Catalog

HOLIDAY JOY by Essential Voices USA, under the direction of acclaimed conductor Judith Clurman, offers a moving celebration of light, peace, and joy for the holiday season. This collection brings together three evocative works: Eight Days of Lights and Chanukah Joy and Peace, composed by Clurman and David Chase, and The Holidays Are Here, co-written by Clurman and Wesley Whatley. Through a blend of Jewish liturgical traditions and festive Christmas spirit, the album illuminates the universal need for light and hope in dark times.

With vivid instrumental arrangements for piano, clarinet, and cello, and stunning performances by Essential Voices USA, HOLIDAY JOY creates a sense of warmth and unity, inviting listeners to reflect on freedom, resilience, and shared celebration. Each piece not only honors its historical and cultural origins but also breathes new life into holiday music, making this album an inspiring and joyful experience for all.

The programmatic character of the First Sonata for Piano by Charles Ives according to John Kirkpatrick, has “the family together in the 1st and 5th movements; the boy is sowing his oats in the ragtimes (2nd and 4th movements; and there is parental anxiety in the third movement. The hymns quoted in each specific movement strengthen the programmatic aspect of the sonata and structure the composition as a large overall five-part arch form. The First Sonata is a landmark of American piano literature, although less well known than Ives’ Concord Sonata. John Noel Roberts has demonstrated his interpretive skills, technical ability, and wide-ranging piano repertoire in solo and concerto performances around the world. A graduate of Eastman and Yale, he was formerly artist in residence and head of music at the Western Australian Conservatorim of Music. He has also served on the faculties at Furman, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mercer University, Stephen F. Austin University, and Concordia College. He currently serves on the faculty at Our Lady of the Lake University.

Christopher Rouse was one of America’s most prominent composers. Winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize in Music, he created a body of work perhaps unequalled in its emotional intensity. Three of his concertos — for trumpet, oboe, and bassoon — are included in this recording. Eric Berlin is principal trumpet of the Albany Symphony and assistant principal trumpet of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. He has commissioned, premiered, and recorded numerous new works for trumpet. Katherine Needleman is principal oboist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with orchestras around the U.S. Peter Kolkay is the only bassoonist to receive an Avery Fisher Career Grant. In demand as a chamber musician, recitalist, and soloist with orchestras, he is on the faculty at Vanderbilt. The Albany Symphony, led by conductor David Alan Miller, has received four Grammy nominations and is both a 2014 and 2021 Grammy award winner.

In his introduction, James Adler says that Reflections is “an image, a return of light or energy, a sign or result, even a thought. This album is a celebration for and a reflection upon special friends, composers, and specific works that are close to my heart.” A Curtis Reflection, commissioned by The Curtis Institute of Music for their Centenary Commissioning Initiative, is a celebration of Adler’s years of study at Curtis. Judith Clurman, conductor of Essential Voices USA said “I enjoyed hearing ‘A Curtis Reflection’ and look forward to hearing it again.” Works by Henco Espag and Paul Turok represent his friends and the Debussy and Schumann Kinderszenen are works from his heart. James Adler is a pianist who “can create whatever type of music he wants at the keyboard” (Chicago Sun-Times) and a composer who writes “with uncommon imagination” (Atlanta Journal). As a performer and composer, Adler can be heard on the Albany Records, Capstone, Navona, and Ravello record labels. He is on the faculty at Saint Peter’s University and is the recipient of the 2017 Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

Saxophonist Allison Adams, along with collaborators Andrea Lodge and Liz Bouk, has recorded seven new works for saxophone. Adams is on the faculty at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she shares her excitement for music with the next generation of music educators and performers. A versatile performer in addition to a pedagogue, Adams has been a featured soloist at venues across the world. A graduate of Ithaca College, the University of Minnesota, and Arizona State University, she also does research and writes about performance injuries.

This collection of recordings of works for cello and violin represents a long-time collaboration between Curtis Macomber and Norman Fischer. Their respective careers have featured countless contemporary music performances and recordings, so it was only natural that they would record these duos, composed by five renowned creators of new music. Both Macomber and Fischer have enjoyed stellar careers. Macomber is hailed as one of the most versatile solo and chamber musicians before the public today, with a discography ranging from complete Brahms String Quartets to the Roger Sessions Solo Sonata. Fischer is a Grammy-award winner and has concertized on five continents and 49 of the 50 United States.

