Concerts
Week of July 3, 2021
Sunday 4th of July, 8:00 pm Oaktree Pavilion
Kyle Adam Blair presents a cornucopia of piano music featuring pieces by Gottschalk, Joplin, Gershwin, and other American composers in the spirit of the celebration of the national independence of the United States.
Tuesday 4:30 pm Bazar del Sol
An afternoon of popular music accompanies an enjoyable happy hour overlooking the mountains. Conversation is encouraged while Fiona Digney and Kyle Adam Blair provide a sonic backdrop for late-afternoon indulgence.
Thursday 8:00 pm Oaktree Pavilion
Fiona Digney’s percussion instruments and the piano stylings of Kyle Adam Blair combine to provide a concert full of contemplation, meditation, and consideration. Duos and solos of Timo Andres, John Luther Adams, Ruth Crawford Seeger, and Michael Gordon round out an eclectic hour of experimental music.
Fiona Digney in an Australian-born percussionist, educator, and producer. She has spent the last decade in the United States, The Netherlands, and London, becoming an internationally recognized percussionist with highly-profiled accomplishments across a wide range of percussive styles from experimental, improvisatory, and world music styles to orchestra, chamber, and theatrical contexts. Fiona’s thrilling performances have been described as “compelling and authoritative” by Christian Hertzog (San Diego Union-Tribune) and garnered praise from the premier music critic of the United States, Alex Ross (The New Yorker, 28th June 2018). Having recently completed her doctoral studies in percussion performance, with a research focus on the praxis of music-making, Fiona now enjoys a wide-ranging freelance career in Southern California. In addition, Fiona champions her fellow musicians through her artistic administrative roles as managing director & production manager of Art of Elan, and as executive producer & artistic administrator of the Ojai Music Festival. www.fionadigney.com
Kyle Adam Blair, D.M.A. is an active solo and collaborative pianist, music director, and vocal coach, specializing in the performance of American contemporary art music. His major focuses include the performance of new works in collaboration with composers, and the performance of works from the American art music repertory of the 20th and 21st centuries. Outside of his frequent engagements in southern California, Blair has recently performed at the San Francisco Center for New Music, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Hartt School of Music, the University of Buffalo, and Santa Clara University. Among these performances included the world premieres of all twelve of Bruno Ruviaro’s Pos-Tudos piano etudes, the world premiere of Stuart Saunders Smith’s Family Portraits: Sylvia at 70, and a faculty recital with soprano Tiffany DuMouchelle.