David Dean Mendoza

Composer Performer Music Educator

N e w s   2010


07/20/10  EL SISTEMA

There are some great videos on EL SISTEMA, the music education system in Venezuela.  A great new film about the various programs and schools was recently made.  Being a music educator myself, it is great to see these kids excel ,and be passionate about music.  Shame on those who shun government involvement in the arts.

 

 

06/08/10  NewMusicXX Youtube Channel

I have recently discovered the most fantastic youtube channel on new music.  Hours could be spend listening to the music of the 20th and 21st centuries from this channel.  Check it out. (more)

  • 06/07/10  SoundCloud

I have moved all of my sound files over to SoundCloud.  It will save storage space on webs.com and it is easier for me to manage.  According to them, "SoundCloud lets you move music fast & easy. The platform takes the daily hassle out of receiving, sending & distributing music for artists, record labels & other music professionals. " So far I totally agree.  Click on the link below for more details.

 

 

  • 06/02/10 Society of Composers National Conference
University of South Carolina
 

March for Strings was selected to be performed by USC's School of Music's String Project as apart of the SCI National Conference.  March for Strings is a grade 1 educational work for beginning string students.   The conference is scheduled for Nov. 11-14 2010 (more)


 

  • 05/31/10 CDBaby Online Singles

CDBaby is now allowing artists to sell singles.  I have already uploaded Incantation and plan to upload more.  Look for more of my singles to be distributed by cdbaby, and by following sites: iTunes, Amazon MP3, eMusic, Rhapsody, Napster, MySpace Music, Spotify, Liquid Digital, Verizon V-Cast, Shockhound, Nokia, Last.fm, Zune, MediaNet, Tradebit, GreatIndieMusic, LimeWire, and Thumbplay.

 

 

  • 05/24/10 Teatro Colón To Reopen

My debut as a composer/performer began underneath (the experimental theater) this famous opera house in July of 2007 with the debut of Drift for solo viola and electronics.  While the theater was being renovated I was able to get a tour of the work being done.  It was the most fantastic turning point in my career.  I never stopped falling in love Buenos Aires, and have since visited the city in the  July of 2008 and 2009.

The ornate, 2,700-seat Colon was built in 1908 and modeled after Milan's La Scala. World renowned for its natural acoustics, the theater is reopening its doors as Argentina holds bicentennial celebrations.

The restoration effort has focused on returning the Colon -- home to a treasure of French stained glass and Italian pink marble stairwells -- to its glory days.

The theater, which hosts opera and ballet performances, first opened when Argentina was among the world's 10 wealthiest nations during the early 1900s.

 

 

  • 05/23/10 David Mendoza Publishing

ASCAP has approved me for publisher membership.  I am now officially a self published composer open for business.  Click DMP above for more info.

 

 

  • 05/08/10 - 7pm - Schubertiade of New Music

Ritual Music I for solo viola and electronics and Ritual Music II for solo violin along with Minimal I for solo piano will be performed by myself in an informal concert of new music in Miami FL. (more)

 

 

  • 05/06/10 - StringCommunity.com
Welcome to StringCommunity.com, a social website being developed by Shar Music for the benefit of the string music community.  Yes, I have joined another string blog site.  This is a new one, and not many people are listed, but I think its a great way to get exposure.


 
  • 04/23/10  A Night of Poetry, Music and Dance
Turnoff Week continues! Join us for a night of poetry with Anastasia Clark, music with MusicAmerica, and dance by Trina Soumare and Moussa from Ballet Brika West African Dance Theater.  I will be conducting the chamber orchestra of MusicAmerica at Barnes and Noble in downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL.  @ 6:30pm (more)

 

 

  • 04/20/10 - First Royalty Payment

I recently received my first royalty payment from ASCAP.  The system appears to have been improved with new member online access.  It's a great confidence booster.

 

  • 04/08/10 - SEAMUS 2010 @ St. Cloud State University

Out of the 369 submissions received, Incantation for tenor viola da gamba and electronics was chosen to be performed at the 2010 SEAMUS National Conference.  Each time I play this piece it gets better and better.  I just had to make a video since I paid $180 in baggage fees to attend the conference. 


 

 

 

  • 03/26/10 - ODDMUSIC
Oddmusic is home to unique, odd, ethnic, experimental and unusual musical instruments and resources. Tour the Gallery, see in-depth sections featuring artisans who blazed new trails or are on the cutting edge of new and previously unheard musical instruments. Look, listen, and explore music and musical instruments that aren't part of the mainstream. Showcasing unusual musical creations and sounds of unique artists and artisans from around the globe. From gourd music to electronic odysseys, harp guitars to industrial insects, from beautiful, to bizarre, to just plain wacky. New, unique innovations, along with heavily modified hybrids of instruments once formally known as guitars, basses, keyboards, drums, wind and stringed instruments. Musical stalagmites, bowed telegraph wires, twisted electrons, Circuit Bending, Waterphones, HAPI Drums, Hang drums, Hank Drums, and Tank Drums, ethnic instruments, Stamenphones, Theremins, Serpents, Light Harps, and much more.
 

 

  • 03/14/10 - Informative Online Reading

if anyone has time to read online, I suggest these two sites:  ArtsJournal and ARTicles.  Both reference a particually interesting article entitled:  Arts education: "It's not a waste of time" Links to both sites are below.

 

  • 03/06/10 - I am New Music - A Sound Based Society

It appears that the Net New Music online community has moved to I am New Music.  I have posted two blogs at this site, and have added some of my videos and music as well.

 

 

  • 02/13/10 - NACUSA Membership
After much thought I have decided to join the National Association of Composers USA.  I have recently learned they have a local southeast chapter and look forward to participating in whatever opportunities should arise. 


 

  • 02/13/10 - Composer Sites

Two composer sites caught my attention recently.  The first called The Living Composers Project is very interesting as it attempts to list every living composer.  Of course I am listed and have found it fun to see if my fellow composers are listed as well.  The second site called the composer's site.  It notifies composers of opportunities and provides and an email alert sign up.  The classical composer database serves to collect the names of all classical music compsoers

 

 

 

  • 02/04/10 - Society of Composers Region IV Conference
 
Incantation for tenor viola da gamba and electronics has been chosen among 240 compositions to be performed at the 2010 SCI Region IV Conference at the University of North Carolina @ Greensboro Feb. 4-6 2010.  The school of music ending up being closed on the day of performance due to snow and rain.  We all moved to First Presbyterian Church which created a whole new set of issues.  One of them being a sound check that did not feel right to me, and so I played the work in the cathedral.  The choice was easy for me.  I gave up the electronics part in order to get a better performance.  As with all of my electro-acoustic music, the works sound just as good without the electronics.  They stand on their own.  Check out the video on my works 2009 page.    
 
 
 
 
  • 01/26/10 - Two Sites for Listening

Two cool sites I recommend to any music lover are Classical Connect where one can listen to a variety of classical music for free.  The site has quite a bit of 20th and 21st century works.  The other is the website plays more contemporary music and is called counterstream radio.  Check them out.