Audio post #5

I'm quite excited to be working on a New Music show called Composing Thoughts on WITF. In the past, I have produced a show in Las Vegas, called 20/20 Hearing (there's a link to it on the right side of this page - and several other cools ones too!) I wanted to share an example of 20/20 Hearing from a very talented composer, Gunther Schuller.
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'Clarely Classical' Awards 2005

My very own online music awards.
Musician of the year: Hilary Hahn. Her recital performance was outstanding, and we have Spohr and Paganini to look forward to this year – definitely go get her Mozart Sonatas album.

Pianist of the year: Helene Grimaud. If her debut album stunned you, wait til you hear her Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Perhaps her most thoughtful and gentle interpretations.

Violinist of the year: Pamela Frank. For her charming reading of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Violin Concerto now out on Naxos.

Singer of the year: Ian Bostridge. His latest Britten disc will take you by storm.

Young artist of the year: A tie! eighth blackbird and Concertante. Both of these groups will astound you – go see them if you have a chance.

Conductor of the year: Gerard Schwarz. Champion of American composers and of my all time favorite, Andzrej Panufnik.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Sir Andzrej Panufnik. A remarkable life and composer (even if he passed away in 1991).

Personal highlights of 2005
Proudest moment: Accepting the Deems Taylor Award for 20/20 Hearing™.

Runner-up proudest moment: Successful fundraiser for the Las Vegas Chamber Music Society (also a Las Vegas swansong for me) of Vivaldi Concerti with friends including Teller (of Penn & Teller) conducting.

Another very proud moment: Getting my folks settled in Omaha from Wichita.

Most affecting moment: Farewell dinners with many friends in Las Vegas.

Most unfortunate moment: Receiving call from GM at Nevada Public Radio the night before my final day saying I would not be on-air the last day. Give me a break! It not only reassured me that I had made the right decision but that they were a corporate nightmare.

Biggest sigh of relief moment: Accepting Host/Music Programmer position at WITF in Harrisburg at the end of the in-person interview.

Memorable though questionable moment: Leading a tour of Nevada Public Radio of my peers and introducing the music of violinist Rebecca Ramsey. I adore her and her compositions but wasn't sure what Public Radio Land would think. They dug her and the tour!

Personality of the year: Dan Welcher. Funny composer who always can make me laugh, and engage in thoughtful discussions.

Family of the year: Yenchko family. From their constant friendship, to the splendid gatherings these guys have made Central PA home.

Woman of the year: Rachael Ray.

Audio post #4

As I juggle duties, hobbies, and am wondering how a.d.d./serial-monogramist I really am, I thought I'd share a compostion I wrote for violin senza voce. It is my Carmen (Electra) Fantasy.
[hey, she's a woman named for two operas, think about it!]
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Wonder where? why?

You should remember the following Norse fable the next time you sneak a peck under the mistletoe: Frigga, goddess of love and beauty, wanted to make the world safe for her son, Balder.
Everything on earth promised to do him no harm except the one plant Frigga overlooked, mistletoe. Loki, an evil spirit, made an arrow from the mistletoe's wood and killed Balder. Frigga's tears became the plant's white berries and revived her son.
In her gratitude, Frigga promised to kiss anyone who passed under the mistletoe, just as we do today.

Audio post #3

Last year in December I was proud to be a part of the first ever presentation of the complete Bartok String Quartets in Las Vegas. It was made available by my friend Teller (the shorter, quieter half of Penn & Teller.) Before the occasion I talked with Diane Chaplin, the cellist of the Colorado Quartet. Here's the interview we did. Enjoy!
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Audio post #2

Here is a collage of American Music from an episode of 20/20 Hearing(tm) I did in the second season.
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Audio post

Please enjoy this little joke from an interview I did with Philip Glass. He was a real gentleman and is an amazing person!
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From the awards

Here's a picture my friend Dan snapped last week in NYC.

It's popping up everywhere

Ok, not EVERYwhere, but you know...it is a busy time of year, and this is good for a post!

Four jobs you've had in your life: Violin teacher, Cigar salesman, Radio host, Music critic
Four movies you could [do] watch over and over: Empire Strikes Back, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Crash
Four places you've lived: Las Vegas, Dallas, Alexandria, Wichita
Four TV shows you love to watch: Gilmore Girls, Thirty Minute Meals, Simpsons, Alias
Four places you've been on vacation: NYC, LA, Omaha, Austin
Four websites you visit daily: NewMusicBox, ArtsJournal, CNN, GetFuzzy
Four of your favorite foods: Bacon-wrapped Scallops, Burger & Fries, Curry in a Hurry, London Broil
Four places you'd rather be: Beach, Bedroom, On a podium conducting, On stage with Anne-Sophie Mutter

News release

From the ASCAP website:
38TH ANNUAL ASCAP DEEMS TAYLOR AWARDS PRESENTEDAT NYC RECEPTION ON DECEMBER 15
New York, December 15, 2005
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers presented the 38th Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for outstanding print, broadcast and new media coverage of music this evening. The winning writers and publishers were honored at a special reception held at The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.
Over the years, tens of thousands of dollars have been distributed in cash prizes to winning authors, journalists and broadcast producers and personalities. The event featured performances by Broadway/cabaret vocalist KT Sullivan, composer/pianist Tania Leon, pianist Trudy Chan, and the Jazz Museum in Harlem Quartet, led by Loren Schoenberg. All the music related to the winning books and articles.
The ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award honored two radio programs: 20/20 Hearing, produced and hosted by John Clare, and Classical Discoveries, produced and hosted by Marvin Rosen.
Cited in the Television Broadcast category was No Direction Home: Bob Dylan. The documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese, was produced by: Martin Scorsese (Sikelia Productions), Producer; Susan Lacy (American Masters), Producer; Jeff Rosen (Grey Water Park Productions), Producer; Nigel Sinclair (Spitfire Pictures), Producer; Anthony Wall (BBC), Producer; Paul G. Allen & Jody Patton (Vulcan Productions), Executive Producers, and edited by David Tedeschi.
The ASCAP Deems Taylor Internet Award honored the contemporary classical music portal, Sequenza21 (http://www.sequenza21.com/), edited by Jerry Bowles.
More: http://www.ascap.com/press/2005/121505_deems_taylor.html

Saturday in the park

With Dan and Linda at Washington Square Park.

Eatery

The Las Vegas Weekly (and others) have called me a "bon vivant" of sorts, so it was fun to slip in here and grab some soup and salad - and it wasn't far away from my hotel.

Deems Taylor Awards evening

In the elevator...

A festive sign

Before the ceremony

John with Dan Welcher

With the award

Longhairs of Modern Classical

John with Frank Oteri

Proverbial

"Nothing is as real as a dream.

Because the dream is within you,

no one can take it away."

Another proverb

"Yesterday is ashes; tomorrow wood.

Only today the fire shines brightly."

Proverb from my roots

"May you have warmth in your igloo,

oil in your lamp,

and peace in your heart."

- Inuit proverb