As recording studios continue to open back up, we’re doing what we do best and making new music. Today we’re sharing moments from our June 2020 sessions as well as what our team, studios, and musicians are doing to keep themselves and each other safe.

Brad Michel (Senior Producer, North America) at Futura Productions

The first week of June saw us back in Ostrava with our friends at the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, recording works for string orchestra and full orchestra. With PARMA Recording Sessions Manager, Intl. Jan Košulič at the helm, we recorded works for string orchestra by composers John A. Carollo, Brian Latchem, Rain Worthington, John Franek, and Dave Dexter, and works for full orchestra by composers William Copper, Katherine Saxton, and Kevin McCarter. All works were recorded at The Ostrava House of Culture in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Also in Ostrava, we recorded composer Carol Barnett’s suite for wind quintet with Šárka Adamíková (flute), Weronika Flisek (oboe), Jindřich Molinger (french horn), Daniel Svoboda (clarinet), and Jan Šmíd (bassoon).

Stateside, we had a momentous month: for the first time since very early March, we recorded music in the United States. Posting up at our home away from home, Futura Productions in Roslindale MA, we recorded two solo piano works with pianist Randall Hodgkinson for Ron Nagorcka and a piece for piano trio with the Gramercy Trio for Isak Roux. These sessions were produced by Brad Michel, PARMA Senior Producer, North America, with John Weston as the recording engineer.

John Weston

July is already kicking off to a strong start, with chamber sessions for Kenneth A. Kuhn at Futura Productions already complete and more to come on the books.

As sessions pick back up in the US and abroad, we have been taking a number of precautionary measures to keep our team and musicians safe:

  • All our partner studios have implemented improved cleaning and sanitation procedures, and follow all state and local guidelines.
  • Our production personnel and musicians wear masks throughout the recording sessions, and practice social distancing whenever possible.
  • We’ve adjusted our approach to microphone placement to allow chamber musicians and soloists to be seated 6+ feet apart, while still capturing a lush and rich sound. 
  • With team members and partners based around the world, we are able to record locally and limit travel whenever possible.
  • Remote composer attendance remains an option for all recording sessions. Read more about remote session attendance here.

    Gabriela Diaz (violin) and Yoko Hagino (piano)