July 19, 2011
Jack Heller prepares for last performance P. 8
Inside: Florida Orchestra Concert Reviews P. 4
Nikeya Williams
Editor-in-Chief Photographer Writer
Sergio Linares Type Layout Graphic Designer
Editor’s Desk )SSUE s 6OL s *ULY
Welcome to the Tampa Bay Classics TBC magazine, we’re the new classical magazine in the Tampa Bay area. TBC is an important development to the Tampa Bay area. We’ve published our ½VWX QEKE^MRI SR 8YIWHE] .YP] MR HS[RXS[R 7X 4IXIVWFYVK ;I LEZI developed TBC for theTampa Bay area, to provide a way for classical musicians to connect and stay informed with the Tampa Bay classical QYWMG GSQQYRMX] 7YFWGVMFIVW XS 8&' [MPP LEZI XLI I\GPYWMZI EGGIWW XS XLI PEXIWX QSRXLP] RI[W SR XLI *PSVMHE 3VGLIWXVE 8EQTE &E] 7]Qphony Orchestra, concert reviews, youth orchestras, and local classical musicians. All of TBC news reports are gathered from the Tampa Bay GPEWWMGEP GSQQYRMX] [LMGL MRGPYHIW 8EQTE 7X 4IXIVWFYVK ERH 'PIEVwater. We hope that you will be a part of the new changes in the Tampa Bay Area.
TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC
s 3UBSCRIBERS WILL BENElT FROM HAVING  monthly  updates  on  any  major  events  and  developments  in  the  Tampa  Bay  classical  community. s  Will  give  subscribers  articles  on  the  classical  music  community  that  they  won’t  get  from  the  St.  Petersburg  Times  and  Tampa  Tribune.
7  Last  Performance  by  Esteemed  Conductor  12  Conductor’s  Open  Call
s Is  a  monthly  magazine  that  costs  $30  a  year  with  free  home  delivery:  to  subscribe  please  look  on  pg.  16. Â
Nikeya S. Williams Editor in Chief
IV TBC s s 07/19/11
2  Must-ÂHear  Reviews   4  How  an  Orchestra  Fills The  Conductor’s  Stand Â
Contents
Lower  Prices  for  the
2011/2012 Â Season
s 4"C 1
F L O R I DA
ORCHE STRA Gershwin’s  Concerto  in  F The performance Gershwin’s Concerto in F was a high-energy melodic performance given by the Florida Orchestra and accomplished pianist Stewart Goodyear. The breathtaking performance by Goodyear gave the orchestra vigor and passion. Goodyear played his solo in the second segment of the performance; it was lovely to hear Goodyear’s creativity along with the orchestra’s spiraling melodies.
%LGAR S %NIGMA 6ARIATIONS  Alexander Mickelthwate joined by Principal Second Violinist Sarah Shellman for Thomas Ades Violin Concerto, Haydn’s Symphony No.59 and Elgar’s beloved Enigma Variations. Mickelthwate and Shellman’s performance captivated the audience with the devilishly HMJ½GYPX LMKL QIPSHMG PMRIW SR XLI TVSKVEQ Moreover, the violin solos were absolutely beautifully breath taking. The performance was wonderful in the beginning and end.
Hot! Â Hot! Â Hot! Â Â
A  Night  at  the  Copa This is a musical tribute to New York’s famed hot spot, the Copacabana, Grammy Award-winning arranger Victor Vanacore. In addition, Vanacore leads the orchestra in a night of sizzling Latin dance rythms‌ cha cha, tango, salsa, samba, mambo, and merengue. This performance is very entertaining and interactive with the audience. The orchestra plays the sizzling Latin tones while two dancers perform the cha cha, tango, salsa, samba, mambo, and meregue dances. This performance is worth the experience and time.
CON CERT
2 % 6 ) % 73
2 TBC s s 07/19/11
s 4"C 3
Orchestra  Searches  for
New  Conductor "Y .IKEYA 7ILLIAMS
J
ack Heller, former conductor of the Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra retired in April, now the search is SR XS ½RH E RI[ GSRHYGtor to lead the orchestra. The search for a new conductor began with dozens of advertisements and press releases sent from the orchestra’s search comittee. “We got a lot of responses... I’m not exactly sure how many... We probably had a dozen responses,â€? said Kurt Klotz, president of Tampa Bay Symphony board of directors. The quick responses meant the search committee had to quickly evaluate and interview potential can-
4 TBC s s 07/19/11
didates. “We had meetings with them, and we researched what other Orchestra’s do in looking for [new] conductor,� Klotz said. During the evaluation and interviewing process, the orchestra’s search committee looked for candidates who would be able to uphold the orchestra’s mission statement. which is: 4O PROVIDE CLASSICAL MUSIC AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE TO THE 4AMPA "AY COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR MUSICIANS TO PERFORM
“The Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra is made up of retired professionals, but not heavily retired professionals; we have
doctors and lawyers, and we have students,� Klotz said. The search committee looked for candidates who would be able to deal with volunteer musicians. “We want a director that is willing to challenge those that look for the challenge, but yet not overwhelm the younger players,� Klotz said.The search committee also looked at what kind of [music/performance] candidates would be interested in doing for the season. The candidates can use dancers or props for their performances. “The director is the face of an orchestra,� Klotz said. “They have to be openminded about the concert music.�
The orchestras’ search committee will gather feedback from each of the audience members and from the orchestra members, as XLI] EVI QEOMRK XLIMV ½REP decisions for the new conductor. The new conductor for the Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra will be announced at the end of the Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra 2011-2012 concert season.
