2008 Woodie Awards
Ensemble-in-residence wins Grammy
By: Christine Digangi
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News
On Sunday, Feb. 10, eighth blackbird violinist Matt Albert was in the audience watching his fellow ensemble member Michael Maccaferri's performance when he received word that the ensemble's album, Strange Imaginary Animals, had won two Grammy Awards. The six members were not together the night they won, but all were excited when they heard the news.
"We didn't expect this was going to happen," said Albert in a phone interview. "It's a wonderful, amazing recognition, almost like a pat on the back saying 'Wow, you accomplished something!'"
eighth blackbird, DePauw's ensemble-in-residence, released the album in Nov. 2006, but this was the first time it received Grammy nominations. It was a contender in three categories. The ensemble won Best Chamber Music Performance, and its producer, Judith Sherman, won Producer of the Year in the classical category for five albums, including Strange Imaginary Animals.
The group hopes that the award will open up new opportunities. With such a high profile achievement on their resume, they anticipate larger audiences and different performance venues.
"It gives you a certain stamp of recognition that a lot of people know," Albert said.
Carlos Carrillo, an assistant professor of music composition and theory, has known the members of eighth blackbird for about 10 years. He said the award will increase their popularity, and the group deserves the honor after many years of hard work. He also said that their presence not only as professional performers, but also as award-winning musicians, is a great model for students.
Nearly two weeks ago, the ensemble performed its second DePauw concert of the year in the Kresge Auditorium after a week of teaching and playing in studio and classroom settings in late January. Many students have had the opportunity to work with these professional musicians during their visits to DePauw, and are looking forward to interacting with the Grammy winners again when the group returns to campus in April.
Sophomore flutist Sarah Wachter has been preparing for their return during the Second Annual Contemporary Music Micro-Festival, during which she may have the chance to play one of the pieces eighth blackbird performed on campus with a fellow student and the ensemble's cellist, Nicholas Photinos.
"They're not pretentious," Wachter said. "It's really cool, despite them being Grammy-Award-winning and being incredible at what they do, they're really willing to work with students, welcoming us to join in and learn."
When asked how she felt about being on a first-name basis with award-winning musicians, she said she felt lucky, but she said the award also had a greater significance for the ensembles like eighth blackbird.
"I was excited for the world of contemporary instrumental music because a lot of people don't know it exists, or they hear it and they don't know what it is," Wachter said.
eighth blackbird isn't the only group of people that this award positively affects. Scott Spiegelberg, an assistant professor of music and coordinator of music theory, said the ensemble's accomplishment influences the School of Music and its students. Not only does having a Grammy-winning ensemble-in-residence add to the prestige of the school; the title proves just how unique the opportunity is.
"[Students] either don't have the experience to recognize [the talent], because they haven't heard enough top-notch people yet to be able to make those comparisons, or they just don't trust themselves," Spiegelberg said. He said he hoped the national recognition will enhance the learning environment.
eighth blackbird will be continuing visiting residencies at DePauw and University of Chicago, as well as permanent residencies at University of Michigan and University of Richmond. More information on eighth blackbird can be found at www.eighthblackbird.com.
"We didn't expect this was going to happen," said Albert in a phone interview. "It's a wonderful, amazing recognition, almost like a pat on the back saying 'Wow, you accomplished something!'"
eighth blackbird, DePauw's ensemble-in-residence, released the album in Nov. 2006, but this was the first time it received Grammy nominations. It was a contender in three categories. The ensemble won Best Chamber Music Performance, and its producer, Judith Sherman, won Producer of the Year in the classical category for five albums, including Strange Imaginary Animals.
The group hopes that the award will open up new opportunities. With such a high profile achievement on their resume, they anticipate larger audiences and different performance venues.
"It gives you a certain stamp of recognition that a lot of people know," Albert said.
Carlos Carrillo, an assistant professor of music composition and theory, has known the members of eighth blackbird for about 10 years. He said the award will increase their popularity, and the group deserves the honor after many years of hard work. He also said that their presence not only as professional performers, but also as award-winning musicians, is a great model for students.
Nearly two weeks ago, the ensemble performed its second DePauw concert of the year in the Kresge Auditorium after a week of teaching and playing in studio and classroom settings in late January. Many students have had the opportunity to work with these professional musicians during their visits to DePauw, and are looking forward to interacting with the Grammy winners again when the group returns to campus in April.
Sophomore flutist Sarah Wachter has been preparing for their return during the Second Annual Contemporary Music Micro-Festival, during which she may have the chance to play one of the pieces eighth blackbird performed on campus with a fellow student and the ensemble's cellist, Nicholas Photinos.
"They're not pretentious," Wachter said. "It's really cool, despite them being Grammy-Award-winning and being incredible at what they do, they're really willing to work with students, welcoming us to join in and learn."
When asked how she felt about being on a first-name basis with award-winning musicians, she said she felt lucky, but she said the award also had a greater significance for the ensembles like eighth blackbird.
"I was excited for the world of contemporary instrumental music because a lot of people don't know it exists, or they hear it and they don't know what it is," Wachter said.
eighth blackbird isn't the only group of people that this award positively affects. Scott Spiegelberg, an assistant professor of music and coordinator of music theory, said the ensemble's accomplishment influences the School of Music and its students. Not only does having a Grammy-winning ensemble-in-residence add to the prestige of the school; the title proves just how unique the opportunity is.
"[Students] either don't have the experience to recognize [the talent], because they haven't heard enough top-notch people yet to be able to make those comparisons, or they just don't trust themselves," Spiegelberg said. He said he hoped the national recognition will enhance the learning environment.
eighth blackbird will be continuing visiting residencies at DePauw and University of Chicago, as well as permanent residencies at University of Michigan and University of Richmond. More information on eighth blackbird can be found at www.eighthblackbird.com.
Be the first to comment on this story