The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant

Orchestral Conducting with Mark Shapiro at Juilliard – Evening Division, Spring Semester 2024

Thanks to the support of The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant, I was able to register for this class in Fall 2023. After only six weeks of lessons, I can already sense how beneficial it has been musically and personally. Mark Shapiro has challenged me to conduct from memory, thus triggering me to study the music in depth and allowing me to hear more and more voices simultaneously. As a result, I am discovering how to listen to symphonies and practice in my head anywhere I go. Developing this focus and musical enjoyment has acted as a meditation and inspired me. Additionally, our group class is highly stimulating, and Mark Shapiro’s kind and sharp mentoring approach is a fantastic source of artistic and overall energy. I have also noticed how his teaching is affecting mine and how developing my listening, group management, and attention is benefiting my classes. For all these reasons, I am grateful to be a recipient of a grant to help cover the tuition expense for the spring semester.

Duo Noire’s Quarter Century Soundscape

To provide support to the classical guitar ensemble Duo Noire in their commissioning of a new collection of groundbreaking compositions for guitar duo by some of the leading composers of our generation. The commissioned work(s) will be recorded and released as a full-length album under the American Composer's Forum record label, Innova. Each composition will represent a drastically different compositional aesthetic, ranging from guitars with vocal backing tracks, to purely acoustic, to guitars with electronics, to jazz and classical fusion composers, to film composers. The album will feature new music which strives to seriously reflect the modern world and the diverse musicians and soundscapes of our time.

Duo Noire has a vision for what the classical guitar can be and how it can break away from the past 70 years of traditions in order to speak to a new generation of listeners. Our last album, Night Triptych, was life changing for me and only exists because of the seed money granted from Diller-Quaile and provided by The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant. It was an "album of the year" in multiple publications and allowed our duo to tour across the country at several of the top classical guitar organizations in the United States. Being able to share that success and experience with my students has been invaluable. Aside from forging new and deeper connections with luminaries in our field, this type of project can help to raise the profile of the Guitar Department, which in turn increases student retention and the recruitment of first-rate guitar faculty. Similar to our previous album, the hope is that these works will get Diller-Quaile mentioned in myriad international press and artist bios at major guitar events, and that some of the composers will go on to win prestigious awards and prominent positions in the music field. Of the three composers we previously commissioned through The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant, two were later nominated for GRAMMYs and the third just won a MacArthur "genius grant."

Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn: “The unconventional ornament” CD recording of her piano works

During the months of May-June 2024, I will make a CD Recording of already published and unpublished Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn piano compositions. This will enable the listener to better appreciate Hensel's music and the composer's unique musical voice. By undertaking this project, the aim is to inspire and to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on Fanny Hensel's music and promote her works to a wider audience. It is truly admirable how Fanny Hensel dedicated herself to composing, despite the lack of recognition she received during her lifetime. Her passion for music is evident through the creation of over 450 pieces. She didn't create music for fame or approval, but rather out of a pure inner drive to express herself. Fanny also generously wrote new pieces for the artists who performed in her concert series. It's unfortunate that her brother Felix Mendelssohn, who was already a well-known composer in Germany at the time, received more recognition than she did. This highlights the struggles faced by women who were denied their rightful place in the creative space. Gender inequality has been an issue for centuries, affecting the treatment of women across various sectors and areas of life. By adding my voice to the increasing number of recordings of female composers, I am helping to break down barriers and pave the way for future generations of women in music. I would like to encourage my fellow colleagues and students to join me in this pursuit of creativity and inspiration. I hope to inspire and empower more young women to follow their dreams and pursue their passions in the arts.

To continue to build a library of guitar music for Diller-Quaile. 

Thomas has researched and selected new repertoire and method books for solo guitar and classical guitar ensemble to add to Diller-Quaile’s Library. These new acquisitions, which include the works of Ida Presti, Emilia Giuliani, and Dale Kavanaugh have been curated with the goal of creating an improved curriculum for all Diller-Quaile guitar students and one which better highlights women composers and contemporary music from around the world. This music will be shared with all guitar faculty colleagues.

Creation and performance of an evening length work with the improvising music and movement group, ‘Loco Motors’.

Loco Motors is a music and dance group inspired by both the practice of Dalcroze eurhythmics and the jazz tradition of open-form improvisation, sometimes known as ‘free jazz’. The group also has a special interest in the somatic connection between sound and movement, and in using that connection as a basis for artistic creation. The core members are Michael Joviala, piano and composition, and Dawn Pratson, dance and choreography. The group will be part of a year-long pilot residency program of the New York Chapter of the Dalcroze Society of America during the calendar-year of 2023.

