Jan Karlin and Jeff von der Schmidt at Pho Suong in Old Hanoi. (Photo: Vu Nhat Tan)
Jeff von der Schmidt and Jan Karlin have received appointments as Artistic Advisors to the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hanoi New Music Ensemble, resident ensembles at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi, Vietnam. The appointment will commence with a three-week residency in Hanoi in Fall 2015.
Von der Schmidt is the artistic director and conductor, and Karlin the executive director and violist, of the LA International New Music Festival, presented by Southwest Chamber Music. The Grammy Award-winners initiated, produced and directed the 2010 Ascending Dragon Music Festival and Cultural Exchange, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the largest cultural exchange in history between the United States and Vietnam.
Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Rector of the Vietnam National Academy of Music, wrote in the letter of invitation that “In your capacity as Artistic Advisors, you will provide the opportunity for collaboration and new ideas. We also look forward to drawing upon your expertise from 28 years of guiding Grammy Award-winning Southwest Chamber Music, which currently produces the LA International New Music Festival. We hope that this new relationship, the first between U.S. and Vietnamese cultural organizations, will build upon the successes of the 2010 Ascending Dragon Music Festival and Cultural Exchange, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. With the 2015 celebration of the 20th anniversary of normalization of relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, it is my hope that we will increase the important people-to-people exchange between our countries through American and Vietnamese composers and musicians.”
Von der Schmidt says about this historic opportunity that “Jan and I look forward to beginning work this October as Artistic Advisors to the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) and playing key roles in the creation of the Hanoi New Music Ensemble. Wisely folded into the existing structure of the HPO, we intend to build the Hanoi New Music Ensemble into an internationally recognized new music group based in Southeast Asia, a potential game changer for Vietnam. As we improve repertoire and fine-tune the highest standards over the next few seasons, we are confident that many inspiring international projects will come into focus for these two related groups. Jan and I are honored to share our experiences with the Vietnam National Academy of Music, the Hanoi Philharmonic and the Hanoi New Music Ensemble as our countries move forward in the 21st century.”
Plans for the Fall 2015 residency will include a concert by the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra in a new concert hall at the Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM), conducted by Jeff von der Schmidt. Additional activities will feature the inaugural concert by the Hanoi New Music Ensemble conducted by Mr. von der Schmidt, and a concert programmed by Jan Karlin performed by the Song Hong Ensemble, an internationally renowned ensemble that made its U.S. premiere in April 2014. Mr. von der Schmidt and Ms. Karlin will also lecture, give master classes, and lead sectional rehearsals for the ensembles. Ms. Karlin will lead long term planning sessions with VNAM administrators and arts leaders.
For more information as these projects progress, follow Jeff von der Schmidt’s blog at jeffvonderschmidt.com.
For more detailed information on the LA International New Music Festival, Southwest Chamber Music, Jeff von der Schmidt and Jan Karlin, please visit www.swmusic.org.
