August 28, 2026 Release: Derek Bermel’s SPRING CADENZAS
Featuring: Midori; with A Far Cry with Project STEP; Earl Lee, Conductor
Produced by Orchid Classics
Nearly six years in the making, Project STEP students were honored to be part of Grammy-nominated composer Derek Bermel’s Spring Cadenzas, featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Midori alongside Grammy-nominated ensemble A Far Cry.
Spring Cadenzas was born during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this difficult time, Midori wanted to create a project for youth to keep them inspired and motivated, and to keep them actively playing.
Reflections on Spring Cadenzas from Derek Bermel
“I compose for instrumentalists, rather than instruments. This was a credo of my teacher William Bolcom, and one can also locate this specificity of focus in Duke Ellington’s scores; he indicates “Cootie” or “Russell” next to musical phrases that invoke the personalities and quirks of those members of his ensemble. Artistic collaborators have become my most essential teachers, and the story of composing Spring Cadenzas is linked to my friendship with Midori. The piece’s evolution took twists and turns that neither of us could have predicted at the outset, but one constant throughout the process was the invaluable feedback Midori provided on the nuances of string playing. Her extraordinary artistry, brilliant technique, and inquisitive yet exacting nature engendered insights from both practical and aesthetic perspectives, reflecting the work back to me in multiple dimensions through the lens of her violin mastery.”