For its residency, Loco Motors will create an evening length performance that combines the compositions of Michael Joviala, the choreography of Dawn Pratson, and the improvisation of both. This grant supports the inclusion of a master musical improviser, saxophonist/clarinetist/flutist Marty Ehrlich, who will act as mentor to the project and will also perform with the group.

The developing work will be presented in-progress at several points during the residency through a series of workshops which will focus on different aspects of collaboration and improvisation.

“Two”: An Afternoon of Art and Music With Miranda Sielaff and Barbara Woods

In this intergenerational and interdisciplinary workshop, people of all ages will explore the theme of “Two” through the mediums of visual art and music and create their own visual improvisations on paper. Miranda will play music for solo viola by Telemann, Stravinsky and Ligeti. Barbara Woods, an artist and art educator, will discuss artwork from different time periods that deal with concepts of duality. Then participants will have an opportunity to create their own self-portraits by making three-dimensional paper sculptures. This workshop is designed to build community among participants through a shared experience of art -- its capacity to bring people together, to allow for emotional expression, and to heal.

To enroll in the Suzuki Flute Book 4 course taught by Wendy Stern through the Great Lakes Suzuki Flute and Recorder Institute.

Receiving The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant this academic year was particularly meaningful as it confirmed that we can embrace learning and recharge even during difficult times. Immersing myself further in the Suzuki Flute Book 4 training was so important on a number of levels: 1) focusing on Baroque repertoire; 2) learning to teach Baroque performance practices, especially to young students; 3) availing ourselves of recent technologies to enhance teaching as well as engage students; and 4) discovering multiple other resources from which to draw upon to deepen the learning experience for students. The teacher of this course, Wendy Stern, also encouraged each of us to share our own teaching experiences as well as teach one of the pieces in the book. And what was abundantly clear, was the wealth of information that we could use and avail ourselves of. From studying urtext along with more recent editions, to comparing the German and French Baroque, to making use of the amazing Slow Downer and Google transposer apps, it was an in-depth and multi-faceted journey that will enrich my own teaching and that I will want to share with my students in the years ahead.

To enroll in the second half of the second year of the Suzuki teacher training program at SFS.

Max has entered the last year of the Teacher Training program at the Suzuki School for Strings. This year, the teacher trainees are becoming faculty members of SFS as part of the Start-Up Program. SFS recruits beginner piano students with a purpose of training new Suzuki teachers. Teacher trainees practice how to teach these students and their parents in individual and group settings under the advice and leadership of teacher trainer, Marina Obukovsky. Marina Obukovsky is head of the Piano Department at SFS and Suzuki Department at Mannes College. This year’s teacher training program curriculum includes writing lesson plans, as well as observing, discussing, and trying different kinds of teaching techniques. With the help of this training, Maxim’s goal is to learn how to make his work with beginners more efficient through a focus on pedagogical methodology, encouraging help from parents, and using the experience of a generation of Suzuki teachers.

To commission composer Ivan Rodriguez to write a harp duo.

Wilmington Star News writes, “Christina Brier and Kathryn Sloat of Lilac 94 aren’t your grandmother’s harpists. Brier and Sloat hit their soundboards, pound their harps with mallets, slap their strings, and in general make a ruckus.” This contemporary harp duo is dedicated to performing new and previously undiscovered music and exploring creative ways of using the harp. Ivan Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican composer whose music has been performed in P.R., the U.S., throughout North/South America, and Europe. This grant will commission Ivan Rodriguez to write a harp duo piece for Lilac 94 which will be premiered in June 2022 and recorded on their debut album, a collection of music by American composers.

To enroll in CelloKids Teacher Training Seminar. The grant covers the tuition.

In August 2020, CelloBello offered its CelloKids Teacher Training Seminar. This 14-session course covered a broad range of teaching topics, including approaches to teaching beginners and more advanced students, incorporating improvisation into the teaching process, practice skills, and explorations of the cello itself and the experience of creating sound on it. Instructors included Paul Katz, Andrea Yun, Madeleine Golz, Mike Block, Sandy Kiefer, and Yari Bond. The recorded sessions were made available for viewing through the CelloBello archive until the end of September, and I subscribed so as not to miss out. Since then, I have watched and reviewed the seminar. It was wonderful, and I've already begun incorporating suggestions from it into my teaching.

