San Diego, Tijuana Youth Musicians Unite in Cross-Border Orchestra to Wrap Up WDC 2024
Screenshot from video of binational youth concert performing “Limitless.” Courtesy CBS Evening News.Young musicians from San Diego and Tijuana — 85 in all — were recognized Monday for performing in what is believed to be the first time as a binational orchestra in front of a packed venue.The event marked the end of the World Design Capital 2024, which this year focused on the San Diego-Tijuana region — the first binational designation in the WDC’s history.WDC 2024, a month-long conference about the power of shape and design, was organized by the World Design Organization, a non-governmental agency that looks at industrial design as a major shaping and organizing force in individual and collective lives. This includes the World Design Capital program, which in the WDO’s words, “showcases how cities use design to reinvent themselves and improve their residents’ lives.”The San Diego Youth Symphony this weekend played “Limitless” with the Sinfonica Juvenil de Tijuana, conducted by Sameer Patel.“Music is the greatest expression of our common humanity,” Patel told the CBS Evening News on Sunday. “And I think when we have a piece of music like this and an opportunity to come together that showcases our common humanity, you can see that there’s little that actually separates us.”Concertmaster Anthony Kim told the network, “‘Limitless’ is symbolic of hope, of opportunities. I hope this helps instigate peace and unity.”The Tijuana musicians had to wait in line at the border to cross into San Diego for rehearsals, sometimes for up to three hours each day.The unprecedented collaboration may be the first binational youth orchestra in the United States.City News Service contributed to this report.
Violinist Josefowicz, SD Symphony Thrill with Contemporary Classical and Dvorak’s ‘New World’
Violinist Leila Josefowicz. Courtesy San Diego SymphonyRoaming into Sunday afternoon’s San Diego Symphony concert in the (still) sensational-sounding Jacobs Music Center, I would have guessed that, if the concert satisfied, it would be because of violinist Leila Josefowicz and the composer she interpreted, Thomas Adès. Josefowicz because she has become the go-to champion of new violin repertoire from leading contemporary composers (e.g., John Adams, Esa Pekka Salonen, and Adès). Adès not only because he makes any list of the most intriguing and celebrated of the younger generation of composers but because his 2005 violin concerto, Concentric Paths is one of his strongest works.A one-time Bad Boy composer, Adès likes to describe music in scientific terms: “magnetic forces,” “instability,” “chemicals” and “nutrients.” But his abrasive Molotov-tossing has long been redeemed by his durable innovations, from his opera, The Tempest and his first piano concerto In Seven Days, to today’s Concentric Paths.If not the afternoon’s highlight, Adès and Josefowicz’s collaboration did the opposite of disappoint. In her spoken introduction to Concentric Paths, Josefowicz whetted the audience’s curiosity with vivid images of “giant spacecraft,” “ferocious beasts,” and “magic tricks.” After flatly declaring it “one of the great masterworks of contemporary music,” Josefowicz began advocating where it counts, on her 2013 Zygmuntowicz violin.Josefowicz savors contemporary works that push the envelope technically. Concentric Paths obliges by asking the soloist to retune her strings so she can extend herself into the fingerboard’s highest regions. Facial expressions communicating both the wrenching emotion of the piece and perhaps its difficulty, Josefowicz planted herself like a defending warrior, rocking, sawing, and fast-fingering through Adès brilliant score. Its heart is a long feeling second movement with a central chaconne that reminded these ears of the passacaglia in another anguished landmark of British violin concerti, Benjamin Britten’s. Josefowicz’s virtuosic stamina, keening lyricism, and committed advocacy were rewarded with a standing ovation.What could trump that? A Dudamel Fellow in 2018-19, Swiss-Australian conductor Elena Schwarz was once a masterclass pupil of Bernard Haitink and Neeme Järvi. As the San Diego Symphony’s guest conductor she projected both elegance and no-nonsense professionalism. Though a physical conductor, her gestures were always economical, sharply delineated, even stolid.Her program opener, John Adams’ The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra), hinted at what was to come. Schwarz and the San Diego Symphony were very much up to the piece’s challenges: propulsive rhythms channeled through a large orchestra (including 18-pieces of percussion) asked to turn on a dime. It’s a funny, madcap piece featuring tempo shifts and a remarkable closing duet between piano and percussion. Schwarz kept all the balls in the air without ever losing Adams’ playfulness.Antonin Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony has become U.S. classical programming’s great white whale, the supposedly “American” symphony trotted out when scheduling Barber, Ives or even Copland seems too risky (or 20th century). But leaving aside whether The New World has African-American and Native American themes, it’s a cracking good piece of work, and under Schwarz’s meticulous hand the San Diego Symphony made it sound brand-new. Her tight pacing (no dawdle or haste), skillful balancing of dynamic contrast within “the long line.” and attention to often-lost details and colors were all superb.The highlight was the 12-minute Largo, which Schwarz and company gave a rapt, almost holy weight, streaked through with melancholy. Oboeist Andrea Overturf and Concertmaster Jeff Thayer outdid themselves. Collectively, the brass, woodwinds and percussion had a field day; the strings rose to every occasion. When the house rose to its feet, Schwarz modestly deflected the ovation back to the players with a big thumbs-up.
