Attending the Tidriks Distance Learning Program was like a bridge that connected me to new possibilities
written by Carolina Calvache, guest author for the Fellows in Their Own Words blog
Tidriks Distance Learning participant and 2023 Virtual Artist Partnership Program composer
My name is Carolina Calvache. I am a pianist and composer from Cali, Colombia – a beautiful city at the southwest of the country. I came to the US to study jazz and be immersed in that style of music by writing and performing for the last 14 years. When I was back home, I started my interest in composition and showed my ideas to the classical composition teacher. He was not very encouraging, he told me, “Your melody does not make sense”… Basically, he did not like what I wrote. I was vulnerable, trying to show my music to someone. But that response did not help me get better and rather shut down my interest. He was what you call “old school”, and had a big negative impact on me, so much so that I decided not to continue experimenting that way. It felt like I had the door closed into the classical composition world, so I decided to pursue jazz, which was also something I loved. However, part of me still wondered, “What if I had studied classical composition?” Last year, I felt I had to address that question, and I did. I started looking for online classes, workshops, or anything related to composition. That’s how I found Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music.
I attended the Harp, the Percussion, the Countertenor, the Latin American String Quartet, and the Bassoon workshops. I took almost everything! Besides learning about each instrument and getting immersed in a whole new musical vocabulary, in these courses I felt that it was possible to find a community that will support and encourage your ideas no matter where they are coming from. I felt that hearing the works of the composers and getting feedback right away was a very amazing learning experience. I also felt that the performers and Gabriela were extremely open to all the possibilities and gave the right comments so that the composer can actually improve or find the way to get to where they want to go with their piece. It was a beautiful environment of growth, even though it was online! I, as an attendee and as a composer, felt like it was a composition family. It was a happy and safe place.
I want to say that every course brought a different perspective of how the instrument could sound. It gave me a pallet of possibilities and it also opened the door for new ways of expressing my musical ideas. I particularly loved getting deep in the Harp repertoire. After hearing Ginastera Concerto for Harp, I was totally in love and almost cried! I started seeing the harp from a different perspective. It is the most beautiful instrument that also has a complex way of writing. The Latin American String Quartet course was also very important for me because I am Hispanic. I thought it was very interesting to see how the vocabulary or style of the composers like Ginastera, Villalobos, or Carlos Chavez, to name a few, was changing like in a metamorphic way. I felt the challenge of what it means to be a Latin composer and deciding a balance between using “Latin” elements and more elaborate directions within your music to still be true to where you are coming from. It is a big search with non-stop questions for a composer. Listening to the historic environment of the composers and talking not only about the music but about the sociological aspect that you can’t see but perceive in the music, was also very enlightening.
As a composer, I had the opportunity to write for the countertenor voice. It was amazing to hear my first piece for such special voice. I think every singer and composer presented such a variety of colors and ideas in their pieces that really encouraged me to get deeper into vocal writing. And guest what! – I just got my first commission to write an art song! :)
Overall, it was an honor to have Gabriela’s presence and guidance during all these classes. I felt that even though I did not have the “classical background” like the other composers, I felt invited and accepted. Attending the Tidriks Distance Learning Program was like a bridge that connected me to new possibilities on my search as a composer and musician. I am very grateful for the opportunity and for all the connections and the beautiful composers I met in this program.
Born in Cali Colombia, Carolina Calvache is a pianist and composer, winner of the 16th Independent Music Awards with her song “La última vez” featuring, Camila Meza. Since her selection for the 2011 Mary Lou Williams Woman in Jazz Festival for outstanding artists, Carolina brought attention at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Legendary pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi described her music as “Extraordinary and Marvelous”.