Posts for category ‘Performances’

Kathy Adorney, violin with Marco V. Quartero, piano

After a successful premiere two years ago, “Tango Evening” returned for its third annual performance at the Music Conservatory of Westchester on Friday, April 23. The concert highlighted the beauty of the tango featuring original compositions and arrangements by Marco Valentino Quartero. Quartero was born in Italy and studied classical piano as a child. As a young boy, he was often asked to play the accordion for people to dance. When his repertory of waltzes, mazurkas, and tangos was exhausted, Marco began improvising and “the patrons continued to dance, much to my relief – and delight,” he said.

At the end of the program, Carolina Escalona and her partner Mario Zea, from “Strictly Traditional Argentine Tango,” danced improvisational social Tango for the audience.

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GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
80th Anniversary Celebration Concerts:Two Concerts – One Exciting Day!May 8th, 2010

Renowned Piano Soloist and MCW AlumnusGarrick Ohlsson and MCW Student Ensemblesat 7:30 p.m.

MCW Youth Ensembles at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets now on sale for both performance



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Sarah Wetherbee (of Sleepy Hollow), principal violin, and Sandra Miller, flute, perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in “Jean Newton and Friends,” a faculty sextet from the Music Conservatory of Westchester. The performance was held recently at Grace Church in White Plains as part of the free Noonday Getaway Series. Additional performers included Margaret Ziemnicka, violin; Alissa Smith, viola; Katie Reitman, cello; and Jean Newton, harpsichord. For more information on upcoming Conservatory concerts, visit www.musicconservatoryonline.org. Read more »

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Irena Porteko - Photo/Pinsky Studio

MCW offers programs for all ages and abilities. How do you approach teaching students of different ages, whether a child, teen or an adult?
The students come to the piano lessons with different backgrounds, goals, levels of preparation and knowledge about the subject. I welcome them all to the world of music and help them find their own niche. I strongly believe that music can influence one’s life, interest and personal intention in the most positive way. One of my main goals in the beginning of the lessons is finding the spark that will later fuel students’ interest in continuing lessons either with the teacher or on their own. Whether a child, teen, or an adult, students are ready to embrace music when offered attention, clarity, sincerity, patience and support under their teacher’s guidance.

You made a critically acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall last year; what was that experience like?  What do you hope to accomplish as a performer?
When I was a teenager at music school, and later, a student at the Kiev Conservatory, I was frequently performing as a soloist and in a chamber music setting. Carnegie Hall was equal to Pluto for me at that time: the extremely limited travel opportunities for most students and adults in the Soviet Union made this goal seem simply unreachable.

All things considered, it would be hard to describe what I felt on the stage at Weill. During my two-hour rehearsal, which was scheduled two days prior to the recital, I became teary the whole time. I couldn’t stop this emotional outburst. The keyboard was all blurry yet I was overwhelmed with the  beautiful and noble interior of the hall, amazing quality and responsiveness of the piano, excellent acoustics, and, selfishly speaking, having it all to myself! What I experienced was a strong feeling of happiness and fulfillment.

After the performance at Carnegie, I have felt more inspired toward new endeavors, playing more contemporary music, doing interdisciplinary projects and pieces that I used to postpone for later learning. I also noticed that my students who were at the performance have become much more brave with their own piano performance skills. They trust me with new demanding tasks I offer to them. Read more »

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Brothers Adi and Ameya Mazumdar performed at the March 21 “Music Sharing” event presented by the Music Conservatory of Westchester’s Music Therapy Institute.

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The Music Conservatory of Westchester’s Music Therapy Institute held its “Music Sharing” recital March 21, 2010. Here, MTI student Sam Margolis plays guitar. His twin sister Debbie also performed.

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The Music Conservatory of Westchester’s Music Therapy Institute held its “Music Sharing” recital March 21, 2010. Here, MTI student Debbie Margolis performs “Happy 80th” an original song about the Conservatory’s 80th Anniversary.

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On Friday, March 19 the piano duo of Svetlana Gorokhovich and Irena Portenko performed to a near sell-out crowd as part of our Live on Central concert series. The next LOC is Friday, April 16 with Mary Elizabeth Poore and Nakia Verner, sopranos, with Michael Bunchman, piano. For ticket info, email info [at] musiced.org.

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WHITE PLAINS — Debbie Margolis, a lively 11-year-old from Larchmont, was the first to go up.  Dancing to piano accompaniment, the curly-haired, bespectacled girl sang a piece she wrote about the Music Conservatory of Westchester’s 80th anniversary.  She started off quietly, but by the end of the song, she got the whole audience to sing the chorus along with her. Read more »

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Here is a reminder that our Suzuki Spring Recitals are coming up:
Saturday, March 20 at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

For information,  see the Suzuki bulletin board in our building or contact info [at] musiced.org. Please note – if you’re not on our mailing list, please email us as well.

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