For the second year of concerts for Now Musique, I’m very excited to be returning to the concert stage with Chicago-base violist and passionate new music advocate Michael Hall. We will be performing in Dorchester, New York City, Boston, and Providence from March 19-24. We will also be performing on MIT Radio’s WMBR ‘Not Brahms and Liszt’ with Alley Stoughton on Monday March 16 and an interview for ‘Conducting Conversations’ with Mike Maino on WCRI will air March 22. The Boston and Providence programs are produced by my Now Musique. A complete tour schedule is below.

Q: Who is Michael Hall?
A: Simply, Michael Hall is a fantastic violist who lives in Chicago.
• More complex, Michael Hall is fantastic violist who lives in Chicago, loves contemporary, taught at Vandercook College, has a DMA from UNC Greensboro.
• Complex Truth, Michael Hall is fantastic violist who lives in Chicago, loves contemporary, taught at Vandercook College, has a DMA from UNC Greensboro, premiered over 50 works written for him, editor of contemporary music for viola, co-founded the Bandung Philharmonic – the first professional orchestra of Indonesia. A dad and husband.

Q: How do I find out more about him?
A: http://michaelhallviola.com/

Q: How did you two meet?
A: We met over new music on Twitter and then in person at the Boston “New Music Gathering”

Q: What are you performing?
A: ‘America’ – Contemporary duos & solos for viola and guitar by living composers. Each concert will have a slight variation due to program length.

PROGRAM (not order)
• Francine Trester: Borrowed Blue (2019)
• John Anthony Lennon: Infinite Arrow (2004)
• Darleen Mitchell: Images
• Thomas L. Read: Traveller’s Frolic* (2019)
• Antonio Celso Rebeiro: Melancholy Dressed in Yellow (2019)
• David Liptak: Freight – Guitar Solo
• Tom Flaherty: Steps and Leaps* – Guitar + Electronics (2019)
• Alice Shields: Sri Mata – Viola solo
• David Froom: Shades of Red – Viola solo
• Matthew Davidson: Magyar Rondo – Viola solo

Q: How Can I hear you two?
A: Youtube! Music & Interview

TOUR INFORMATION
Monday 3/16 – MIT Radio WMBR – 4pm, Live performance & interview
Thursday 3/19 – Dorchester, MA – 5:30-6:30, Upham’s Corner Library
Saturday 3/21 – New York City – 7:30pm, National Opera Center
Sunday 3/22 – WCRI – Conducting Conversation with Mike Maino
Sunday 3/22 – Boston, MA – 7:30pm, Arlington Street Church
Monday 3/23 – Providence, RI, – 6:30, The Music Mansion
Tuesday 3/24 – Boston, MA – 12:30-1pm, King’s Chapel
Complete information at Aaron’s Calendar

I’m regularly asked how I can perform in front of so many people and remember so much music. Of course the simple answer is that I enjoy it and I practice a lot, but that is not to say I haven’t had my hurdles to deal with or had to work on many aspects of quieting the mind so I can perform with peace.

My wife Catherine is a healer and voracious reader about how the mind, body, and spirit can work in harmony. Neither of us are fans of beta-blockers and other calming tools, as we find they have too many other negative effects. After a major house fire where I could not sleep for more than 3-4 hours a night, Catherine discovered Neu-Becalm’d. Ever since I have slept better and performed at a substantially higher level. As it is just amino-acids there is nothing to overdose on nor side-effects. I HIGHLY recommend this to musicians and artists, as well as those who want more out of life.
*For those who are interested you can find it online or you can purchase it via my STORE and get a free sticker.

FROM THE Neu-Becalm’d Website
Neu-Becalm’d is a nutritional supplement that gives the brain-targeted nutrients to aid in the balancing of neurotransmitters. Problems such as mental and emotional focus, or substance abuse may be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Scientists recently learned that in handling lack of focus and other stress related disorders the brain uses significant quantities of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). At some point, the level and/or number of stressors can cause the brain to run out of these chemicals. Typically, when this happens, a person first begins to have difficulty sleeping, experiencing depression, loss of temper, interest, sex drive, attention and feelings of anxiety.

