend what was happening. Thankfully, a dear friend who jumped onto the course to run Heartbreak Hill with me had the clarity of mind to phone both of our mothers minutes before cell phone lines were cut. No matter what happened, our families knew we were safe. Together, we sat down on the curb waiting to figure out what was next. I realized I was yet again thankful for the oblivious happy-go-lucky pretzel vendor who wandered by and sold us a slightly warmed yet overly salty and incredibly stale pretzel. This, combined with my friend's extra clothing to keep me warm, was comforting amid the confusion. There was very little communication happening for those of us still en route to the finish line. We picked up bits and pieces from the security detail, the same people who directed us up and down the same block four times as they figured out what to do with those still on the course. I was still confused. What do you mean, I don't get to finish? I've trained for MONTHS to complete this race, and was so close to the finish that I could almost see it. Reality then began to sink in. Wow. Something major must have happened for the 117th race to be stopped. After waiting for nearly two hours, I was thankful again at the sight of my friends and coworkers, Eva and Maria, pulling up in my car to collect us. The severity of the situation began to sink in after listening to the radio news reports. This is really major. There are too many people injured whose lives will never again be the same. Even more gut-wrenching to think about are the three
YOU CAN DONATE TO THE CONTINUED MARATHON RECOVERY AT ONEFUNDBOSTON.ORG. WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
9
Sirens will never sound the same | Kody Glazer, '14 Contemporary Improvisation student I sit in one of the rooms in a building near Mass Ave. the windows facing North open, just a tad A week has gone by routine back to the norm feeling fading of the surreal brought by the storm. Through the open window a fire truck passes by bringing me back into the first time I stepped outside Into that air so dense it put a geyser in my gut pushing my ribs into my heart ejecting steam up through my throat filling my nostrils with hot Sirens will never sound the same. Passing empty faces, the heat spread to my eyes clouding vision, halting sight,
10
MAY 9, 2013
walking blindly I somehow made it back inside, rushed to a computer to see the words: "Two dead, 22 injured" "Two dead, 22 injured" "Two dead, 22 injured"
I won't put on faces. I won't. I won't. I will. I will. I will won't. I won't will. What do I will to want?
Half a mile away. Half. A mile. Away. Half a mile. Away.
What will I want to will? How can I keep studying music when something like this can happen? What do I want? Will the sidewalks still have concrete on them tomorrow? How could I keep judging you by my own insecurities when something like this could happen? Must find a pen. Write all down. Love one another or die.
Thoughts churned. Must call mom and dad. Phone lines jammed. Must email mom and dad. Strike keys. I'm okay mom and dad. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. I promise I'll work harder. I'll smile more at strangers. I'll walk slower and look up. I'll call you more often. I won't love and go.
All illusions of self came tumbling down and we were here.
"...To lose a person is a unique personal diminishment suffered by all. To lose a number of innocent beings because of senseless violence is more than that, as the violence carries with it the attacker’s message – 'my voice will be heard by silencing the voices of others.' After the roar of the blast comes the silence of disbelief. And then? Music. Tonight we play because these voices onstage, the voices of the young and talented, passionate and thoughtful, will not– cannot– be silenced." – Charles Peltz's program notes from the wind ensemble concert on April 16th
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
11
When I first began working on NEC: Underground, I knew two things: I wanted it to feature the unnoticed artistry that exists within our NEC community, and I wanted it to be a benefit concert. This concept of an alternative showcase was central because while NEC’s reputation in the classical world is well established, few are aware of the many other genres and art forms pursued so passionately by our students. I envisioned this event to be a place where we could both unite as an NEC community and welcome the outside community to our world; showing them who we are, and the extent of all we can do.
NEC: UNDERGROUND
As for the charity premise, I’ve always felt that playing for benefit concerts is a crucial part of being a musician. I believe that it is that notion of making art in the name of philanthropy that has allowed NEC: Underground to not only exist, but to flourish. I hope to harness this energy in the establishment of Students 4 Students, an ongoing scholarship fund.
