Posts tagged ‘80th’

Garrick Ohlsson with Carol Shiffman

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.” Read more »

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

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The Music Conservatory of Westchester kicked-off their milestone anniversary year with an 80th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 3.

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By Roberta Hershenson

THE sounds of a rock band blasted through a downstairs studio on Central Avenue here, while upstairs teenagers rehearsed for a production of “Guys and Dolls.” These days, you are as likely to hear jazz or a Broadway tune as an aria at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, but that does not mean the school has forgotten its Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.

“Classical music will always be one of our main areas of focus,” said Carol Shiffman, the conservatory’s new executive director, who is grounded in the classical arts. “The heart of what we do here is private instruction one to three times a week. A knowledge of music theory will help in any field.”

Ms. Shiffman said she was chosen from a pool of 80 applicants to succeed Aaron Flagg, who left in June after five years at the helm to become dean of the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. She arrived at an encouraging time for the conservatory, a nonprofit institution founded in 1929 by a group of musicians including the cellist Pablo Casals. Read more »

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The Board of Trustees and Carol Shiffman, Executive Director, of the Music Conservatory of Westchester invite you
Saturday October 3, 2009 at 1 p.m. to celebrate the kick-off of our 80th Anniversary Year! Reception and music by MCW students followed by MCW faculty performance and special guests! A press conference will be held to announce 80th Anniversary Year Highlights as wellas our 2009 Conservatory Faculty Teaching Awards and Faculty Recognition Wall.

Michael Stadther & Helen Demetrios Recital Hall
Music Conservatory of Westchester
216 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606

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