Okay, kiddies, I have four pairs of tickets to give away to Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle at Avery Fisher Hall on March 18.  The performance is part of the New York Philharmonic’s Hungarian Echoes Festival led by the estimable Finnish hockey star Esa-Pekka Salonen.  The problem is that Sequenza 21 readers are all such a bunch of smart asses that I can never come up with a question that stumps anyone for more than 30 seconds so that means the first person who reads this probably wins. So, here’s what we’re going to do this time.  Today, we’re giving away one pair

…it behooves all composers and musicians to participate in a little supply-side bonhomie, if you know what I mean.  I’m talking self-promotion, growing your personal brand, reaching out and touching people who can do you some good. You’re in luck.  The next Chamber Music America First Tuesdays  workshop (which is next Tuesday) features music journalists Nate Chinen and Steve Smith who will give you the real skinny on  how artists and presenters can attract print-media attention for concerts and CD releases. The particulars: Workshop Title: Meet the Music Press Speakers: Music journalists Nate Chinen and Steve Smith When: Tuesday, March

Hi Jerry, Hope you are well, Happy New Year! Because of the snow, we’ve set up a 2 for 1 ticket code and private link for your readers to our concert tonight…please feel free to offer it up if you like: http://lepoissonrouge.inticketing.com/private/ The code is:  2for1 Tonight’s concert, Hallucinations, is at LPR at 8PM (7PM doors) featuring an electro-acoustic remix by Ricardo Romaneiro of John Corigliano’s Three Hallucinations based on his Academy Award-nominated film score to “Altered States,” paired with new works by Du Yun, Gity Razaz, Enrico Chapela, and Ricardo Romaneiro. John, Ricardo, and Enrico’s works are in surround sound (6.1!!!)

1.  The Social Network – The story of a socially-retarded Harvard teen-aged geek who screws over his best friend and a pair of very large, wealthy, well-connected  blue-blooded twin brothers to create Facebook and become the world’s youngest billionaire is an epic tale that derives much of its power from the fact that it is basically true.  Brilliant acting and pacing, with a script that is remarkably fair and leaves you with the impression that Mark Zuckerberg may be a poster boy for Asperger’s Syndrome but he is also the only guy in the room who could have pulled it

The CMA/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming will be presented at the 33rd Chamber Music America National Conference on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Westin New York at Times Square (207 W. 43rd Street) in New York City.  Frances Richard, vice president and director of concert music, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), will present the awards during a ceremony that begins at 5 p.m. Established jointly by Chamber Music America and ASCAP, the annual awards recognize U.S.-based professional ensembles and presenters for distinctive programming of new music composed in the past 25 years. The recipients were chosen

Just got a note from Andrew Cyr inviting Sequenza21 readers (and maybe some other less distinguished people) to a free party at Le Possion Rouge tomorrow night to celebrate the Metropolis Ensemble’s Grammy nomination for its Naxos recording of Avner Dorman’s Mandolin Concerto (Avi Avital (soloist) and Andrew Cyr (conductor) with Metropolis Ensemble). Avi, Andrew and the Metropolis crew will perform a few sets during the evening, including the Mandolin Concerto and, maybe, Andrew says, even “a Balkan music jam.” Not only is admission free but the first two drinks are on the house. The party start @7 and lasts

That’s right. Anything you want to ask a famous (or maybe not so famous) conductor is now possible thanks to the miracle of Twitter. To participate, simply think of a question and pose it on Twitter. For more information or to ask a question, visit #askthemusician and choose a conductor; questions must be 140 characters or less and must include the hash tag #askaconductor and the conductor’s Twitter handle. #askaconductor in 5 simple steps Step 1: Think of a question Step 2: Log in to Twitter Step 3: Pose your question today. Just remember to stick to 140 characters or

…surf over to our sister ship, Chamber Musician Today, and check out today’s menu.  We have the latest installment in violinist Marjorie Kransberg-Talvi’s remarkable continuing memoirs of growing up as an almost child prodigy driven by the dreams of a needy and demanding mother.  Her story is as riveting as it is painful.  Alison Lowell, aka oboetoast, has a piece about what you can learn from negative critiques (as in when a teacher you respect says “Oh, no,  I don’t think you’re conservatory material.”)   On a lighter note, Elaine Fine tells you where you can find the free sheet music

As some of you know, I have a few “commercial” (or, at least, I hope they will be someday) websites on pretty conventional topics–i.e., human resources, commercial real estate, commie politics, and so on.  Most of the writing that passes through them is “serious” and short on humor.  Maybe, that’s why I found this musical gem from a real estate blogger named John Reeder to be unexpectedly hilarious and insightful: Collectively we’re idiots.  As individuals we might be smart, but collectively we’re idiots. Don’t believe me?  I offer Exhibit A: The career of Jimmy Buffett.  His music is terrible.  You

Today is the 20th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s death.  He would be 92 if he were still alive.  His son, Alexander, has written a nice tribute published at dot429 this morning: It seems impossible that twenty years have passed since my father (Leonard Bernstein) died.  Or perhaps, I should write, I haven’t seen my father for twenty years!  Sometimes I feel as though he is on tour again and will be back at any time now… My father traveled a great deal. When he was home, though, he was really home.   As a composer, he didn’t have an office to