L L A H . N M . P W
8 O T R R B E C N @
O 3 C 1 / . Y M . MA 7 P
, FFLE Y A D A R N O &
I personally know students who have been forced to forfeit their education and dreams due to financial circumstances that are unforeseeable and beyond their control. Students 4 Students hopes to alleviate some of that financial stress, even if just by helping a student pay for books or rent. In the spirit of “paying it forward,” we will ask all scholarship recipients not only to demonstrate past acts of philanthropy, but to commit to future involvement in Students 4 Students fundraisers.
M TION UC A
I’ve learned many things while working on this project over the last 8 months; perhaps the most important is that compassion is infectious. Giving makes others want to give. This principle is sometimes overlooked in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, but if we all take a little more time to realize the impact that our good deeds have on one another, we will understand and appreciate how connected we truly are. 12
MAY 9, 2013
A BENEFIT CONCERT TO SUPPORT A NEW NEC SCHOLARSHIP ENVISIONED AND COORDINATED BY AKENYA SEYMOUR. LEARN MORE AT WWW.NECUNDERGROUND.COM
1
2
3
4
5
(1) Silent Auction items include performance/rehearsal space in the Church of the Covenant on Newbury Street, donated by organist Dean Handel, Minister of Music (2) Not to be outdone, Dean Hegland and "Thegourmetoboist" will bake cookies for the concession stand. Yum! (3) Original artwork by NEC students will be on display (4) There will also be raffle items such as gift certificate, coupons, and NEC: Underground paraphernalia. (5) Faculty donations to the silent auction include editorial consultations, website design and private lesions, including a private voice lesson from Jazz faculty Dominique Eade
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
13
(a few of) ^
MEET THE PERFORMERS With smiles as wide as a Wyoming sky and teeth as white as a Minnesota winter, Jacob Means & Dylan McKinstry pick their way straight to your hearts.
MEDICINE LAKE: Nash Tomey & Alida Doornberg, a double bass and voice duo perform contemporar y Canadian folk music
14
MAY 9, 2013
SUPER PIANO BROTHERS: Wesley Chu & Tiedan Yao Video-game inspired piano duets
Shane Simpson, piano Sim贸n Willson, bass Robin Baytas, drums Performing Shane's composition "Lunch Time"
Capoeira Music and martial art rooted in African and Brazilian traditions featuring Michael Prentky
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
15
penguin FOOD Escaping the Bistro: FOUR Great Places to Eat Off-Campus! CHEAP/bombay café
UNDERGROUND/thailand café
Back in February, I wrote about a place to get cheap Indian food. I then tried to get some myself a couple weeks later, only to discover that the place had closed. To my readers, I sincerely apologize, and I PROMISE this one actually exists…
On the outside, this place looks like a Thai restaurant. However, all of the customers are and staff are Chinese, and there are 2 menus on the table, a Thai one and a Sichuan one. Order off the Sichuan menu. The Thai food is pretty bad, but the Sichuan food is DELICIOUS!
LOCATION: 175 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (Across from Dorothy’s Costume Boutique)
LOCATION: 302 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
PRICE: All you can eat lunch buffet for $6.95 plus tip and tax
PRICE RANGE: $4-11 plus tip and tax
DISTANCE FROM NEC: Three blocks
DISTANCE FROM NEC: See Central Bottle
BEST DISH: Saag Paneer (Indian cheese in a spinach cream sauce.) Unique Because: The “lunch buffet” is open until 5pm!!!
BEST DISH: Dan Dan noodles (Noodles in a tingly sesame sauce) Unique Because: 2 restaurants in the space of one. Menu items are endless and the food on the Sichuan menu is excellent!
FAVE/central bottle
VENTURE OUT/café beirut
This is mostly a wine shop but they also sell cheeses and specialty items. Get there before 2:00 for a delicious sandwich.
This Lebanese establishment really understands flavor profile. Everything is well-balanced and incredibly delicious!
LOCATION: 196 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
LOCATION: 654 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
PRICE: Sandwiches cost about 8 dollars. Well worth it.
PRICE RANGE: $2-16
DISTANCE FROM NEC: 15-20 min walk, red line or 1 Bus
DISTANCE FROM NEC: 20-45 min. bus ride (39 to Centre St & Myrtle St) or 8 min. train ride plus 5-10 min. walk (Orange to Green St.)
BEST DISH: Vegetarian Panini: (goat cheese, arrugla, olive oil, macademia nuts, lemon zest, & pecorino romano on baguette) UNIQUE BECAUSE: There is no place to sit down, so go on a beautiful day and eat your sandwich outside!
