Odyssey Chamber Music Series

How is Odyssey? Just Ask Bill Clark.

1/5/2016

While it might be true that classical music is more enjoyable if you know a thing or two about its language and style - but what isn't? - here at Odyssey we do try to appeal to every one who came to enjoy collaborative music and socialize with fellow audiences for the evening, period.

Therefore, it is with great honor that Columbia Daily Tribune's Bill Clark - who is not a professional critique, perhaps, but does know a thing or two about what makes a good performance work - wrote a lot about not one, but BOTH of our concerts this season so far! Thanks, Bill - especially knowing just how many event you still attend every day.

Bill's article, January 5, 2016 - CLICK HERE.

He is, of course, in for a BIG surprise just like everyone else, because our next event next Saturday 3pm on January 16, "Kids@Heart: Carnival of the Animals - Missouriana edition" is going to knock everyone's socks off. And he has seen our previous performance only 2 years ago. Missouriana edition is filled with unexpected guests and sounds - it will definitely keep everyone on the edge of their seat!

Come early and get your Raffle Tickets: One free ticket for all audiences to win a $50 gift bag, concert tickets, and more! (Yes, you can purchase more tickets to increase your chances of winning as well!)

Happy 2016, and THANK YOU for your support!

HAPPY NEW YEAR~~~!!!

1/1/2016

An EXCITING Evening of Music!

12/9/2015

Enjoy these fantastic images captured by very talented Katherine F. Blake Photography! View all the photos on our Facebook page. [CLICK BELOW]

Hello December, Hello Russia!

12/2/2015

As Peter and I rehearse Rachmaninoff for this Friday's Odyssey performance, we are discovering there are several quotes in his Symphony Dances. Spotted are obvious 'Dies Irae' (Day of Wrath), Rachmaninoff's own Piano Concerto No. 3 (2 passages), Mussorgsky's Catacombs, and I am 90% convinced Shostakovich - just haven't been able to figure out what yet. Peter spotted Ravel's Scarbo opening LH tonight. Join us to listen to this maddening ending to the last movement - LIVE! The concert is this Friday, December 4 at 7pm, First Baptist Church.

The BEST Season Premiere Yet!

10/20/2015

Thanks to EVERYONE who helped create this extraordinary event together - artists, staff, volunteers and audiences alike! It was such a FUN event, musically and visually. FOUR Asian restaurants contributing to this Gala Reception was an equal highlight of the evening: hands down, that was one of the most impressive spread of Asian food I have ever seen!

Please thank and suppor our sponsoring restaurants: Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro, House of Chow, Osaka Japanese Restaurant, and Sake Japanese Bistro.

Katherine F. Blake Photography took some memorable images from the event. I am still uploading the pictures - but I would like to invite you to take a peek; more pictures will be uploaded later next week!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1142269595800986.1073741832.191118147582807&type=3

Odyssey Season 12 Begins this Friday!

10/11/2015

Experience "A Taste of Asia" this Friday, October 16 at 7pm!

Asian-inspired music fills the program that offers Japanese folk songs and features Chinese erhu. You can also admire Kimono and Mongolian fiddle during the reception after the concert, which is catered by at least FOUR different Asian restaurants in town: Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro, House of Chow, Osaka Restaurant and Sake.

Admission is $20 / $10 Student with I.D. that covers the concert AND the food! In addition, first 150 audiences will be treated to a "Fortune Pouch." Arrive early and find out! Doors open 6:15pm at First Baptist Church of Columbia, 1112 E Broadway.

See this concert's coverage in Columbia Daily Tribune:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/arts_life/ovation/ticket-to-ride/article_a81ef534-c7d7-57e4-a875-694fc32e20c8.html

End of the Summer...

8/31/2015

It has been an adventurous summer for my family, and I wanted to share with you a glimpse of my journey to Japan before the Fall begins tomorrow.

Odyssey concert season is programmed 1-2 years in advance, and it may not have been a coincidence that I was inspired by a trip back to my native country this summer - for the first time in 15 years. It had been a conscious, decision if not superfluous reason to avoid the visit for so long: The only time I am free is in the summer, and I absolutely despise its hot, humid, tropical conditions. This summer, even the people of Japan were complaining what blazing heat that haunted them this season, so you can just imagine...

After Peter's concert in Tokyo, we had the privilege of visiting numerous temples and the ancient Imperial Palace. Despite cicadas' intolerably noisy cries (Japanese summer is famous for them) and the thick, unbearable heat, an extensive walk amidst the famed, beautiful gardens in the temples and palaces strangely seem to cleanse one's soul and spirit in peace. It was the calmness - similar to pure relief - quite different from any other.

