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2 The Nashville Musician October-December 2006 . . . Schermerhorn Symphony Center officially opens NSO Music Advisor Leonard Slatkin. (Continued from page 1) found in Nashville.) Among those interviewed on the red carpet by various media types were singer Crystal Gayle, her trailing five-foot tresses giving a new meaning to long-hair; Dollar General heir Steve Turner, sporting a rhinestoned-emblazoned cutaway denim jacket designed by Manuel that would be the envy of Porter Wagoner; disco queen Donna Summer and husband Bruce Sudano; TV’s Nashville Star Search talent judge Anastasia Brown in a Christian Dior original, on the arm of producer-label chief husband Tony Brown; singer Trisha Yearwood and high-profile hubby Garth Brooks, wearing tuxedo jacket with black jeans; dapper Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell; television host Meryll Rose; songbirds Amy Grant and Vince Gill; and Governor Phil Bredesen and wife Andrea Conte. “The success of the Nashville Symphony has multiplied exponentially in recent years,” noted Alan Valentine, President & CEO of NSO, now in its 60th year. “Currently one of the most active recording orchestras in the world, it is earning critical acclaim around the globe, including multiple Grammy nominations. It is attracting the country’s finest musicians to its auditions. It is performing for the nation via radio and TV broadcasts. It is playing to packed houses on tour. Today, the Nashville Symphony is internationally-recognized and respected. And there is no end in sight.” Patrons welcomed the opening Festive Overture (Opus 96) by Dmitri Shostakovich, which gave them their first inkling of what an acoustic marvel the Laura Turner Concert Hall truly is. From our vantage point we couldn’t spot an empty seat in the 1,860-capacity house named in honor of Dollar General’s First Lady, but everybody there joined in a standing ovation for the orchestra’s performance under the steady hand of Maestro Slatkin. After his thank you, the conductor greeted the receptive crowd: “Welcome to our home. It’s been a long time coming for Nashville.” At the conclusion of the intermission, however, most didn’t realize it, but the unique bit of attention-getting music played Frederica von Stade on chimes was conceived and recorded by the late NSO Conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn for opening night in the magnificent building bearing his name. Slatkin also said that the late conductor had planned most of the evening’s program prior to his April 18, 2005 death. Following intermission, NSO performed American composer Samuel Barber’s Essay No. 2, Opus 17, and then rendered Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Resurrection,” with its soaring solos by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and soprano Janice Chandler-Etemé. Another of the evening’s wonders was the exceptional Nashville Symphony Chorus, which joined the singers in a Scherzo finale featuring offstage brass to bring the performance to a fulfilling climax. Throughout the presentation one could sense the extraordinary energy pulsating through the players, proud to be part of such a breathtaking endeavor, a truly milestone event for the 81-member NSO - and Music City USA. Laura Turner Hall, of course, was a collaborative effort among the architecture, theater planning and acoustic design teams. Designed by David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc., Akustiks, and Fisher Dachs Associates, the 197,000-square-foot Symphony Center is the crowning jewel among Nashville’s great performance gems. Formerly while located in crowded TPAC, the musicians didn’t have access to the type of conveniences offered in their new surroundings, including a huge warm-up room, a semi-quiet lounge, a quiet lounge and, of course, lockers in which to secure their belongings. Janice Chandler-Eteme Following dinner, first-nighters returned to Turner Hall to enjoy one of the Symphony Center’s most distinctive features: the convertible flat-floor system, which allows for a huge cabarat-style room. NSO Director of Pops Albert-George Schram conducted the Symphony for dancing on the converted floor, serenading listeners with Strauss waltzes. Afterwards, the 11-piece Craig Duncan Orchestra continued to play for latenight dancers. Co-chairs for the opening night gala were Julie Boehm and Ellen Martin. Sponsored by Ingram Industries, the premiere evening’s earnings help fund NSO’s future programs. Currently, NSO schedules more than 200 concerts, including pops, classical and children’s fare. A splendid follow-up to the opening gala the next night boasted a pair of the gospel world’s brightest stars Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, sharing the stage with pop-country diva LeAnn Rimes, Grand Ole Opry great Vince Gill, violin virtuoso Ruth McInnis, the Symphony and guest conductor David Hamilton, in an eclectic presentation (see concert review page 34), serving as the hall’s first paid public performance (with tickets ranging from $50 to $250, or higher for diners). Two earlier invitation-only concerts were rendered, however; the first in appreciation for the building’s construction workers (and their families) as they neared The trio in rehearsal. completion of the three-year project; and then on Sept. 1, only days