BEST DISHES: In general, the roll-ups are a better value than the platters. I like the Batata Harra (spicy potato) and the fried eggplant rollups. Also try the rosewater lemonade and the stuffed grape leaves. UNIQUE BECAUSE: Menu is huge! Food is extremely wholesome.
thailand cafe
bombay cafe 16
MAY 9, 2013
central bottle
cafe beirut
In the Kitchen with Mary Ferrillo and Nick Rubenstein BY KATE LEMMON
I met Nick Rubenstein for the first time after an evening orchestra rehearsal. Famished, we headed over with a group of people to a restaurant on Boylston. Within the first five minutes, I knew he loved food; he made menu recommendations for everyone in our party and craft beer pairings to accompany our meals. The same thing happened when I met Mary Ferrillo-- we sat next to each other in the armchairs at Pavement, chatting about the last meal she cooked for someone. Both of them have an apparent passion for food and love that it connects them to other people. Nick developed an interest in cooking when he discovered wine. A tasting enthusiast, he took constant notes and built his palate. After watching cooking shows and reading cookbooks, he began hosting dinner parties for his friends four to five times a month, sometimes for up to 20 people. His horn teacher from Northwestern noticed his enthusiasm and suggested a trip to Italy to visit his friend, another horn player who was also into the cooking scene there. In 2007, he hopped on a plane to further his knowledge of food. He began an apprenticeship with an Italian sous chef and worked under the table for Euros every evening. Mary has never been formally trained, but she learned how to cook from her parents, both food enthusiasts. Remembering her first lessons, she says, “When I was tall enough to cook, my mom and dad taught me how to make tomato sauce, which was a big deal!” Like Nick, she traveled to Italy with her family and spent much of the vacation making food. One evening while she was out taking photographs with her dad, they found a giant bell pepper the size of a soccer ball in the grocery store. “My dad doesn’t normally eat raw peppers,” she says, “but he admitted it looked delicious, and it was part of our dinner that night.” Although most of the cooking-impaired population relies on measuring cups to save their recipes (read: ME), Mary and Nick prefer to eyeball their creations. Nick has cooked well over 1,000 pasta dishes, half of which he completely improvised. “Variety holds a strong appeal to me,” he says. “I get INGREDIENTS: bored if I have the same thing, no matter how good it is, too many times.” Mary Asparagus agrees and bases her recipes on flavor profiles and general effect. Her favorite Arugula creation to date? Ravioli with goat cheese, sage, butternut squash, ricotta, and 2-3 shallots, very finely chopped a multi-mushroom truffle cream sauce. YUM. 1/3 cup red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice For both of them, cooking offers a welcome refuge from the world of 2/3 cup olive oil music and an interesting parallel to it. For Nick, classical music delays gratifiSplash of water cation, but cooking balances that because he can immediately taste what he’s Generous salt/pepper cooking and directly see how his work impacts the final result. He says cooking has also been highly performance-based for him, particularly when he worked SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE: Add salt and pepper to as a chef in New York City. He says, “People could see me cooking, so I was shallots and let them soak in vinegar for at least always on display.” half an hour, then mix in the olive oil. If you want a Although he found the restaurant environment thrilling at first, it thicker dressing, add a tablespoon of dijon mustard began to take the passion out of cooking for him. “People don't scream at and mix like crazy. you when you mess up at music because they understand it's personal,” he says, “but in the food industry, they do cocaine, get drunk halfway through ASPARAGUS: Boil asparagus in salt water for 2-4 minutes (depending on thickness) until bright green. the night, and yell at each other.” He only earned $12-13 an hour, even at Save hot water for pasta to make it a themed meal! the most generous restaurants, and he rarely received personal feedback When asparagus cools to room temperature, season from happy customers like he did when he hosted dinner parties for friends. with olive oil and salt & pepper, then grill until For this reason, cooking or baking will never be Mary’s profession. charred and a bit softer but still firm (al dente, 2-10 “No, I will not sculpt your wedding cake to look like a hippo, because that's minutes depending on grill heat and blanching time). stupid,” she grins. She prefers the creative freedom of baking for friends and Once grilled, toss asparagus in a bowl with shallot family. “It's like giving them a hug in food form!” For her, the best part is seevinaigrette, 1/4 cup shaved (or shredded) parmesan ing someone smile when they eat her cheesecake. “It's the best way to show or Pecorino Romano cheese, and two soft-boiled someone that they matter because you’re helping them survive while gifting eggs pressed through a sieve or beaten to a pulp. something from your heart.” Ironically, she doesn’t even like to eat dessert, but Eggs should still be slightly runny (5-7 minutes of she enjoys making people happy. boiling.) Separately, toss arugula with the same If you don’t have Mary and Nick’s freakishly amazing talent for creatvinaigrette and some additional parmesan and serve ing delicious food, Mary recommends visiting good restaurants instead. She the still-warm asparagus on top of the arugula. Excelenjoys Moby Dick on Huntington and Bella Luna for pizza. Nick suggests lent with a crisp white wine and a light springtime L’espalier for tea hour and Ole Mexican Grill. They both wholeheartedly agree pasta. on The Haven in Jamaica Plain. Because no matter how talented you are, everyone loves a good burger!