I am delighted that we will be opening Odyssey's new season with "A Taste of Asia," where I will have a chance to share with you transcriptions of some familiar Japanese folk songs. There will be plenty of Asian-inspired sounds to enjoy throughout the concert, in addition to erhu, a popular Chinese instrument however unfamiliar in Western art music, in a new medium coupled with a modern piano. This concert is generously co-sponsored by the MU Asian Affairs Center.

Please be sure to join us for the Asian food fest after the concert and greet the musicians!

See you soon-
Ayako

4/20 John Cage's Sonatas & Interludes

4/18/2015

https://www.facebook.com/events/1555515464713733/

MU School of Music presents John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes
Michael Budds, lecturer / Peter Miyamoto, piano

If you have enjoyed a preview of this concert when Dr. Peter Miyamoto and Lucy Urlacher talked last Saturday, you know you are in for a very rare treat!

What does the piano sound like when it is prepared all but a handful of keys? The result just might surprise you, But why satisfy your senses on Youtube when you can WITNESS and hear the same magic LIVE right here in Columbia on Monday, 7:30pm at Whitmore Recital Hall !

Courtesy of pianist Boris Berman:
Part 1 of 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fPSz-o4zzY
Part 2 of 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr8gTKDQ7NQ
Part 3 of 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODjyyBQtz2w
Part 4 of 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TUW8NcvoaQ
Part 5 of 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TUW8NcvoaQ

Presented by the MU School of Music. Admission $5.
MU Students and Faculty are free with I.D.
Early arrival is encouraged.

Plowman Competition & Festival is featured in Columbia Daily Tribune

3/15/2015

CLICK HERE for Plowman in Columbia Daily Tribune's Music & Visual Arts section.

Plowman Chamber Music Competition & Festival begins thisThursday, March 19! Generously sponsored by the MU Chancellor's Distinguished Visitor's Program and MMAMTA, Russian trained Armenian pianist Sergei Babayan performs a solo recital here in Mid-Missouri. An electric experience of this incredible performer will leave you wishing for more! (...Except to keep the applause going for encores...!)

On Friday, March 20, Plowman judges give Master Classes: 12pm Sergei Babayan Piano Master Class (Whitmore Hall), 2:30pm Paul Biss Violin Master Class (Whitmore Hall) and 3pm Frank Morelli Bassoon Master Class (First Baptist Church). These classes are open to the public, free admission. Hear what the greatest masters have to say about music!

The 7th Plowman Competition begins on Saturday, March 21 with an all-day Semi-Finals auditions. Enjoy a variety of chamber music performed by 15 Semi-Finalists, at 9:30am-12:30pm, and 2:30-5pm, for only $10. The complete competition schedule is available at www.PlowmanCompetition.org.

Plowman's Finals & Award Ceremony on Sunday, March 22 will be one of the most exciting event yet: Audience Prize is now a monetary award for the first time in our competition history! It will be hard to pick your favorite, because every ensemble at the Finals Concert is always AMAZING. The Finals begin at 1:30pm, followed by a reception during judges' deliberation and Award Ceremony, all at the Missouri Theatre, where you can purchase the tickets for $25 General Admission / $10 with Student I.D.

Finally, we end this fantastic weekend in a fabulous company of the Plowman judges, contestants, and YOU! Odyssey's fundraiser, "Celebration of Chamber Music" will be held Sunday 6-8pm on March 22 at Orr Street Studio Gallery, where silent auction for Naomi Sugino Lear's original painting "Movements" will be held. Heavy hors-d'oeuvre will be served with wine and vibrant conversations, an appropriate evening to close the Festival. Tickets are $40 for two, $25 for one, sold at the door.

Want to beat the line? For Thursday and Saturday events at First Baptist Church: Any online purchase completed before Wednesday 11:59pm CST will be honored at Will Call, Broadway entrance. Tickets are also sold at the door 30-min before the events at the First Baptist Church of Columbia at 1112 E Broadway. Tickets for Sunday's Finals is ONLY sold at the Missouri Theatre.

*Please note* More than 250 tickets to Babayan Piano recital have sold, and a substantial more audience is expected. Please allow yourself enough time to find parking.

Looking forward to seeing all of you!!

Ayako Tsuruta
Artistic Director

http://www.columbiatribune.com/arts_life/ovation/plowman-promises-strong-competition-first-class-guest-artists/article_61c3c68f-3cc7-57be-bc51-dc28508a2b4e.html

Sergei Babayan RECITAL PROGRAM!

3/9/2015