Odyssey Chamber Music Series

Vox Nova's past concerts this weekend

5/29/2020

This Sunday would have been Vox Nova's 3rd and final concert as Odyssey's Ensemble-in-Residence. We are working to reschedule this postponed concert - in hopes that we will be able to get together in May 2021.

Here is Vox Nova's performance at Odyssey's Season 12. The video begins with more excited Lieberman's last "Elizabethan Songs." For Vox Nova's signature performance, go to 1:15 for Tallis' "O Nata Lux."

Visit odysseymissouri.org/programs.html to revisit Vox Nova performances from Season 12 and 15. Then, consider donating to Odyssey so that we can continue to celebrate these great music and dedicated musicians with you!

Odyssey Season 16 needs your help.

4/18/2020

Dear Odyssey Friends-

What an extraordinary times we are living in. COVID-19 pandemic has rattled everyone and everything around the world.

For free-lancing musicians, this pandemic has been devastating. I thought well established organizations like the Metropolitan Opera or Los Angeles Philharmonic would remain invincible, and did not imagine that its (temporary) closure would be caused by an illness.

I am also painfully aware that all this talk is privileged, compared to the poorest communities, here in Columbia and in other countries around the world, where keeping a distance of 6 feet is not even possible.

But music truly matters. In a time of dire need, we console ourselves with our favorite songs or songs that bring some solace. In a time of greatest joy, we celebrate the occasion or our lives with music to express our utmost feelings, indescribable in words. We use music to communicate our complicated emotions and feelings, where words fail.

Therefore, the well being of our musicians must be observed carefully. Financial support has never been more critical, especially at a time grant opportunities are severely compromised.

May I ask you to consider to donate to Odyssey to support its musicians? While "Women Composers" had to be cancelled, we have some of their music to share with you, performed exclusively by the Odyssey performers. You can see them at: https://conta.cc/3biZ6Y1

Thank you for your consideration.

Ayako Tsuruta
Executive and Artistic Director

Odyssey Season 15 is Announced!

6/15/2018

Season 14 wrapped up with Vox Nova as our featured Season Finale ensemble on June 3 - and just realizing only now that I had neglected posting 'Blogs' at all this past season, however sporadically I have in the past.

Thank you for sharing with us another spectacular season! We had a great turn out of audiences and musicians alike, and certainly a wonderful variety of world class chamber music.

Please plan to join us for Season 15! We kick off the season with a special presentation and production of the musical segment beginning with field/work songs all the way to the arranged spirituals of H. T. Burleigh, Margaret Bonds, and Moses Hogan to name a few. Co-curated by Dr. Maya C. Gibson and Dr. Stephanie Shonekan, this concert features former Chanticleer member Marques Jarrell Ruff and special guest soloist, international Opera, Jazz and Gospel artist Jolie Rocke Brown, with MU's new Assistant Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Brandon A. Boyd on the piano.

Then reserve the dates for other Season 15 gems - including the 9th Plowman Chamber Music Competition!

More exciting news will follow. Stay tuned!

Odyssey Radio Hour@Classical 90.5FM

9/14/2017

Until Oct 12, every Thursday at 6pm, Classical 90.5 FM will air past Odyssey performances. Then come hear AKOPORLIS REED QUINTET on Oct 13 here in Columbia!

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1103691331316&ca=dcb13c86-a93b-472f-94e0-248d4f688966

Odyssey for a Summer Evening

8/8/2017

We are so lucky to be able to perform Crumb's "Makrokosmos III" for the THIRD time in our series, this time finally in the Summer! While the work is such a masterpiece, it doesn't really matter when you perform it - but I have to admit I am quite excited about this coincidence.

"Solar Eclipse: A Celestial Celebration" on Aug 18, Fri at 7pm First Baptist Church in Columbia - is a unique program comprised of sun-inspired works of all mediums: There will be images by local artists featured before and after the concert on TV monitors, and Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro will provide a sun-inspired presentation (confession: one of my favorite sushi is her Sun West rolls).

