Nicholas Smolenski

Picture Wednesday October 3rd

Hello! I am the new Festival Intern, Cassandra Thielen. A percussionist and music management student at Hartt, I will be working with the Women Composer’s Festival of Hartford for the next couple of months and will have the pleasure of writing these wonderful Wednesday posts. So without further to do, here it is!

The weekly Wednesday post! Here is pictured Richard Leslie performing at the 2011 Festival Concert Pro Femina. He played Elegy by Festival Associate Director Jessica Rudman and a Gloria from the 13th century arranged by Ruth Still with the Coro Pro Femina. The concert included pieces from every century in between and plenty from the composers of today. To hear diverse programs such as this, be sure to check out this years festival concerts!

Picture of the Day – September 13, 2012

One day behind, but back with the photos! And to start this week, can you name this singer? She has appeared in musicals and operas throughout the region, singing with Berkshire Opera, Connecticut Opera, Warner Theatre, Greater Hartford Opera Ensemble, Simsbury Light Opera Company, and Hartford Opera Theater, and has toured Brazil, Spain, Argentina, and Scotland as soloist and section leader.

Did you peek? Well, if you’re not sure – she’s Patrice Fitzgerald, one of the many amazing performers who will be a part of the coming 2013 Festival. Be sure to catch her and everyone else in concert.

Picture Wednesday – August 29, 2012

Another amazing performer who has lent his talent to the Women Composers Festival, Peter Scuderi is a member of Performance 20/20, Hartt’s honors chamber music program. He was the Grand Prize winner of the 10th Annual Van-Rooy Competition for Musical Excellence. Peter is also an active woodwind doubler, was a member of the 2011 College Light Opera Company Orchestra, and currently performs with the Generous Ensemble. In 2011, Peter performed Silk Spinners, a woodwind trio written by our resident composer, Gilda Lyons.

Picture Wednesday – August 22, 2012

What makes for a memorable performance at the festival? How about a performance by Suzanne Corey-Sahlin and Gerald Steichen, principal violist and musical director of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, respectively. Now approaching its 50th anniversary, the RSO is a fully professional orchestra with a rich history. Under the direction of Gerald Steichen, the RSO consistently presents top quality performances to rave reviews. Their programming includes well known classics, exciting contemporary music and lighter fare for orchestra newcomers. It was a pleasure to feature their performance of Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata.

Picture Wednesday – August 15, 2012

Meet Stuart Breczinksi.

Stuart is a New York-based oboist, improviser, composer, and educator whose early interest in making unusual sounds on the oboe has developed into a passion for creating and sharing innovative audio with audiences of all backgrounds. A proponent of chamber and contemporary music, Stuart is an original member of ensemble mise-en, Ensemble Moto Perpetuo, and The Generous Ensemble. He has also performed as a chamber musician with the Bang on a Can Summer Institute at MASS MoCA, Contemporaneous, Performance 20/20, and Tactus. In 2011, he played on the Local Composers Concert in the trio Silk Spinners by our resident composer Gilda Lyons. For more information on Stuart and his upcoming performances visit stuartbreczinski.com.