Author Archives: David Chang

Dead composers offer little if any feedback on how their works should be presented. Luckily, Roger Bourland is a living, breathing composer who can tailor his pieces to the performers. “You make changes,” Bourland said. “You say “˜that note doesn’t work, that sounds like the wrong note, why don’t you not play, or why don’t […]

Jocks want to rock, and rock stars want to be sports heroes. This pop culture rule-of-thumb might explain why 105-pound pianist Anne-Marie McDermott envisions herself as an athlete. “I can definitely see myself as an athlete,” McDermott said. “Athletes are trained in the psychological aspect of their performance ““ how to be at their prime […]

Jocks want to rock, and rock stars want to be sports heroes. This pop culture rule-of-thumb might explain why 105-pound pianist Anne-Marie McDermott envisions herself as an athlete. “I can definitely see myself as an athlete,” McDermott said. “Athletes are trained in the psychological aspect of their performance ““ how to be at their prime […]

Everybody’s favorite alliterative rhyme is back. Spring Sing has returned in all its vernal glory. It’s time to cheer on the student performers and giggle at the “celebrity” judges. Touted as “UCLA’s oldest and greatest musical tradition,” Spring Sing has gone from inter-fraternity singing contests in the 1940s to this year’s 16-act battle royale. The […]

What is a man to do after a career spent touring with such rock ‘n’ roll royalty as David Crosby, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan? In the case of former Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn, the next logical direction was a merry band of best-selling authors known as The Rock Bottom Remainders. “The Byrds were just […]

When everyone who knows him adoringly sings his praises, piano professor Vitaly Margulis can’t help but crack a sly smile and reveal the secret to his long-standing success as a piano teacher. “It is not important if I’m good or not,” Margulis said. “When the students think I’m good, they can learn faster.” For the […]

Performing arts organizations have always had to jump through hoops just to convince government agencies to allow international artists to enter the United States. With the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the current conflict with Iraq etched in the nation’s psyche, the process of booking international artists has turned into an episode of “Mission: Impossible.” […]