THE MAGAZINE
Spencer Rubin, Oboe Student, The Juilliard School: On Oboe Reeds, Juilliard and Favourite Oboe Concertos
Spencer Rubin is an oboe student at The Juilliard School. He has earned numerous grand prize and first place awards in national and international competitions and has performed as a soloist with orchestras. Spencer is also a trailblazer on social media, making classical music and the oboe accessible through his channels on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. TWoA talked to Spencer about his musical journey, the oboe and much else.
The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, through 28 July 2024
Who determines which artists take a central place in history, and which artists are marginalised or erased from our cultural memory? New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is currently showing a groundbreaking exhibition that seeks to reposition the Harlem Renaissance, the first African American-led movement of modern art, as a central moment in American art and international modernism.
The Dancing King: Ballet in Ancien Régime France
In the lavish world of the Ancien Régime (France before the 1789 Revolution), dance was considered to be just as important as music, literature and the visual arts. This was, in part, down to one man’s tastes. Beyond his role as the divinely ordained ruler of France—an “absolute” monarch—Louis XIV (1638-1713) was also a prolific dancer.
Considering Practice, Remembering Fun
Bravery requires fear: “I wish I could tell you whether the rest of the recital went well or not, but honestly I wasn’t even listening to myself, I was just thinking: Don’t fuck up. Don’t fuck up, or you’ll have wasted all of their time. Don’t fuck up, or they’ll all wonder why you were asked to play in the first place. Don’t fuck up, or they’ll find out that you’re the worst organist in Cambridge. “
Press A to Play: The Power of Video Game Music
The next time you are unwinding with a video game, see if you can notice how the music changes as you progress – and consider the challenging process the composer went through to make this possible!
Noa Kageyama, Performance Psychologist (The Juilliard School): Making Performers Bulletproof, Part II
This is part II of our interview with performance psychologist Noa Kageyama. Noa is on the faculty of The Juilliard School, teaching performing artists how to use principles of sport psychology to perform to their full abilities under pressure. TWoA talked to Noa about beating performance anxiety, building confidence, effective practice and building mental resilience.
Finding Unity Amidst Conflict: The Intersection of Art and Human Rights
Classic and contemporary artists have used compelling approaches to break down human rights issues so audiences can better understand them. Their work becomes a form of activism, embodying the potential for growth and change.
Noa Kageyama, Performance Psychologist (The Juilliard School): Making Performers Bulletproof, Part I
Performance psychologist Noa Kageyama is on the faculty of The Juilliard School, teaching performing artists how to use principles of sport psychology to perform to their full abilities under pressure. TWoA talked to Noa about beating performance anxiety, building confidence, effective practice and building mental resilience.
Yuka Iwai 岩井優花, Principal Soloist, K-Ballet Tokyo: How to Prepare for an Unexpected Debut
Yuka Iwai is a principal soloist with K-Ballet Tokyo. Two weeks before K-Ballet’s recent revival of Giselle, she found out that she would step in for an injured dancer and dance Giselle at the production’s opening night. TWoA talked to Yuka about the special challenge of learning a principal role in two weeks.
Guest Composer: Daniel Liu, Clare College, University of Cambridge
Composing can be similar to creating a puzzle. Find out from composer Daniel Liu (final-year student at Clare College, University of Cambridge) how to construct a short ‘musical machine.’
Emotions and Trauma: Through the Eyes of Art
It’s mental health awareness month in the US. Many famous artists have used their art to confront their own mental health challenges. Find about the art and struggles of Vincent van Gogh, Louise Bourgeois and Yayoi Kusama.
Ancient Stories, Modern Storyteller: Celebrating Martha Graham
Martha Graham (1894-1991) was a trailblazing American modern dancer and choreographer. She told powerful stories through dance. Strong women were at the centre of her work, from the heroines of Greek myths to the female pioneers of the American frontier.
Review: Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera: Out With the Old and In With the New?
How do you modernize past operas for contemporary society? It’s a fine line to walk between preserving traditions and reinvigorating older works with freshness and vibrancy. Does Carrie Cracknell’s new production of Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City find the right balance?
Eunike Tanzil, Composer, Pianist and Producer: On “Star Wars,” Composing and Finding Your Voice
Eunike Tanzil is a composer, pianist and producer. She writes music that tells a story and has gained social media fame with her “Hum me a melody” Instagram series. On 26 April 2024, Eunike signed an exclusive agreement with Deutsche Grammophon. TWoA talked to Eunike about composing and finding your own voice.
Will Social Media Shape the Future of Classical Music?
Who doesn’t enjoy a good scroll through some classical music content on social media? But the role of social media in the world of classical music goes beyond entertainment. Social media might help create a vision of classical music suited to modern society, and reaching a diverse audience that reflects this society.
Mariko Sasaki, First Soloist, The Royal Ballet: Getting Ready for a “Swan Lake” Debut
TWoA talked to Royal Ballet soloist Mariko Sasaki about her upcoming debut in Swan Lake. It is her first leading role in a three-act classical ballet.
Inside Handel’s Beehive: If Classical Pieces were Animals
In advance of Earth Day this Monday, imagining well-known classical pieces as animals offers new ways of bringing music to life!
No Halos at the Dinner Table: The Human Side of Leonardo’s “The Last Supper”
The Jewish holiday of Passover will begin in a few days. Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” may have depicted a Passover Seder? Leonardo’s mural contains overlapping stories that not only show the intersection of the earthly and divine, but capture the depths of being a human.
3-D Printing: Increasing the Durability of Pointe Shoes
It’s Earth Day on 22 April 2024. Thinking about sustainability in our lives, consider the problem of pointe shoes. Professional ballet dancers go through several pairs per week. Can 3-D printing produce pointe shoes that last longer without compromising on comfort?
Spring Vibes!
Sometimes, an image says more than words. Spring is in the air!