Charleen Wippler

Denver's Charleen Wippler dies, was adventurous violinist
By Virginia Culver
The Denver Post, 4/25/2011

Read more: Denver's Charleen Wippler dies, was adventurous violinist - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_17920861#ixzz1KfCCa0wi
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuseAs a kid, Charleen Wippler was always practicing her violin, and it paid off.

She was in the first section of violinists with the Colorado Symphony, and its predecessor orchestras, for 46 years.

Wippler, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died March 17. She was 84.

She started playing the violin and piano when she was 8, said her husband, Harold Wippler, a retired violinist in the symphony. By 19, she was in the symphony and attending Denver University, where she got a degree in music. She retired in 1993.

"She was a lively, buoyant person," her husband said. Her favorite music "was whatever she was playing at the time." Read On

By Pete Vriesenga

The Lone Tree Arts Commission was established by the City of Lone Tree in 1999 to promote public awareness of fine and performing arts within the City. Funding for the LTAC comes in part from the City of Lone Tree, and also from the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District which provides approximately $75,000 annually. The Lone Tree Symphony, for example, receives more than $40,0000 annually in grant awards from the Arts Commission. With additional funding from Douglas County SCFD, 80% of Lone Tree Symphony's annual budget now comes from "government grants." Government support for symphony orchestras as a national average is is just 4%.

Taxpayers in the SCFD District have a right to know how these funds are spent, especially when unusual dollar amounts and percentages are passing hands. Lone Tree residents especially have a right to know how these funds are spent. They voted for a tax increase in 2004 so they could join in the SCFD Tax District, and they voted for another tax increase in 2008 to fund the new $20 million Lone Tree Arts Center slated to open this Fall. That ballot measure passed by narrow margin of only 26 votes.

So, the $20 million question: Are Lone Tree residents better off after these two tax hikes, and do they know where this money is going? The Colorado Symphony performed annual concerts in Lone Tree's Sweetwater Park before these tax increases. Now, with added funds in city coffers, the 'pay-to-play' Lone Tree Symphony has now assumed the gig. Count one strike against the notion that residents are better off.

Answers and accountability to these questions are typically noted in Meeting Minutes of the Lone Tree Arts Council, but these documents are not as accessible as they should be. In fact, they're not as accessible as they were in the past. Click here to see Meeting Agendas and Minutes of other areas of Lone Tree city government such as City Council, Planning Commission, Youth Commission, etc. All are perfectly up to date, except for the Arts Commission. Suspiciously, all records stop after January 13, 2010.

My personal conspiracy theory suggests that LTAC is responding to my February 5, 2010 commentary Lone Tree Symphony's Taking Much, Giving Little. That story raised a bit of a fuss between myself and Lone Tree City Officials, to put it mildly.

With the hope of putting my theory to rest, I sent an email inquiry last week to the Lone Tree Arts Commission, asking for an explanation for this 15-month lapse? Following proper protocol I used the contact link at the bottom of their LTAC webpage, but my email bounced back with a notice:"This account has been disabled or discontinued."

Maybe they're just uncomfortable.

Comments

By Pete Vriesenga

The Cherry Creek Chorale has provided welcome employment for DMA members for many years. These productions are costly and we are forever grateful for CCC's efforts to stage such events and hope they can continue into the future.

But, as stated in CCO's  2011-12 Season Flyer, CCO has engaged the Boulder Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for concerts scheduled on October 14, 2011 and May 18, 2012. Sadly, freelance musicians are again learning the hard way that they cannot possibly compete against two publicly-funded organizations that choose to pool their resources in this manner.

Maestro Devin Hughes

Under the baton of Maestro Devin Hughes, the Boulder Symphony has hit the ground running by undermining the local industry with their SCFD-funded 'pay-to-play' business model. The BSO's new home at Boulder's affluent First Presbyterin Church is yet another creative collaboration. This deal is paid for entirely by the musicians who now perform free for Sunday services as well as three performances of Glory of Christmas. Additionally, BSO musicians must pay $25 per concert set to play in the orchestra, all of which applies to BSO's necessary match to obtain SCFD funding in the first place.

I met with Maestro Hughes this past December over a cup of coffee.  I tried to explain why it is improper for BSO to use their tax-exempt status and public funding in a manner that unfairly competes against an established industry. I reminded Devin that his actions, also the BSO board of directors, are putting professional musicians out of work while damaging an economy that otherwise fuels our infrastructure and provides a welcome tax base.

