Premiere by oboist William Wielgus
Bill Wielgus was a member of the oboe section of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1990 to 2017 upon appointment by Mstislav Rostropovich. He is now Musician in Residence at American University, frequently performs with the New York Kammermusiker, and presents recitals around the world. In October 2024 he premiered my FortEtude 1 at the Glenn Korff School of Music in Lincoln, Nebraska. His marvelous recording is here.
Album Release
I published a multi-genre children’s album! You can listen and buy the album here. Thank you to Berklee’s Faculty Recording Grant (2020) and a Mass Council on the Arts grant (2023). I have been learning video software and started releasing videos to the songs, one by one, starting October 2024. You can watch them here.
Singers are Jillian Aversa (soloist with the Baltimore, National, and San Diego Symphonies), Dan Callaway (title role in the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), Josephine Kraemer (Elle Woods, Pacific Opera Theater), Shradha Ganesh (2023 Vidya Bharati Canada Young Artist Award), and Nadia Washington (Jazz at Lincoln Center). Additional vocals are by Boston-area soloists Anney Barrett, Craig Juricka, and Nmesoma Ogbuani, as well as the Vox Futura studio choir on “Sun in the Moon.”
Instrumentalists are pianist Amy Bellamy (Jazz at Lincoln Center), drummer Lee Fish (Berklee Global Jazz Institute), guitarist Andres Guerra (scholarship from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation), clarinetist Bill Kirkley and cellist Jan Müller-Szeraws (both Boston Musica Viva), bassist John Lockwood (performances with Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz), and percussionist Matt Sharrock (Innova, Navona, New Focus Recordings).
The music was mixed by my amazing brother, who also collaborated as an arranger on two tracks.
FortEtudes Project
These are unaccompanied pieces for instruments that usually play with others. They are technically challenging while allowing the soloist interpretive freedom.
FortEtude #4 was recorded by Eddie Sanders III, principal bassoonist of the US Air Force Concert Band. He premiered it at the International Double Reed Society conference in Salaya, Thailand on July 20. Audio/score excerpts and purchase info here.
Jonathan Vinocour, principal violist of the San Francisco Symphony, performed FortEtude #3 at several 1:1 concerts, in which a single SFS musician plays live for one audience member outside Davies Symphony Hall. Audio/score excerpts and purchase info here.
Julliard grad Asuka Elias recorded and premiered FortEtude #2 for solo clarinet. Audio/score excerpts and purchase info here.
Oboes usually play laments, but FortEtude #1 is for an oboist who fights. Amanda Talley of the New Mexico Philharmonic made a recording. Audio/score excerpts and purchase info here.
Would you like to commission a FortEtude for your instrument? Please contact me at: info@eleanoraversa.com