CONCERTO FANTASY FOR TWO TIMPANISTS / IMPRESSIONIST MASTERWORKS
STEVE WILSON
His other teachers include Paul Evans, Chris Allen and Jeremy Branson.
Wyman also served as guest principal timpanist on multiple occasions with the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra in Santa Cruz, CA.
James Wyman makes his BSO subscription concert solo debut.
Jauvon Gilliam
Jauvon Gilliam was named principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra in 2009.
Since 2011, Gilliam regularly performs as guest principal timpanist of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. He is also timpanist of the All-Star Orchestra, a made-for-PBS group comprised of players from orchestras across the United States.
Gilliam has previously performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, as well as the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He was also timpanist of the Bear Valley Music Festival for three seasons.
Prior to his NSO appointment, Gilliam was timpanist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for seven years. While in Winnipeg, he was also timpanist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and, for a time, played drum set for the WSO pops series.
As an educator, Gilliam has taught clinics at universities and institutions across Canada and the U. S., including the Interlochen Arts Academy, New World Symphony and at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He is currently co-director of percussion studies / artist-in-residence at the University of Maryland, co-founder of the annual Washburgh Timpani Seminar and is a timpani coach for the National Youth Orchestra of the USA.
A native of Gary, IN, Gilliam began his musical career playing piano, winning his first national competition at age 11. He received a full scholarship in piano performance to attend Butler University, but later changed to full-time percussion
study. He graduated with honors with a degree in arts administration and then continued his graduate studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Gilliam received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater in 2014.
Jauvon Gilliam makes his BSO debut.
Lura Johnson
Pianist Lura Johnson is a Steinway Artist and the Second Prizewinner( as a member of Duo Baltinati with cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn) of the 2015 International Johannes Brahms Competition, chamber music division. Hailed as“ brilliant” by The Washington Post, she is celebrated for her passionate and insightful interpretations and esteemed by colleagues for her uncommon sensitivity and skill as a collaborative partner. Equally comfortable as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician, she is the principal pianist of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and has performed extensively as the pianist of choice for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, at the pleasure of Marin Alsop, since 2007. Trained by luminaries Robert McDonald and Leon Fleisher, Johnson has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, Leila Josefowicz, Joshua Bell, Jean- Yves Thibaudet and the St. Lawrence String Quartet and has performed as soloist with the Baltimore and Delaware symphony orchestras.
Johnson’ s discography includes a 2001 album, The Jennings-Johnson Duo, with flutist Christina Jennings and the 2010 Centaur Records release of Inner Voice, with BSO violist Peter Minkler, featuring sonatas by Rochberg and Shostakovich. Her recording with Minkler of Arvo Pärt’ s spiegel im spiegel was featured in the official teaser trailer for the 2013 Warner Brothers film Gravity. Johnson can also be heard on several recordings released by the BSO, including Naxos’ Grammy ®- nominated release of the Bernstein Mass. Johnson’ s first solo CD, Turning, was released in summer 2014.
Devoted to chamber music from an early age, her many recital partners include BSO Concertmaster Jonathan Carney; clarinetist Anthony McGill; cellists Ilya Finkelshteyn, Amit Peled and Kenneth Slowik; and flutist Marina Piccinini. She is a founding member of the Jennings- Johnson Duo with flutist Christina Jennings, Times Two with violinist Netanel Draiblate and Duo Lalu, a cabaret duo with soprano Lara Bruckmann. She performs with VERGE Ensemble, 21 st Century Consort, PostClassical Ensemble and the Towson New Music Ensemble.
Johnson has taught piano at the Peabody Conservatory since 2002 and, from 2013 – 2015, was director of chamber music at Georgetown University. She has taught at the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.
Formerly the artistic director of Music in the Great Hall, Johnson has also worked as pianist and general manager with the PostClassical Ensemble in Washington, D. C.
Lura Johnson last appeared with the BSO in June 2016, performing Bach ' s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Jonathan Carney, leader.
Michael Sheppard
Known as“ a virtuosic soloist possessed of power, sensitivity, earthiness and humor”( The Indianapolis Star) with the“ power to make an audience sit up and pay attention … thought-provoking for performers and listeners alike”( AllMusic), Michael Sheppard trained with the legendary Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Conservatory. He was selected by the American Pianists Association as a Classical Fellow, which led to the recording of his Harmonia Mundi CD of 2007. In 2015, another recording was released by Azica, a Clevelandbased label distributed worldwide by Naxos Records.
He has performed solo recitals and concertos around the world and across the U. S., including several solo recitals
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