Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Mark Laycock

Musicopia Inspires Young Musicians in Philly

Thanks very much to Denise Kinney for making the drive up from Philadelphia this afternoon to talk with us at WWFM – The Classical Network about Musicopia, an organization that creates opportunities for young people to experience, learn, perform, and appreciate music. Kinney is the organization’s executive director.

As an added bonus, it was great to be able to enjoy a rare visit from, and conversation with, Maestro Mark Laycock, back in Princeton to help promote Musicopia and to tell us about his new composition written specifically for its young performers.

Laycock’s “Musicopia! Suite for String Orchestra” will be given its world premiere as part of a free concert, which will take place this Saturday at 5 p.m. at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, 1904 Walnut Street, in Philadelphia.

Best wishes to Denise, Mark, and Musicopia!

May 9, 2018
Laycock’s “Musicopia” Premieres in Philadelphia

Sweet! Mark Laycock’s new work, “Musicopia! Suite for Orchestra” will receive its world premiere in Philadelphia this Saturday.

Laycock should be a familiar name to music-lovers in Central Jersey. He was music director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for over two decades, and has returned to Philadelphia and Princeton in recent years to lead memorable concerts with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. His performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, given in honor of the 100th birthday of humanitarian, philanthropist, and patron of the arts William H. Scheide, was filmed and broadcast nationally as part of PBS’ “Great Performances” series.

Now living in Berlin, a base that allows easy access to the orchestras of Europe, Laycock has developed a quiet sideline as a composer. He has written a Flute Concerto, a Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, and the work he considers his magnum opus, “Via Dolorosa,” scored for vocal soloists, English horn, double chorus and orchestra.

“Musicopia!” is named for the Philadelphia-based organization that provides opportunities for young people to experience, learn, perform, and appreciate music. Young performers will debut Laycock’s suite on this Saturday’s concert, which will take place at 5:00 at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, 1904 Walnut Street.

Learn more about the new piece and the organization’s worthy mission as I am joined by Laycock and Denise Kinney, executive director of Musicopia, this afternoon at 4:08 p.m. EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

May 9, 2018
Moore Da Ponte and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Earlier this week, conductor and composer Mark Laycock, who I am proud to count among my Facebook followers, directed my attention to this informative article about the relationship between Clement Moore – of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (a.k.a. “The Night Before Christmas”) fame – and Mozart librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte. Now, on this sixth day of Christmas, I am happy to share it with you:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-madcap-genius-who-befriended-casanova-mozart-and-the-author-of-the-night-before-christmas

December 30, 2017
Beethoven’s 9th Princeton Performance Celebrated

Hooray! We made our goal! Now here’s a little something for YOU.

To celebrate the successful conclusion of WWFM’s Autumn Membership Campaign, I will introduce a new recording, which turned up in my mailbox only yesterday afternoon, of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, conducted by Mark Laycock.

Mark Laycock, long-time music director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and former associate conductor of the New Jersey Symphony, will be joined by soloists, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir, in this performance that took place at Richardson Auditorium, in Alexander Hall, on the campus of Princeton University.

Beethoven’s symphony was the capstone of a concert given on January 25, 2014, to celebrate the 100th birthday of American scholar, philanthropist, and human rights advocate William H. Scheide, who was in attendance. The event was televised as part of PBS’ “Great Performances” series earlier this year.

Join us as I share this “Ode to Joy” – a new recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Mark Laycock – this afternoon at 4:00, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org. And thank you for making our autumn membership campaign a success!

PHOTOS: Mark Laycock (left) and William H. Scheide, pictured with his wife Judith, accepting a bouquet at his 100th birthday concert at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium

October 28, 2016
Spooky Music & Beethoven’s 9th on WPRB

After a dark and stormy Wednesday – a totally perfect day for spooky music – Thursday in Princeton is projected to be partly cloudy with a high near 70. Curses!

That said, we’ll do our best to keep Hallowe’en in our hearts, with music about ghosts, vampires, witches, demons, werewolves, headless horsemen, and psychopathic murderers. You know, the kind of thing you’ve come to expect on Thursday mornings.

In addition to all that, we’ll have a treat in the form of a visit from conductor Mark Laycock, who generally posts his comments on this page from Berlin, Germany. Mark is in Princeton this week and has agreed to stop by the studios to say hello at around 9:00 this morning. Mark’s Princeton performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony last year with the Wiener KammerOrchester and Westminster Symphonic Choir, presented in honor of the 100th birthday of William H. Scheide, will air on PBS in November. (Locally, it can be seen on WHYY TV, on November 9 at 9 p.m.)

Children of the night! What beautiful music they’ll make, this morning from 6 to 11 ET, on WPRB 103.3 FM or online at wprb.com. We’ll be handing out dimes in lieu of candy, on Classic Ross Amico.

October 29, 2015

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