The Culture Bucket for May: Rei Hotoda will speak about music education, Doug Hoagland and The Munro Review honored in Gruener Awards, and more

May 26, 2024

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Here is the latest edition of The Culture Bucket, a monthly mishmash of observations, news nuggets, feedback from readers and perhaps some snark – all about the local arts scene. I envision adding to each edition as the month progresses. I’m hoping in particular that readers can share their experiences at arts events. If you liked something – or if you didn’t – let me know (and tell me why). I and my arts elves can’t get to everything in the area, so if you’re feeling inspired about something you attend, please pass it along.

Another side of Rei Hotoda

(Posted May 26)

Fans of Rei Hotoda, the much appreciated music director of the Fresno Philharmonic, best know her on the conductor’s podium — leading the orchestra with tremendous verve, and perhaps taking a minute or two to talk to the audience about one piece or another. Now’s your chance to get to know another side of Hotoda. She will speak and perform 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, in a free lecture at Fresno Pacific University titled “Conducting Life” for the Fresno branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of California. I chatted with her for a few minutes last week about what to expect. Here’s a rundown:

The focus: Music teachers play an essential role in the classical music ecosystem, and one reason Hotoda wants to do this to lecture is acknowledge their importance. “For me, they are the planters of what we do on stage,” she says.

The music: Hotoda will be joined by her son, Constantine Janello, who recently graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a master’s degree in chamber music. Janello plays the cello. He and his mother (playing the piano) will perform the second movement of the Brahms Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major.

The memories: Growing up in Japan, Hotoda first started taking piano lessons at the age of 3. Her mother took her on an hour and a half train ride to study with a concert pianist. She doesn’t remember much, but she’s sure she had a good time at the keyboard. As an example of a music teacher and mentor in her life, Hotoda points to the celebrated conductor Marin Alsop, the first woman to serve as the head of a major orchestra in the United States.

The details: Hotoda’s lecture will be held in the Lyles Theatre in the Warkentine Culture & Arts Center at Fresno Pacific. Admission is free and open to the public.

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Honorable mention for public service

(Posted May 19)

The George F. Gruner Awards competition honors top journalism in the central San Joaquin Valley. Of its 10 categories, the award for public service is considered the biggest honor. In an April awards ceremony, Doug Hoagland of The Munro Review won the honorable mention award for public service in the biggest category (large dailies and digital only) for “his exhaustive work on behind-the-scenes machinations related to Measure P, the Fresno city arts and park tax that is raising millions of dollars annually.”

Donald Munro, left, George Gruner and Doug Hoagland at the recent awards.

The award is the first Gruner honor for The Munro Review.

Hoagland, a veteran journalist who worked for 40 years at Valley newspapers, including 30 years at the Fresno Bee, has written more than a dozen in-depth stories about Measure P for TMR. He followed the controversy over efforts by the city parks department to take over the grant-making process from the Fresno Arts Council — a move that was rebuffed — and later on tensions between established and emerging organizations.

In his most recent coverage, he filed a Public Records Act request with the City of Fresno to get information on the 137 applicants seeking Measure P funds along with the names of the adjudicators.

You can read Doug’s complete Measure P coverage here.

Fresno Community Concert Band and Soli Deo Gloria celebrate the holiday

(Posted May 22)

It wouldn’t be Memorial Day weekend without some live patriotic music — and the Fresno Community Concert Band is here to offer its services on Sunday, May 26. The ensemble presents “For Those We Honor.” Soli Deo Gloria, under the direction of Julie Carter, is guest artist. The band and Soli Deo Gloria will combine their talents to perform John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen” and “America the Beautiful” arranged by Carmen Dragon.

The concert is 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Shaghoian Concert Hall. Tickets are $14.

(Posted May 19)

• I loved my interview for “The Munro Review on CMAC” with Dan “Tevye Times Seven” Pessano. GCP’s “Fiddler on the Roof” has closed, but the memories live on:

• Jazmin Alvarado, the news editor of The Collegian at Fresno State (where I’m the faculty adviser), is named for the Disney princess in “Aladdin.” (Different spelling but most definitely the same inspiration.) Shortly before the touring Broadway musical “Aladdin” came to town, I had an idea: Why not try to team “my” Jazmin up with Senzel Ahmady, the actress portraying Jasmine in the tour for an interview? Alvarado jumped at the chance. Along with Ahmady, she also got the chance to talk with Adi Roy, who played Aladdin in the tour and is now set to perform the role at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre on June 4.

Alvarado wrote a touching piece for The Collegian in which she addresses not only what she thought of the Fresno production but also what it’s like to be a big sister to two younger sisters (also named, in creative ways, for Disney princesses). I wanted to be sure to share it with you.