Thanks to the generosity of Mizzou Advantage and the Office of Cultural Affairs, this massive production is ADMISSION FREE, which is probably as rare as the Total Eclipse itself! Bring your families and friends; you will enjoy this live concert, featuring chamber music of voice, flute, clarinet, strings, percussion saxophone and 5 pianos in different combinations!

POSTPONED to Jan 21: Kids@Heart

1/12/2017

Due to Winter Storm, we are postponing Kids@Heart event to January 21, Saturday at 2:30pm Pre-concert & 3pm Concert

Please be safe this weekend!

Photos from HOT Winter Sleigh!

12/11/2016

With a title like "HOT WINTER SLEIGH," it is hard not to imagine what that concert must have been like... and certainly, it was one of a kind! Enjoy viewing the festive photos from December 2.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/OdysseyMissouri/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1498062090221733

CHANTICLEER comes to Columbia!

10/3/2016

Are YOU ready for their concert? Limited tickets are still available, but there is no telling if it will sell out before we open the door on Wednesday at 6:45pm for their 7:30pm show. Online purchase is available until Tuesday 11:59pm...

THANK YOU for Fall Fundraiser!

10/1/2016

Thank you for coming to our Fall FUNdraiser with Jina Yoo! We had so much fun sharing piano ensemble music with you. Most of all THANK YOU JINA for sharing with us your immense musical and (of course) impeccable culinary talents that evening!! We left in awe. and inspired by your perfection - and definitely will be back for more of your irresistible food and company!

Welcome to Odyssey's Season 13!

9/9/2016

Jina Yoo, pianist, chef and owner of Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro

HOW quickly time passes when you are having fun! Last post I wrote was back in February: Since then, we had one of the best Fundraisers Odyssey has ever had in March, and in that same month I performed Ravel Concerto with an orchestra in Connecticut, and a full-fledged two-piano recital with Peter Miyamoto in Louisiana only 5 days later. We also hosted a successful summer music camp, Odyssey Chamber Music Festival for the first time at University of Missouri... Suffice to say, we were busy, but had a wonderful time while doing all the work.

Everyone at Odyssey is excited to be back doing what we do best: Bringing world-class chamber music to Columbia, Missouri! To make any of what we do possible, we need funding. On September 25, our good friend and multi-talented Jina Yoo (pictured above) will enlighten us with her piano music in her restaurant, Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro on Sunday afternoon at 4pm! All funds raised will benefit Odyssey and its programs - that includes 2 national events, Plowman Chamber Music Competition and Odyssey Chamber Music Festival. Stay for optional dinner, and Jina will also donate a percentage of the revenue towards Odyssey. Not one, but TWO Yamaha pianos are rented, so that Peter Miyamoto and I can jam with Jina in this Fall FUNdraiser as well!

We are SO pleased to co-present with First Baptist Church of Columbia the world-renowned, GRAMMY winning all male a cappella CHANTICLEER on October 5, 2016, Wednesday at 7:30pm. (*Disclaimer* Please pardon this Sunday's Tribune advertisement: 2017 is a misprint; Chanticleer IS scheduled for this October, 2016.)

Chanticleer is touring with "My Secret Heart" program, which perfectly precedes the theme to our next instrumental chamber music concert "Enchanted Fall" on October 14, featuring beguiling French music of Paul Dukas, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, followed by exotic Piano Trio No. 2 by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Odyssey is generously funded by Missouri Arts Council, Office Cultural Affairs and First Baptist Church of Columbia, supported by Columbia Daily Tribune, KBIA 91.3 and Classical 90.5 FM, with partnership with Missouri Symphony Society, University of Missouri, Mid-Missouri Area Music Teachers Association and Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro. You as donors and/or audiences are equally integral part of what makes Odyssey Chamber Music Series in our small community possible - and we are very grateful for your continued support.

Thank you everyone for celebrating 13 years of amazing music music with us, and we look forward to serving you many more concert seasons of over 400 years of chamber music. We've only scratched the surface of this immense repertoire, after all!

See you at Jina Yoo's Fundraiser 9/25 and/or Chanticleer 10/5!
Ayako Tsuruta & the *Amazing* Odyssey Board