NICK'S SPRINGTIME ITALIAN ARUGUL A & ASPARAGUS SAL AD
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
17
Above Ground Well friends, the end of the year is upon us and fortunately, this is the last you will hear from me until next fall. For the final issue of The Penguin, I have been asked to rant about something dear and personal to me: Flying. Save for the license taking up space in my wallet, my flight training is not a material possession per se, but it is still one of my most prized “possessions.” The final flying exam is very long and detailed, and perhaps overcoming this hurdle for a unique skill set has something to do with it. But I suppose that what I enjoy most about aviation is the empowered sensation it brings that no other pastime on this Earth can recreate. How do you know when your date with a pilot is half-over? He’ll say, “But enough about me. Do you want to hear about my plane?” So, about the planes I fly. They are light and sleek with a pointed nose, have a cozy (read “cramped”) cockpit with a central control stick, and the visibility from the cockpit, like a fighter jet, is virtually unobstructed by the Plexiglas canopy. When I walk out to the hangar for preflight inspection, I feel like a fighter pilot, weighed down by my water, radio, parachute, ballast and logbooks, and the theme from Top Gun has its own special playlist on my iPod for this very moment. But these ships are quiet. In fact they make no noise at all. They have no engines. The technology that sustains this breed of aircraft is the same used by the most sophisticated birds. Once altitude is reached on tow, a sudden ‘Pop!’ and accompanying slack in the towrope, which quickly falls away, means the glider is no longer supported by the towplane’s powerful engine. As Tom Hanks put it, I “Just put Isaac Newton in the driver’s seat,” an event that does not sit well with first-time passengers. My shortest flight with a passenger was four minutes long. She began to feel ill as we ascended through 1,000 feet; the tow was aborted and I made a beeline for the airfield, landing before the front cockpit needed cleaning. Gliders are sustained by flying within a body of rising air, and in Texas where I was trained, these are small and cylindrical pockets, like mild tornadoes, which are hotter than the surrounding air mass. Because of the temperature difference, the warmer air will rise, and in doing so creates a natural elevator known as a ‘thermal.’ If a thermal passes over loose dirt, the result is a dust devil. Good soaring days in Texas are marked by dozens of dust devils, which from the air appear randomly along the horizon,
18
MAY 9, 2013
by STEPHEN GARMAN Master of Music ’14 Bassoon Performance and the resulting image is that of an eerie, primordial Earth still steaming from the churning chaos below. At least that is what I explain to victims flying with me for the first time. The speed at which the air column rises depends on the relative temperatures of the two air masses. A glider in calm air will descend at an average rate of 200 feet per minute, but a strong thermal can not only null the effect of Earth’s pull, but also produce a positive climb rate of 800 feet per minute or more. This is usually the point at which point my friends’ interest in soaring is lost in the wind, or people think that I am full of hot air. Rather than forming my own glider club, with black jack and hookers, I keep the experiences to myself, because nobody can rob me of the mental and academic enrichment of being a glider pilot. My best stories are of outclimbing hawks, nature’s magnificent thermalling machines circling directly across the same thermal as me, or floating 3 feet above ground for half of the length of the runway. Most would not believe me if I told them my longest flight or highest altitude reached without an engine for power. There are no pictures, only memories, and there are more days than I care to admit when I would trade my future as a musician for a career in aviation; perhaps the two will one day mesh. The dismal truth is that some of us will be making careers out of the interests we currently categorize as mere hobbies. Without denial, music is a small and competitive field. As proud as I am to call myself a pilot, taking after my father and his father, I am prouder to have pushed through even more strenuous challenges of being a musician, will continue to make music my life, and am proud to be a Penguin. Which, ironically, is a flightless bird.