before the official opening, twin-preview concerts for area students, in tune with the NSO’s ongoing commitment to music education, and which included selections from Aaron Copland’s Rodeo and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Cappriccio espagnol. A Free Day of Music scheduled Oct. 7, is a way to connect with the community, creating greater public awareness of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and its programs. (Its co-sponsors are NSO and AmSouth Bank.) In addition to the contemporary opening night commissioned concerto by Fleck, Meyer and Hussain, there are two other works being commissioned for premiere performances by the Symphony early in 2007: Philip Glass’ The Passion of Ramakrishna and Michael Daugherty’s Concerto For Piano. (Editor’s note: We would like to acknowledge NSO Director of Media Relations Christy Crytzer’s invaluable assistance in letting us cover this major event.) - Walt Trott Martha Rivers Ingram DON HASTY IGNATZ Public Accounting Computerized Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Suite LL-20 2200 21st Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 Tel: (615) 385-5224 Leonard Slatkin named NSO Music Advisor, as a search continues for Music Director Leonard Slatkin, whose credentials are world class, was appointed Music Advisor of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Aug. 23, for the next three years. The internationally-known conductor is also currently Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and serves as Principal Guest Conductor for both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. “We are thrilled and honored to have Leonard Slatkin as our Music Advisor,” noted Alan D. Valentine, NSO President and CEO. “Leonard worked with our orchestra for the first time in June, and quickly brought their performance to a whole new level. We jumped at the opportunity to share the expertise of one of the world’s greatest conductors and believe the collaboration will have a lasting impact, shaping the direction our orchestra takes in the coming years.” Maestro Slatkin, son of renowned violinist-conductor Felix Slatkin and cellist Eleanor Aller, is married to soprano Linda Hohenfeld and is father to their son David. “One of the greatest pleasures in recent memory for me was to spend several days with the Nashville Symphony,” said Slatkin. “This outstanding ensemble has a sense of direction and purpose. Their music-making is of the highest level and their commitment to excellence extends from the stage to the management. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to assist in these crucial years of transition, and I look forward to our collaborations over these next three years.” Following his tenure as Music Director for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (1979-’96), Slatkin was named Conductor Laureate. The American-born musician (he plays piano and violin) was Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000-’04), after having served as Festival Director of the Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Festival nine years, and was Principal Guest Conductor of their Philharmonia Orchestra. In Nashville, his most significant assignment since assuming his Music Advisory role was conducting the NSO in a gala opening night performance in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center’s Laura Turner Concert Hall, Saturday, Sept. 9. Slatkin’s appearances have included performing with such celebrated musical contingents as the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, as well as with distinguished opera companies, among them the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Lyric Opera in Chicago, the Washington National Opera, and the Vienna State Opera in Austria. This year’s dual wins for his recording “Bolcom: Songs of Innocence And of Experience” brings his Grammy total to seven. The Los Angeles-born conductor is founder- (Continued on page 10) Symphony CEO Alan Valentine continues the search for a Music Director to succeed the late maestro Kenneth Schermerhorn (with Alan above).
October-December 2006 The Nashville Musician 3 Dear Members: Time sure flies when you’re having fund or traveling on the road . . . Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of both of the above. A fun event for me was to give the welcoming speech to the ICSOM Conference. We are privileged to have Laura Ross serving as ICSOM Secretary. Also serving for the first time as the ICSOM Delegate was Lee Levine. It was my pleasure to welcome the ICSOM officers and delegates to Nashville and give them some of Nashville’s rich historical background. A very special event was the ICSOM tour and dinner served at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Our ICSOM guests were extremely impressed with the Center, and we were extremely proud to show it off. Local 257 was the official host of the Conference, and we were well-represented by Dan Lochrie and Brad Mansell, who did yeomen work on our behalf. Another fun event that my wife and I attended was the Amy Grant pops concert (for our review, see page 34). Amy and her guests Vince Gill, LeAnn Rimes and Michael W. Smith and the Nashville Symphony gave a memorable musical concert, which was well-received by an appreciative audience. Amy has been a huge supporter of the Symphony, and she gave