J. K. Simmons certainly deserved Best Supporting Actor for his chilling portrayal in “Whiplash” of Fletcher – the monstrous jazz instructor who subjects his drummer protégée to repeated humiliations and profanity-laden insults. Many musicians doubtless have horror stories about tyrant teachers – some who perhaps still managed to be inspirational ...
Read More“Diversity is Good Business” – My Report on Efforts to Promote Diversity in Classical Music
The movie “Selma” is a brutal reminder – not that any is needed given recent events in Ferguson and elsewhere – of America’s troubled past and continuing problems with discrimination. In the music world, segregated concert halls and attempts to prohibit performances by African American musicians were common. In 1964 ...
Read MoreChickens and Divo Pianists
One of my favorite parts of Jeffrey Fleishman’s excellent, lively profile of LA Philharmonic president Deborah Borda was the revelation that a pianist booked to play with the orchestra needed to stay in a hotel within three blocks of live chickens. I can imagine that artist managers (and hotel staff) ...
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