Oak Ridge Today

Reminder: Grammy-winning bassist Edgar Meyer plays today

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Edgar Meyer

The internationally renowned Oak Ridge bassist and composer Edgar Meyer, winner of four Grammy awards, will open the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s Chamber Music Series with a one-man concert at 7:30 p.m. today (Saturday) at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Submitted photo)

The internationally renowned Oak Ridge bassist and composer Edgar Meyer, winner of four Grammy awards, will open the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s Chamber Music Series with a one-man concert at 7:30 p.m. today (Saturday) at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Meyer, who grew up in Oak Ridge and graduated from Oak Ridge High School, plays a unique role in the contemporary music scene, with compositions and performances in both classical and jazz traditions, and even in some remarkable combinations of both. He was hailed by the “New Yorker” as “…the most remarkable virtuoso in the…history of his instrument.”

As a solo classical bassist, Meyer has released a concerto album with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra featuring Bottesini’s “Gran Duo” with well-known violinist Joshua Bell, Meyer’s own “Double Concerto for Bass and Cello” with internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Bottesini’s “Bass Concerto No. 2,” and Meyer’s “Concerto in D for Bass.” [Read more…]

Grammy-winning Oak Ridge bassist Edgar Meyer plays Saturday

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Edgar Meyer

Edgar Meyer

Edgar Meyer, the world-renowned bassist and composer, will start this year’s ORCMA Chamber Music Season with a Saturday night performance.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Meyer grew up in Oak Ridge, where he learned to play the double bass when he was five. He was taught by his father, the late Edgar Meyer Sr., who directed the string orchestra program for the Oak Ridge Schools. Meyer later went on to Indiana University to study with Stuart Sankey.

“Meyer is noted for achieving virtuosity on an instrument of unusual technical difficulty, and has performed music originally composed for other instruments, such as Bach’s unaccompanied cello suites, which he recorded,” a press release said. “He has also composed a number of classical works, including two double bass concertos, a string quintet, a double concerto for bass and cello, and a violin concerto.” [Read more…]

Final ORSO concert Saturday features Tennessee composer, soloist

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Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Rachel DeVore Fogarty

Sabrina Laney Warren

Sabrina Laney Warren

Two talented Tennessee women are playing major roles in the final Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra concert of a season devoted to showcasing Tennessee music, composers, and performers.

The women, who both live in Nashville, are Rachel DeVore Fogarty—an emerging composer, church musician and collaborative pianist—and soprano soloist Sabrina Laney Warren, who was recently lauded by a German publication for her “bell pure soprano voice.”

You can hear them, and ORSO conductor Dan Allcott, talk about the concert music at the “Dialogue with Dan” gathering at noon Friday in the lobby of the Historic Grove Theater. [Read more…]

Renowned pianist to debut in Isotone Concert

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Emi Kagawa

Emi Kagawa

Andrew Sauerwein

Andrew Sauerwein

World-class pianist and East Tennessee newcomer Emi Kagawa will make her debut here in the Isotone concert on Saturday, Jan. 19—the third concert in the Chamber Music Series of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Clayton Performing Arts Center at Pellissippi State Community College.

A native of Osaka, Japan, Kagawa has been active as both a soloist and a chamber musician. She has performed extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, and Japan.

[Read more…]