Projects

Caroline Stinson: Lines
European Lineages in American Music (Albany Records 2011)
Music of Bloch, Sessions, Harbison, Lutoslawski, Stucky, Waggoner, Weesner, Boulanger and Carter

Release: July 1, 2011 (Albany Records)

“All through these pieces the one constant of Caroline Stinson's gorgeous instrument carries the common tune, and a beautiful one it is. She has it all, fabulous tone, great technique, innate musicality, and a real sense of how to project a wide variety of contemporary music. Even though the majority of this recital is for solo cello, Stinson never lets the energy or interest waver for even a moment — her skills at programming are as obvious here as her musical talent. The diversity in these works makes sure that the entire gamut of cello playing is covered, and there is simply no place to hide for any cellist lacking the confidence. Stinson has it in abundance, and has given us a superb debut recital that is certain to bode great things for the future as well.” -- Steven Ritter, Fanfare Magazine [read full review]

In this début CD, Caroline Stinson says this about the album's conceit:

" For a number of years now I have been programming concerts by following the lines traced by my own curiosity about composers' relationships with one another as teachers, mentors and friends. I see the relationships and bonds that exist between the composers with whom I collaborate, and have become keenly aware of the significance of these relationships musically, personally and professionally. To what extent these exchanges play a role in determining what and how composers write, is intriguing to me; whether they manifest distinctly in harmony and structure, and whether the music either hints at influence or does not betray its associations at all, these connections have become an important entry point for me interpretively and programmatically.

This program presents music that through connection and contrast, outlines a series of relationships extending from three significant European figures into North American cello music of the 20th and 21st centuries, and is in all cases music that I love and have relished exploring. I feel fortunate and happy to have worked with all the living composers whose work is represented here. My time with each one of them has informed the playing, shaped the program and enriched my experience throughout the project. I thank them all for their time and support. "

Produced and engineered by Judith Sherman Engineering and editing assistant: Jeanne Velonis Recorded October 22, 23 and 30, 2009 at the American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York City. Hamburg Steinway provided by Mary Schwendeman. Cover photo by Bob Gates

Special thanks to Joel Krosnick and Ara Guzelimian for their guidance, wisdom and enthusiasm, and to The Juilliard School's Artist Diploma Program

Funding for the Artist Diploma degree made possible by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation (2009-10), the Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF), the Argyll Campbell Rice and Argyll Prior Rice Scholarship and the Lyllie Chasnoff Miller Scholarship (2008-09)

Post-production made possible by Paul Gridley, David Stam and the Delmas Foundation

Repertoire presented on this disc:
Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994): Grave, Molly Morksoski, piano; Steven Stucky (b. 1949): Dialoghi (studi su un nome); Anna Weesner (b. 1965): Possible Stories; Andrew Waggoner (b. 1960): Le nom (Upperline); Ernest Bloch (1880-1959): Suite No. 3 for solo cello; Roger Sessions (1896-1985): Six Pieces for Violoncello; John Harbison (b. 1938): Suite for solo cello; Elliott Carter (b. 1908): Figment for cello alone; Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979): Trois Pièces, Molly Morksoski, piano

A work for cello and electronics by John Link

Caroline is commissioning John Link, the esteemed Carter specialist, to write a piece for cello and "tape". The two spent an afternoon in the studio of Ryan Streber in Yonkers back in January, recording all possible cello sounds for John to use in making up the "tape" part for the work. Here is a tickle that John sent via email, at the end of that day.

listen to Cello Sketch

Ancestral Drones by T. Patrick Carrabré
for cello and audio

On March 3, 2011, Caroline premiered Ancestral Drones, a new work by T. Patrick Carrabré for cello and audio, commissioned for New Works Calgary, a series at the University of Calgary, Alberta, that presents new music with an emphasis on Southern Alberta composers and artists.

Before Caroline received the piece, she had decided to pair it with Hebrew Melodies, an early work by George Perle, with whom Patrick studied for many years. It turns out that there is a rather serendipitous relationship between these two works, each representing some form of ritual chant.

Pat writes of the piece:

"I spent the first part of my life as a composer writing music in a complex harmonic system – still working with the concept of prolonging tonal centres that was recognizable to a post-romantic audience. Then, at some point my brain just didn’t hear things that way anymore and I began trying to slow down the harmonic motion of my music – to enjoy the dissonances over much slower harmonic drones. The break came in pieces like Inuit Games and Creation Stories - when I started working with musicians from other cultures. Ancestral Drones, premiering tonight, tries to place the virtuosity of our western tradition into the context of a more primordial music making, where the cry of the soul sings through those notes that lean into the drone and call us to float with them."

It was a great honor to have this piece written for me and to have Pat at the performance, which included a pre-concert talk with Pat hosted by Laurie Radford, Artistic Director of New Works Calgary.

I'm looking forward to many more performances of Ancestral Drones, and honing my singing-while-playing!

Concerto for Cello and Wind Ensemble | Commission Proposal 2010-2011   download pdf

Cellist Caroline Stinson and composer Steven Bryant present a commission-collaboration for a Concerto for cello and wind ensemble with Cynthia Johnston Turner of Cornell University at its head. Through a hybrid commission consortium of both symphony orchestras and wind ensembles, the collaboration aims to include both university and professional ensembles.

