On February 7th, 8th and 10th I performed Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, K 297b with the Winston-Salem Symphony at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem, NC. The other soloists were Kathryn Levy, flute; Amanda Gerfin, oboe and Robert Campbell, horn. Included on the concert was Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. Here is a review of a concert and a radio interview I participated in with conductors Matthew Troy and Bob Moody.

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts hosted a woodwind day December 6th from 9am until 5pm. The event included master classes, reed making seminars, clinics on performance anxiety and practice methods by myself and UNCSA faculty members John Ellis (oboe), Tadeu Coelho (flute), Taimur Sullivan (saxophone) and Igor Begelman (clarinet). That evening the woodwind faculty performed a recital in Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus including André Previn’s Sonata for Bassoon and Piano and Mendelssohn’s Concertpiece No. 2.

Schedule:

• 9:00am A performance of Stravinsky’s Octet for winds given by UNCSA graduate students
• 10:00am Clinics on improving practice habits and combating performance anxiety
• 12:00pm Lunch
• 1:00pm Individual master classes and reed making seminar given by UNCSA woodwind faculty including oboe professor John Ellis and bassoon professor Saxton Rose
• 3:00pm Open rehearsal of the UNCSA Wind Ensemble
• 7:30pm Performance by the UNCSA woodwind faculty: Saxton Rose, bassoon; John Ellis, oboe; Taimur Sullivan, saxophone; Igor Begelman, clarinet; Tadeu Colelho, flute

I recently performed as principal bassoonist with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra in a concert including Smetana’s Overture to The Bartered Bride, Debussy’s La Mer and Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Sarah Chang, violin; Luis Biava, conducting. 8pm Centro de Bellas Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico

On October 21st I had the pleasure of performing Sofia Gubaidulina’s Duo Sonata, originally for two bassoons, with my UNCSA colleague Taimur Sullivan on Bari Sax. The piece works surprisingly well for this combination and I highly recommend it when planning a program with saxophone. There is a popular edition available for two baritone saxophones and playing from either part using this edition works well with only a few minor adjustments. The performance took place in Watson Music Hall on the UNCSA campus.

I recently performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra on the opening concert of the 2008/09 season. The program included Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, Beethoven’s Symphony no. 3 and Roberto Sierra’s Fandangos. Maximiano Valdes, conductor; José Ramos Santana, piano. I will continue to perform occasionally this season as a guest with the PRSO until the principal bassoon position is filled.

Performance with PRSO of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 5, Dvorak’s violin concerto, and Mariano Morales’ Obertura festiva. Jaime Morales, director; Henry Hutchinson, violin. 8pm, Centro de Bellas Artes.

Performance with the PRSO of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite and Rossini’s L’italiana in Algeri overture. Luis Biava, director; Guillermo Figueroa, violin. 8pm, Centro de Bellas Artes.

Performance with PRSO and Teatro de la Opera of Donizetti’s opera L’elisir d’amore with Kamil Khan directing. April 3 & 5 at 8pm, Centro de Bellas Artes.

Performance with PRSO of Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, Roberto Sierra’s Variations on a Souvenir and Nicolai’s Overture to “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Theo Alcántara, Director; Ian Hobson, Piano. 8pm, Centro de Bellas Artes.

As part of the 51st annual Casals festival I performed Mejunje del Fagobongo for bassoon and bongo by Alfonso Fuentes. This performance was part of a chamber music concert of music from Puerto Rican composers and included Suite de Canciones Puertorriqueñas for soprano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon by José Rodríguez Alvira; The concert took place at Centro de Bellas Artes, Sala de Drama in Santurce at 4:00pm.