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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