Beyond creating an exciting work for the rare combination of cello and wind ensemble, the goal of this commission is to bridge the world of the wind ensemble with that of the symphony orchestra and to expand the sound possibilities for wind ensemble, something Bryant is becoming known for, most notably in his most recent work Ecstatic Waters, presented at the 2009 CBDNA National conference. The instrumentation of the work (see below) will allow for a shared performance life between these large ensembles, and given their experience and accolade, both Steven and Caroline are the strongest of ambassadors for a project of this ambition.

Alongside Steven Bryant's new work, the choice of an additional work is being offered for programming: Voyages (18 min) for cello and winds by Pulitzer Prize Winner Steven Stucky, or the Concerto in G Major for cello and strings by Luigi Boccherini. Both are in the artist's repertory and will pair beautifully with the new virtuosic work by Steven Bryant. Should a commissioning group wish to participate with a local soloist, they may present a premiere following a 3-year exclusive-rights period reserved for the commissioning soloist, Caroline Stinson.

Additional funding for travel and performance will be pursued from grant programs and organizations such as the American Composers Forum, The American Music Center, and Meet the Composer, Inc.

We invite you and your organization to join us for this groundbreaking commission in a unique concerto for cello and winds. Thank you for your interest!

**This concerto is having its first two premieres on March 25th, 2011 with the Ridgewood Concert Band and on April 30th, 2011 with the Cornell Wind Ensemble.

Project parameters (tentative):
• Concerto for Violoncello and Wind Ensemble (3 fls., 2 obs., 3 Bb cls., 2 bsns., 3 Bb tpts., 4 hns., 3 tbns., 1 tba., 3 percussion, timp.)
• Duration: 10-12 minutes
• Commission Fee: $10,000 (includes engraving costs);
         $2,000 contribution by the soloist, $1,000 contribution by each ensemble
• Premiere performance rights exclusivity for all consortium members for 3 years with soloist Stinson: Fall 2010 – Spring 2013 and fall of 2013-Spring 2014 for premieres with other soloists
• Caroline Stinson will offer for programming Pulitzer Prize Winner Steven Stucky's Voyages for cello and winds, or the Luigi Boccherini Concerto in G Major for cello and orchestral strings
• Soloist's fee will be negotiated with each ensemble, based on travel and housing needs
• Caroline and Steven will participate in pre-concert discussions and/or other publicity events, including workshops, radio appearances, outreach, discussion of the evolution of the work, working as professional musicians, etc.
• Travel fees for Steven Bryant will be negotiated separately from this agreement.

Lark Quartet +
An evolution of the renowned Lark Quartet, the Lark Chamber Artists combines the artistry of suberb string quartet playing with exciting new collaborations and commissions. While the Lark Quartet remains at the core of this dynamic group, the Lark Chamber Artists offer a diverse array of programs, ranging from collaborations with Baritone to Percussion. Lark is at the cutting edge of exhilarating and fulfilling programming.

Open End
Open End was formed in 2005, the brainchild of several interconnected musical friendships. Equally committed to new chamber music, particularly by composers with no easily-pegged stylistic affiliations, and to free improvisation, the ensemble is made up of players well-known in ever-expanding contexts whose collective experience spans the whole of Western instrumental literature, from the oldest to the newest. Open End has performed in the US, France and Italy, and was invited in 2007 for a week-long residency at the Conservatoire National de Région in Strasbourg, France, where they gave masterclasses in chamber music and improvisation and performed two concerts in collaboration with the ensemble Accroche Note.

Kean Concert Artists
The mission of the Concert Artist Program of Kean University is to deliver world-class music education and performances. The Program maintains at the University a professional ensemble of nationally and internationally reputed musicians, who perform a concert series on campus of classical chamber music and jazz. The concerts are available to the university community and to the general public. The members of the ensemble serve as a studio faculty for the Department of Music, teach courses related to their specialties, and reach out to the community.

Contrasts
Acclaimed for their exhilarating performances of old and new repertoire, the Contrasts Quartet is a group of four extraordinary virtuosi whose instruments include clarinet, violin, cello and piano. The group chose its name to describe the contrasting timbres of their instruments, as well as the variety of their repertoire. The ensemble performs a mix of duos, trios and quartets, presenting a broad range of programs from the Baroque through today's repertoire. The Contrasts Quartet has worked with many living composers and has commissioned and premiered works of Aaron Jay Kernis, Michael Torke, Ned Rorem, Scott Johnson and Derek Bermel, among others. Their recent recording of Ned Rorem's Nine Episodes for Four Players was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award.

CELLO
From its inception in 1988 playing classical music in the jazz clubs of New York City to its current international career premiering new works alongside both popular and classical repertoire in Universities and concert halls alike, CELLO has long been recognized as one of the most innovative ensembles on the concert music scene. This ensemble of four classically trained women celebrates the unequaled sound of four cellos through works based in jazz, hip hop beats and world and contemporary classical musics.

Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players
Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players was created in January 2002 as A Living Tribute to Jens Nygaard, conductor extraordinaire of the orchestra, Jupiter Symphony. New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini gave his consent, calling it "a fitting series." Adam Baer of the New York Sun proclaimed it "one of the city's cultural jewels." Dedicated to acknowledge and perpetuate the legacy of Maestro Nygaard—founder of the Jupiter Symphony who died in September 2001—the chamber music group celebrates a legacy that denotes musical excellence, gives performance opportunities to outstanding musicians, and imparts a love of and enthusiasm for music through interesting and unusual programs of pieces in the standard repertoire, and especially works by lesser known composers that deserve to be heard.