BAGHDAD (AP) — War kept him away from his beloved homeland for decades. Now, virtuoso oud player Naseer Shamma hopes to help rebuild conflict-scarred Iraq through a series of concerts and other projects to support culture and education. The … » Read

In an announcement that arrived over the transom late last night, the Las Vegas Philharmonic stated it had “parted ways” with Executive Director Anne Berquist, who joined the organization last May. No further information on the … » Read

Stephen Sondheim, who died at 91 on Nov. 26, left an estate estimated to be worth as much as $75mn. He designated that the entirety—including his personal effects, the rights to his music and literary works and everything else—go to … » Read

The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (CSO), which presents about 20 pops, symphonic, and chamber concerts a season, has named John Kilkenny to succeed Samantha Teter as executive director, starting March 1. Teter has been with the organization for … » Read

Zubin and Nancy Mehta have donated $1mn worth of Tesla shares to the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Mehta has been the principal conductor of the Maggio since 1985, honorary director for life since 2006, and now music director emeritus. … » Read

A six-decade lapse between recordings is hardly the norm for any artist. But then 97-year-old pianist Ruth Slenczynska, whose My Life in Music will be released by Decca on March 18, is not just any artist. Born in Sacramento, CA, in 1925, her … » Read

Pioneering African-American conductor Everett Lee, who led performances of over 1,000 symphonic, opera, and musical theater compositions during his lifetime, died in Malmo, Sweden, on January 12. He was 105. Despite the patronage of Artur … » Read

In a move that surprised many, Josep Caballé Domenech announced his resignation as music director of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic as of May 2023. He joined the orchestra in 2011. "We’re saddened by it,” responded the … » Read

Juilliard String Quartet violist and faculty member Roger Tapping died of cancer on January 18 at his home in Manhattan. He was 61. Tapping joined the quartet and the Juilliard faculty in 2013, succeeding Samuel Rhodes when he retired from the … » Read

It's not surprising that many faculty members at the Cleveland Institute of Music also have a regular gig with the local band. The latest CIM faculty news sees the return of the Cleveland Orchestra’s principal bass Maximilian Dimoff … » Read