Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Christopher Rouse passed away this week at a hospice in Towson, MD. 

Rouse was suffering complications of renal cancer. 

His final work, his Symphony no. 6, will premiere on October 18 with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, led by Louis Langree.

Rouse was 70.  The Washington Post has more here.

The Baltimore Symphony musicians and board members held a press conference on Monday to announce agreement on a one-year contract. The contract is a compromise, with the orchestra members receiving a 2.4% wage increase, with an additional $1.6 million bonus fund which will be split among the musicians.

It was further announced a short time ago that the board chair, Barbara Bozzuto, has been replaced. It remains to be seen whether there will be other casualties.

The BSO will open its season tonight at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, with Marin Alsop conducting.  On the program, Verdi's overture La forza del destino Overture, Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 4,  and a piece by composer Christopher Rouse who passed away earlier this week at the age of 70.

Anne Midgette, music critic for the Washington Post, has resigned her post after 11 years. 

Musical America reports that she said "...I don't want journalism to be the only thing I do with my life...I have always wanted to write more books. I have had my say about DC's classical music institutions, and I think a change is good for everyone, readers and musicians as well as writers."

She plans to remain in Washington DC with her husband Greg Sandow (who is also a music critic as well as a teacher and composer) and their son.

The Sydney International Piano Competition is scheduled for July 8-25, 2020.  Applications are open now through December 2.

22 prizes are available ranging in value from $3000 to $50,000. In addition to the $50,000 grand prize, the first place winner will receive concert engagements in Australian and Europe. There are prizes for accompanists as well as soloists.

​All the details can be found here.

Hilary Hahn is 39, the mother of two children, and has decided to take a year off from performing.

​You can read a post in her own words here.

This report just out from Associated Press. 

​You can read it here.