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Thanks for visiting my site. Here are some of the things I’ve been up to.

The Occidental-Caltech Chamber Orchestra under Allen Gross will be performing Study in Orange in September. I first joined the Occidental-Caltech Symphony as a trombone player in my first-year at Oxy in September 1988, so this is coincidentally the twenty-year anniversary of my relationship with this orchestra. I’m so excited to have a chance to go back. The details are:

Saturday, September 27
7:30 p.m., Thorne Hall – Occidental College
Maps/Directions

Sunday, September 28
3:30 p.m., Ramo Auditorium - Caltech
Maps – (Ramo Auditorium is located in Baxter Hall)

Admission is free. Please come!

I have just been commission to write a chamber work for trombonist Andy Malloy. I’m just starting to put the piece together in my head, and as soon as I know more, I’ll definitely be updating the site. As a former trombonist myself (haven’t picked it up in about 3 years), this should be a lot of fun.

Richard Stoltzman and Karolina Rojahn’s recording of Three Meditations for Clarinet and Piano is in the process of being released. It is already available on iTunes, and will soon be available on CD at several online locations, including Amazon.com and MMC Recordings. Richard and Karolina are outstanding artists, and it’s a real thrill to have had the chance to work with them.

In June I visited Bratislava, Slovakia, for another MMC recording session with Richard Stoltzman, this time for recording Conjecture for solo clarinet and orchestra with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra under conductor Kirk Trevor. A release date for this recording has not yet been set. Excerpt should be available later this Summer.

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to be able to participate as an associate artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. It was an experience unlike any other I’ve had in the twelve years I’ve been composing.

I was there with Master Artists Augusta Read Thomas and Bernard Rands, who guided our small group of composers on a three-week residency that seemed designed to help each of us identify our own strengths and weaknesses, and encourage development. It’s an experience that I will always treasure, and I hope that I’ll manage to live up to the challenges made there. I encourage anyone who is thinking about going to ACA to definitely give it a try.

Also, don’t forget that the Janaki String Trio’s debut CD which features my String Trio is still available. It was reviewed quite favorably in the New York Times (third review down). Last year, the Trio brought that piece to the Carmel Music Society, which was a fantastic experience for me. I don’t know how to describe in words how great it has been to work with them. They are truly world-class musicians.

The disc is now available from several retailers, including Amazon.com. The Janaki String Trio commissioned this work in 2005. You can find more information or purchase the CD at Amazon.com, CD Baby or directly from Yarlung’s site. This recording is also available on iTunes.

I am always excited to discuss new projects or commissions, old projects and performances, or anything that’s on your minds. Thanks!

Jason V. Barabba

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