Composer Meira Warshauer’s Tekeeyah (a call) – Concerto for Shofar/Trombone and Orchestra, will be given its World Premiere performances with shofar/trombone virtuoso Haim Avitsur on the following dates.
October 24 – 8 PM at Kenan Auditorium of University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Rd. in Wilmington, NC. The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra will be led by conductor Dr. Steven Errante. More about the concert and the Symphony at http://www.wilmingtonsymphony.org/.
November 15 – 3 PM at Porter Center for the Performing Arts of Brevard College, 1 Brevard College Dr. in Brevard, NC. The Brevard Philharmonic will be led by their Conductor and Artistic Director Donald Portnoy. More about the concert and the Philharmonic at http://www.boamusic.org/bp.htm.
November 17 – 7:30 PM at the Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St. in Columbia, SC. The University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra will be led by their Conductor and Artistic Director Donald Portnoy. More about the concert and the USC Symphony at http://www.music.sc.edu/ea/orchestra/index.html.
Tekeeyah (a call) is the first concerto ever written for shofar/trombone soloist and orchestra and was commissioned by a consortium of orchestras that includes the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Philharmonic, University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Western Piedmont Symphony (Hickory, NC), John Gordon Ross, Music Director and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Neal Gittleman, Music Director along with Lilly Stern and Bruce Filler, and Linda and Bill Stern in loving memory of their parents, Jadzia and Ben Stern.
The composer, who began work on Tekeeyah (a call) during a residency at the MacDowell Colony in spring of 2008, has written this about the piece, “I believe this is a time which calls for awakening to our true essence as human beings. Our planet needs us, and we need each other, to care for and heal our suffering world. The shofar (ram’s horn), with its natural power and centuries of service in calling Jews to awaken, can be an important instrument in this collective renewal of purpose. When blown during Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) services, the sound of the shofar reaches into one’s core, vibrating body and soul as it calls us to reconnect with our deepest truths. This sacred instrument can also sound with healing energy, breaking past walls to reveal a limitless inner light. The trombone’s breadth of range, dynamics, and expression complements and extends the expressive capacity of the shofar. Israeli trombonist Haim Avitsur will play both shofar and trombone in a 25 minute concerto which we hope will create an experience of deep connection for the audience.”
Israeli trombonist Haim Avitsur has premiered over 60 new pieces encompassing a broad range of styles from solo trombone to chamber music and orchestra. Mr. Avitsur is Trombone Professor at West Chester University School of Music (PA) and at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, NY. From 2004-2007 Haim Avitsur was on the faculty of the University of Virginia as well as the Principal Trombonist of the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra. In 2005 he founded the Summer Trombone Workshop, which has a U.S. residency at Temple University, PA. In the summers of 2007 and 2008, STW had a second residency in Taiwan, with a European residency in 2009-2010 and Winter STW 2010 at West Chester University.
He was the only trombonist named a 2005 and 2007 Emerging Artist by Symphony Magazine. His book, “The Avitsur Method” is now available through Design for Lightning Publishing. Haim
Avitsur’s recent solo CD recording, Sonatas for Trombone and Piano by David Loeb, is available on the Vienna Modern Masters Label. Mr. Avitsur is a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company. Much more about him at http://www.haimavitsur.com/.
Meira Warshauer’s music, performed internationally to critical acclaim, reflects her personal spiritual journey and communicates directly to the heart and soul of the listener. She has received many important awards and is the Nancy A. Smith Distinguished Visitor in Residence at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC.
Ms. Warshauer has devoted much of her creative output to Jewish themes and their universal message. Bracha for violin and piano was recorded for the new Feminissimo CD on Albany Records, which has also released her acclaimed Streams in the Desert disk of Torah-based choral/orchestral works. Her work also reflects a love and concern for the earth. A profile of her Symphony No.1: Living, Breathing Earth was featured on the nationally broadcast PRI radio show Living on Earth in Spring, 2007, during the symphony’s premiere season with commissioning orchestras Dayton Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, and Western Piedmont Symphony.