Gakavig Fantasy: Armenian Music for Classical Guitar. The grant covers the master recording.

The project “Gakavig Fantasy: Armenian Music for Classical Guitar” consists of a digital solo guitar album made up entirely of Armenian music comprising original arrangements of Armenian folkloric songs and premier recordings of new Armenian works by living composers. The recording will take place at the Kolanian Studios in Athens, Greece, in August 2021, and aims to expose different communities to Armenian music, thereby fostering interest in the millenary minority culture that has survived centuries of persecution. Being of Armenian descent myself, this project relates directly to my ancestral heritage and holds profound value to me personally. I welcome the opportunity to reaffirm the musical tradition of my forefathers, whilst at the same time enriching my community network in the US.

1. To purchase scores by a number of historical and living BIPOC composers.

The year 2020 has been one of great turmoil, not only because of the disruptions to our ways of living with the Covid-19 pandemic, but because of the ongoing protests and general outcry against racism across the United States. This has led to wider conversations about diversity across all fields of endeavor, including music. This is something to which I have given much thought and it is clear to me that African-American and BIPOC composers have too often been neglected and in some cases even written out of history. This summer I began exploring some of that repertoire and came across a treasure trove of piano works by Florence Price. I will use my grant to purchase scores by a number of historical and living BIPOC composers including Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Tania León, Alvin Singleton, George Walker, Yaz Lancaster and Elizabeth Baker.  My plan is to not only expand and diversify my own personal repertoire, but to also help me expand the repertoire for my piano students. My hope is to eventually record some of these pieces and to share them with the Diller-Quaile community.

The grant will defray tuition for the 2nd year of Suzuki Teacher Training at School for Strings.

I will continue to learn teaching strategies and repertoire used by the Suzuki method. This year we will study Suzuki books from 4 to 7. In addition, we will go through the wide range of reading materials dedicated to a variety of aspects of teaching. We will use video recording to analyze different approaches to pedagogical solutions. I am very lucky to have Marina Obukovsky as my mentor again - she is the Head of Piano Department at School for Strings and piano faculty at Preparatory Division at Mannes College. This course allows me to widen my prospective on how I can work more efficiently with students of all ages, using rich experiences of a few generations of Suzuki teachers. It is combined with the philosophical approach of Shinichi Suzuki who believed every child can learn to play an instrument and make music an important part of life experience in all aspects. I would be happy to share my experiences and all that I’ve learned with all interested colleagues at Diller-Quaile School of Music, whether in an individual or group meeting.

A self-designed study focusing on Latin and African Music: Percussion, Folk Traditions & Rhythmic Styles. The grant covers fifteen lessons.

This grant would support a self-directed course of study with various teachers to learn history, repertoire, technique and stylistic concepts relating to percussion in Latin American and African music. It would include work on hand percussion, examining many of the original instrumental components of these folk and dance-based musical styles, and adapting their rhythms and functions to the piano. At Diller-Quaile we perform and share music from many cultures; this study would serve to bring greater awareness and depth to the music we present in many contexts including our year-round Class repertoire, the Summer Music Program, and the Songs for Singing and Sharing project.

Diálogos Duo CD Recording of “A Dozen Choro Tributes”

Funding will be used to cover all recording and some audio mixing and mastering costs of Diálogos Duo’s second independently-released recording, “Diálogos Duo / Choro”– which features the abovementioned original work composed by Duo guitarist Richard Boukas. Co-founded by Louis Arques and Richard Boukas in 2016, Diálogos Duo presents the largest body of original contemporary Brazilian repertoire for clarinet and guitar: six suites, fifty movements of music. Louis Arques seeks to share this rich artistic and cultural experience directly with fellow faculty and students. Following the release of the CD recording, the Duo will present an interactive performance-demonstration for the DQ community which will include a historical discussion of Brazilian Choro repertoire, its close ties with tonal classical music, and its stylistic-cultural evolution.

Enroll in Suzuki Flute - Book 3 Training Course

Funding will be used to cover the tuition of the Suzuki Flute - Book 3 Training Course taught by Wendy Stern, a certified Suzuki flute teacher. Svjetlana had the wonderful experience of working with Wendy Stern on Books 1 and 2, and shared that the study of the Suzuki teaching method has profoundly influenced her teaching. She looks forward to incorporating the Suzuki philosophy and teaching techniques into her work with Diller-Quaile flute students.

