April 21, 2008
New Da Camera CD features works by Charles Wuorinen
Da Camera of Houston’s second compact disc, featuring the music of American composer Charles Wuorinen, has been released on the Naxos label. Featuring six chamber works by the acclaimed composer and performed by an ensemble of musicians long associated with Da Camera, Charles Wuorinen: Ashberyana and Fenton Songs includes the Da Camera-commissioned Ashberyana for baritone, string quartet, trombone and piano; Fenton Songs I and Fenton Songs II for soprano, violin, cello and piano; Josquiniana for string quartet and the solo piano pieces Praegustatum and Ave Christe of Josquin. The album is released in anticipation of Wuorinen’s 70th birthday on June 9, 2008. Ashberyana was commissioned in 2004 by Da Camera of Houston to honor Sarah Rothenberg’s tenth anniversary as Artistic Director with funds from Chamber Music America’s Commissioning Program, supported by the Chamber Music America Endowment Fund. Additional support provided by Works and Process at the Guggenheim and the National Endowment for the Arts. The recording was made possible in part by a grant from the Aaron Copland Fun for Music, Inc.

April 3, 2008
Saxophonist Miguel Zenon named Guggenheim Fellow
Latin jazz saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenon, scheduled to appear on the Da Camera Jazz series November 15, 2008, has been awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. Houston composer Kurt Stallman was also awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship January 17, 2008
Houston Chronicle tells the story of McCoy Tyner's drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt
A recent Houston Chronicle story from the Associated Press tells the fascinating story of McCoy Tyner's current drummer. Click here to read the article.

December 13, 2007
Guitarist Manuel Barrueco Receives Grammy Nomination
Barrueco, who appears with Cuarteto Latinoamericano on April 12, has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra) for his CD Solo Piazzolla on the Tonar label.

December 7, 2007
Da Camera Artistic Director Creates Program for Guggenheim's Works and Process Series
Works & Process at the Guggenheim Presents Dada, Jazz, and the Avant-Garde on Sunday and Monday, December 9 and 10 at 7:30 pm. This concert is presented in conjunction with with exhibition Foto: Modernity in Central Europe 1918-1945. The vibrant musical world of Central Europe between the wars comes to life in this program created by pianist and Da Camera Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg. Erwin Schulhoff's Jazz Etudes, Paul Hindemith's Trio for piano, viola and saxophone, Stefan Wolpe's Dadaist For Anna Blume by Kurt Schwitters, and rarely heard works by Webern and Dessau are performed along with Kurt Weill's Berlin Songs and Bartok's Contrasts. Violinist Joel Smirnoff and soprano Lucy Shelton join Rothenberg among others. For over 23 years and in over 300 productions, Works & Process at the Guggenheim has been a pioneer in creating ground-breaking and carefully crafted programs which provide unprecedented access to todays leading performing artists, choreographers, composers, writers, and directors. Each program uniquely blends performance and discussion among creative collaborators and explores the creative process. Following - often sold-out performances - in the intimate Frank Lloyd Wright-designed 285-seat theater, a reception for the audience and artists takes place in the museums rotunda. Described by The New York Times as a popular series devoted to shedding light on the creative process, by The Village Voice as revelatory, and by The New Yorker as exceptional, Works & Process has become well respected by both artists and audiences alike, and is produced by Mary Sharp Cronson.

November 15, 2007
Chronicle Reviews Enso Quartet
Click here to read the Houston Chronicle's review of the recent concert by the Enso String Quartet.

October 4, 2007
Da Camera's 20th Anniversary Celebrated in Houston Chronicle Editorial
As we begin the 20th anniversary season, an editorial in the Houston Chronicle notes this organization's accomplishments and contributions to the cultural life of Houston. Click here to read the article.

October 3, 2007
Coltrane Home Recognized as Historic Landmark
The home of jazz legends John and Alice Coltrane has recently been recognized as a historic sight by both the New York State and the National Register of Historic Places. This rare distinction is the first stride in a series of steps to convert the home into a jazz museum and educational center as was originally envisioned by the Coltrane family. Ravi Coltrane, son of John and Alice Coltrane, appears on the Da Camera jazz series on February 9, 2008. Click here to read more about the Coltrane home.