It has been proven that with proper diet and selective supplementation, prescription medications with all of their side effects, need never become a part of your life.

Your brain is supplied with nutritional support for restoring and rebuilding healthy brain chemistry.

With Neu-Becalm’d™

1. You can focus and think more clearly
2. You will regain and retain a positive mood
3. You will find internal well-being, stay calm
4. You will sleep more soundly and wake refreshed
5. You are able to cope with every day stress more successfully
6. You can control your emotions
7. You will feel hopeful and positive, more optimistic
8. You will experience a higher level of self-worth
9. You will be able to relax and “turn your mind off”
10. You will reach and sustain an improved energy level

The reason why Neu-Becalm’d produces such incredible results in so many different ways is because it addresses the needs of the brain in a manner that no other product does.

Neu-Becalm’d™ IS PATENTED because of its ingredients and their formulation and how the brain reacts when the ingredients enter the brain fluid.

Neu-Becalm’d Ingredients & Their Importance (2 Capsules Per Serving)

• 5HTP (Tryptophan): (10mg) Tryptophan is one of your essential amino acids, and can not be manufactured by your body. You must get this amino acid from either your food or a supplement. It combats stress, depression, insomnia, and aids in weight control. Research shows that it helps relieve migraine headaches and may reduce some of the harmful effects of nicotine. It aids your body in the production of serotonin.
• Calcium (from Calcium Citrate): (21mg) Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body and the fifth most abundant substance. About 99% is deposited in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is involved in the soft tissues, intracellular fluids and blood. The 1% of ionized Calcium that circulates in the fluids of the body is small but vital to your life. It is essential for healthy blood and eases insomnia and its delicate messenger ions help regulate the heart beat. Along with Calicum, magnesium is needed to properly maintain the cardiovascular system. It affects neurotransmitters (serotonin, acetycholine, norepinephrine) nerve transmissions, muscle growth and muscle contraction. Calcium is needed for emotional stability. Without it you may have a lack of rational emotion, feelings of irritability, sudden unexplained tears, or sleep problems.
• Magnesium (from Magnesium Citrate): (8mg) Magnesium is an essential mineral that accounts for about 0.05% of your body weight. Most is found inside your cells where it activates enzymes necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. It helps to regulate the acid-akaline balance in the body. Magnesium helps promote the absorption and metabolism of other minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. It also helps to utilize the B complex and vitamins C and E in your body. It aids during bone growth and is necessary for proper functioning of muscles, including those of the heart.
• Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxal-5- Phosphate): (2mg) B Vitamins are necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system and may be the single most important factor for maintenance of the nerves. Along with other ingredients, it helps your body to develop the neurotransmitters Gaba, Enkephalins, Dopamine and Norepinephrine. Without these neurotransmitters you may have free floating anxiety; fearful, insecure feelings; feelings that things are closing in around you; unexplained panic; Feelings of incompleteness; lack of fulfillment; feelings of inferiority or inadequacy; never feels “equal”; Anhedonia: no pleasure in life world looks colorless; inability to “love”; no remorse about personal behavior; Lack of ambition; Lack of drive; Lack of energy; and Depression.
• L-Glutamine: (300mg) Glutamine is used primarily as a brain food (improves intelligence). It alleviates fatigue and is also helpful in the treatment of arthritis, connective tissue diseases and fibromyalgia.
• Folic Acid (as Folate): (200mcg) Folic Acid is one of the B complex vitamins and is necessary to help in the development of the neurotransmitter, Enkephalins . . . without which you may have feelings of incompleteness; lack of fulfillment; feelings of inferiority or inadequacy and never feeling “equal”.
• DL-Phenylalanine: (600mg) Enhances sexual interest, improves memory and alertness. Very useful in aleviating symptoms of Pre-menstral syndrome (PMS) and is a very strong anti-depressant. D-Phenylalanine helps your body to replace Enkephalins which aids in psychological pain relief. L-Phenylalanine contributes to the development of dopamine (Pleasure, Reward, Good Feelings, Towards Others, Maternal and Paternal Love) and Norepinephrine (Arousal, Energy Drive).