Frank Almond

Violinist Frank Almond holds the Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He returned to the MSO after holding positions as Concertmaster of the Rotterdam Philharmonic with Valery Gergiev, and Concertmaster of the London Philharmonic with Kurt Masur. He continues an active schedule of solo and chamber music performances in the US and abroad and has been a member of the chamber group An die Musik in New York City since 1997, and also directs the somewhat notorious Frankly Music Series based in Milwaukee. He is on the faculty at Roosevelt University in Chicago, and plays on a really great violin.

Self promotion dept.

May 28, 2012May 28, 2012 by Frank Almond

Last week I launched my first Kickstarter project, so this seems like another good place to get the word out. It’s gotten a great response so far, and even with my slight bias, I think it’s a worthy endeavor.

SFM Does it Right

May 21, 2012 by Frank Almond

These days the classical music world is filled with half-baked concepts and vague ideas regarding “community engagement”, a “new model”, “special projects”, and lots of other windy catchphrases. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a series at Carnegie Hall that has proven these concepts are not only possible, but on a grand scale. Spring for Music was a home run.

GST (more Golijov)

March 23, 2012 by Frank Almond

Osvaldo Golijov has apparently withdrawn his violin concerto from the Berlin premiere. Thanks to Norman Lebrecht for the update. Earlier articles here and here.

More CSO Smackdown (breaking)

May 1, 2015March 14, 2012 by Frank Almond

Exclusive: Younger guy issues a “statement” about the Brahms brawl.

By now all of you know about the fight that went down at last Thursday’s CSO concert. Amid speculation that alcohol was a factor, no one directly involved has spoken publicly. But in an exclusive Nondivisi scoop, I tracked down the younger of the two participants as he hid out in a Naperville motel due to the media frenzy. Here’s his version of events…….

Goligate update

March 11, 2012March 8, 2012 by Frank Almond

Osvaldo Golijov has finally offered a response (or non-response) in the NY Times. Just a hunch, but I doubt this article will win him any new fans; this whole episode is pretty repugnant to anyone who truly believes in artistic originality. But maybe it’s finally over (at least until his next premiere). Read my earlier post here.

Crime or Misdemeanor?

March 11, 2012February 24, 2012 by Frank Almond

It’s a little over a week now since Osvaldo Golijov’s ill-fated performance of Sidereus in Oregon, a concert that exposed the Grammy-winning composer to multiple charges of plagiarism (and worse). A robust discussion has ensued in the music world, with some fascinating insights. And in some quarters, the silence is deafening.