216 Central AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10606

musicconservatory.org

Board of TrusteesJoel Breitkopf, PresidentRobert Heath, Chairman

Laurence Keiser, Vice PresidentPaul Farfel, Treasurer

Nancy Goodman, Secretary

Gary E. BashianRodd BerroMary Lynn BiancoJohn BottomleyCarmen ForteAngelo Grasso

Alexander JohnsonMidhat SerbagiTony SmithAndrea TaberJennifer Weiss

Jean Newton, Executive Director

FALL 2017NEWSLETTER

216 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606 914.761.3900 musicconservatory.org

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#Performathon2017

Voted Best Music School in Westchester!Now Open Sundays

Ani Kavafian Performs at the Conservatory Internationally renowned violinist Ani Kavafian will be the featured artist in An Autumn Afternoon of Music, a benefit concert at the Conservatory on Sunday, November 12, 2017. String players from the Yale School of Music will join Ms. Kavafian in performing works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Kreisler, as well as two works by composer and Conservatory board member Mary Lynn Marx Bianco, an alumna of the Conservatory.

Ms. Kavafian, whose son attended the Conservatory, is Full Professor of Violin at Yale University. A member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 1972, she continues to tour with them in North America, Europe and Asia.

The 3pm concert in the Conservatory’s Helen Demetrios and Michael Stadther Recital Hall will be followed by a reception with the artists. Proceeds from the benefit will support the Conservatory’s Scholarship, Music Therapy, and Healing Our Heroes programs.

Ms. Kavafian’s special performance will celebrate great music while helping to raise funds for deserving students.

For more information, contact Aishling Quinn, Development Manager, at aishling@musiced.org. To purchase tickets, visit www.mcwevents.org.

GREAT PERFORMANCES!

FUN FOR THE

WHOLE FAMILY! COOL PRIZES & ACTIVITIES

December 9, 2017

SAVE THE DATE!

Ani Kavafian

The Music Conservatory provides our students of all ages with the training required to become skilled performers and to experience music in a very real and personal way. For our school-age students, private lessons and related classes such as theory and ensembles help them stand out in their school orchestras, choruses and bands. Many Conservatory students earn “first chair” positions in school ensembles as a result of their hard work and the expert teaching they receive at MCW.

Another key element in our students’ musical training and success is participation in adjudications and competitions such as NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), NYSMTA (New York State Music Teachers Association), the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program, and Concert Festival International Competition, among others. Our faculty members are enthusiastic about their role in preparing students for these events, and the results speak for themselves, with many of our students earning the highest scores each year.

We recognize that the path to musical success includes opportunities like these. Our commitment to supporting our students’ preparation for NYSSMA and other competitions is one of the things that makes the Music Conservatory such a special place to study.

www.musicconservatory.org www.musicconservatory.org

The Dean’s Desk Fall 2017

Healing Our HeroesThe Documentary

Executive Director’s DeskFaculty Spotlight:Gili Sharett

For Alice Cabral, receiving the Darlene Love Vocal Scholarship is a stepping stone toward her Broadway dreams. “I fell in love with musical theatre the first time I took the summer program here.” Alice’s voice teacher, Mary Elizabeth Poore, said, “No matter how long it takes her to learn a very challenging piece of music, she sticks with it until she gets it. And in the end, she always gets it.”

At the 16th Annual Golf and Tennis Classic on June 26th, Alice met Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love, for whom her scholarship is named. Love embraced Cabral in support of her musical aspirations. Of her four years as a Conservatory student, Alice said, “I value the teachers, the music, and having a community that’s there for me.”

The Golf and Tennis Classic was the most successful benefit event in the Conservatory’s history, shattering previous records by raising over $250,000 for the Scholarship Program. Alice said, “Since I was a little girl, I always wanted to study music and this scholarship has made my goal a reality.”

The Conservatory’s newly minted Parent Association (PA) is a volunteer organization for parents of Conservatory students. Membership is free, automatic, provides discounts at a number of local businesses, connects parents to Conservatory events and each other, and gives opportunities to offer feedback on matters of importance.

The PA is run by a committee, headed by two Co-Chairs. Marian Richardson, Co-Chair and grandmother of three Conservatory students, says, “I would like to see more parents/grandparents join and become more proactive in their children’s music education at the conservatory.” Co-Chair Nicolas Chbat, whose two sons study here, says, “I want to ensure that feedback from parents helps run this valuable institution optimally.”