On this recording by the Dallas Chamber Symphony, two major works by American composers offer representative views of the migrant experience. In Chasing Home, composed in 2017 by Joseph Thalken, conversations with refugees from around the world inspired dance scenes based on the plight of migrants fleeing the Syrian Civil War. Appalachian Spring is a ballet about pioneers in Pennsylvania in that time when opportunity and open space drew Americans ever farther west. The Dallas Chamber Symphony, led by Richard McKay, was founded in 2011 and is renowned for its musical excellence, imaginatively curated concerts and groundbreaking multidisciplinary collaborations.

Composer Cecil Price Walden says that Hours “is a journey through a dark night of the soul,” with inspiration taken from the Book of Hours — an exact guide for how and when to pray. Born in 1991, Walden draws on the rich musical, literary, and culinary legacies of the South to create work that is both familiar and new. Mezzo-soprano Alice Anne Light is known for her expressive, limpid singing and sound technique across a broad variety of repertoire. She is a frequent performer on the opera stage, in musical theater, and in recital. She is on the faculty of Texas Tech University.

In this contemporary reimagining of Wilhelm Müller’s poetry cycle Winterreise — most famously set by Schubert — an everyman at the end of his rope confronts his inner demons in an emotionally charged vocal tour de force. Composer Douglas J. Cuomo is known for his concert, operatic, theatrical, television, and film compositions. His music is influenced by jazz, world music, classical and popular sources, as well as his spiritual practice as a Buddhist. Along with the operas Doubt, and Arjuna’s Dilemma, he has written for the London Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony, Romero Guitar Quartet, Joe Lovano, Denyce Graves, Christine Brewer, Nels Cline, Maya Beiser and others. He composed the theme for Sex & the City and scored over 20 feature films.

Cellist Eric Kutz says that this recording had its roots in the pandemic. Facing cancellation of numerous performances, he turned to the Bach Suites, bringing to his performances of them the life experience of an adult. Eric Kutz has captivated audiences across North America, Asia, and Europe. His diverse collaborations cut across musical styles and have ranged from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to jazz great Ornette Coleman. He is active as a teacher, a chamber musician, an orchestral musician, and a concerto soloist. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Rice University, he is currently on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Music. He performs on a cello by Raffaele Fiorini (Bologna, 1877) and a bow by Jacob Eury (Paris, 1810).

In his introduction, pianist Agustin Muriago says that “This recording showcases Argentine composers from different backgrounds and time periods whose works are rooted in folk music. Most of these composers combined a Eurocentric musical tradition with Argentine folk music, producing stylized versions of milongas, tangos, and vidalas…” Agustin Muriago has presented recitals featuring Latin-American music at festivals in Hong Kong, New York, the Sonus International Music Festival and the Latin American Music Center, among others and offered recitals, lectures, and master classes in China, Chile, Brazil, and the U.S. A graduate of The Hartt School, New York University, and Rowan University, he now serves on the faculty at the Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University.

Harmony in Black is part of a five-year initiative by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra that aims to elevate the voices of an array of living, diverse composers throughout the United States. For this first recording composers Patrice Rushen and William Banfield are featured. Their three compositions do not quote spiritual melodies directly but do embody the spirit of those songs by drawing either on direct quotation of speeches or writings. Multi-Grammy nominated artist Patrice Rushen is admired by many for her groundbreaking achievements including serving as Musical Director for the 46th-48th Annual Grammy Awards. Dr. William Banfield has produced a body of work in the past 25 years that includes music, books, teaching and creative work that contributes to contemporary arts leadership. Banfield is an award-winning composer who is now serving as Composer-in-Residence of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.

Conductor Andrew Koehler comments that Steven Holochwost’s compositional language is almost always informed through conversations with the past and though he does not shy away from sonorous climax, his music tends toward a mode of expression that favors the quiet and reflective. Holochwost studied composition at Yale and Rutgers, earning his doctorate under the tutelage of Charles Wuorinen. Holochwost has received grants, awards, and fellowships from Rutgers, Princeton, the National Association of Composers, the Fisher Foundation, and ASCAP. He also has a PhD in developmental psychology. This is his second recording for Albany Records. Currently the music director of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia, Andrew Koehler has been honored for his innovative and thoughtful programming. He is active as a guest conductor in the U.S. and throughout the world.

