At Caramoor, Anything is Possible October 13, 2010 Being 21 is difficult. A young jazz musician, I am on the brink of my career, eager to practice and perform as much as possible. The pressure that I naturally impose on myself is necessary in order to succeed; however, I often become overly perfectionist and forget why I fell in love with music in the first place: playing music is fun. There is nothing more powerful than getting up on stage and truly expressing yourself. When I’m able to turn off the critical tapes in my mind and allow the music to take over, magic happens. Under the direction of great teachers, I’ve been able to realize new possibilities within my music and delve into new emotional terrains. Although there is a long road ahead, I feel confident that my teachers will help me to find my true musical voice.
The Rising Stars Program at Caramoor is unique in that it combines the classroom with a professional stage. The Rising Stars eat, sleep and practice together, sharing in the joys and frustrations of what it’s like to be a young artist. I can only imagine how amazing it must be to come to Caramoor for an entire week and focus on the emotions and the meaning behind some of the post powerful chamber pieces ever written. The Rising Stars are lucky in that they are working with mentors whose emphasis is not perfection but rather honest, informed music making. In a way, Caramoor creates a cocoon in which young musicians are nurtured; at the end of their week residency, the rising stars have emerged, more knowledgeable and a bit more ready for their next endeavors. Pamela Frank, director of the Rising Stars Program, puts it perfectly when she says “at Caramoor anything is possible.”
On October 25th, eight rising stars will arrive at Caramoor for the unique opportunity to focus on nothing but music. The week residency will culminate on October 30th and 31st with two concerts, featuring the music of Haydn, Webern, Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel, Schumann, and Brahms.
Have you ever been able to isolate yourself for a week and just focus on what you love? Tell me about it by leaving a comment below. Be on the look out for a TWEET announcing our next blog in which you’ll meet the first four rising stars.
Michael Barrett and Pamela Frank discuss the 2009 Caramoor Rising Stars program
