Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight is a concert pianist who is among the most talented and most highly acclaimed classical musicians of his generation. And within the traditionally closeted environment of classical music, he may also be, at least among his equally successful peers, the most openly gay classical musician working today. Today's Out Spotlight is Stephen Hough.

Stephen Hough was born on November 22, 1961 in Heswall on the Wirral Peninsula, England. He started taking piano lessons at the age of five and went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He holds a Master's degree from the Juilliard School as well.

In his late teens, he was influenced by the sound of the singing Buckhurst Abbey monks and abandoned the Methodist church, in which he was raised, in favor of the Roman Catholic Church. At that time, he also briefly considered entering the priesthood.

Hough won the 1978 BBC Young Musician of the Year Piano Award at age 17. He went on to win the 1982 Terence Judd Award, and the Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1983, afterward embarking on an international performing career.

He now regularly performs with most of the major orchestras around the globe, including the London Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He frequently appears as a soloist in Europe, Asia, the United States, and Australia.
He has appeared at festivals worldwide including Salzburg, Edinburgh, Aldeburgh, Mostly Mozart (New York), Sapporo, Ravinia, Blossom, Tanglewood, Aspen, Hollywood Bowl and Saratoga.

He has made over 50 CDs, and is the only soloist who has twice won Gramaphone Magazine's Record of the Year Award. Among his most notable recordings is a set of the four Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, recorded during live performances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to performing the standard piano repertoire, he also performs works by little known and unjustly neglected composers such as Federico Mompou, Xaver Scharvenka, Leopold Godowsky, and Johann Nepomuk Hummel and also actively promotes contemporary music, recording works by Goerge Tsontakis and Lowell Lieberman.

In addition to his accomplishments as an acclaimed pianist, Hough is also well known as a composer, chamber musician, conductor, and writer.His book, The Bible as Prayer, was released in the United States in 2007. It is a devotional publication consisting of daily meditations on selected verses from the Bible.

He also frequently contributes articles on various topics to the British Roman Catholic journal The Tablet. Hough tireless advocate for changes in Roman Catholic church acceptance of same-sex relationships, arguing that God does not intend for human beings to be alone. He forcefully challenges the Chuch's anti-gay interpretations as ahistorical and uncharitable.

In piece that he wrote that was included in the gay anthology The Way We Are Now, he wrote about the difficulties he experienced growing up as a Christian in an environment traditionally hostile to homosexuality. He also postulated a mysterious link between his musical talent and his sexual identity.

Hough's other writings include articles about piano interpretation, pianists (among them two gay pianists: Shura Cherkassky and Joseph Villa), travel journals, and several very well written texts for CD booklets. He is not only limited to prose, in 2008 he won the Sixth International Poetry Competition.

As a composer, Hough has contributed two masses ("Mass of Innocence and Experience," commissioned for the Anglican Westminster Abbey, and "Missa Mirabilis," commissioned for the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral), a cello concerto, "The Loneliest Wilderness," as well as smaller works published by Josef Weinberger, Ltd.

Hough made newspaper headlines in 2007 when his scheduled performances in Hanoi were abruptly canceled by the communist regime. Sponsors and government officials alleged that his sexual orientation might become a safety issue for him while visiting Vietnam.

In 2001, Hough received the renowned MacArthur Fellowship Award. In 2008, he received the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance from Northwestern University, an award given to "pianists who have achieved the highest levels of national and international recognition."

In 2005, Hough applied for Australian citizenship "by descent," since his father was born in Australia. Thus, he holds dual citizenship. He has explained his decision to become an Australian as stemming from the love he has for the country and for the link it provides with his family's past there, particularly with his father and grandfather.

He is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music in London where he is a visiting Professor, and a Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he is the International Chair of piano studies. Currently he is a professor at the Royal College of Music in London and International Chair of Piano Studies at his alma mater in Manchester. He lives with his partner, a music publicist, in London.

To all those who celebrate.
Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas

I'm waiting up for Santa Claus. Just wearing some vanilla frosting.


If Austin was just wearing vanilla frosting, what do you think Santa was wearing?

Merry Easter to all. And to all a good night!!!
Guess a wild goos turkey would make any holiday the one with eggs.

