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Program Descriptions

6/19/08
On The Well-Tempered Wireless we hosted live performances by two professional harpists in the Detroit area, Lydia Cleaver and Maurice Draughn, each of whom received their early training from the DPS system at Cass Tech (see info below). Also appearing (though not playing) was harpist Christa Grix, chair of the American Harp Society's National Convention which convenes next week at the Hyatt in Dearborn.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS:

Lydia Cleaver

was introduced to the harp at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan where she studied with Patricia Terry-Ross. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Master of Music and Specialist degrees in Harp Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music where she studied with Dr. Lynne Aspnes. Lydia has performed with many orchestras and choral ensembles throughout the Midwest region of the United States. Additionally, she has performed with Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Eartha Kitt and Micky Rooney in the stage production of the Wizard of Oz, Mannheim Steamroller and others. Lydia has been a featured soloist for Vocal Essence of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Livonia Symphony and Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony orchestras, as well as the American Harp Society, performing William Grant Still’s Ennanga. Lydia is listed in Marquis Who’s Who of American Women and has been granted the King, Chavez, Parks visiting professorship from the University of Michigan. In 2007 she took over the harp program at Cass Technical High School. Miss Cleaver performs on Wednesday, June 25, at 1:30 p.m.

Maurice Draughn
Maurice Draughn harpist, is a native of Detroit. He began his harp studies at Cass Technical High School with Patricia Terry-Ross, principal harpist of the Michigan Opera Theatre. He continued his studies with Mrs. Ross, earning a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from Wayne State University. Mr. Draughn completed two summers of study with world-renowned harpist Lucile Lawrence at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, Massachusetts. He earned a Master of Church Music degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY where he also studied with Elaine Cook and Laura Byrne at the University of Louisville. Mr. Draughn has appeared as soloist with the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony, Orchestra Canton, Detroit Symphony Civic and Southern Seminary Orchestras. He has performed with noted performers such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, the Three Irish Tenors, and Glen Campbell. He is currently a freelance harpist performing with several orchestras and choral ensembles in the metropolitan Detroit area as well as the western & southern regions of Ontario. In addition to being a harpist, Mr. Draughn serves as music director and organist at the Springhill Baptist Church in Farmington Hills, MI. He is also on the adjunct faculty at Wayne State University as director of the WSU Men's Glee Club.

6/17/08
The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival has a number of lesser-known ancillary events in addition to the main schedule. Last Tuesday, I had an opportunity to observe a Master Class given by Cellist Paul Katz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Katz ), formerly with the Cleveland Quartet and now on the faculty of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music.

He was working on a Beethoven trio with the Trio Lunaire (Trio Lunaire ) .

The interview is a look "under the hood" of the collaborative process of chamber music as well as the age-old process of a master passing along knowledge to the next generation.

2/19/08
Chris Felcyn's interview with Thomas Wilkins, Resident Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, on the Well-Tempered Wireless

2/19/08
Chris Felcyn's interview with Thomas Wilkins, Resident Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, on the Well-Tempered Wireless

2/15/08
Chris Felcyn's interview with bandoneon virtuoso Peter Soave on the Well-Tempered Wireless