To defray the tuition expense of the First Year Suzuki Piano Pedagogy Teacher Training Seminar with Marina Obukovsky, School for Strings, Teacher Trainer, Instructor.

Max will be exploring Suzuki philosophy, psychology, and procedures in detail through reading and in class discussion. Following the pattern established in teaching “Twinkle”, he will receive detailed instruction in teaching the rest of Book 1, and all of Book 2 and Book 3 of the Suzuki piano method, including teaching points, purposes, preparations, and teaching procedures for each piece. He will be introduced to techniques for introducing scale study at the elementary level, and how the initial scale technique will lead to advanced scale and passage-work playing. Max believes he will be able to work with younger students with more efficiency and will gain increased knowledge of different methods of piano technique. Additionally, this course will provide him with additional tools for teaching students of all ages and flexibility for working with students of different learning styles.

Attend the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) Suzuki Conference May 21-25, 2020

The SAA Suzuki Conference is a biennial event in which many of the top Suzuki teachers, students, and parents gather to share ideas with each other. The theme of the 2020 SAA Conference is Learning Suzuki Style, so many of the sessions will shine spotlights on best practices of teaching at all levels, with an emphasis on exploring ways to bring the Suzuki Philosophy into an ever-changing 21st century.  Especially exciting for this year's conference, Astrid Sheen, cellist in the Juilliard String Quartet and Professor at Juilliard, will be the Masterclass clinician and Rick Mooney, known by DQ cello students for his Position Piece and Ensemble books, will be leading the cello choir.

To help launch Resident Aliens, a violin & percussion duo by creating appropriate promotional materials including professional recording, video, and website.

Resident Aliens was formed in summer 2018 by Sita Chay (violin) and Chihiro Shibayama (percussion) with a goal of bridging the world of sports and music. The project aims to tell stories of various sports through music and other interdisciplinary art forms.  Original music will be written by the members of the duo, involving improvisation which plays a crucial role in both sports and music. The performances will be held in venues such as indoor rock climbing, swimming pool, baseball field, etc. to push further imagination and connection between sports and music. We want to work on each theme uniquely collaborating with musicians, artists, athletes, and dancers to accentuate different disciplines and cultural backgrounds. 

To help defray travel costs and to cover the visa application fee for teaching in the UK

Mark Wade was invited to teach a master class and perform a concert at the Benslow Music Academy in Hitchin, England in early February of 2020. The subject of the class will be understanding the music of Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. Students will have the opportunity to undergo extensive training with Wade as they learn to perform and better understand this classic American music through ensemble workshops and listening sessions involving historical recordings. This will be Wade’s first international teaching engagement.

Attend The International Conference of Dalcroze Studies 4: ICDS 4 in Katowice, Poland, at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music. The grant is for airfare.

The ICDS, to be held summer 2019, is particularly exciting because of the emphasis on research, which brings practitioners in the sciences, medicine, and philosophy, together with musicians, dancers, music educators, etc. Currently, there is much interest in the effects of music and movement on the brain and brain development. Research papers, workshops and performances are all learning experiences and tremendously enjoyable, when shared with such a diverse community. This year, the conference theme is “The Listening Body In Action” in music, dance, somatic practices, theatre and therapy, with a special focus on the relationships between listening, music/sound and movement. 

Commission New Works for Classical Guitar by musically diverse composers of African descent. This grant supports the creation of one new work, which will be performed and recorded by Guitar Ensemble, Duo Noire.

Funding will provide initial support for a major new commissioning project to be undertaken by the classical guitar ensemble, Duo Noire. The overall project consists of plans to commission 4-6 new pieces by musically diverse composers of African descent. The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant funding will support the creation of one new work.  Duo Noire hopes to bring disparate genres, continents, and styles together, while simultaneously pushing the possibilities of their instrument forward. Potential collaborators include members of major new music ensembles, MacArthur Genius grant winners, composition professors at major conservatories, and more. This will culminate in a full length commercially released album and marketing campaign mentioning Diller-Quaile wherever possible.

Volunteer as a cello teacher for Musicians Without Borders, specifically for their partner program – Sounds of Palestine. The grant is for airfare to Tel Aviv and bus transportation to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. 

Musicians Without Borders welcomes musicians from around the world who want to promote social change using the power of music. Sounds of Palestine is an organization that teaches children through a program inspired by the concept of El Sistema in Venezuela. The program began in two schools and has now expanded to reach over 150 students. Kayla will be volunteering as a cello teacher in the after school program in March 2019, teaching group cello classes and assisting in larger ensembles.