Turkey or goose - no problem for Jake.

Merry Christmas!!!

'Twas the night before...

Now for a pair that seems to share so much, here are a few more :

How can you have a bike with out a bell? A classic Schwinn bike bell. Two Wheel Tuesdays will never be the same. Rrrrring Rrrrring

Of there are the fancy footware. Somehow getting the Christmas boot doesn't sound as much fun as getting your stocking stuffed.

But something they really need to share. A shoe shine kit.

Both J &A being eco-conscious about some Eco-apps for Iphones.

Or maybe a gadget that turns the Iphone hands free for video chatting? The Glif can mount a iPhone onto a tripod and prop it up at all kinds of angles. It's made from recyclable rubberized plastic fits snugly in a pocket, or a backpack.

Now it can't be all about those two. Because we know that for Jake it's all about family.

How about some snuggly Green Animals that would be a hit with the less than tall? Proceeds from each help plant more trees for the Arbor Foundation.

And for more snuggling how about a handmade quilt that maps special places to cuddle up under? Coming in size from crib to King, these can commemorate special places and special reasons. Like Austin, or The Vineyard, or Los Angeles or Brooklyn. And they can be custom made for any special place, or special occasion.

Now maybe Jake didn't get to Walrus yet, but he and the family can Walrooz. Yup Walrus sleds for big kids and little ones too. (Austin might get banged up on snowboards, so these sit and slides might be a bit more his speed) Coming in blue and Longhorn Orange they hook together along with little walrooz for a family ride.

Merry Christmas to everyone here on OMG. Thank you for sharing another year here. Here's hoping you have a wonderful time filled with the spirit of the season, and share it with family, friends and those you love.

....and here's hoping Jolly St. Nick stops by and gives you what you wished.

Christmas Stock-ings

Austin won't be the only one getting presents, Jakey has a list that he is checking twice, hoping that him being little naughty (with a big tall Texan) and nice, will let him get his stocking stuffed.

Jake's love for cooking, gives cook books a permanent on the gift list. Mark Bittman's The Food Matters Cookbook has more than 500 recipes toward great dishes filled with vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and beans.

And it's not just what you eat to be eco-conscious but what you cook with too. How about spoons and spatulas made from recycled plastic water bottles. The chartreuse utensils are light but sturdy and dishwasher safe, and can be used at temperatures up to 425 degrees F.

Gardening and growing his own food has been a passion and how can you not have passion with bon-bons. Garden Bon-Bons that is. They're made of clay, compost, and herb seeds. Just plant when the ground thaws and they'll grow into basil, parsley, chives, and thyme.


Instead of cooking up a Ipad how about turning it into an Etch-a-Sketch. Well to look like one with an Etch-a-Sketch Ipad case. And talk about a fake out for paps. The rags would have a field day with being seen shopping in a FAO Schwartz and now carrying around an Etch-A-Sketch.




Wandering through the forest calling "here biggy, biggy, biggy" is not the best way to find Bigfoot. (well then again... maybe it could be just not in the forest) But Archie McPhee's says it is a tin of root beer flavored Bigfoot Mints because Bigfoot loves root beer. And they claim that sprinkling around the campsite and will have you roasting marshmallows with the big guy by nightfall! And then what would you drink with a Sasquatch? Sasquatch Seltzer.

Hairy not scary. Now before beards go biblical they can be rough and irritating. How about some all natural beard oil to soften it up. And Jake can be the dude with Dude No. 1?

Jake has shown his love for The Sox, Pats, and yes Celtics, (ok.. and the Lakers). Now he might not wear underwear all the time but socks are a different story and he can still be a fan even in LA.

Take a grandpa sweater, a zippy hoodie, plaid shirt, and elbow patches and what do you get? This. The answer to all Jake's fashion dilemmas and works out driving the family truckster.


You can't love Broadway and musicals and not love Stephen Sondheim. Finishing the Hat—titled after perhaps his most autobiographical song, from Sunday in the Park with George—Sondheim has not only collected his lyrics for the first time, he is giving readers a rare personal look into his life as well as his remarkable productions. The book has the lyrics for all of his musicals from 1954 to 1981—including West Side Story, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd, as well never-before-published songs from each show, songs that were cut or discarded before seeing the light of day. He writes about working with his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, and his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Ethel Merman, Richard Rodgers, Angela Lansbury, and Harold Prince.