Maestro Hughes had little comment except to boast of the great job he's doing.

Comments

My Best Friend, Plus One.
By: Proper Discord

Proper Discord is a blog about classical music, marketing and the Internet.

 

I've taken a lot of friends to the orchestra over the years. I'm lucky enough to work in music, and I get a lot of concert tickets, so if you know me, there's a good chance you've been introduced to an orchestra's publicist at some point as my best friend, Plus One.

A lot of the time, there's a work element to attending the concert. I'm supposed to decide if the soloist is somebody my company should work with.

 

I've always found that difficult. By the time I've agreed to come out to see them perform, I've already read their bio. I know where they're from, where they studied, who they normally perform with, and what that normally says about an artist. A lifetime spent sorting and selling classical music has filled my head with little prejudices about what is going to be good.

 

Our ears aren't impartial observers. We unconsciously filter out stuff we don't think is important. We hear what we're listening for. It's a fantastic feature when I'm trying to understand a conversation in a crowded restaurant, but it's terrible in a concert: I can't turn it off.

 

That, in turn, means that I can't be sure that I'm hearing what's going on, not simply what I expected to hear.

Sometimes that's ok. If you only expect to sell the artist's work to people who share your preconceptions, you can just go with it. It's pretty safe to assume those other peoples' impressions will be distorted in the same direction as yours. If you only wanted to sell music to snobs, you could save yourself the trouble of attending the concert at all, and just let your prejudices make all the decisions.

What about the rest of the public though?

 

Well. That's where my friend Plus One comes in. Read On 

Buddy Project Big Band - Live at Jazz@Jack's
May 2nd at 8p
Jazz @ Jack's (303-433-1000) (3rd level next to UA theaters at the Denver Pavilions) (click ME for Jack's website)

Cover: $5

The Buddy Project Big Band recreates the sounds of "The World's Greatest Drummer", Buddy Rich. Don't miss this exciting 16-pc big band as they return to the big stage at Jazz@Jack's for an encore concertl!!

Hear all your favorite Buddy tunes and some NEW tunes including Keep The Customer Satisfied and Backwoods Sideman, and more!

Two exciting sets starting at 8p.
Great venue (with bar food), and great $5 cover.
The band features Denver's finest jazz musicians and is led by drummer Gary Lefrancois, owner/head instructor at the Metro Drum School in Denver.
Also on Facebook: "The Buddy Project"
Please come on down to see Gary and the band!

Baur's Ristorante PRESENTS
Tom Tilton's Jazz Trios & Quartets
Weds & Thurs     Fridays & Saturdays
May 4th: Jon Wirtz (piano) w/ John Grigsby (bass)
May 5th: Andrew Moorhead (piano) w/ Ron Bland (bass)
May 6th: Gabe Mervine (trumpet) w/ Moorhead & Grigsby
May 7th: Gabe Mervine (trumpet) w/ Moorhead & Grigsby

Featuring guest artists each week, 8pm to midnight
Dinner Show 8pm - 9:30 & 11pm
Menu/drink minimum or cover added to tab
Reservations recommended / 16th & Curtis Parking
baursdenver.com * 303-534-4842
512 Curtis Street, Denver, CO  80202

We have been at Cafe Del Sol for 2 1/2 years now. Joni Janak (vocals), Ron Moewes (drums), Ed Stephen (guitar and vocals), and Colin Gieg (bass) will be performing in May on Thursday, May 5 and Thursday, May 19 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.

 

Cafe Del Sol is located at 609 Garrison St (6th and Garrison on the North Frontage Road). Good food, drinks, music and fun.

NO COVER CHARGE

Please call 303-238-7999 for reservations.

Thanks, Ron 

May 7th, Origin recording artist:  

Corey Christiansen Modern jazz master guitarist.

Concert: 7:30 PM -- Corey returns to Broadway Music School with the organ/ guitar/ drums trio that tore it up last year, joined  by: Jeff Jenkins on Hammond B-3 organ, & Jim White - drums.

Workshop: 12:00 PM - World famous educator Corey Christiansen will be returning for the fifth year to teach our jazz ensembles, give an jazz improv workshop, and Corey will be available for private lessons.  
More info online at:  www.broadwaymusicschool.com

BROADWAY MUSIC SCHOOL     1940 S. Broadway, Denver                                           303-777-0833                                                info@broadwaymusicschool.com        www.broadwaymusicschool.com