In The Works: Upcoming Projects

Philip Ficsor, an enthusiastic advocate for contemporary American composers, will shortly be releasing his fourth recording, “Going Away”, featuring selected works by Emma Lou Diemer. Her Violin Concerto (2012) was written for Ficsor and is published by Lauren Keiser Music. His recording of William Bolcom’s complete works for violin and piano with American Double was “strongly recommended” by Fanfare Magazine and The Strad called his playing of Bolcom’s Suite for Solo Violin “beautifully managed and well-prepared”. From 2006-2013, he taught at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California  as an Associate Professor of Violin (tenured).

The only recording of the complete output for violin and piano by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom features American Double, Philip Ficsor, violin and Constantine Finehouse, piano. Bolcom described the recording as a “benchmark for performers”. Ficsor has also written a book on performing these works and is an editorial advisor for publication through E. B. Marks/Hal Leonard Corporation for a selection of Bolcom’s works for violin and piano.

“Summer Day” features the complete works for violin and piano by renowned composer Emma Lou Diemer. A pioneering composer for women (she was only one of two composition majors at Yale University in 1950), this is the only recording in print that features Diemer as a performer. The Suite for Violin and Piano was commissioned by Ficsor for this recording. The Santa Barbara Independent described Ficsor’s playing as “beautiful” and the Journal of IAWM calls it “sophisticated and inspiring playing.”

Ficsor is writing a forthcoming devotional guide for classical musicians entitled “Music and the Christian Spirit”. Co-written with Don Johnson, pastor of Montecito Covenant Church, it explores the nexus of a musician’s faith and the everyday challenges of being a musician. This promises to be a valuable resource for performers, teachers and students alike. Release date March 1, 2014.