News

Dear Fellow Local 14 members:

In order to help out one of our nearby locals, I need to change our All Membership Meeting to Tuesday, September 14. Please put that in your calendar!

I’m still looking for feedback as to whether you’d rather meet in person or online, so please let your voice be heard (with suggestions in hand!). 

In solidarity,

John Van Voris
President of our Albany Musicians’ AssociationAll

Jazz Appreciation Month 2021: Women’s Impact and Contributions in Jazz

This past year the museum’s jazz program stepped up its efforts in recognizing contributions of women in jazz, from the genre’s earliest development to present successes and challenges. Our work is far from being done and will continue to be an integral part of our ongoing effort as we delve into the rich historical legacy of America’s indigenous art form.

This year, Jazz Appreciation Month will both recognize and explore the historical legacy of pianist, singer, songwriter, storyteller, and civil rights activist Nina Simone. We’ll add historic content to our website and online programming, marked visually by an illustration of Nina Simone on this year’s poster by Duke Ellington School of the Arts sophomore visual arts student Naa Anyele Sowah-de Jesus.

2021 Featured Artist: Nina Simone

Ways to Celebrate JAM

Hold your own JAM event with this handy list of ways to celebrate jazz.

Resources

Everything else you might need for your own JAM events – including the JAM logo, and radio announcements.

Visit Smithsonian Jazz Website

To our Music Community:

The Albany Musicians’ Association, Inc. announces the availability of the prestigious Tommy Ippolito Music Scholarship which is awarded to one or two talented instrumentalists and/or vocalists who are pursuing a college education in music (major or minor). THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 31, 2021. An application form is enclosed within. We seek your assistance and that of your music directors in identifying exceptional students who are planning a career in music.

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS APPLICATION FORM TO THE BAND, ORCHESTRA, AND CHOIR DIRECTORS IN YOUR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

Scholarship Form 2021

This Scholarship is named in recognition of Thomas (Tommy) Ippolito, as a tribute to his exceptionally gifted and accomplished musicianship, leadership, and service to Local 14 to promote live music in the Capital Region.

The Tommy Ippolito Scholarship is a merit-based, one-time cash award of $500 (minimum) or $1,000 (maximum) given directly to the recipient(s). Applicants must be high school seniors who have been accepted into an accredited college/university, and who demonstrate (1) satisfactory academic work; (2) outstanding achievement in the areas of musicianship, leadership, and overall dedication to music; and (3) the potential for success in the field of music exhibited by performance achievements on their primary instrument, including voice.

If there are any questions, please contact me at (518) 669-2163. Thank you.

Sincerely,

John Van Voris,
President, Albany Musicians’ Association
Local 14 – American Federation of Musicians
2^nd VP, Eastern Conference of Locals

63rd GRAMMY Awards

THE GRAMMY GOES TO…

David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony for Best Classical Instrumental Solo .

The win was for violist Richard O’Neill’s solo in Christopher Theofanidis’ “Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra”recording made under the baton of Miller and backed by the Albany Symphony. The recording on the Albany Records label features violin soloist Chee-Yun and viola soloist O’Neill.

Congratulations to David Allen Miller, Richard O’Neill and our Local 14 members of Albany Symphony Orchestra!

This is the sixth nomination for Miller, the fifth for the ASO. In 2019, the recorded performance of composer Michael Torke’s “Sky” received a best classical instrumental solo nomination for violinist Tessa Lark, and a recording of Derek Bermel’s “Migration Series” was nominated for best contemporary classical composition.

If you have an instrument that you are not using, consider donating it to a student who may not otherwise have an opportunity to own, rent or play one. Here’s how we do it:

Donate an Instrument

Our next membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00. The meeting will held online through gotomeeting.com or, on the telephone if you don’t have a camera or microphone on your computer.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/561602045

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212

Access Code: 561-602-045

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/561602045

Dear fellow Local 14 members,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Local 14 President Emeritus Neil Brown passed away on Friday, August 7.

Neil was a longtime pianist-member, Secretary/Treasurer, President of Local 14, and when I became President, he graciously volunteered to come back from retirement as Secretary/Treasurer.

On a personal level, I became friends with Neil through playing gigs, but he became a mentor to me when I became vice-president and then president. Besides showing me the ropes in dealing with the AFM, he taught me the importance of leading through consensus, and bringing people with varied backgrounds and opinions to be on the same page.

He will be missed by many. Neil’s obituary can be seen here:

https://www.newcomeralbany.com/Obituary/187781/Neil-Brown-Jr/Albany-NY

In solidarity,

John Van Voris
President of our Albany Musicians’ Association   

Congratulations to the 2020 Tommy Ippolito Scholarship Awardees!

Sam Hatfield from Burnt Hills/ Ballston Lake High School, a drummer who will be studying Commercial Music/Jazz Studies/Jazz Performance at Belmont University.

Catherine Jantson from Bethlehem High School, a vocalist who will be studying Music Education at Ithaca College.

William Han from Shenendehowa High School, a cellist who will be studying Cello Performance at SMU.

That Life is Gone.

It was always hard making a living as a musician in New York City. The quarantine has made it impossible.