We invite you to explore the many opportunities offered through the PA. You can volunteer for events like Performathon or Inside the Studio Week, which bring students, families, and faculty together. All parents are welcome to group meetings with the Deans and other events that are built on community, inclusiveness, and music. To learn more or volunteer, please contact Laura Layne, laura@musiced.org.

Healing Our Heroes, the Conservatory’s groundbreaking music therapy program for military veterans initiated in 2013, provides two years of one-on-one music therapy and group sessions at no cost to veterans or their families. Award-winning filmmakers El Sawyer and Jon Kaufman, of MING Media, have achieved national recognition for their film Pull of Gravity, portraying the challenges faced by prisoners released back into society. Now, MING Media is making a documentary about the challenges facing returning veterans, how music and music therapy can affect their lives, and the potential of Healing Our Heroes to be a replicable model.

Conservatory board member and past President Rodd Berro provided the inspiration for the film and has spearheaded the fundraising. “Our Healing Our Heroes veterans have an extraordinary story to tell, and there’s no other program like it,” he said. “When I met El and Jon and saw their work, I just knew I had to make it happen. I’m so excited that we’re actually starting to film.”

Why I Give to the Conservatory

Conservatory Student Receives Darlene Love Vocal Scholarship

Adult Students Take Center Stage

I love music. I love sharing music with everyone. I truly believe music brings out the best in people. I joined the board because the Conservatory symbolizes values like inclusion, diversity, and love for music. I believe that by being part of the board I can contribute to spreading these values in our community.

Get Involved in the New Parent Association!

Carmen Forte

Our adult students have spoken - and we are listening! Now more than 100-strong, our roster of adults includes all ages - from 19 to 80+. A focus group last February yielded some wonderful new additions to our offerings this fall. Adult Music Theory will introduce basic theory concepts and illustrate them with musical examples and historical context. Chamber Starters will offer short-term coached ensembles that fit into busy schedules while enabling participants to experience the joy of playing music with others. Two master classes will be scheduled for adult pianists and singers.

A new Adult Student Association has plans for musical get-togethers and trips to local concerts. We’ve created a page on the Conservatory website and a Facebook group for our adult students to stay connected to the latest news and events. Three Adult Student Performance Hours will offer opportunities to celebrate and share musical accomplishments with family and friends. Special thanks to Conservatory board member Mary Bianco and the Moca Foundation for supporting this program!

Conservatory Board Member

(left to right) Executive Director Jean Newton, Board Member & Producer Rodd Berro, Filmmakers El Sawyer & Jon Kaufman and Board President Joel Breitkopf.

These days, cutting-edge education is all about technology. In the world of music education, technology can supplement the core process of learning an instrument, which requires that the teacher and student be physically present in the same room to get the best results. A key objective of the Conservatory’s new strategic plan is to identify technology-based learning opportunities that align with our educational values. One area where technology offers an advantage is music theory.

This year, the Conservatory has moved to an online curriculum for Theory 1, 2 and 3. Students attending weekly classes at the Conservatory will receive a subscription to the online course, and will complete homework assignments online. Missed classes may be made up online as well. Students unable to attend the weekly classes may take the course exclusively online. All Theory 1, 2 and 3 students will have access to extra help from a theory teacher who will post a schedule of office hours. We’re very excited about this first step into online learning – and there will be more to come!

Carmen Forte (right) and her husband Rafael Forte (left), both Conservatory adult students.

Alice Cabral (left) and Darlene Love (right) pose for a photo at the 16th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic.

Dr. Douglas Bish, Dean of Students & Faculty

Dr. Jean Newton, Executive Director

Nicolas ChbatParent Association Committee Co-Chair

Adult students gather at the their Performance Hour this past March.

We are thrilled to announce that bassoonist Gili Sharett has joined our faculty. One of the most accomplished and recognized bassoonists in New York City, Dr. Sharett performs with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, American Symphony, American Ballet Theater, and New York City Opera Orchestra. Much in demand on Broadway, she was the bassoonist for the Tony Award-winning musical, The Light in the Piazza. She has appeared in Carnegie Hall, on WQXR Radio, at the Verbier and Bard Summer Music Festivals, and is heard on numerous recordings. At the Conservatory, Gili brings her exceptional musicianship, expertise, and nurturing teaching style to her students. She joins our legendary faculty roster of internationally-known performers and recording artists. Gili is currently accepting new students from beginner to advanced, so spread the word!

Gili Sharrett