San Diego Author Pens Holiday Children’s Book About a Tiny Tree with a Big Message
Author Derek Danziger at the “Teddy the Tiny Tree” book signing. Credit: Derek DanzigerSan Diego-based author Derek Danziger has released his latest children’s book “Teddy the Tiny Tree,” just in time for the holiday season.The story follows the journey of a small but determined tree with big dreams, delivering heartwarming messages of resilience, kindness and holiday magic. With its inspiring themes, the book reminds readers of the importance of treating everyone with fairness and respect, a message that resonates year-round but feels especially poignant during the holidays.In this Q&A, Danziger — a seasoned public relations professional and author of “I’m Autistic…and I’m Awesome!” — shares the story behind bringing “Teddy the Tiny Tree” to life.What sparked the idea for a holiday book centered around a small tree like Teddy? “Teddy the Tiny Tree” book cover. Credit: Derek DanzigerMy kids. I have two boys and I’m always telling them crazy stories or making up stories when they have inquisitive questions. More so when they were younger, but they fuel my imagination. I have always enjoyed stories about the underdog overcoming obstacles. I was walking through a tree yard a few years ago, and thought about all the trees that were still left there at Christmas and was inspired to tell a story about one of those trees. For me, while the story is a holiday tale, Teddy represents anyone who has felt they weren’t good enough, but will eventually realize that no matter what, there’s always someone that loves you.How do you hope children and families connect with Teddy’s journey of self-discovery?I really hope that this story resonates with anyone who has had feelings of self-doubt and knows that you can still achieve your dreams. In Teddy’s case, he thinks he has no chance of being picked by a family for Christmas due to his small size. I hope children and families will see that even a small tree with big dreams can succeed. Anything is possible! The story highlights “the smallest trees can truly make the biggest difference.” What message do you want young readers to take away from this theme?The biggest athlete on the sports team isn’t always the best, the loudest voice in the choir may not always sing in-tune. For me, there is something special about everyone, and the labels we tend to put on people based on appearance or first impressions are often so terribly wrong. It’s truly the notion of not judging a book by it’s cover. Although, I do hope readers like my cover. 🙂Can you share any behind-the-scenes insight into your creative process?I generally write in bursts. I’ll get a few good ideas and then I have to let them marinate for a while before moving on. Rarely does it all come at once. This started as a short story that kept growing a little bit at a time. Then when I realized I thought I had enough for a book, I pulled it all together. My wife is a professional editor and I really trust her input on what sounds good or how to change things. For a children’s book, I think you can have a great story, but the illustrations are so important to bring the vision of the story to life. I was fortunate to connect with an illustrator who understood my ideas and she brought them to life. How did you collaborate with the illustrator to bring Teddy’s world to life?I have never met my illustrator in person. She lives on the other side of the world (the country of Georgia) and all our communication has been online. I actually found her on the website Fiverr where artists and designers from around the world are seeking to connect with projects. She studied art in her country and has a young son, so I felt she could relate. She illustrated my first book and I loved her work and wanted to work with her again. I would send her pencil sketches of ideas and then I’d let her run with it. Examples of illustrations within the pages of “Teddy the Tiny Tree” by Natia Gogiashvili. Credit: Derek DanzigerWhat inspired you to become a children’s book author? I grew up acting as a kid and always loved movies. I wanted to be like Steven Spielberg. To me storytelling is magic. From childhood, we are told stories that stick with us throughout our lives. Storytelling is the foundation of how we learn. While I didn’t pursue acting or directing, in my professional life as a public relations practioner, I’m always thinking about how to best tell the stories of my clients, in the most compelling ways. Having two young boys has led me to see the world more through their eyes and try to create stories that I believe will resonate with them. I have many ideas, but it’s always a question of whether the story will have a broad appeal to others. People would often say to me, that would be a great children’s book. So, I took their advice! What advice would you give aspiring book authors? The publishing world is an interesting place today. Because of all the tools and technologies we have at our fingertips, it’s never been easier to try to amplify your voice as a storyteller. The challenge is that everyone has that access and how do we get people to see us and care. I was fortunate to have a publishing team at Road to Awesome take a chance on me and my first book in 2023 and they liked this story as well. My biggest piece of advice is to dream big. Don’t get discouraged, and know that if the story is important to you it will be important to others. Just keep pushing. If you don’t find a publisher you connect with, try the self-publishing route as there are so many options now.For more information about the book and where to purchase, go to teddythetinytree.com.
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