This recording of works by four composers highlights the diversity of America. Edmund Thornton Jenkins came from Charleston, South Carolina. He studied at Morehouse and the Royal Academy of Music in London. His artistry encompassed classical music as well as jazz, but he died prematurely, cutting short his career. John Wineglass is an Emmy-Award winning composer who is currently composer-in-residence with the Monterey Symphony. Beth Denisch music has been performed around the world with her music drawing inspiration from artist and authors, nature and astronomy, and unexpected places: real and imaginary. Born in Russia, Elena Roussanova is a composer, pianist, and educator, whose career includes a long list of accomplishments, including Composer-in-Residence for the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2020. She was awarded the American Prize in Composition for Orchestral Music in 2017-18 and her works have been performed by both American and international orchestras.

Composer/conductor Julius P. Williams leads the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra in a recording of works by Black composers. In addition to Williams’ compositions, there are works by the Dean of African-American composers, William Grant Still, Augustus O. Hill, and a work by Edmund Thornton Jenkins restored and arranged by his nephew Tuffus Zimbabwe. Julius P. Williams was named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year in 2022. His career has taken him to musical venues around the globe and he has been involved in virtually every musical genre. He is currently Artistic Director and Conductor of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and was composer-in-residence with the Boston Symphony. His music has been performed by countless symphony orchestras including the New York Philharmonic. Cleveland Orchestra, and Detroit Symphony, to name but a few. His recordings appear on the Albany, Centaur, Videmus, and Naxos labels.

Pianist Rochelle Sennet says in her introduction that this third volume of Bach to Black: Suites for Piano, represents her continuing interest in performing suites and multi-movement works by Black composers in combination with the suites of Johann Sebastian Bach. This volume contains world premiere recordings of suites by Adolphus Hailstork and James Lee III as well as Black women composers Margaret Bonds, Montague Ring, Nkeiru Okoye, and Betty Jackson King, as well as a suite by William Grant Still. Dr. Sennet has established herself as a well-known performer, teacher, and scholar, with solo performances around the United States as well as in Russia. She studied at the San Francisco Conservatory, the University of Michigan, Texas Christian University, and the University of Illinois. She is on the faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Saloons, Salons, and Salutations is a musical journey through the American West and the salons of Europe, weaving together the diversity of female voices across different eras and styles. These eclectic — sometimes irreverent — compositions, brought to life by soprano Serena Hill LaRoche and pianist Catherine Garner, pay homage to the creativity and innovation of women in the world of classical music. Serena Hill LaRoche has earned praise for her "power, virtuosity and elegance" with "a thrilling instrument at the top of its range." An active concert artist she has performed as a recitalist, opera singer, and soloist with orchestras. She was a 2003 finalist in the Southeast Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and the 2006 Artist of the Year with FBN Productions, Inc. LaRoche studied at the University of South Carolina and the University of North Alabama. She is on the faulty of the University of South Carolina. Her collaborator, pianist Catherine Garner is on the faculty at Appalachian State University. She is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Florida State University, and Louisiana State University.

British born composer Clara Kathleen Rogers spent most of her compositional life in Boston where she contributed to the role the Second New England School played in the development of American classical music. She trained as an opera singer and studied piano with Ignaz Moscheles and Hans von Bülow. This recording provides a survey of 24 art songs showcasing Rogers' range of musical styles and influences. Admired by Opera News as "a superb singing actor with a clear, ringing instrument and peerless diction," tenor Bryon Grohman has received international recognition for performances of opera, oratorio, and ensemble repertoire. He studied at Indiana University as well as the New England Conservatory of Music and is currently on the faculty at Wake Forest University. Pianist Peter Kairoff has performed throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia and has seven recordings in his discography. He is also on the faculty at Wake Forest University.

Composer Jeremy Haladyna has created compositions inspired by his trips to the Mayan region and his research of more than 35 years into Precolumbian thought. His Mayan Cycle now stretches to 37 pieces, some of which are heard on this recording A laureate of the Lili Boulanger Prize, he taught at the University of California Santa Barbara for 29 years and was director of their Ensemble for Contemporary Music. His music has been heard at major venues around the world and his discography includes recorded performances of him as a pianist, conductor, and organist.

Composer Bradley Ellingboe says that the central premise of StarSong is that the atoms that make up our bodies — and the stars themselves — are immeasurably old. They existed before the combined into the unique form that makes us humans, and all these atoms and molecules and electrons vibrate, just like sound and light. The work is in 12 movements that include an overture and 11 texts set to music. Ellingboe has had a wide-ranging career in the world of singing, including composing, as a soloist, a conductor, scholar, and teacher. He served as the Composer-in-Residence for Albany Pro Music for the 2020-2023 seasons. Albany Pro Musica is the preeminent choral ensemble in New York’s Capital Region, and is know for its exceptional technical competency, artistry, and relevant programming. Conductor José Daniel Flores-Caraballo is the widely acclaimed conductor of Albany Pro Musica. A trained organist and celebrated choral and orchestral conductor, he served as Dean of Academic Affairs at the Conservatory of Music in San Juan. The stunning art on the cover was done by Carlos Flores.

