Recent Faculty News
Chun-Chieh Yen at the National Taichung Theater
November 2019
In a new production with renowned director Sylvia Chang, Amalfi Faculty member Chun-Chieh Yen integrates unforgettable masterpieces of classical music with visual effects and stage projections, recitation, and live vocal performance. Equally enjoyable for adults and children, connoisseurs and amateurs alike, Before the Sunrise promises an evening of thrilling music and gripping storytelling.
James Giles in Recital
May 2019
Amalfi piano program director James Giles gave a recital this spring as part of Northwestern University's 2019-2020 Skyline Piano Artist Series. The recital featured a wide range of music, from Brahms's Sixteen Waltzes to compositions from Mischa Levitzki, Isaac Albeniz, and Earl Wild. Professor Giles encored this lovely program at the Amalfi Coast Festival in July.
Eileen Cornett the the Music Director of Hegge Opera Premiere
March 2018
Esteemed Amalfi Vocal Faculty Eileen Cornett recently served as Music Director & Conductor of the Peabody Chamber Opera's performances of Jake Hegge's newly revised opera, Out of Darkness: Two Remain. The Wall Street Journal calls Heggie “arguably the world’s most popular 21st century opera and art song composer.” His opera, with a libretto by Gene Scheer based in part on the true stories of two Holocaust survivors, was commissioned by Music of Remembrance and received its world premiere in May 2016. Out of Darkness: Two Remain is based on the true stories of Krystyna Zywulska and Gad Beck as told through their own books and writings plus materials from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and interviews from the documentary film Paragraph 175 by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.
Cornett and the Peabody cast worked alongside Hegge as a part of his week-long residency, and performed the work in mid-February as a part of the Peabody Conservatory's Baltimore Outreach Project.
Hee Sung Joo Releases Debut Album of Beethoven Sonatas
February 2018
Congratulations to pianist Hee Sung Joo on the release of her first album, featuring the Hammerklavier & Tempest Sonatas of Beethoven! Her album release solo recital performance was given on February 20, 2018 at IBK Chamber Hall in Seoul, Korea, sponsored by New Cosmos Media.
Amalfi Piano Faculty Niklas Sivelöv Debuts New Work
January 2018
Congratulations to pianist Niklas Sivelöv, who recently debuted his 4th Piano Concerto in Liepzig. Niklas also has a new CD on Naxos: Early Piano Works of Per Nørgård, the influential Danish composer. Sivelöv is a distinctly Nordic artist with an autonomic sentiment. Sivelöv has a repertoire of approximately 50 piano concerti and he performs on more than 25 CD’s of which several have been awarded prizes. And he has collaborated with a large number of leading conductors and soloists, including Mario Venzago, E-P Salonen, J-P Saraste, Alan Gilbert, Leonid Gorokhov, Martin Fröst and Patrick Gallois.
Niklas Sivelöv lives in Malmö and is professor at the Royal Danish Music Academy in Copenhagen.
Welcome Bruce Stasyna, Conductor, to the 2017 Vocal Program!
December 2016
We are excited to welcome conductor Bruce Stasyna to our 2017 Vocal Program. A "highly skilled conductor, choral technician, pianist, vocal coach and music administrator," Bruce Stasyna was recently awarded the position of Chorus Master position at the San Diego Opera. Mr. Stasyna has conducted at New York City Opera, the Green Mountain Opera Festival, Des Moines Metro Opera, Lake George Opera Festival, Opera Roanoke and Sugar Creek Opera. He has enjoyed associations with the National Chorale and has appeared at Wolf Trap Opera as chorus master and guest artist on recital programs featuring Steven Blier. He has given chamber music performance at the Dallas Art Museum, Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, Isabel Bader Performing Arts Center, Victoria International Festival, the St. Lawrence Center for the Arts, in Guatemala City and has held artist residencies at University of Texas Butler Opera Center, Sam Houston State and Emory University. Performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio; Florida, Minnesota, Vermont Public Radio and CJRT Radio Canada. Mr. Stasyna serves as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions at the district and regional levels.
Met Opera Star & Renowned Mezzo-Soprano, Victoria Livengood Joins the 2017 ACMF Vocal Faculty
November 2016
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Victoria Livengood to the 2017 Vocal Faculty. The internationally-renowned Metropolitan Opera star and GRAMMY-nominated mezzo-soprano has been hailed by audiences and critics worldwide for her multi-faceted and powerhouse performances in a remarkably varied repertoire. From the opera stage to the concert stage, critics have lauded her poignant interpretations of a gallery of characters, and describe her "rich, ruby-red voice" as "liquid silk." Acclaimed by the New York Times as "naturally seductive and vocally alluring," Ms. Livengood has become best known for her dynamic portrayals in well over 120 performances with The Metropolitan Opera in New York, and has established herself as a 'house favorite.' As a part of the ACM&AF voice faculty, Ms. Livengood will be giving a special masterclass available to 2017 voice participants in July.
Ursula Oppens Profiled in Washington Post
February 2016
Festival Piano Faculty member, Ursula Oppens, was profiled in The Washington Post this month. Hailed as the champion of American piano music, Dr. Oppens is praised for her skill as "an expert educator," her "heroic" musical persona, and her playing itself, "which exudes warmth, intelligence, contagious enthusiasm, fierce integrity and, to a great degree, the calm that emanates only from wisdom."
Stanley Cornett Wins Peabody Institute 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award
May 2015
Vocal Faculty member, Stanley Cornett, was awarded The Peabody Institute's Excellence in Teaching Award at this month's graduation exercises. Chosen by a committe of his peers, Dr. Cornett was recognized for his devotion to his students and his skill as an expert educator. The Peabody Post reports, "The impact of Stanley’s teaching over the years on so many students was deeply apparent to all members of the committee who unanimously and enthusiastically made this choice."
