This "double issue" brings ten years of publishing New Music Connoisseur to a close, an occasion we've asked our readers to celebrate with us. We're all a little more sophisticated these days - a more apt word might be "inured" - about such pat marketing phrases. A subscriber can see that a split of champagne hasn't come into his mailbox with a copy of the issue. The choicest time to celebrate may actually have been back in 1993 when Peter Kroll and I came up with the presumptuous idea of addressing the big gap in new-music coverage with our own newsletter. Perhaps a good idea at its inception is always cause for celebration. Now we feel strongly that the best way to honor the Decennial occasion is to honor the figures of new music who have kept our common cause on track. Out newest New Music Champion, tenor Paul Sperry, and our special honoree, broadcaster John Schaefer, are those who shall be toasted. We hope you will join us on January 9th to take part in this toast and enjoy Mr. Sperry's magnificent singing, as well.

JOIN THE CELEBRATION!

Everyone associated with New Music Connoisseur believes ten years is an important milestone for this publication. We at the helm see that fact as testimony to the open road that we took during those years, while others were choosing to move along the more traveled thoroughfares, ostensibly because that's where the fast lanes are.

Not true. There's plenty of activity on that highway of ours, and we hope you've decided to come along for the ride. We have some nice tokens of appreciation for you if you want to hop aboard and support us. For example, we would love to see you at our Decennial tribute, 'Joy In Listening,' the presentation and concert on January 9th to honor Paul Sperry and John Schaefer. Mr. Sperry will sing the music of some of the finest American song composers of today; Mr. Schaefer will give us a sample of his master class on interviewing technique (using - guess who). And there will also be some nice surprises at our planned reception. All of this will take place at the elegant setting of the Americas Society, 680 Park Avenue in Manhattan at 7:30 p.m.

Your contributions will entitle you to a variety of gifts, as follows:

Amount
Gifts
$30 A one-year subscription or renewal to NMC + one admission to 'Joy In Listening'
$40 Two tickets to an upcoming Composers Concordance concert + one year of NMC and one admission to 'Joy In Listening'
$60 Two admissions to 'Joy In Listening' + one year of NMC and one admission to 'Joy In Listening'
$75 Three CDs from the catalog of Classical CDs + one year of NMC and one admission to 'Joy In Listening'
$100 A tuning and evaluation of your piano's condition, by pianist and keyboard expert, Fred Patella + a lifetime of theNMC and three admissions to 'Joy In Listening'
$125 A $50 gift certificate to the Juilliard Bookstore + a lifetime of the NMC and four admissions to 'Joy In Listening' and CDs
$150 A voice evaluation by mezzo-soprano Melanie Mitrano (Note: must travel to her home in Nutley, NJ) + a lifetime of theNMC and five admissions to 'Joy In Listening'
$175 A signed copy of American Encores, a vocal anthology, ed. by Paul Sperry, published by Oxford U. Press + a lifetime of theNMC and six admissions to 'Joy In Listening'
$250 A special plaque of appreciation and recognition plus the above items

Some details may be subject to change.

The Americas Society, MariaElena
Tobón, music director

and
The New Music Connoisseur magazine
in association with Composers Concordance, Inc., Patrick Hardish
& Dr. Joseph Pehrson co-directors

JOY IN LISTENING

A tribute to Paul Sperry, John Schaefer and their devoted listeners

With Paul Sperry and friends
John Schaefer and mike


Remarks by MariaElena Tobón, Barry L. Cohen, Leo Kraft, John Schaefer,
Robert Beaser, Mimi Stern-Wolfe, Paul Sperry and others.


Presentation of a special Music Journalism award
to John Schaefer (Leo Kraft, presenter)

Presentation of the New Music Champion award,
2002-03, to Paul Sperry (Robert Beaser and Mimi Stern-Wolfe)

An Interview with Paul Sperry, by John Schaefer

Songs by Hoiby, Jaffe and Laitman*
Melanie Mitrano, soprano

Song: "Enfant, tu connais mon nom," by Fred Patella
Janet Steele, soprano
Alison Deane, piano

Songs by Beaser, Cipullo, Hagen, Hundley, Moravec, Musto and Swenson*
Paul Sperry, tenor
 
and … A reception in honor
of our principals …
Various niceties and surprises.
A complete printed program with further details and background information
will be given out at the event.. *Program subject to change.

Back to current issue

Home