Use Diller-Quaile’s Performance Space to create a Professional Video recording of a Bach Transcription by S. Rachmaninoff: Partita in E Major – Prelude.

After completing his first studio recording, “Among Songs and Dances” in 2014, Juan Pablo has been searching for new ways that will allow him to grow musically, as well as update his knowledge in how to record a professional music video with the latest technology. Additionally, he thinks that a music teacher has to communicate not only knowledge, but experience. Every semester we inspire new students to learn and perform music. Juan Pablo believes that having his own professional experiences in both areas, helps him in improving the ways he guides students. Juan Pablo will be working with a knowledgeable technician/videographer.

Defray tuition costs for individual lessons in improvisation in preparation for the Diplôme Supérieur examination at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva, Switzerland.

In September of 2018, Michael was admitted into the training program for the highest credential in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, the Diplôme Supérieur. Study for this degree is possible only in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was in residence between September and December 2018. To complete the program, candidates must undertake teaching practicums in movement, solfege and improvisation, pass examinations in improvisation, complete a dissertation, pass six juried teaching examinations and two choreographed dances ("plastique animée"). This fall in Geneva, in addition to attending courses in each area of study, Michael has been participating in individual lessons to prepare for the examination in improvisation.

18th Biennial Suzuki Association Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Hubert attended the 18th Biennial Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference in Minneapolis entitled, "A Collaborating Community." Suzuki teachers, students and parents gathered to share ideas with a focus on ways to work together in support of each other. They had the opportunity to learn from one another; and share the experiences of students as they observed master teachers in their elements. The conference offered many diverse panels, discussions, and presentations.

Dalcroze School of the Rockies, Professional Studies, Group Lessons, Denver, CO.

Diller-Quaile has been an important center for Dalcroze Education in the United States for many years. Master teachers such as Anne Farber and Ruth Alperson, holders of the Dalcroze Diplôme, have taught and trained countless students, including some serving on our faculty. But because of the particularly high level of skill required to earn the Diplôme Supérieur, and the necessity to live in Geneva for extended lengths of time, there have been few new recipients. Those entering the Diplôme Supérieur program in Geneva must pass a rigorous entrance exam in the three branches of Dalcroze study: eurhythmics, solfège and improvisation. Jeremy Dittus, a holder of the Diplôme based in Denver, Colorado, has carefully created a pathway which can lead students to mastery of the necessary skills, and offers instruction via Skype classes, which he teaches at the Dalcroze School of the Rockies. Michael applied himself to these studies via Skype instruction over the course of the year, to prepare for the Diplôme Supérieur in Geneva and to become a stronger musician and teacher, better able to serve the needs of the Dalcroze community at Diller-Quaile and beyond.

Piano Study with Ethan Iverson, New York City.

Jamie Reynolds studied piano with Ethan Iverson in NYC. After moving to New York to study with Fred Hersch in 2005, Jamie felt ready to return to lessons, this time with a focus on piano technique. In particular, the lessons focused on the unique teaching methods of Iverson and Hersch’s teacher, the late Sophia Rosoff, which emphasize emotional engagement with the music and a holistic approach to the physicality of piano playing. Jamie feels that these thirteen lessons have brought about a fresh approach to his piano playing in general, and to his role as an accompanist at Diller-Quaile in particular. 

Study of the Haydn Cello Concerti with Fred Zlotkin, New York City.

Ever since Tomas was a child, he has been enamored by the two Haydn cello concerti. Their elegance, virtuosity, ingenuity, and expressivity were instantly engaging. Tomas took five lessons with cellist Fred Zlotkin to study these concerti. Mr. Zlotkin winner of the International Music Competition at Geneva, has traveled the world as concerto soloist, chamber musician, and has been the principal cellist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra for over 25 years. Mr. Zlotkin has performed both works on many occasions and has an in-depth understanding of the cello and the classical style. He is also a master of creating his own cadenzas for the works that he performs. Creating cadenzas has always fascinated Tomas; he has been improvising for years and is now exploring this avenue within a classical context.

Morganne and Artists By Any Other Name presented Debussy’s La boîte à joujoux (The Toybox) through music, dance, and narration in a concert for the Diller-Quaile community.

Artists By Any Other Name (cofounded by Morganne Aaberg and Harmonnia Junus in 2014) is a multidisciplinary collective that aims to create artistic experiences that drive the imagination forward while invigorating the spirit. ABAON performed Debussy’s La boîte à joujoux for the Diller-Quaile community and friends of the School. The production included piano quintet, dance, and narration. Morganne and Harmonnia inspired students by showing them first-hand how artists work with their friends, share art with their community, and follow their imaginations.

