The 14th annual New Directions Cello Festival took place in Ithaca New York at Ithaca College from June 6 – 8, 2008
Friday June 6 and Saturday June 7 concerts were open to the public. Tickets were available at the door: $20.00/adults, $12.00/students, $6.00/under 12. The Sunday afternoon concert was free.
Concert Schedule
Friday Evening June 6
7:30 Hockett Recital Hall – Ithaca College’s Whalen Center for Music
* James Hoskins and Sherefe – music of the Balkans, Turkey & the Middle East
* Gunther Tiedemann/David Plate Duo – cello & guitar jazz & pop duo from Germany
* Rushad Eggleston Trio – cello, bass & drums – rock and folk
Saturday Evening June 7
7:30 Hockett Recital Hall – Ithaca College’s Whalen Center for Music
* Montana Skies – – guitar & cello duo from Georgia – originals and covers
* Trevor Exter Trio – singer, songwriter, cellist plus bass & drums
* Hank Roberts Trio & Wingnut – cello, keyboards, bass & drums – avant jazz rock
Sunday afternoon June 8
1:30 pm Hockett Recital Hall – Ithaca College’s Whalen Center for Music – free concert
* Aaron Minsky: World Premiere of “Ten International Cello Encores”
* Cello Big Band
Find out more about the guest artists:
- Montana Skies – www.montanaskiesmusic.com/cello-guitar/home.html
- Hank Roberts & “Wingnut” – www.hankrobertsmusic.com
- Rushad Eggleston Trio – www.myspace.com/snee
- Gunther Tiedemann & David Plate – www.gunther-tiedemann.de
- James Hoskins – with Trio Sherefe – www.cellohoskins.com
- Trevor Exter Band – www.trevorexter.com
- Aaron Minsky – www.voncello.com
The New Directions Cello Festival is a performance and educational forum for nonclassical cello, featuring performances, workshops, and jam sessions led by guest artists (and their groups) who are pioneering new directions for cellists in a wide variety of styles. Workshops and schedule to be announced.
The festival started around noon on Friday June 6 and ran (fairly non-stop) through about 3pm on Sunday June 8.
New Directions Cello Festival 2008
Ithaca College
Master Schedule
Friday June 6
Times WORKSHOPS I
11:00 – 12:30 Registration
1:00 – 2:00 Sera Smolen – Improvising Chamber Music
2:10 – 3:10 Jenn Adams/ Montana Skies -Learn the basics of creating arrangements with guitar
3:20 – 4:20 James Hoskins Beginning Balkan and Middle Eastern Scales and rhythms
4:30 – 5:45 Cello Big Band
WORKSHOPS II
1:00 – 2:00 Jenn Adams/ Montana Skies – Creating original arrangements with guitar (adv.)
2:10 – 3:10 Rushad Eggleston – Prehistoric Communication
3:20 – 4:20 Chris White – Improvising over Big Band changes
4:30 – 5:45 Cello Big Band
FRIDAY EVENING CONCERT
7:30 Ithaca College Cellists – “Hey Mama”
7:45 James Hoskins and Sherefe
8:45 Gunther Tiedemann/David Plate Duo
9:45 Rushad Eggleston Trio
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ___ __ __ __ __
Saturday June 7
10:00 – 5:00 Exhibition and store open
Times WORKSHOPS I
9:00 – 10:00 Trevor Exter – Playing and singing I: demystifying the
full-body activity of doing both at once
10:10 – 11:10 Hank Roberts – I am cello: embracing and letting go of structured frameworks
11:20 – 12:20 Rushad Eggleston – Caveman Rock
12:30 – 2:00 lunch & open time at exhibition
2:00 – 3:00 Sera Smolen: Dances from around the world
3:10 – 4:10 Taqsim: Soloing Over Balkan and Middle Eastern Modes
4:20 – 5:45 Cello Big Band rehearsal
Times WORKSHOPS II
9:00 – 10:00 Montana Skies: Canyon Breeze Jam
10:10 – 11:10 Joel Cohen – Baroque Improvisation
11:20 – 12:20 Chris White – Silent movie project. Learn about creating improvised sound tracks to
silent films
12:30 – 2:00 lunch & open time at exhibition
2:00 – 3:00 Chris White: Bossa Nova Therapy (jam)
3:10 – 4:10 Gunther Tiedemann – Cello Combo: Learn a cello combo piece requiring
strumming, plucking, chopping, hammer-ons, and pluck-offs (advanced).
4:20 – 5:45 Cello Big Band rehearsal
Special Sessions for Teachers
10:30 – 11:30 Alice Kanack – Creative Ability Development Philosophy and Method
4:45 – 5:45 Sera Smolen – Pedagogies of Improvisation-Ways to incorporate improvisation into
your program at every level.
SATURDAY EVENING CONCERT
7:30 Montana Skies
8:30 Trevor Exter Band
9:30 Hank Roberts Trio
After hours jam in dorm: Middle Eastern Dance Party with James Hoskins and Sherefe
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ___ __ __ __ __
Sunday June 8
10:00 – 1:30 Exhibition and store open
Time WORKSHOPS I
9:00 – 10:00 Corinna Eckmeyer – Feldenkrais and Improvisation
10:10 – 11:10 Hank Roberts – I am cello: embracing and letting go of structured frameworks
11:20 – 12:30 Cello Big Band rehearsal
12:30 – 1:15 lunch and final chance in exhibition and store
Time WORKSHOPS II
9:00 – 10:00 Rushad Eggleston – Wizard Rock (advanced)
10:10 – 11:10 Aaron Minsky – International Cello Encores (adv.)
11:20 – 12:30 Cello Big Band rehearsal
12:30 – 1:15 lunch and final chance in exhibition and store
Special Sessions for Teachers
9:00 – 10:00 Discussion and coffee: Teaching Improv in your program
10:00 Alice Kanack – Improvising String Quartets
From the Book of Games: Improvisation Games
11:00 Akua Dixon – Hip Hop Blues Project- teach improvisation using melodic
and rhythmic phrasing techniques
1:30 – 3:00 Farewell Concert
1:30 Aaron Minsky: World Premier: International Cello Encores
2:00 Cello Big Band
Young People’s Cello-Bration
Saturday all day for cellists 8-16
The Young People’s Cello-Bration is a mini-festival within the larger NDCF. This provides a way for cellists ages 8-16 to gain experience with alternative uses of the cello without attending the whole festival The Young People’s Cello-Bration happens on Saturday from 9 to 4:10. All activities are open to cellists of all ages at all times. However, cellists playing in the Cello Big Band are asked to come to all three rehearsals (one each day), so it doesn’t work well for people doing the Young People’s Cello-Bration. Young cellists are welcome to observe the Cello Big Band rehearsal on Saturday. Cellists signed up for the Young People’s Cello-Bration also receive a pizza lunch and a ticket to the evening concert. Parents or others accompanying the young cellists can purchase tickets at the door at the concert. The cost for the Young People’s Cello-Bration is $80.
Ithaca College campus map: www.ithaca.edu/map/index.php
Driving Directions to Ithaca College: www.ithaca.edu/about/directions.php
THE 17th Annual NEW DIRECTIONS CELLO FESTIVAL will take place June 10 – 12, 2011 at Ithaca College in Ithaca NY