This recording is a collection that includes eight world premieres and is the most comprehensive and wide-ranging album of Chinese solo string works to date. Encompassing music by two generations of contemporary Chinese composers, celebrated and emerging, the featured works are inspired by global literature, the tonal Mandarin and Cantonese languages, Chinese folk culture, and the soundscape of Hong Kong. Praised for his "deeply expressive, finely nuanced playing" (The Strad), Honolulu-born violinist Patrick Yim has performed on stages around the world. His recordings appear on the Naxos, Navona, Ravello, and Acis labels. A strong advocate of contemporary music, Yim has commissioned more than 40 works to date. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Stony Brook University. He is currently Assistant Professor of Violin in the Department of Music and a Faculty Fellow at the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

This second recording of orchestral works by Narong Prangcharoen on Albany Records includes three works, one inspired by the composer’s experiences in Orange County, California; the second by the relationship between humans and fire; and the third by the relationship between sound, echo, and silence. Narong Prangcharoen enjoys an international reputation and is recognized as one of Asia’s leading composers. His music has been performed in Asia, America, Australia, and Europe by many renowned ensembles. Prangcharoen is a dean of the College of Music at Mahidol University and composer-in-residence of the Thailand Philharmonic.

Rendezvous in the Salon invites you to experience a collection of performances that explore the rich and vibrant world of American art song. The recording includes world premiere performances of three cycles by Steve Danyew, Roger C. Vogel, and David Leisner as well as a cycle by Ned Rorem. Soprano Natalie Mann is an active recitalist, concert soloist, and opera singer. She received a Metropolitan Opera Encouragement Award and was the winner of the Audience Favorite Award in the David W. Scott Memorial Competition and the Hawaii Public Radio International Art Song Competition. She is a graduate of Butler University, the University of Wollongong, and Indiana University. She is joined on this recording by pianists Tali Tadmor, Catherine Miller, and bassoonist Bruce Magnum.

Violinist Igor Kalnin references Emily Dickinson's poem, Hope is the thing with feathers, as capturing the spirit he wanted to express with this recording. He hopes that this collection of solo violin music will connect with other people in the same uplifting was as Dickinson's poem. There is a wide variety of musical, stylistic, and technical variety in the compositions as it features works by composers from various backgrounds and cultures. Kalnin has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra leader. A native of Russia he was on the faculty at the Glinka State Conservatory and performed with the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin. After coming to the US in 2004 he taught at Yale and Luther College. He is now Artist-Teacher of Violin at Illinois State University. He is a laureate of several international and national violin and chamber music competitions in the U.S., Europe, and Russia.

Sojourn features new works for piano all written in the 21st century, six of which are newly commissioned. Pianist Jessica Johnson performs these works on a DS Standard 5.5 piano keyboard. This alternatively sized piano keyboard allows a whole new level of artistic and technical freedom for pianists with small handspans. Johnson, who serves on the piano faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studied at the University of Michigan and East Carolina University. She is an advocate for new music, an active clinician, and has held residencies at major universities and colleges throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. She is a three-time winner of American Music Teacher’s Article of the Year Award.

This recording of music for violin by women composers comes from the first two volumes of a four-volume anthology compiled by Dr. Cora Cooper. Her intention is to offer an easily obtainable collection of short pieces by women that could be integrated with standard literature. This recording, then, will be a great resource for students, teachers, and performers. Canadian violinist Maureen Yuen has performed, taught, and adjudicated globally. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, and Columbia University, she is on the faculty at Drake University and enjoys an active career as a solo and chamber music performer. Her colleague, pianist Eric Ruple is on the faculty at James Madison University. An active member of the American Liszt Society, he has also been a regular adjudicator in Hong Kong.

