FAQs- string numbers

by | Feb 19, 2007 | A view from the podium

Dear Ken … I have a question I’m hoping you can answer. I’ve asked this question to several string players, who don’t have an answer. I realized I needed to ask a conductor! The question is: in contemporary music, why do string sections still follow...

Joel Hoffman

by | Feb 15, 2007 | A view from the podium

I’ve added a new site to the list of composer’s links, that of Joel Hoffman. If you don’t know his music, or that of any of the composers listed, take some time to explore. There’s so much fantastic stuff being written right now....

Senseless tragedy

by | Feb 15, 2007 | A view from the podium, Performing Life

Absolutely tragic news from Portland. The more hours go by since I found out, the less I can get my head around it. I worked intensively with Angela on one project, which I’ll write about when my head has cleared. She was supposed to outlive us all and end up as...

Runs with scissors

by | Feb 15, 2007 | A view from the podium

Any piece of music worth performing is worth performing uncut. Any musician perceptive enough to deserve to perform a piece worth performing will know that it is worth performing uncut.    Put the scissors down…....

Conductor evaluations

by | Feb 13, 2007 | A view from the podium

An interesting piece on conductor evaluations. To their credit, many of those interviewed stressed the value of feedback getting to the conductors and not just being kept on file or discussed inside the orchestra. Check it...

How to get a gig with Ken….

by | Feb 9, 2007 | A view from the podium

Like all conductors, I get lots of inquiries every year from soloists, agents and other conductors. I’ll only ever be able to engage the tiniest minority of them, although most people who send me stuff are extremely well-qualified. If we didn’t hire you, the most...

Take me Eddie, I’m yours

by | Feb 7, 2007 | A view from the podium

Back home after 3 weeks away and happily recovering from the hard work on Das Lied last week (what a piece!), I’ve been looking at my pile-o-scores and it’s hit me that I have a lot of Elgar to do all of the sudden. I’m conducting Enigma Variations, the First Symphony...

The challenge

by | Feb 3, 2007 | A view from the podium, Mahler, Performing Life

Disclaimer- It is the middle of the night, the author is extremely tired and has had a couple of post rehearsal beers….. Nonetheless… I want to try to capture my state of mind after this evening’s rehearsal. Sometime this weekend, prompted by Suzanne, I...