Greetings and welcome to the August 2022 Vibraphone Project Newsletter. In this edition we have exciting news to share about the VPI’s first public event, new videos, and the 2022 Legacy Awards!
If you'd like to learn more about The Vibraphone Project, please visit our website (where you can subscribe to this newsletter), and follow us on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube for the latest updates.
Pedagogy and Education Videos
The Pedagogy and Education committee have been busy since the last newsletter and have two new educational videos available.
Brain Graiser (President of VPI) produced a video that provides several tips for incoming college students. The video is available through this link:
Jerry Tachoir had an in depth conversation with Jay Hoggard about the vibraphones history, Jay’s technique, and his experience as a vibraphonist. Both videos can give insight in how to approach the instrument. The video is available through this link:
Legacy Award Nominations
The Legacy Awards are awarded to those individuals (present or past performers, teachers, composers, instrument designers, or other) whose lifelong contributions have left an indelible mark on the story of the vibraphone. A Legacy Award recipient may be someone who is already universally recognized for their work or someone whose critical contributions have not yet received the recognition they deserve.
The inaugural 2021 class of Legacy Award recipients were David Friedman, Dave Samuels, and Gitta Steiner . The physical award is a custom engraved gold-anodized vibraphone bar.
We have extended our deadline for nominations until August 31. Living vibraphonist should be in their late stages or completed their career. Once nominations are made, the members of VPI will vote on who is awarded this year. We look forward to seeing your nominees, and celebrating those who have helped developed the vibraphone!
To submit a nominee click the button.
The Vibraphone Projects First Live Event!
The Vibraphone Project is extremely excited to produce its first public event this year on December 10. The event will take place at the newly opened Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. The event will feature two VPI commissioned works, select works from the last years call for scores, and the Legacy Awards.
Five works from the 2021 call for scores received the showcase concert recognition. The composers of those works are Brain Graiser, Gavin Goodrich, Bryan Jeffs, Carlo Tosato, and Stephen Solook. Below are links to information about each of the compositions to be performed.
The full database of compositions from the 2021 call for scores can be found through this link:
VPI’s commissioned works are by Robert Honstein and Pamela Z. Honstein’s work is for string quartet plus vibraphone and Pamela’s work is for vibraphone and tape.
Robert Honstein - Vibraphone and String Quartet
Celebrated for his "waves of colorful sounds" (New York Times) and "smart, appealing works" (The New Yorker), Robert Honstein will contribute an exceptional fusion of colors in a chamber work for vibraphone and strings. Robert Honstein is already a celebrated composer within the percussion community, with the notable success of his trio "An Index of Possibility" for the group TIGUE, and this solo vibraphone work "An Economy of Means" performed by Doug Perkins in this iteration. His writing for the instrument already demonstrates out-of-the-box innovation, indisputably befitting VPI's endeavor to set the stage for decades to come.
Learn more: https://www.roberthonstein.com/
Pamela Z – Only If It’s Asked For - Vibraphone Solo with tape
Pamela Z's expertise in combining art forms, rejecting the limited connotations of labels such as "electronica," and "multimedia" in lieu of something broader: experimental music, electroacoustic music, or "intermedia," validates her exceptional relevance to this project. Her creativity and versatility are world-leading, alighting to the creation of a new work that will be a truly new contribution.
Learn more: http://www.pamelaz.com/
As the event comes closer additional information will be announced. We hope you can join us for this monumental event!
Vibraphone Project Chairs
President - Brian Graiser
Vice President - Lindsey Eastham
Business/Admin - Harlan Graiser
Call for Scores - Boyce Jeffries
Commissions - Gloria Yehilevsky/Lindsey Eastham
Legacy Awards - Brian Graiser
Newsletter Editor - Stephen Solook
Online Competition - Matthew Lau
Pedagogy/Education - Jerry Tachoir
Podcast - Patrick Overturf
Research Project - Quintin Mallette/Brian Graiser
Social Media/Marketing - Lindsey Eastham
Members
Sean Andres, Dimitris Angelakis, Anders Åstrand, Andrew Baldwin, Jim Bailey, Aaron Butler, Rosie Cerquone, Lindsey Eastham, Matthew Geiger, Mucsi Gergő, Behn Gillece, Josh Gottry, Brian Graiser, Harlan Graiser, Jade Hails, Boyce Jeffries, Matt Jordan, Matthew Lau, Tanner Leonardo, Terry Longshore, Quintin Mallette, Jen Martinez, Jon Metzger, Tony Miceli, Tessla Michael, Marciano Moreno, Ben Norton, John Mark Piper, Oscar Roca, Joshua Smith, Stephen Solook, Shilo Stroman, Jerry Tachoir, Saverio Tasca, Joey Tierney, Joseph Van Hassel, Morgan Walbridge, Gloria Yehilevsky
Get Involved
Donate - The Vibraphone Project is always accepting donations to support our cause. All funds received will go directly into projects that support the vibraphone; such as commissions, performances and event, and educational endeavors. Your support is appreciated! Visit www.thevibraphoneproject.org/donate to learn more.
Share - Let us know about your vibraphone-related performances, commissions, and projects! Our goal is to uplift the entire vibraphone community, and we do that by promoting all projects related to the instrument. Email us at vibraphoneprojectinc@gmail.com
Volunteer - We are always on the lookout for passionate people, eager to donate their time to The Vibraphone Project. Our volunteers gain practical experience working within a music non-profit organization, while supporting the vibraphone community. Click here to learn more.