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1ENTERTAINMENT

Rouder has ascended the career lad-
der to a high rung in. the few short
years since her graduation from New
York University and her graduate ex-
perience at Brandeis University.
She recalls a unique serious in-
terest in music, even as a youngster,
although she began a classical career
with a most unlikely instrument —
the accordion.
"My parents weren't musicians
themselves — my dad is tone deaf
but they love music, and they often at-
tended operas and concerts."
Before long Rouder's folks in-
vested in a piano, and young Willa

N

As a teenager, Rouder's
"fooling around" led her
to experiment with a
variety of styles -- rock,
blues, jazz — an interest
which eventually
contributed toward a
Grammy nomination.

Willa Rouder's interest in music began in her youth.

Willa Rouder is one of the many
newcomers at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

JUDY MARX

Special to The Jewish News

illt hen Willa Rouder says
she loves Detroit, her
tone quality comes
through loud and clear.
A native of
Brooklyn, Rouder is a city woman at
heart. "I tend not to have stereotypes
about big cities. Detroit, to me, is live-
ly and friendly — you can feel a slow

progress. We're on our way back up."
In her new role with the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra, Rouder has
transferred her metropolitan
allegiance from New York to the
Motor City with a smooth transition
that would please even the most
demanding of conductors.
She was named artistic ad-
ministrator of the DSO last summer,
joining several key newcomers to the
orchestra, all of whom are female.
Musical from her youngest days,

would practice intensely, without pro-
dding, for several hours a day. "Today
each of my parents takes credit for my
musicality coming from their side of
the family"
Soon the little girl with the long
dark hair became her elementary
school's unofficial pianist, a role that
would follow her to camp and to New
York's Music and Art High School,
where she also took up the flute.
"My strongest talent as a musi-
cian was that I had good ears for
music. As soon as I began to learn, I
started playing by ear, which broke
down my discipline for a while. There
was a period where I'd sit down to
practice, and I'd immediately begin to
fool around."
As a teenager, Rouder's "fooling
around" led her to experiment with
a variety of styles — rock, blues, jazz
— an interest which eventually con-
tributed toward a Grammy (music
award) nomination.
Grammys are awarded in a
category called "liner notes," she ex-
plains, the written blurbs in the backs
of record jackets. In 1981, Rouder co-
authored a booklet on James P.
Johnson, an early jazz musician,' for
inclusion in an ambitious record
package put out that year by the
Musical Heritage Society and Time-
Life Records. Her biographical
descriptions and musical analysis of
Johnson's works were nominatd-for a
Grammy that season.
In the 1960s, before Grammy
fame and glory, Rouder assumed that
she would eventually become a profes-
sional musician. "For a while I did
study with someone who was
prepared to make me into a concert
pianist. But I was just miserable. I
guess I wasn't prepared to make that
kind of commitment. I never doubted

I GOING PLACES

WEEK OF FEB. 24-MAR. 2

SPECIAL EVENTS

DETROIT PISTONS
The Palace, 3777 Lapeer Rd.,
Auburn Hills, Pistons vs. Los
Angeles Clippers, Sunday, vs.
Utah Jazz, Wednesday,
admission. 377-0100.
CAMPER, TRAVEL AND RV
SHOW
Pontiac Silverdome, now through
Sunday, admission. 373-1700.
FASHION LECTURE
Rackham Bldg. 100 Farnsworth,
ESD Theatre. Sandy Schreier
speaks on the history of couture,
"From Bustle to Bustle: Charles
Fredrick Worth to Christian
Lacroix," Sunday.
WORLD WRESTLING
FEDERATION
The Palace, 3777 Lapeer Rd.,
Auburn Hills, Hulk Hogan vs.
Big Boss Man, Saturday,
admission. 377-8600.
SOUTHFIELD ANTIQUES
EXPOSITION
Southfield Civic Center, 26000
Evergreen, Southfield, now
through Sunday, admission.
465-9441 or 469-1706.
MICHIGAN OPERA
THEATRE
Roma's of Bloomfield, 2101 S.
Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills,
"Mardi Gras Evening," fund-
raiser with silent auction, dinner
and cabaret entertainment,
reservations, admission.
646-9481.
CITY OF SOUTHFIELD
Southfield Library, "Predict the
Oscars," with Susan Stark,
Tuesday. 354-9100.
DETROIT TURBOS
Joe Louis Arena, lacrosse game
vs. New York Saints, Saturday,
admission. 567-6000.

-

COMEDY

COMEDY CASTLE
2593 Woodward, Berkley, Jeff
Marder, today and Saturday;
Steve and Leo, Tuesday through
March 4, admission. 542-9900.

THEATER

HILBERRY AND
BONSTELLE THEATRES
Wayne St. University, _Detroit,
Wild Honey, now through March
4; The Scarlet Pimpernel, now
through April 15; Sarcophagus,
(Bonstelle) now through Sunday,
March 3-5, admission. 577-2972.
BIRMINGHAM THEATRE
211 S. Woodward, Birmingham,

Continued on Page 71

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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