The works heard on this recording were written by composers who are friends of both performers, Tim Gill and David Gompper. Cross-cultural connections extend beyond the two universities represented: Cambridge and Iowa. Both Richard Causton and David Gompper studied with Jeremy Dale Roberts, who taught at the Royal College of Music and at the University of Iowa. Their colleagues — Jeremy Thurlow and Darren Bloom, Jean-François Charles and Zack Stanton — are joined by Zoë Martlew, a cellist/composer who received a commission to write for this duo. The music reflects the diversity of styles being written today on both continents. Tim Gill is recognized as one of the most versatile instrumentalists of his generation, equally at home in the works of Beethoven or Xenakis. He is in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, and principal cellist, having led the cello sections of all the London orchestras. He is a professor at the Guildhall School of Music. David Gompper studied at the Royal College of Music and the University of Michigan. He is on the faculty at the University of Iowa, and directs the Center for New Music. Noted as a composer and pianist, his compositions have been performed around the world.

Pianist Jeffrey Middleton graduated from the Juilliard School and received his Doctor of Musical Arts from The Yale School of Music. His career has included chamber music, vocal coaching and accompanying, solo performances, and teaching. Since meeting Joseph Fennimore in the mid 1980's, Mr. Middleton has been studying and performing his music. In addition to Cathay and Twenty Four Romances for Solo Piano, he has directed a production of Fennimore's Eventide, a three-character opera adapted from a text by James Purdy, at the Harlem School of the Arts. He also performed Molinos de Viento, a piano trio based on Hispanic themes, and many other works. Mr. Middleton is currently on the faculty of the School of American Ballet, Lincoln Center, where he teaches music for dancers. He received the Mae Wien Award for distinguished faculty service in 2010. He also worked for more than 20 years as vocal coach/accompanist for Betty Allen's Master Voice Class at the Harlem School of the Arts. For this, his fourth recording for Albany Records, he performs two works by Joseph Fennimore and Debussy's Douze Études.

Essential Voices USA conducted by Judith Clurman performs choral music for Christmas including Illumination by Pierre Jalbert; The Snow by Bill Cutter; and a superlative arrangement of favorite Christmas carols for chorus and string quartet. Titled Christmas Joy, the work includes Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Angels We Have Heard on High; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; O Come, All Ye Faithful; and Joy to the World.

Pianist Kyra Zhao says that “Vibrant, just like the title sounds, is a colorful excursion taking the listener’s ear on a journey from the dreamy seashore to the roaring thunder and from intimate friendship encounters to triumphant marches.” The works by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and Schumann are essential repertoire of the Romantic to the early 20th century era. Hailed by New York Concert Review as “A born performer” pianist Kyra Xuerong Zhao has achieved an international reputation in many countries as a concert pianist. She won top prizes at the Seattle International Piano Competition, Rome Chopin International Piano Competition, and the Quebec International Music Awards, among many others. She has performed recitals, concertos, and chamber concerts in the most prestigious halls in the world. A graduate of Boston University, Yale, and the Mannes School of Music, she is currently on the faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music Pre-College.

A magical new recital featuring the world-première recording of Britten’s only Russian-language cycle The Poet’s Echo in the English-language translation that Peter Pears crafted during the period of the cycle’s composition in Yerevan, Armenia (1965). Tenor Justin Vickers and pianist John Orfe essay important performances of Britten’s Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo alongside Britten’s mysterious Goethe setting, “Um Mitternacht” (1960). This rich recital release introduces two additional world-première song cycles composed for Vickers. In the Six Chinese Songs (2019-2020) composed by Colin Matthews in memory of the tenor’s father John E. Vickers (1942–2017), we hear Matthews’s reflections on his own musical father, Britten, for whom Matthews served as the last musical assistant. In John David Earnest’s Songs of Hadrian (2014), we enter the world of second-century Roman Emperor Hadrian and his love and ultimate grief and madness over his eromenos Antinous. The disc concludes with a work Vickers uncovered in the Britten–Pears Library in its world-première recording: the “Epilogue” (1945) to The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, which Britten cut from the cycle. This is a recording that is a must-have for Britten devotees and finds American tenor Justin Vickers at the top of his craft, accompanied by one of America’s most accomplished pianists in John Orfe (of the acclaimed ensemble Alarm Will Sound).

The Bowling Green Philharmonia continues its unique approach of having composers speak about their compositions. This ninth volume in the series includes works by Mikel Kuehn, Shulamit Ran, Gabriela Frank, Louis Karchin, and Augusta Read Thomas. Conductor Emily Freeman Brown has spearheaded this important series that includes works written for the Bowling Green Philharmonia. A graduate of Eastman, Brown has appeared as a conductor with orchestras in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. Her recordings appear on the Naxos, Linn, and Opus One as well as Albany Records.