Author: Richard Gordon

Come hear Uncle SAMS Band

Richard Gordon
Uncle SAMS Band: (l-r) Max, Andrew, Sebastian, Savannah

Uncle SAMS Band: (l-r) Max, Andrew, Sebastian, Savannah

Who are Uncle SAMS Band?

For several years, one of the highlights of the Sunday program at the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival has been the performance by the youngsters in the Festival’s Kids’ Academy, many of whom are students at the Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE.

At Cab, science teacher Steve Field–also a classical violinist and a bluegrass fiddler–started CabGrass, an opportunity for the students to sign up for an activity period in which they learn about playing bluegrass music. In December, Steve brought four CabGrass students in to WVUD to record a Music Room episode.

Mandorichard tried to get Sebastian to smile, to the delight of his bandmates.

Mandorichard tried to get Sebastian to smile, to the delight of his bandmates.

The students have formed their own bluegrass band, Uncle SAMS Band, the name formed from the students’ first initials: Savannah Klumpp, banjo, guitar, and vocals; Andrew Vogts, fiddle, whistling, and vocals; Max Huhn, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and vocals; and Sebastian Roat, guitar and vocals.

Steve told us about the CabGrass program, and we heard Uncle SAMS Band play four selections for us. The students also told us about their aspirations, their musical tastes, and their success at October’s Sea Witch Festival (Lewes, DE)–and just plain had a lot of fun in the studio. Listen to the interview linked below to meet these four charming young musicians!

Listen to the Interview

Uncle SAMS Band
Recorded Dec. 19, 2015, originally aired Jan. 19, 2016, Host: Mandorichard.
28:39
26MB

The Music

Artist Song Source
Uncle SAMS Band Long Journey Home WVUD Session, Dec. 19, 2015
Uncle SAMS Band Big Rock Candy Mountain WVUD Session, Dec. 19, 2015
Uncle SAMS Band Jerusalem Ridge WVUD Session, Dec. 19, 2015
Uncle SAMS Band God Leads His Dear Children Along WVUD Session, Dec. 19, 2015

 

CabGrass and Kid’s Academy

Check out the YouTube videos below to see some of the students from Uncle SAMS Band and CabGrass perform with the Kid’s Academy at the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival:

Photos courtesy Tina Klumpp

Dvorak Quintet wows in UD recital

Richard Gordon
UD Grad Student Quintet. L-R: Joel Tosta Alarcon, Nicole Fassold, Megan Digeorgio, Maria Rusu, Cesar Colmenares

2015 UD Grad Student Quintet. L-R: Joel Alarcon, Nicole Fassold, Megan Digeorgio, Maria Rusu, Cesar Colmenares

We met this UD graduate student string quintet at a master class conducted by Joel Krosnick and Joseph Lin of the Juilliard String Quartet, Nov. 7, 2015. They invited Mandorichard to attend their final rehearsal before the 2015 University of Delaware Music Department String Ensemble Recital and the recital itself on Dec. 6, 2015.

In this episode of The Music Room, you’ll enjoy meeting the five students, eavesdrop on a portion of their last rehearsal, and hear their recital performance.

For the recital, Joel Alarcon, Nicole Fassold, violins; Maria Rusu, Megan Digeorgio, violas; and Cesar Colmenares, ‘cello, prepared the first movement of Antonín Dvořák’s String Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 97, B. 180. You’ll hear their stellar performance at the end of this episode

2015 Grad Student Quintet joined by Prof. Esme Allen-Creighton (L) and Prof Lawrence Stomberg (3rd from R)

2015 Grad Student Quintet joined by Prof. Esme Allen-Creighton (L) and Prof. Lawrence Stomberg (3rd from R)

Before the performance, they introduced themselves, talked about Dvořák’s Quintet, and discussed their experiences in the UD Music program.

Thanks to the quintet’s coaches, UD Music professors Esme Allen-Creighton and Lawrence Stomberg–both members of the Serafin String Quartet, and to the University’s Department of Music for helping WVUD bring this remarkable conversation and performance to the WVUD airwaves.

Listen to the interview and performance

2015 UD Graduate Student String Quintet
29:54
55.4 MB
Host: Mandorichard. Recorded Dec. 4 and 6, 2015. Debuted Jan. 12, 2016.

The Music

Artist Selection Source Year
UD Graduate Student String Quintet: Joel Alarcon, Nicole Fassold, violins; Maria Rusu, Megan Digeorgio, violas; and Cesar Colmenares, ‘cello First Movement, Allegro non tanto, from Antonín Dvořák’s String Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 97, B. 180 University of Delaware Student String Recital, Newark, DE, Dec. 6, 2015 2015

 

Wilder Days: Natasha Borzilova

Richard Gordon

Natasha Borzilova Wilder Days CoverOn this episode of The Music Room, Nashville correspondent Raven Keane sat down with the phenomenally talented Natasha Borzilova.

Borzilova, a singer-songwriter, started her career as a classically trained child prodigy. She then came to America in the mid ‘90s as a member of Bering Strait, the Grammy-nominated, buzz-generating Russian country band.

Bering Strait broke up in 2006, but Borzilova still has plenty to sing about.

Natasha BorzilovaHer songs are confessional, crafted with emotional intelligence and care. Her self-produced 4th solo album, “Wilder Days,” is no exception. In addition to vocals and guitar, Borzilova plays an arsenal of instruments including banjo, dulcitar, mandolin and keyboard.

In this interview, Borzilova discusses her musical beginnings: her time in Russia, how she learned her craft, and perspectives on Bering Strait. She also talks about her new album, and the process behind songwriting and recording.

The Interview

Natasha Borzilova, host Raven Keane (recorded, Nov. 12, 2015 in Nashville; aired Dec. 8, 2015)
30:07
28.9 MB

The Music

Artist / Track / Album / Label / Year

Natasha Borzilova / Wilder Days / Wilder Days / Hadley Music Group / 2015

Natasha Borzilova / Never Going Home / Wilder Days / Hadley Music Group / 2015

Natasha Borzilova / Pictured It / Wilder Days / Hadley Music Group / 2015