Meet MSM 作文 major, 威廉Bastianon! We asked William this spring about his freshman year at MSM, the most recent MSM Composers’ concert this past spring, 和 why he chose to attend Manhattan School of Music.
威廉Bastianon (BM ’27) is an undergraduate composition major from Ontario, Canada, studying under Dr. 玲子Fueting. He is especially interested in theatrical works that emphasize the live aspects of performance. He says he “was previously a student of 沃尔夫冈·阿玛迪斯·莫扎特.”
At the moment, his favorite book is 白日梦上的泡沫 (L ' Écume des jours) by the French poet, novelist, 和 musician 鲍里斯·维安 (b. 1920, d. 1959), a contemporary of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, 和 Albert Camus. William’s favorite movie is the 2001 French-language romantic comedy 天使爱美丽他最喜欢的歌是 Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis by 汤姆等待, 和 his favorite composition is De Profundis 美国作曲家和钢琴家 弗雷德里克Rzewski, known for his anti-establishment views.
William would like to give a shout out to his two cats back home in Canada: “K和er, 低潮, 如果你正在读这篇文章, 我爱你，想你!”
You’re originally from Ontario, Canada — How has the transition to NYC 生活 been?
威廉: I miss my pet moose more than I can say, 和 when I close my eyes at night, I still see the dim blue glow of my igloo.
纽约是一个很棒的城市! I sometimes even forget how I long for the taste of maple syrup because there’s so many things to do 和 see! The transition has been very smooth, 和 the MSM neighborhood is quiet, 充满活力的, 非常适合散步.
My favorite part about 生活 in NYC is that you don’t have to wait for traffic lights – you can just walk wherever you want whenever you want! 我是个老乱穿马路的人. Also, there’s always an affordable concert to go to somewhere, with incredible, incredible music.
你大一过得怎么样? Do you have any fun highlights to share?
大一真是太棒了. The School has welcomed me with open arms, 和 I have never been busier. A nice highlight was visiting the Met Cloisters up in Fort George (thank you for the recommendation, Dr. 斯丹博). It feels like entering another world, 和 the art is just incredible. Those unicorn tapestries are to die for. It almost makes me wish I was a Medieval Monk! Anyone who can, you must run to visit it.
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William at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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William attending Broadway's "Merrily We Roll Along."
“The incredibly open 和 gifted faculty have encouraged, helped 和 继续 to push me to exp和 my horizons 和 write the kind of music I strive to create. 校园是一流的。, 设施是一流的, 和 the musicians who are performing with you are hard-working 和 beyond talented. 另外，我在纽约! 这是一个伟大的城市.”
I underst和 that this recent composers’ concert was a bit different than others – can you tell us more about that?
This composer’s concert was a large 和 exciting undertaking. 伴随着音乐, 这场音乐会还以舞蹈为特色, 剧院, 和 a visual artist exhibiting work around the space. I proposed the idea of including a lion tamer, but it wasn’t in the budget. 为明年祈祷吧! The composition department concerts are always remarkably diverse musically – nothing is off the table! ——不断给我带来惊喜. Interdisciplinary work such as the work featured in this upcoming concert is encouraged, 和 always creates a really exciting, 生活, 房间里嗡嗡作响.
I also had a piece in this concert! I worked with some incredibly talented musical 剧院 performers 和 a percussionist. We sprinkled in some bike horns (thanks for the idea, 里), EDM凹槽, 浪漫的爵士乐标准. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say the world was changed forever. 让开，巴赫!
威廉·巴斯蒂安(mba '27) in the recent composers' concert.
威廉·巴斯蒂安(mba '27) in the recent composers' concert.
你为什么选择MSM?
How much will you pay me if I say something nice? (只是开玩笑!)
认真, I chose the school because the conservatory-style system allows me to devote so much of my time 和 energy into what I really love, in a place surrounded by people working towards similar goals. I don’t feel distracted by courses or obligations separate from my music focus. The incredibly open 和 gifted faculty have encouraged, helped 和 继续 to push me to exp和 my horizons 和 write the kind of music I strive to create. 校园是一流的。, 设施是一流的, 和 the musicians who are performing with you are hard-working 和 beyond talented. 另外，我在纽约! 这是一个伟大的城市.
What are you currently listening to?
The most difficult question of all.
我一直在挖掘 雅克Brel的记录 玛德琳 from his Bergen concert on May 30 1964 – just listen to that b和 take off in the last chorus!
I’m always playing something from the 赤裸女子组合的专辑 Snacktime – a big inspiration since my childhood. 沼泽里的polywog 和 糟糕的一天 是比如.
啄木鸟不.1 -重制 by Merzbow has been stuck in my head – I find myself humming it on the way to class!
Please reach out for any music recommendations – or to recommend some to me. 我总是需要更多!
Good luck to all incoming MSM students! I wish you the best in your freshman year! 🙂
