Happy Spring!

Finally some sunshine after a long winter!  I am so ready for leisurely walks and lazy afternoons in the park. Around this time of year I always have to talk myself out of three things: hopping on a plane to Tahiti, blowing my money on new dresses and buying a dog that fits in my purse.  So far I’ve managed to harness the urge, but the season is young.

Now, here’s what’s crackalackin…

Recently I returned to New Haven for a concerto appearance with the Yale Philharmonia, which was really a treat! So many friendly faces both on stage and off.  I was especially pleased to see my teacher, Mr. Parisot , who is celebrating his 50th year at Yale University! In fact, there will be a Yale Cellos concert to honor him at the YSM on April 2o and then at Zankel Hall in NYC the following evening, April 21. The program will feature music of Ezra Laderman, Dave Brubeck, Villa-Lobos and more.  At the end of that week (April 26th to be exact) you can catch me back in Have, rocking the continuo part of Haydn’s Creation with the Yale Glee Club! The piece is amazing… it is also long. It is amazingly long, therefore, one will feel extremely elated about having experienced amazing-ness for such a lengthy period of time.  So don’t miss it!

This year has really been all about contrast. I’ve had so many opportunities to explore different genres of music from early to contemporary to all-out rock’n'roll!  About a week ago, I took the stage once again with the ever-so-cool Bang on a Can All-Stars…this time they brought a friend: Lee Ranaldo, best known as a co-founder  and guitarist of the band Sonic Youth.  He wrote a piece called How Deep are Rivers? (a map is a good piece of paper) which concluded the other night’s program and basically lit the roof on fire with a SICK (this is a good thing) guitar solo that escalated into a whirlwind of sound: droning, pulsating, high frequency, radio interference, in your face, louder IS better, go for broke, turn red in the face, break all your bow hair, set off some hearing aids- -kind– of– stuff.            Ya, that felt good.

I will be playing again with the All-Stars at the Look and Listen Festival on…

May 1, 8pm: OK Harris.

Works by Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Martin Bresnick, Tania Leon, David Lang, Paul Lansky, and many more.  Check out the website!!    http://www.lookandlisten.org/media/press/

Also, take a look at some new photos in the Gallery from my concert with the Newburgh Symphony Orchestra!

Take care for now! -Ash