Hello Midsummer’s Friends,
A lot has certainly changed since I originally sat down to write this letter in February. Of course, it needed some revising after all that has transpired since then. After having to move out two months early from my junior year at Vanderbilt, I’m now wrapping up the semester ensconced at home. While the uncertainty of the situation has certainly been wearing on me, I am no stranger to isolation, and it’s proved to be a great blessing for my creativity. In the past two months, I’ve polished off a ten-minute orchestral overture (which I’d been working on since October 2019), as well as a four-minute Polka & Scherzo for orchestra, a chamber sinfonietta for strings and brass commissioned by Vanderbilt to be premiered this October in Berlin, Germany, a short trio in honor of my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, a love-song for piano and violin for my girlfriend’s birthday (she’s a violin major at Vanderbilt), and…of course, I’m working on the beloved piano trio commission for Midsummer’s upcoming season! I’m grateful that the ideas have been still flowing amidst all the craziness in the world right now.
As far as performances go, the semester had been off to a fabulous start. On February 16, the GRAMMY-nominated ALIAS Chamber Ensemble performed my Partita melodica (the 2018 Midsummer’s commission) in Nashville. What a treat to hear it performed again with friends and family in attendance. Next, I’d planned to premiere one of my own works, the first movement of my Three Investigations for two violins and piano, with two of my closest friends at Vanderbilt. That will have to wait until further notice, along with a performance of last year’s Midsummer’s commission (my Wind Quintet) by another student group. But, as of now, the quintet will still be performed by the same ensemble from last year—Heather, Margaret, JJ, Fritz, and Nate—at the Chicago City Winery on June 7 at noon as part of the Chicago Philharmonic’s chamber music series. In addition, I just received news that the Euterpe Quintet of South Korea will be performing my Wind Quintet in the Seoul Arts Center in August! The SAC is the Korean equivalent of the Kennedy or Lincoln Center—it’s home to Korean National Symphony, Korean National Opera, and Korean National Ballet. The Euterpe Quintet gives an annual concert in the hall, and this year their theme is “North American Images.” They simply did a search for North American wind quintets, came across my YouTube video from Midsummer’s last year, and bought the score and parts! It will be the first performance of my music on the Asian continent.
In closing, I must add a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your support of me, my music, and Midsummer’s Music as a whole. As I venture out into the music world and talk with other students and performers, I’m reminded of the foresight, leadership, tremendous musicians, and generous people who play a role in this organization. I am blessed beyond measure to be a part of the Midsummer’s family. My fingers are crossed to see everyone again in a couple months!
Wishing you all health, wellness, and joy—keep your spirits up by listening to good music!
Jacob Beranek