a great performance in the very first pops concert in Schermerhorn Symphony Center. On Aug. 19, 2006, the Country Music Foundation & Museum paid tribute to me in its Nashville Cats series. I was interviewed by Bill Lloyd of the Foundation, who did a brilliant job of keeping the program moving, and still hitting the high spots of my 60 years as a recording musician. AFM International President Tom Lee; AFM International Secretary-Treasurer Sam Poster photo and two at right by Bari (Bradley) Brooks A Reminder! Attend the next General Membership Meeting, 6 :30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 in George Cooper Jr. Hall. President’s Report By Harold R. Bradley Folio; Washington, D.C. Local 161-710 Secretary Teresa E. Gafford; Houston Local 65-699 President Lovie Smith-Schenk; Oklahoma City, Okla. Local 375-703 President Joe Settlemires, and Local 375-703’s Secretary-Treasurer Donna Settlemires; and Honolulu, Hawaii Local 677 President Michael Largarticha were all present. On Aug. 30, 2006, I was introduced at a press conference as an inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was a real surprise and I was completely unaware that I would be the second studio musician to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The first was Floyd Cramer, a Local 257member for many years. Every three years the recording musicians/road musicians category will be included on the Hall of Fame ballot. I hope the CMA’s recognition of recording musicians and road musicians will open the door for all Local 257 members and I accept this honor on behalf of all members of Local257, and I hope you will share in my joy. Oct. 11, 2006 found me in Las Vegas for a one-day meeting to address membership in the AFM. Secretary-Treasurer Billy Linneman and I will be discussing a membership drive with you in the near future. Well, I’ve had enough fun for today, until next time . . . Stay tuned. Harold R. Bradley ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Harold accepts AFM Lifetime Achievement Award from AFM President Thomas F. Lee, Aug. 19 at Nashville Cats’ salute in the Hall’s Ford Theater. 3 to Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Local 257 member Jeffrey Steele has been named best songwriter of 2006 by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Hits in 2006 by Steele include “Something To Be Proud Of” (Montgomery Gentry) and “What Hurts the Most” (Rascal Flatts). Votes for NSAI Artist/Songwriter of ’06, resulted in a tie: Toby Keith, whose successes were “As Good As I Once Was” and “A Little Too Late”; and Phil Vassar, writer of “Last Day Of My Life” and “Good Ole Days.” The year’s best song is: “Jesus Take the Wheel” co-written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. Jimmy Buffett, Hugh Prestwood and Jim Weatherly are this year’s inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Foundation and NSAI’s Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. What’s this all about? For details about podcaster Wichita’s brand new e-book, “The Bluegrass Way,” read page 32. During Nashville Cats series, Aug.19, at the Country Music Hall of Fame, host Bill Lloyd and studio veteran Harold Bradley chat (above), and then do some pickin’ (below). Vol. MMVI, No. 4 October-December 2006 The Nashville Musician Official Quarterly Journal of The Non-Profit Union Nashville Association of Musicians, American Federation of Musicians Local 257 (c) 2006 The Nashville Association of Musicians P.O. Box 120399, Nashville TN 37212 ISBN 0-9632684-1-4 NEWSPAPER STAFF Harold R. Bradley, Publisher Billy Linneman, EIC Walt Trott, Editor Sherri Dickerson, Advertising Kathy Shepard, Photographer LOCAL 257 Harold R. Bradley, President Billy Linneman, Secretary-Treasurer Otto Bash, Sergeant-at-Arms Assistant to the President Laura Ross Assistant to Secretary-Treasurer & Office Manager Sherri Dickerson Executive Board Bobby Ogdin Dave Pomeroy Laura Ross Denis Solee Bruce Bouton Mike Brignardello Andy Reiss Hearing Board Wm. (Tiger) Fitzhugh Kathy Shepard Buddy Edmundson Danny O’Lannerghty Jim Grosjean Jeff King Tim Smith Hearing Board Clerk Anita Winstead Trustees B. James Lowry Paul Leim Shop Stewards Laura Ann Ross, Nashville Symphony Live Engagement Services Division Kathy Shepard, Supervisor Laura Ann Ross, Assistant Anita Winstead, Assistant Electronic Media Services Division Melissa Hamby Meyer, Director Teri Barnett, Assistant Shana Allen Mandy Arostegui Christie Allen Tyler Allen MPF Coordinators Kathy Shepard Anita Winstead Business Agent Kathy Shepard Front Office Arleigh Barnett Janet Butler www.afm257.org All material intended for publication should be directed to The Nashville Musician, P.O. Box 120399, Nashville TN 37212 (office location: 11 Music Circle North, Nashville TN 37203) Telephone [615] 244-9514; Fax [615] 259-9140. The Nashville Musician assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicitated articles, photographs or artwork. Readers who submit editorial materials should enclose a self-addressed return envelope with proper postage. All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or copied in any form, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopies, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Publisher, EIC or Editor. A good suggestion Support our Advertisers!
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