Music Meets Drama

  The Gena Branscombe Project proudly announces their 2021 scholarships winners. Congratulations are given to Michaela (Micah) Gleason, Conductor; Cameron Smith, Composer; Melissa Yanchak, Arts Administrator.  In addition, Jane Kozhevnikova was the recipient of our Art Song Commission award.   These scholarship recipients will carry forth Miss Branscombe’s values throughout their careers.  They demonstrate the best of musical creativity which embraces humanity’s diversity and a resolve to hold high the tenets of artistic expression.   #BringingBackBranscombe

    “ German born Arthur Schmidt (1846-1921) was a trailblazer for American composers and in particular American women composers.  In my mind and opinion he broke down barriers, sought out potential that could be developed into the brightest and best.  He proved that the word composer had no gender bias to it….a composer is a composer whether man or woman!”  This quote is from my January 2011 blog posting.   The “Elusive Mr. Schmidt” blog posting in April 2013 explained that in all of his business papers at the Library of Congress there was not one picture of him.   Schmidt’s great granddaughter contacted me and sent me her great grandfather’s picture.   He was no longer elusive.     This will be my third blog I have written about Mr. Schmidt.   He was a publisher extraordinaire who in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries promoted and published American composers.    That era was about publishing ...