Writing in The Guardian , John Gilhooly, director of Wigmore Hall and chair of the Royal Philharmonic Society and recent recipient of CBE among the Queen's Honors, reminds readers of the critical role music can, and should play, in the … » Read

In addition to naming James Gaffigan as its new general music director, Komische Oper Berlin has announced a new First Kapellmeister as of 2022-23, one season ahead of Gaffigan. She is German conductor Erina Yashima , current assistant conductor … » Read

Tino Gagliardi has won a three-year term as president and executive director of the NYC Musicians' Union Local 802, the largest local union of professional musicians in the world. His election, which was unopposed, represents a fourth time around … » Read

Sandra Jaffe, who with her late husband Allan founded Preservation Hall in New Orleans six decades ago, died on Dec. 26 at age 83. A Philadelphia native, she and her husband were returning from their honeymoon in Mexico in 1961, when they stopped … » Read

Musicologist and arts administrator Paolo Pinamonti is to be the next artistic director of the Macerata (Italy) Opera Festival for three years, starting next summer, with Tosca featured on the schedule. He succeeds Barbara Minghetti, in the job … » Read

Composer/arranger/conductor Stephen J. Lawrence, who wrote over 300 songs and scores for Sesame Street , died on December 30 in Belleville, N.J. He was 82. No cause of death was reported. For his 30 years of work for Sesame Street he was awarded … » Read

American conductor James Gaffigan becomes general music director of the Komische Oper Berlin as of  2023/24, succeeding Ainars Rubikis, in the position since 2018/19. His appointment was announced this morning in Berlin by Klaus Lederer, … » Read

CHICAGO—Despite the upheavals of 2020, 2021 has turned out to be a very good year for composer Jessie Montgomery. In April the Chicago Symphony Orchestra named her to a three-year term as composer in residence. The orchestra performed her … » Read

In early December Jonas Kaufmann was due to sing in London over the Christmas holiday, so an interview by Stuart Jeffries for The Guardian seemed in order. Jeffries caught up with the 52-year-old German divo in Naples opposite the Teatro di San … » Read

At the request of Anne Parsons, the outgoing President and CEO of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the organization’s governing board has accepted her immediate resignation to allow her to focus on treatment for her cancer. The current Vice … » Read