s 4"C 5
C
DE Â LA Â
I
R
Q
U
E
SYMPHONIE
Pop  Series:  RAYMOND  JAMES ˆ *VM 2SZ EX 41 Tampa - STRAZ ˆ 7EX 2SZ EX 41 St. Petersburg - MAH ˆ 7YR 2SZ EX 41 Clearwater - REH
6 TBC s s 07/19/11
For information: 727.892.5767 For tickets: 727.898.2100 www.ticketmaster.com Hours: Thursday through Saturday 12 pm - 6 pm and 90 minutes prior to any ticketed event.
s 4"C 7
Jack Heller Conductor  Prepares  Â
For  Last   Performance "Y .IKEYA 7ILLIAMS
A
s he sat in the black barstool chair on the podium in St. James MethoHMWX GLYVGL SR th Ave N., Jack Heller, the conductor of the Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra, prepared for his last performance with the orchestra. He was dressed casual with his blue short sleeve shirt with a pocket on the right and wrinkle-free khaki pants. The atmosphere in the room seemed “business as usual.� Heller didn’t start practice by doting on one of his favorite pieces that he GSRHYGXIH MR LMW ]IEVW with the orchestra nor did he say that he appreciated
8 TBC s s 07/19/11
the commitment from the members. He never mentioned anything about the new conductor, and his plans for the orchestra. Heller simply sat on his black bar-stool chair with the music stand in front of him, and he started to conduct as Maxwell Grossman played feverishly on the piano. The beautiful melodic sounds from the music didn’t echo throughout the room, since the room wasn’t built for orchestras to practice, but the music seem to take the pressure off the obvious, only for a little while. 2S[ ]IEVW PEXIV LI sits on the black bar-stool
s 4"C 9
Nikeya Williams / TBC Magazine
chair preparing the orches- “I’m very inte rested in commXVE JSV LMW ½REP TIVJSVQERGI unity music making,â€? he said. “Violins are you listening?â€? As the orchestra played Heller said with frustration its last movement of Gustav in his voice. Mahler, Heller looked as Heller started conduct- though he approved, which ing for the Tampa Bay GSYPH LEZI FIIR KVEXM½GEXMSR Symphony Orchestra in 1986, It seemed as though he somewhen it was still known as how reached the pinnacle the St. Petersburg Commu- of his career. However, he nity Symphony. had concerns about the When Heller started orchestra’s future. conducting here years ago, “The orchestra is a nonConrad Denny, a member TVS½X SVKERM^EXMSR ² he said. of the orchestra at that time, “In the past, the Tampa Bay asked Heller if he would be Orchestra would perform on a interested in conducting for stage in Vinoy Park, but now the Tampa Bay Symphony they can’t do that with all Orchestra. Heller was the cutbacks that they had to ecstatic and honored to lead make.â€? the orchestra.
TBC s 10 s 07/19/11
Heller said that he has thought about retiring from his position for years, so this ]IEV LI ½REPP] TYX EGXMSRW XS his words. “ I wrote a letter to the board, and said that this would be my last year,â€? he said. “I conducted many community orchestras before I [moved] down to Tampa.â€? Before Heller moved to Tampa, he was a conductor for the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra from 1960-1967, and the Manchester Civic Orchestra from 1968-1985. Heller said that he wants to explore life, but that “It’s been a wonderful 25 years.â€?
Heller’s son, Mark, a cello player in the orchestra since 1992 and now the assistant director, said that he doesn’t think that he will apply for his father’s position because he’s not sure he can commit the time. “Being a conductor has been a great privilege [for my father],� he said. Heller hopes that the Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra will continue to progress and grow after he retires. “I think that the orchestra,� he said. “Is a wonderful idea.�
s 4"C 11
TBC s 12 s 07/19/11
www.ZKO.ch
s 4"C 13
 Auditions  Start  For Â
Conducting  Position
Dr.  John  Bannon  will  conduct  the  fall  concert  series  on:
"Y .IKEYA 7ILLIAMS
TBC s 14 s 07/19/11
TBC Magazine Florida Orchestra Images
Dr.  Susan  Robinson  will  conduct  the  spring  concert  series  on:
Sunday, April 22 - Wednesday, April 25
TBC Magazine
percussion at the Kinhaven Music School in Vermont. Sforzini is Conductor and Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Opera Company and Encore Series of chamber music at the Palladium Theater. Sforzini teaches bassoon at St. Petersburg College and is an accomplished composer across the country. Robinson is Conductor and Music Director of Pinellas Youth Symphony and the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. Robinson conducts at the University of Tampa Orchestra and teaches at St. Petersburg College, University of Tampa, and Marica P. Hoffman Institute for the Performing Arts in Clearwater.
Tampa Bay Symphony Images
Mark  Sforzini  will  conduct  the  winter  concert  series  on: Â
Sunday, Feb. 12 - Wednesday, Feb. 15
TBC Magazine
T
he three candidates Dr. John Bannon, Mark Sforzini, and Dr. Susan Robinson will audition for the Tampa Bay Orchestra conductor position for the GSRGIVX WIEWSR The auditions are scheduled XS WXEVX SR 8YIWHE] 2SZ at the Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg. Each candidate will conduct an entire concert session for the orchestra. Banon is Principal Tympanist for the Florida Orchestra, and he conducts the band and Orchestra, and teaches conducting at St. Petersburg College. Bannon also teaches percussion at Hillsborough Community College, and during the summers he coaches chamber music and teaches
Tuesday, Nov. 1 - Sunday, Nov. 18
St.Petersburg Opera Images
s 4"C 15
)SSUE s 6OL s *ULY
Play
TBC s 16 s 07/19/11
s 4"C 17