Jake knows all about geese a'laying and how could he turn down some from his favorite Goose?


Another year another coffee maker, maybe this one will do the trick and keep Black Coffee in Bed instead. It makes a cappuccino, cafe’ mocha, latte, or a latte’ macchiato, all with the touch of just one button. And it's programmable and let you personalize your coffee size, strength, and temperature. Maple and sprinkles not include.

Now real deal sweets. Jake is a connoisseur of the Black & White cookie, but why not celebrate with something a little more grown up like a Black & White Torte from Zabars. And it works with bagels and lox, Christmas dinner or a little late night holiday Goose.

Reindeer Games

Rudolph-The-Red-Nose-Reindeer is my hero! Embrace Your Oddities!! They will define you later in life.

Think Austin can identify?

What would we ever do with out those ears?

While there are tall tales about Jake's Christmas shopping, he does have to do some real shopping. So what do you get from a special guy as Austin?

For the guy who love desert boots and quirk, how could you not go wrong with Blue Suede ones from Ben Sherman. We kid that Austin's fashion sense is out there, but you know it's seems like others are playing catch up to him. And with shoes goes socks and with Austin he's the stripes to Jake's solids.

Now that he has brought back the high five, how about a hoodie with its own beer pocket, so there's no delay in getting the super high high five (atta boy). Also convenient for other times when your hands are full of other things. ; )

And with a guy who's name is named after bourbon and birds, you have to go with the Buck Shot glasses. This maybe the only time Buck shot and Wild Turkey work.

For books, no doubt he's got Freedom already since you know it's Oprah's choice. (Thanks Julian!) But how about A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. It's about a cynical rock -n-roll producer and the people who intersect his world over 40 years and told through 13 different characters, each with their own story and voice. Sounds gimmicky but it isn't and has a "Proustian feel for loss, regret and the ravages of love." And there's My Best Friend Is a Wookiee: A Memoir, One Boy's Journey to Find His Place in the Galaxy by Tony Pacitti Certified Star Wars geek Tony Pacitti charts his life in relation to the trilogy from pathetic childhood and adolescence to Luke Skywalker-like coming of age.

Still going literary - why not put it on the walls, with maybe a poster of the story. We know Austin is a big fan of Tink and the boys but there are others to pick from like The Great Gatsby, Moby Dick, Ulysses, and The War of the Worlds.

Or wear it, and after seeing his hat for Clothes off Our Back, this one might be fitting, and guess what Paragon Sports sells it. (Hmmm maybe that's what Jake was looking for in the Men's Dept)

Now of course Austin wants to look good and he's got a lot that is already looking might fine. But who can't use another Man Can. Spicy Rummy and little salty.


There are always movies to get for a cinephile like Austin, and he has been tweeting movies all year, but there are some still he hasn't gotten. While sure he may already have picked up Inception, Avatar and Back to the Future 25th edition, but what about The Magnificent Seven on Blu-Ray, The Humphrey Bogart Box set that has 'The Petrified Forest,' 'High Sierra,' 'Maltese Falcon,' 'All Through the Night,' 'The Big Sleep,' 'Casablanca,' 'Key Largo' and 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre.' or have some fun with the 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 35th Anniversary Edition' on Blu-ray, with Karaoke. Damn it Janet! Who would be Dr. Frank-N-Furter?

Austin journals his movie watching, but now leading the way in ecoconciousness, why not do it in something upcycled. Like a former lp turned into a journal. It uses both the album and the cover.

Or these amp Voltaic solar bag that can charge up his blackberry.

So many good songs, so little time, but maybe a couple; Phosphorescent's “Here’s to Taking It Easy", Caribou's “Swim’, no doubt that he already has the Black Keys' "Brothers" downloaded on something.

And when he's in the mood? Mood Mustaches of course. (Check out Sassy!) Who could say no to that? How to say so much without saying a word.

And for accessories? He's done LOL the movie, so yeah he could do with that . But come on, one with OMG he'd be cracking up.


And one more for the little Dutch boy? Just say Gouda!