Russian Wind Quintet: February 2004
... the Quintet moves down to the Shoreline region for its big benefit concert in Guilford.
Day 4: Guilford, Connecticut
| The Shoreline Arts Alliance was presenting the joint Russian Wind Quintet & Brubeck Brothers Quartet concert on February 7. Part of the program they had set for us (and Chris and Danny) was an afternoon of sectional teach-ins with Guilford High School Musicians. Here, the Quintet and the Brubecks play with the high school's incredible jazz band. |  |
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While Chris Brubeck worked with the high school's jazz band on improvisation, the Quintet musicians worked with students of their instruments. They had been given the middle movement of Andrey Rubtsov's Three Moods to work on. Clockwise from left, Andrey Snegirev works with basoonists on fingering; hornist Alexei Serov works with two young french horn players; Andrey Rubtsov instructs a young oboist; Maxim Rubtsov singlehandedly leads a lesson for two dozen flutists; Andrey Shuty instructs a classroom full of clarinetists. |
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Music legends give tips to teens (New Haven Register, 2/8/04) ... About 60 youths stayed after school for the two-hour workshops. Most were Guilford students, but others traveled from towns such as Branford and Old Lyme to take advantage of the unique opportunity to learn from the notable professionals, said Donita Aruny, executive director of the Shoreline Arts Alliance. The opportunity was open to all high school students in the Shoreline served by the alliance. "It was great," said Guilford High School sophomore Allie Pincus, who attended the workshop given by Russian oboist Andre Rubtsov, a young composer whose piece the quintet will play at tonight's performance. "It was a really good opportunity to work out technical details and a chance for me to work one-on-one with a really good player," she said. ... One Guilford student - voicing the thoughts of many - said the Guilford students were motivated to attend because their school was the host for the event. By the time it was over, however, they felt "it was an experience they would never forget, and they had learned something," Aruny said. "It was extremely great," said sophomore Lanzi Butler, who sat in on the jazz workshop session." | |
| After a long day, the musicians and their managers are welcomed to Guilford with a lasagne feast at the home of Donita and John Aruny, who graciously host the Quintet for their four days on the Shoreline. Right, clarinetist Andrey Shuty enjoys his lasagne under a watchful feline eye. |  |
Day 5: Guilford, Connecticut
| It's Friday and there is a full day to prepare for Saturday night's concert. But, again, there is a whole new piece to learn: Chris Brubeck's Vignettes for Nonet, a work he recently composed for wind quintet and jazz quartet. The First Congregational Church of Guilford generously made their piano and sanctuary available to the nine musicians. The rehearsal stretched on into the early evening, during which the quartet's accomplished pianist, Chuck Lamb, discovered the concept (courtesy of Dunkin Donuts) of "A Box of Coffee." |  |
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| A marvelous dinner, full of toasts and fine cuisine, was had at Guilford's Stone House Restaurant, courtesy of Shoreline Arts Alliance (SAA) Director Richard Sherwin (seated, between Chris Brubeck and Richard's wife, Margot). On Chris' right is Andrey Rubtsov. Standing, from left to right: Donita Aruny (Program Director, SAA), John Aruny, Maxim Rubtsov, Dan Brubeck, Andrey Snegirev, Chuck Lamb, Andrey Shuty, Paul Richardson, Alexei Serov, Julie McClennan (Executive Director, SAA), Mary Ann Allin, Debra Bresnan, acclaimed jazz guitarist Mike DeMicco. | |
Day 6: East Haven, Connecticut
| Dress rehearsal and sound check at East Haven HS Performing Arts Center. The impressive new arts center seats 700, and the concert tonight is sold out. In just a few hours, every one of these seats will be filled. |  |
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While getting ready for their stage rehearsal, Andrey Rubtsov and Andrey Shuty take in the massive sandwich that awaits the musicians after they finish their work. |
| A truly successful musician (Chris Brubeck assured us of this), is able to catch a few winks of sleep wherever he can get it. With rehearsals done and two hours to go before the big performance, Andrey Shuty takes a cat nap in the shower of the dressing room. |  |
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The band is ready and the performance is set to begin. Back row: Dan Brubeck, Andrey Rubtsov, Chris Brubeck, Chuck Lamb. Front row: Alexei Serov, Maxim Rubtsov, Andrey Snegirev, Andrey Shuty, Mike DeMicco. |
| The concert this evening is a benefit concert for the Shoreline Arts Alliance and Dr. Mel Goldstein's Multiple Myeloma Research Fund at Yale Cancer Center. Dr. Goldstein is the beloved TV weatherman on Connecticut's Channel 8 (WTNH). Diagnosed seven years ago with multiple myeloma, a rare and fatal (usually within 2 years) cancer of the bone marrow, he has since confounded the experts, continuing to work as a weathercaster and raise money for a faculty research position at Yale on his disease. Dr. Mel (front row, right) and Richard Sherwin (back row, right), join the Quintet musicians and Chris Brubeck before the concert. |  |
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Pianist Chuck Lamb watches the Russian Wind Quintet and Dan Brubeck (on drums) perform Crescent City Suite during the first half of the concert. The packed house exhults at the end of the concert, demanding two encores, which the Quintet and Quartet play together: Blue Rondo a la Turk and a special arrangment of Take Five. |
Day 7: Guilford, Connecticut
| It's another day off from performances and time for more rehearsals, this time for the Bermuda Festival. But, late this evening, during a dinner at Julie McClennan's house, the Quintet finds out that the Russian National Orchestra has won its first Grammy award (and the first ever for a Russian orchestra). The following morning, oboist Andrey Rubtsov goes on local television to talk about the award and Saturday night's concert. Watch the interview here. |  |
Next stop, Bermuda! ...
Photography by Paul Richardson