Last modified: Friday, May 3, 2002
"Today" visits IU School of Music
Morning show to air story on 12-year-old clarinet prodigy
Today, the top-rated NBC morning show, will feature a story on 12-year-old clarinet prodigy and Indiana University School of Music student Julian Bliss next week.
Bliss, a native of England, is the youngest person to complete coursework for a two-year Artist's Diploma from the nationally acclaimed school. Bliss will participate in commencement ceremonies this weekend. The feature is tentatively scheduled to air on Wednesday (May 8).
A highly accomplished clarinet player, Bliss aspires to become an internationally renowned soloist. He recently signed with International Management Group, which also manages the careers of Tiger Woods, Itzhak Perlman and IU School of Music alumnus Joshua Bell. Bliss is the youngest artist to be signed by IMG.
After learning of Bliss and his accomplishments, NBC producer Patrice Fletcher and a Chicago-based film crew traveled to Bloomington to interview the young talent, his mother Maureen Bliss, and mentor Howard Klug, chairman of the Woodwind Department in the IU School of Music.
Over two days of shooting, the crew followed Bliss through his daily routine, shadowing the virtuoso to his classes at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, sitting in on practice sessions in IU's Merrill Hall, visiting both the home and studio of Professor Klug, and interviewing Bliss' mother in the IU President's Garden.
NBC also was on hand to film Bliss' final IU performance in a class studio recital in the IU Musical Arts Center. NBC will return Saturday (May 4) to film Bliss during commencement activities.
"Julian is truly a gifted young musician, and we were privileged to have him as a student," said IU President Myles Brand. "The interest of NBC and Julian's upcoming appearance on Today will demonstrate to the general public what music lovers have always known. The IU School of Music has world-class professors and programs. We have a lot to offer."
Today is a three-hour live program providing the latest in domestic and international news, weather reports and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports. Today is co-anchored by Katie Couric and Matt Lauer and reaches 6.3 million households every day.
The IU School of Music is widely respected as one of the world's most comprehensive institutions for musical studies. The deans and faculty members of the country's music schools have ranked IU first in the nation in four program areas. More than 1,400 students from across the United States and from 35 foreign countries attend the School of Music each academic year.
