A is for Accent (W is for Wow)

Accent05 participants (left to right) Joel Campbell, Benjamin Hoffman and Peter Chen outside Mary Emery Hall at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (photos by Joy Campbell

“A” is for “Accent” and the latest edition is about to play out at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

   One of CCM’s outstanding summer programs, AccentX (the number changes every year) is a week-long chamber music festival for college age and advanced high school musicians.  Accent08 takes place June 15-21 at CCM.

   Founded by violist/teacher Dorotea Vismara Hoffman in 2002, the level of achievement on Accent programs is astonishingly high -- at least judging by a CD from last year’s event. 

   What I heard there in works by Beethoven, Ravel, John Cage, Weber, Poulenc and Foss was on a level that could often be mistaken for performance by established professional ensembles.

   AccentX training is intensive and comprehensive, with private lessons, master classes, concerto competition, ensemble coaching, classes in composition, improvisation, music history and theory, plus daily concerts for ensembles large and small, including percussion ensemble and orchestra.

   Concerts take place in Cohen Family Studio Theater in CCM’s Mary Emery Hall and are free and open to the public.

Violist/conductor Michael Kugel leads violinist Benjamin Hoffman and violist James Jennings with the Advanced Orchestra in Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major at Accent05

There are outreach concerts, too, set for June 15 at Scarlet Oaks Retirement Community and June 16 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

   Master classes, held daily from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in Mary Emery Hall, are also free and open to the public.

   Solo competition is an aspect of Accent08 and will be held in junior (under 18) and senior categories (18 and over).  Prizes include merit scholarships for Accent08 and performance with one of the Accent orchestras on the final concert June 21.  Application deadline is May 12, with live auditions scheduled for May 24.  Applications may be downloaded from the Accent08 web site at http://www.ccm.uc.edu/musicx/accent/.

   AccentX is closely coordinated with CCM’s annual new music festival MusicX, organized and administered by Joel Hoffman, head of CCM’s composition department. Music08 takes place June 15-22, with guest composers Steve Reich, Jack Body and Frederic Rzewski. For information about Music08, visit http://www.ccm.uc.edu/musicx/.

   Accent08 participants will be coached by an eminent faculty drawn from CCM, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra oboist/principal English hornist Christopher Philpotts coaching Jeff Taylor at Accent05

and elsewhere.This year's faculty includes the Grammy-winning chamber ensemble eighth blackbird, conductor Neal Gittleman (Dayton Philharmonic music director), CSO concertmaster Timothy Lees, former CSO principal trumpeter Philip Collins, cellist Parry Karp (ProArte Quartet), CCM faculty members Michael Chertock (piano), James Culley (percussion), Mark Ostoich (oboe) and Rodney Stucky (guitar) and soprano Alison Acord ( Miami University).  For a complete list and biographies, see http://www.ccm.uc.edu/musicx/accent/.

   There is a parallel Crescendo08 event for high school and middle school students, which shares faculty with Accent08 and also presents concerts.

   Admission to Accent08 and Crescendo08 are by application and audition.  Cost to participate is $450, plus a $50 non-refundable application fee.  Scholarships are available based on need. A few places remain open, so it is not too late to apply.

   For information, visit http://www.ccm.uc.edu/musicx/accent/ or contact director Dorotea Vismara Hoffman at Dorotea.Hoffman@uc.edu.