Exciting news this week!!
Wallen holding her CBE.
Photo Credit: WPA/Getty Images
Errollyn Wallen has been appointed Master of the King’s Music by King Charles! The Belize-born British composer and performer is the first black woman to be appointed to this position. She will succeed Dame Judith Weir, who was appointed Master of the Queen’s Music by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014. Wallen and Weir are the only two women to have ever held the post—a 10-year royal appointment reserved for those who “have added to the musical life of the nation” (i.e., the UK). The appointment carries many responsibilities including composing pieces for royal occasions, such as jubilees, coronations, and weddings.
Wallen reports that she is thrilled to accept the appointment. A constant in her career has been championing underrepresented groups in art music, and that music and music-making should be accessible to all who want to participate. She has founded organizations (Women in Music) and ensembles (Ensemble X) to promote new music and music by new composers. She was recently featured on BBC’s Desert Island Discs. Below is her 2020 orchestration of “Jerusalem,” a piece traditionally featured on the last night of the BBC Proms.
And here is her magnificent “Spirit in Motion” receiving its stirring premiere at the 2012 Paralympic Games (in London).
AND our Blogger Kathleen McGowan offered an insightful Listening Guide and Intro to Wallen’s music as a celebration of Juneteenth 2024. You can read more about Wallen and this historic appointment in the Guardian. Congratulations to Errollyn Wallen for this well-deserved honour!
Photo Credit: Yuri Hughes
Photo Credit: Rachel Arcega Orth
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has named three string players as its new resident fellows, two of whom are women. Violinist Rachel Arcega Orth and violist Yuri Hughes (as well as cellist Maximiliano Oppeltz) will perform with the BSO and with the Boston Pops in the coming season. The position of resident fellow was created in 2022, and the first fellows began performing with the BSO during the 2022/23 season. The position is open exclusively to string instrumentalists; its purpose is to offer young artists a chance to gain professional experience working with a major orchestra, and to provide early-career support including funds for living costs, private lessons, and auditions. During their tenure, each fellow will perform at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, Carnegie Hall, and with both orchestras on their US and international tours.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has appointed Teng Li as its new principal violist, holding the Paul Hindemith Principal Viola endowed chair. Li will begin appearing in the Orchestra during September of the 2024/25 season. She comes to the CSO after playing principal viola for the LA Philharmonic. She has previously appeared with the CSO as guest principal viola, as well as for their 2024 Carnegie Hall appearances and 2024 European tour.
Included here is a 2019 excerpt of footage from the BTHVN on Tour traveling exhibition of artifacts from the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Germany. Li had an opportunity to play a period viola owned by Beethoven between 1786 and 1792. In addition to her skill with the instrument, she demonstrates the differences that a performer has to consider when changing between historical and contemporarily-made instruments.
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