Ian Bentley attended the Summer Vocology Institute at the University of Utah in Summer 2017

The Summer Vocology Institute (SVI) at the University of Utah is an intensive program led by world-renowned voice scientist Dr. Ingo Titze to learn “vocology” – the study and practice of voice health and habilitation. The program combined music, speech science, vocal pedagogy, health, and theater training and gave real world experience in applying these concepts to both performance and health settings. Having already completed the first block of the program, Principles of Voice Production, Ian then completed blocks 2 and 3 in 2017. In Block 2, Instrumentation for Voice Analysis and Voice Habilitation, he studied the scientific instrumentation used in voice clinics to assess vocal health. Block 3, Voice for Performers, focused on different kinesthetic techniques for the singing voice. After completing the program, Ian earned a “Certificate of Vocology” from the University of Utah.

Miranda Sielaff studied with Manhattan School of Music Professor Karen Ritscher
Miranda took four individual viola lessons with Manhattan School of Music professor Karen Ritscher. As a former student of Ms. Ritscher during Miranda’s undergraduate years, Miranda felt poised to benefit from her unique teachings at this point in her career when she has 15 years of experience as a performer and teacher. Miranda wanted to continue to develop her own viola playing, and saw a great potential for the impact of these lessons on her own teaching. Ms. Ritscher is the kind of teacher Miranda aspires to be. She models the resilience needed to maintain a growth mindset throughout one’s career, and she supports each student’s individual path by encouraging, enlightening, and developing their awareness.

Samantha Spiridellis attended the Kodaly Summer Institute 2017 – A Week in Hungary
During July 2017 in Kecskemét, Hungary, Samantha gathered with participants from around the world to celebrate, sing, and study global folk music at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Through NYU, students joined the 30th International Kodály Seminar and Kodály Art Festival to study the method and philosophy of Zoltán Kodály in the homeland of its origin. Students participated in daily choir and solfège class, while selecting from various workshops to deepen the application of the Kodály method. Early childhood pedagogy, traditional music research, choral music, and conducting were a few of the electives offered.

Eri Yamamoto studied West African Drumming at the Wula Drum Center in Brooklyn to bring fresh, new rhythmic ideas to her piano accompaniment of Diller-Quaile classes. Eri studied with Abdouleaye Toure, an expert in Guinean music, who taught her many traditional West African rhythms using various drums.

Commissioned New Works for Classical Guitar by Women Composers, Performed and Recorded by Guitar Ensemble “Duo Noire”, New York, New York

The world of classical guitar is an overwhelmingly male enterprise. Flippin feels this omission of 51% of the population is unacceptable, and addressing underrepresentation in this field has become a raison d’être for his guitar ensemble, Duo Noire. The Clifford-Levy Creativity Grant partially funded the commissioning and promotion of two new works by extraordinarily talented North American women composers—resulting in concerts, promotional videos, and submissions to various guitar and New Music media outlets that recognize Diller-Quaile for its role in supporting the project and its ongoing commitment to commissioning new works.

The culminating work of this project, the critically-acclaimed album NIGHT TRIPTYCH, has received numerous reviews and mentions in the international press, including Stereophile Review, The Arts Fuse Review, Textura Review, I Care if You Listen Review, and All Music Review.

NIGHT TRIPTYCH is available on Amazon and available for download on iTunes. You can also learn more about the music of Duo Noire at www.duonoire.com.

To Attend and Perform at the Contemporary Music Conference: “New Music Gathering”, Baltimore, MD

The New Music Gathering is an annual four-day conference dedicated to the performance, production, promotion, support, and creation of new concert music. Taking place at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the focus of this conference was on “Communities.” The conference featured concerts, lecture recitals, roundtable discussions, and talks. The Keynote address was given by Marin Alsop, Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony, whose outreach initiatives include ‘OrchKids’, a program providing music education, instruments, meals, and mentorship to Baltimore’s neediest young people. Isabelle believes it is important to keep the classical music tradition alive and relevant through the music of today’s living composers. The theme of this conference made it relevant to the community music setting of Diller-Quaile, as it involved building musical communities through teaching, faculty concerts, and outreach. At the conference, Isabelle identified possible new repertoire for students by today’s living composers, and shared these discoveries with piano faculty through a workshop or presentation.