Download A. Abstract: Albany Records has expressed an earnest publication

Research Grant – Fall 2012
Faculty member: __ William W. Wiedrich
Unit: _ :
School of Music
Project/Proposal Title: Recording and Release - Compact Disc: ROBERT HELPS: THE PIANO CONCERTOS
A. Abstract:
Albany Records has expressed an earnest publication interest in a project is in which the
University of South Florida Symphony Orchestra is to produce a sequel to its 2009 CD release:
ROBERT HELPS: THE SYMPHONIES. To be entitled ROBERT HELPS: THE PIANO CONCERTOS,
featuring the University of South Florida Symphony Orchestra (William Wiedrich, conductor)
and USF pianists Svetozar Ivanov and Dharshini Tambiah. Proposed release is in 2014. Grant
funds will be utilized to cover the cost of recording and mastering, and hall rentals.
B. Proposal:
Robert Helps was a long-time faculty member at USF and at the San Francisco Conservatory
of Music. He is an internationally renowned pianist and composer, and it has been the project
of many current and former USF faculty to commit his entire repertoire to recording. The
USFSO Helps Symphony CD release of 2009 was critically acclaimed in national music journals
and included the world-premiere recording of his Second Symphony and his Quintet. The
current project at hand (The Piano Concertos) would include the premiere recording of one of
his two piano concerti, as well as the American recording premiere of the John Ireland
“Legend” for Piano and Orchestra. Releasing a compact disc recording for international
dissemination and review supports wholeheartedly the strategic mission of the university in
its efforts to be at the forefront of research (as represented here as performance/research)
and makes its presence significant in the area of contemporary repertoire repertoire
worldwide. It also serves to champion the music of Robert Helps on the same global scale.