October 3, 2007
Enso Quartet on Blue Bayou
Following their November 13th Da Camera concert at The Menil Collection, the Enso String Quartet appears on downtown's Sabine Promenade. A collaboration between filmmaker Alfred Guzzetti and composer Kurt Stallman, Sona includes cityscape images accompanied by ambient sounds recorded in Houston and arranged electronically, and interspersed with performances by the Enso. Click here for more information.

August 1, 2007
Leon Fleisher Documentary to Air Thursday, August 2
Nathaniel Kahn's Oscar-nominated documentary film Two Hands airs on Cinemax on Thursday evening, August 2. Check local listings. The film chronicles the acclaimed pianist's struggle to regain the use of his right hand. Fleisher performed in a Da Camera concert on April 15, 2007.

August 1, 2007
Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer Is a Rising Star
Pianist Vijay Iyer has topped two categories in Down Beat Magazine's 55th Annual Critics Poll. The distinctive solo artist, composer and collaborator was named top "Rising Star Jazz Artist" and top "Rising Star Composer of the Year" for the second year in a row. Iyer appears on the Da Camera Jazz series on April 26, 2008.

June 6, 2007
Bill Charlap Video
Check out a brief video of pianist Bill Charlap and his trio in performance at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola. Charlap was the special guest at April's Jazz Appreciation Month kickoff concert at Miller Outdoor Theater.

June 6, 2007
Chamber Music Magazine Reports Sarah Rothenberg To Chair National Conference
The June issue of Chamber Music magazine reports: "Pianist Sarah Rothenberg, artistic director of Da Camera of Houston, will chair Chamber Music America's 30th-anniversary conference, to be held in New York City, January 4-6, 2008." The article goes on to note that "Rothenberg is known for fostering innovative projects that present chamber music in literary and historical contexts."

June 6, 2007
Da Camera Artistic Director Quoted in Houston Chronicle Article
Da Camera Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg was recently quoted in a Houston Chronicle article about pre-concert talks. Click here to read the article "Audiences getting more than music these days."

May 16, 2007
Regina Carter video
Check out a video of jazz violinist Regina Carter, performing George Gershwin's Lady Be Good with the late bassist Ray Brown's trio. Carter appears on the Da Camera Jazz series October 12, 2007.

April 26, 2007
Pulitzer Prize to Ornette Coleman
April 2007 marks the second time in history that the Pulitzer Prize in music has been awarded to a jazz musician. Ten years ago, Wynton Marsalis won the prize for his oratorio "Blood on the Fields," and this year the Pulitzer Prize goes to American saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman for his album Sound Grammar. In addition, the Pulitzer Prize Board presented a posthumous Special Citation to jazz legend John Coltrane "for his masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz." John Coltrane’s legacy is carried on by his son, tenor and soprano saxophonist Ravi Coltrane who appears in Da Camera’s much-anticipated 2007-2008 jazz series.

April 23, 2007
New Robert Glasper CD
Houston-raised jazz pianist Robert Glasper, who played two inspired concerts on Da Camera's jazz series in November, has a new CD on the Blue Note label. In My Element includes Glasper's mashup of Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage and Radiohead's Everything in its Right Place.

April 15, 2007
Chamber Music America Recognizes Da Camera of Houston With Two Major Awards

In January, Da Camera of Houston received the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, First Place award in the Presenters/Festivals category. Da Camera Artistic Director Sarah Rothenberg accepted the award at the 29th annual CMA Conference this month in New York City. The award acknowledges Da Camera’s commitment to contemporary works, particularly works written since the 1980’s. The award specifically recognized Da Camera’s 2005/2006 season, which featured a unique celebration of the Mozart anniversary and five Da Camera-commissioned works. Works by John Corigliano, Michael Daugherty, Gabriela Lena Frank, Aaron Jay Kernis, David Lang, Charles Wuorinen, Joan Tower and George Tsontakis as well as other 20th century compositions were included in the season. The CMA/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming are presented annually to ensembles, presenters and festivals that demonstrate a commitment to contemporary chamber music programming. These awards are given jointly by Chamber Music America (CMA) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Chamber Music America is also recognizing Da Camera with the 2007/08 CMAcclaim Award for “significant contribution to the cultural life of our region.” We were nominated by our peers in recognition of what makes Da Camera successful: our inventive programming , effective community programs and unique and intimate concert format. (A formal presentation of the award is scheduled for October 2007 to coincide with the opening night of our 20th anniversary season.)