Arts briefs: Violinist Irv Eisenberg named teacher of the year
Best known as a founding member of the Philadelphia String Quartet, an ensemble with a long and influential Seattle residency (beginning in 1966), Eisenberg also was a member of the St. Louis Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
The Seattle award ceremony will take place at the Anti-Contest, an annual concert gala presented in the form of a mock contest. Its director, Karen Iglitzin, encourages select high-school musicians to create their own musical concepts, complete with costumes and props. This year, 14 ensembles from Washington and Oregon will participate. The Anti-Contest is set for 7:30 p.m. March 19, in Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave. N.E., in Seattle; admission is by donation ($12 adults, $6 students is suggested) and a reception with the musicians follows the performance. For information: 206-366-1211.
Choir of the Sound founder Robert Metzger to retire
Robert Metzger, a highly regarded choral conductor and founding director of the Choir of the Sound, has announced his retirement. Metzger founded the choir, formerly the Shoreline Community College Chorale, in 1977; over his term, he has directed more than 40 oratorios with choir and orchestra, and also led European tours in 1983 and 1995.
Metzger's swan song as director will be two concerts of Mendelssohn's "Elijah," at 7 p.m. March 13 in Shorecrest Performing Arts Center (15343 25th Ave. N.E. in Shoreline), and 3 p.m. March 14 in St. Thomas More Catholic Church (6511 176th St. S.W. in Lynnwood). Soloists for "Elijah" include Eleanor Stallcop-Horrox, Emily Lunde, Howard Fankhause and Wil Holm. A public reception for Metzger follows the Sunday performance.
For tickets: www.choirofthesound.org, or 206-528-9990.
Cornish College honored for 'adventurous' series
The Cornish Music Series was awarded the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and Chamber Music America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music in the 2002-03 season. Laura Kaminsky, Music Department Chair and Music Director for the Cornish Music Series, attended Chamber Music America's National Conference in New York City in January of this year to receive the award.
The 2002-03 Cornish Music Series included a broad range of concerts, featuring Cornish College faculty and student musicians as well as visiting artists.
Among the performers: Kirk Nurock, Jiggs Whigham, Gamelan Pacifica, Hadley Caliman, the Odeon String Quartet, The Deardorf/Peterson Group, Jovino Santos Neto, Peter Mack, Dawn Clement, John Silverman, Briggan Kraus, Brad Shepik and Julian Priester. The season's programming included several genres, including classical, jazz, Brazilian music, an exploration of Lou Harrison's compositions for gamelan, and interactive electronic improvisational work.
— Melinda Bargreen, Seattle Times music critic