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The Music Conservatory of Westchester recently celebrated their 80th Anniversary milestone with a special year-end performance featuring world renowned concert pianist and Conservatory alumnus Garrick Ohlsson. The 80th Anniversary Concert, held at The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, also highlighted the Conservatory’s performing ensembles. A second concert, showcasing the Conservatory’s youth ensembles, took place in the afternoon.

A native of White Plains, NY, Garrick Ohlsson began his piano studies at age eight at the Music Conservatory of Westchester and, at thirteen, entered the Julliard School. Since his 1970 triumph as the first American winner of the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, Mr. Ohlsson has established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of the music of Frédéric Chopin, Mr. Ohlsson delighted the Conservatory’s audience with an all Chopin program.

Performing in the first half of the evening concert were the Conservatory’s Chamber Orchestra, Teen Vocal Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Piano Quartet, and Piano Partners. The afternoon concert featured performances from the Conservatory’s Youth Chorus, Suzuki Violins, Junior Strings, Chamber Strings, Brass Ensemble, Piano Trio, Piano Partners, and String Quartets. Participating students ranged in age from 5 to 65.

At a reception following Mr. Ohlsson’s performance, Carol Shiffman, the Conservatory’s Executive Director, presented him with framed photos from a concert in the late 1970’s in which he appeared as soloist with the Conservatory’s orchestra. The photographs were provided by the orchestra’s conductor, Gabriel Banat.

“The Music Conservatory of Westchester’s 80th Anniversary Concert was a fitting end to a marvelous year filled with many wonderful anniversary-themed events,” said Shiffman. “We are privileged to have such a distinguished artist as an alumnus and proud of all our students who did such a phenomenal job in both the afternoon and evening performances.”

In addition to performing recitals worldwide, Mr. Ohlsson has appeared as a piano soloist with many of the top symphony orchestras across North America and Europe. He is an avid chamber musician who has collaborated with the Cleveland, Emerson, Takács and Tokyo string quartets, among other ensembles. A prolific recording artist and Grammy Award winner, Mr. Ohlsson can be heard on the Arabesque, RCA Victor Red Seal, Angel, Bridge, BMG, Delos, Hänssler, Nonesuch, Telarc, and Virgin Classics labels.

Shiffman continued, “The Conservatory is a center where the arts are celebrated in an integral, accessible way. Regardless of age or ability, our doors are open to all. Our faculty is dedicated to nurturing the casual enthusiast, up-and-coming performer, and everyone in between.”

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MCW — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:17:30 +0000

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Photos from our 80th Anniversary Concerts

MCW — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:16:02 +0000

View more photos from our May 8th Concerts here….

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Thank You To All Who Attended Our 80th Anniversary Celebration Concerts

MCW — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:44:41 +0000

We’ll be posting photos all week from the event!

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LoHud: Music Conservatory of Westchester marks 80th anniversary with concert

MCW — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:26:15 +0000

Months of hard work practicing the clarinet, saxophone and drums will finally pay off for Zachary Berro when he showcases his skills next month. Berro, a member of the Chamber Orchestra at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, will perform at the school’s 80th anniversary celebration in Purchase featuring the group’s other ensembles and a world-renowned pianist. Berro, 14, of Armonk, also a member of the conservatory’s jazz and rock ensembles, has attended classes at the school three times a week since the winter to rehearse the show.

“It’s really fun because we’ve kind of been working on this (to) show people how much we’ve improved,” he said. “It just all comes together in the end.”

The Music Conservatory of Westchester will host its 80th anniversary with two benefit concerts: an afternoon performance featuring the youth ensembles and an evening show with the teen and adult ensembles. Guest artist and former conservatory student Garrick Ohlsson will also perform during the milestone celebration in the evening. The world-renowned pianist and Grammy award winner began studying music at the conservatory at the age of 8 before attending the Juilliard School five years later.

“Mr. Ohlsson is an artist very much in demand and plays to sold-out houses,” said Jean Newton, dean of students and faculty. “We are just thrilled he is coming to help celebrate our 80th anniversary.

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Instructions for Students and Parents – May 8th Concerts

Jean Newton, Dean — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:40:40 +0000

Arrival Time and Sound Checks

Students should arrive at 5:45 p.m.. Please use the main lobby entrance to the Performing Arts Center, go up the stairs and enter the Recital Hall through the main audience doors. Sound checks which will start promptly at 6:00. Ensembles will have their sound checks in the following order:

1) Piano Duets 4) Teen Vocal Ensemble

2) Piano Quartet 5) Chamber Orchestra

3) Brass Ensemble

Concert Begins at 7:30 p.m.

Program order for the concert is as follows:

1) Chamber Orchestra 4) Piano Quartet

2) Teen Vocal Ensemble 5) Piano Duets

3) Brass Ensemble INTERMISSION

Garrick Ohlsson, piano soloist

Dismissal: All students will be dismissed at the end of the concert – approximately 9:30 p.m.. Students may not be released at intermission; please plan on staying for the entire concert. Seats will be provided for students to hear Garrick Ohlsson’s performance following intermission.

Food/Snacks: If your student will need a snack, please send it with him/her. Students who are also performing in the afternoon concert should bring a sandwich or other non-refrigerated food.

Tickets: Contact Gary Mayer (gary@musiced.org, 914-761-3900 ext. 105) to order your tickets if you have not already done so. Tickets may be picked up at the Conservatory’s front desk beginning on Saturday May 1^st. Tickets will also be available for pick-up in the upper lobby outside the Recital Hall at the Performing Arts Center starting at 2:00 p.m. on the day of the concert. All students performing in the concert will be seated together and do not need tickets.

Concert Dress:

Chamber Orchestra, Brass Ensemble: Tux or black suit with black bow tie for the young men; all black for the girls (dress, skirt or dress slacks with nice black blouse).

Teen Vocal Ensemble: Black dress slacks, white dress shirt and long tie for the young men; black skirt or dress slacks, white blouse for the girls.

Piano Duets: Dark suit, white dress shirt and long tie.

All performers should wear dress shoes; no sneakers, flip-flops or casual shoes

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