THE PENGUIN N E C ’ S S T U D E N T- R U N N E W S PA P E R
PENGUIN PENMEN Kate Lemmon, editor Dean Hegland, faculty editor TJ Cienki, writer Stephen Garman, webmaster/writer Rafael Horowitz Friedman, writer Billy McShane, cartoonist Julia Partyka, poet Akenya Seymour, writer Nick Tisherman, writer Liz Tobias, writer Tong Wang, illustrator
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM FACEBOOK.COM/PENGUINNEWSPAPER THEPENGUIN@NECMUSIC.EDU
PENGUIN SPOTLIGHT: TODD WAIER,
SECURITY GUARD BY TJ CIENKI WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU SEEN IN YOUR TIME AT NEC? We had a guy playing violin in the bathroom. In the WOMEN’S bathroom. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST THING YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED? One student put his Charlie Card to the reader [that students use to scan their IDs upon entrance to Jordan Hall] and it didn’t turn green so he left. The next day he came back and did the same thing, and then on the third day, he told me ‘I think your reader is taking money from my Charlie Card’. Lots of kids will come in and swipe their Charlie Card. WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT STUDENTS DO THAT GETS ON YOUR NERVES? If a student doesn’t have their ID, they’ve forgotten it or whatever, that doesn’t bother me. They sign in and that’s the end of it. What bothers me is when students just rush by without their ID and don’t sign in and just ignore me altogether. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOSE? I actually used to play bass, but if I could go back and do it all over again, I think I might’ve chosen to play the drums. HOW IS NEC DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER PLACE YOU WORK? I also work at the Wang, Schubert, and Colonial theaters so sometimes I will see students from NEC if they are playing in something at one of those places, but I find it be much more relaxed here than other places. I’m still kept busy here; I like working in this environment and enjoy everyone I work with. WHAT’S THE BEST THING ANYONE’S SAID TO YOU? One guy said I looked like Benjamin Franklin and I didn’t know what to make of that…. although maybe that's not a good thing! After the marathon bombing, someone came in and thanked me for keeping the building safe. WHAT PENGUIN ISSUE HAS BEEN THE MOST POPULAR? I see a lot of students walk around with them, but the last one [International Issue] was one that I saw everywhere. WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB? Money is the first thing, I think. :) DO YOU HAVE ANY HIDDEN TALENTS? Sometimes I can get out of here by 2:45, so that might be considered a special talent.
I F Y O U ' R E I N T E R E S T E D I N A D V E RT I S I N G I N T H E A U G U S T I S S U E O F T H E P E N G U I N , P L E A S E E M A I L T H E P E N G U I N @ N E C M U S I C . E D U .
WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM
19
penguin PHOTOS by Andy Hurlbut
1
2
3
4
6
5
7
KATE L PHOTOGRAPHY
1) Natsuki Kumagai, Bob Anemone, Li-Mei Liang, & Mayumi Wyrick perform in the NEC Chamber Orchestra. 2) Harpist Krysten Keches performs a concerto with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. 3) Eliza Kinney rehearses the timpani part for Philharmonia's performance of Rite of Spring. 4) Ben Eunson, Kai Sandoval and Nima Mohammadi perform in Randy Weston: African Rhythms on April 18th. 5) Soyoung Choe performs in the Marion Rubin Berman ’31 Piano Honors Concert in Jordan Hall. 6) DJ Cheek, Hannah Nicholas, Julia Yang, Luke Hsu, and Benjamin Beck give a pre-concert talk called Meet the Players before their final chamber orchestra concert. 7) Rite of Spring bassoon soloist Brittney Walker expresses her enthusiasm before the Philharmonia concert.
20
MAY 9, 2013 | WWW.NECPENGUIN.COM