"Elevator music" is usually a term of derision--but not to the Swedish organization Levande Musik (Living Music).

They're looking for new pieces to be played at the Goteborg International Book Fair this fall. The pieces chosen will be performed in the elevator of the city's biggest hotel, and should last for just as long as a ride to the 23rd floor, or 30 seconds.

If you want to submit a composition, here are all the details.

After many years away from New York City, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra returned there last weekend to perform with Dawn Upshaw. The New York Times was impressed, and the New Yorker also weighs in here.

Their concert was almost identical to the program they played in St. Paul a week earlier, which was broadcast live on Classical Minnesota Public Radio. It featured the world premiere of "She Was Here, " Osvolda Golijov's arrangements of Schubert songs. Click here to listen to the intermission feature, in which Dawn and Osvoldo listened to the Schubert songs in their original settings, and explain how they made them their own.

Congratulations to Peter Moore, who won the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition yesterday. At 12-years-old, he's the youngest winner ever.

Peter's a trombonist. At this point in his life, he is about the same height as his instrument.

See just how cute he is (sorry, Peter), and read about the runners-up, here. Unfortunately the video only works if you're in the UK.

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an organization founded two centuries ago by John Adams and John Hancock, among others, has announced its newest members. In the classical music category, congratulations to Marin Alsop, conductor; Dawn Upshaw, singer; Anne Robertson Walters, scholar; and Yehudi Wyner, composer.

And there are also "foreign honorary members" -- so auguri molti to Riccardo Muti.

Congratulations to Albena Danailova! The Bulgarian violinist was appointed yesterday as concertmaster of the Vienna Staatsoper Orchestra. She was already a member of their first violin section, but promoting her to leader of the orchestra is significant--the Vienna Staatsoper didn't even allow women to audition until about 10 years ago.

The other interesting thing about this situation is that most members of the Vienna Staatsoper Orchestra are also members of the Vienna Philharmonic, which is even less welcoming to women. They have one, a harpist. I'm curious to see how those who are members of both orchestras will take to having a woman be the boss of them.

Read more about it here.

Last night's Colbert Report now online, with singer Nathan Gunn and the inevitable mention of his strength training

Possible expansion of St. Paul's Ordway

Jeune Lune's Figaro is a triumph in California

Cast your vote in the Van Cliburn competition for amateurs

Today's installment of Performance Today--the interns are in charge! More on Facebook*

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Baritone Nathan Gunn is scheduled to be on the Colbert Report tonight...the connection no doubt being his TV appearance in Camelot (Gunn's, not Colbert's).

I find this curious: just as newspapers are letting their arts critics go left and right, the USC Annenberg School for Communication is launching a new Master's in Arts Journalism program.

"This program will bring together journalists wanting to cover the arts, and artists wanting to comment on changes in their fields of work. We believe they will learn from each other and develop the intellectual and skill sets needed for cultural journalism," said Annenberg's Michael Parks.

But where will they practice it?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 5, 2008

RICCARDO MUTI APPOINTED MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Maestro Muti begins his tenure with the CSO in 2010-2011 season

Today, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association--with the unanimous approval from its Board of Trustees and overwhelming support from the musicians of the CSO--appointed world-renowned conductor Riccardo Muti as its 10th music director. Maestro Muti will begin a five-year contract as music director in September of the 2010-2011 season. He will conduct a minimum of 10 weeks of CSO subscription concerts each season, in addition to domestic and international tours. Maestro Muti will come to Chicago on June 2, 2008, to celebrate his appointment with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra family.

You can read the whole release here.

Wolfgang Wagner, director-for-life of the festival dedicated to his Grandpa Richard's operas in Bayreuth, Germany, is stepping down after almost 60 years on the job.

While his daughters Eva Wagner-Pasquier, 63, and Katharina Wagner, 29, have submitted a proposal for joint directorship, the job is still open and will be posted for 4 months.

Before you update your arts administration resume, though, keep this in mind: if you're not a descendent of Richard Wagner, you're at a huge disadvantage. "Someone from outside would have to be much better," says a member of the festival's board.

Get more info here.