While violist Isabel Hagen was pursuing her master’s at Juilliard, pain in her shoulder and wrist necessitated a two-month break from playing. Because she had also begun to experience performance anxiety, the break proved to be a welcome … » Read

Italian conductor Alberto Veronesi, a well-regarded verismo specialist and DG recording artist, opened the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago July 14 conducting La Bohème blindfolded. It was his way of protesting French director Christophe … » Read

In conjunction with its 2023-24 class of Dudamel Fellows, the Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced Rodolfo Barráez [pictured], himself a onetime Dudamel Fellow and 2023 Hong Kong International Conducting Competition winner , as its … » Read

Kris Chesky, who studied trumpet at Berklee School of Music and went on to become a dance-band leader and celebrated transdisciplinary researcher, has been appointed a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins … » Read

Jonas Kaufmann’s cancellations are becoming more frequent than his appearances. In June, reviews reported vocal troubles in Werther at the Royal Opera House, from which he withdrew on the final night (replaced, to acclaim, by Juan Diego … » Read

West Virginia’s Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has hired Sonja Thoms as its new executive director. Thoms since 2015 has been VP of operations for the Nashville Symphony. She holds an MM in oboe performance from the Shepherd School of … » Read

The Grand Teton Music Festival (GTMF) has announced a three-year extension—to 2029—to the contract of Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles. At that time, he will have served in that capacity for 23 years. Speaking on behalf of the … » Read

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music has announced the death of André Watts, distinguished professor of piano, on July 12 at the age of 77. Born in Nuremberg, Germany, he was a child prodigy and initially studied with his mother; … » Read

A spate of retirements by Bay Area musicians has prompted them to share reflections about their long careers with the San Francisco Chronicle. French hornist Bruce Roberts retired last month after 35 years. When he arrived from Utah in 1988 to … » Read

The Shed, envisioned by its donors as a $495 million font of avant-garde creativity amid the glass and steel of the Hudson Yards remake in lower Manhattan, has hired the CEO of the Boston Ballet, Meredith Hodges, for the same role. The move is … » Read