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blog

Meet New Piano Instructor Matt King

October 27, 2020 by Alice Hamlet

An Interview with Wharton Arts faculty member Matt King

Matt King Wharton Arts Piano TeacherPianist, composer, and arranger Matt King, a former Composition Fellowship recipient from the NJ State Council on the Arts, has garnered awards as a semi-finalist at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition (2000). He toured extensively with the iconic group Blood, Sweat & Tears and served as music director for jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb. He has performed with symphony orchestras across the United States and appeared on The Today Show and Good Morning America. He can be heard at Holland’s renowned North Sea Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Read more here.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A: Seeing a student “connect the dots” to enable their musical development.

Q: How has the pandemic changed teaching for you?
A: The pandemic has necessitated a shift to online teaching, which is more challenging, but hopefully still effective.

Q: Favorite work for the piano?
A: Claude Debussy’s Images, Book II.

Q: How are you keeping sane during COVID-19?
A: I’m not! However, staying involved in music is therapeutic.

Matt performed on the first virtual Salon Series concert on Sunday, October 4, 2020. You can watch his performance on WhartonArts.tv. Matt is available for online private piano lessons for all ages and all abilities at Wharton’s Performing Arts School. Contact (908) 790-0700 or info@whartonarts.org for more information.

Filed Under: blog, Performing Arts School, Wharton Institute

New Season, New Vision, New Directions: Messengers of Hope

October 22, 2020 by Alice Hamlet

An Interview with Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo

hope noun (hoʊp): to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might*
*From the Cambridge Dictionary

Messengers of Hope Helen Cha PyoAs the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts, prepares for its first live concert in seven months this Sunday at New Providence’s Centennial Park, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo gives some insights as to how NJYS has adapted throughout the pandemic and her vision for the 2020-21 season.

Q: How has the pandemic affected the New Jersey Youth Symphony?
A: Performing arts education institutions such as NJYS have faced unique challenges. As an ensemble-based organization, the inability to rehearse and perform concerts in-person is detrimental to the core mission of our program. When the pandemic hit, our orchestra rehearsals and concerts came to a screeching halt. On March 11, 2020, we had to shut down our physical building; however, within the following two weeks, we created virtual rehearsal rooms and instantaneously shifted to online programming. Although it is impossible to replicate the experience of playing together as a 100-piece orchestra remotely, we have found new avenues to continue making music through virtual performances, master classes, webinars, small ensemble rehearsals, and online courses. These have and will continue to expand the horizons of our young musicians beyond what we could have imagined pre-pandemic.

Q: What is your vision for the 2020-21 season?
A: The 2020-21 season will focus on messages of hope shared by our students with communities near and far. We see the young musicians of Wharton Arts as messengers of hope who will share the gift of music through our #StayHomeandPlay virtual concert performance initiative and bring comfort and joy to so many people who are in isolation, especially elderly populations residing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Throughout this pandemic, our students are experiencing music as a source of inspiration and comfort, even when they are stuck at home. We believe music takes on a special meaning amid difficult moments, and we are taking the opportunity to spread hope in otherwise uncertain times. As Maya Angelou said, “The nice thing about hope is that you can give it to someone else who needs it even more than you do, and you will find that you have not given yours away at all.”

Another focus this season will be increasing the presence of underrepresented composers in our repertoire choices by performing more works written by black, Latinx and women composers, as well as learning from world class artists through the Monday Master Class Series and the Friday Webinars at Wharton Arts.

Q: How did you choose the ensembles for the upcoming Outdoor Community Concert?
A: Winds, brass, and percussion instruments are more conducive to outdoor performances. As the musicians of Youth Symphony, Youth Orchestra, Clarinet Quartet, and Percussion Quartet are some of our most advanced students, they can prepare for concerts in a short amount of time. We have been able to hold outdoor rehearsals in preparation for the October 25 concert despite some low temperatures in the early evenings.

Q: Tell us a bit more about how the young musicians have been rehearsing for the concert.
A: In order to maintain the safety of our student musicians and staff as our highest priority, we are currently unable to rehearse as full orchestras and large ensembles indoors. However, our most advanced students have rehearsed in small ensembles at our temporary outdoor rehearsal tent in the Performing Arts School parking lot for the past four weeks. Everyone is fully masked—even our wind and brass players—with specialized PPE such as bell covers and instrument bags to minimize aerosolization. Our rehearsals are under one hour with a short break for cleaning and disinfecting. For those students who have chosen to engage remotely, they have the option to join the rehearsal via Zoom.

Q: How did you choose the repertoire for the October 25 concert?
A: With this concert being our first public performance since last January, I was tremendously excited to program it. Due to the reduced rehearsal hours and the limitations of online rehearsals, it was tricky to choose repertoire that was both challenging and meaningful to our highly talented young musicians. Download the digital concert program.

Recognizing many of the silver linings during this time of social distancing, I see this as a rare opportunity for us to explore repertoire for small ensembles that we cannot normally program when we perform as a large symphony orchestra. As a celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States, I have programmed works by American women composers such as Joan Tower and Valerie Coleman.

Q: What should the audience listen for on Sunday?
A: The concert will open and close with a pair of majestic fanfares. Aside from the two most well-known fanfares, Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland and Fanfare La Peri by Dukas, I am most excited to conduct Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 & No. 2, written by a prolific living American composer, Joan Tower. Additionally, you will hear a wide range of pieces written by diverse composers including Gershwin, Charlie Parker, Rossini, Holst and others performed by Youth Symphony Winds, Clarinet Quartet, Percussion Quartet and our award-winning Charles Mingus Jazz Combo.

Messengers of Hope WIPA 2020-21The free Outdoor Community Concert will take place on Sunday, October 25 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at the New Providence Centennial Park. For more information, click here.

Filed Under: blog, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Paterson Music Project, Performing Arts School, Wharton Institute

Meet New Violin Instructor Robert Radliff

October 19, 2020 by Alice Hamlet

An Interview with Wharton Arts faculty member Robert Radliff

A native of New York City, Robert Radliff has appeared as guest soloist with numerous orchestras in Florida, New York, and New Jersey and has collaborated with some of the world’s most iconic musical figures including Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Jamie Laredo, among others. He is currently the concertmaster of the South Orange Symphony and performs as section violinist with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, an orchestra-in-residence at Carnegie Hall, and the Berkshire Opera Festival in Great Barrington, MA. Radliff is on the violin faculty at the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp in Cazadero, CA. Read more here.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A: Human beings are very interesting creatures. We generally learn through the act of being taught by someone who’s done it before, so being a teacher really makes you think about how you impact others. I truly feel that’s why teaching is one of the single most important acts we can do to pay it forward, and I think about that a lot with my students. I really enjoy knowing I’m helping spread the joy of music.

Q: How has the pandemic changed teaching for you?
A: As with almost every aspect of our lives, the pandemic has certainly tested my abilities to teach properly. String instruments are particularly physical in nature, so not having the ability to adjust hands and fingers in-person has been tough. All teachers, no matter the field, have been forced to exercise lots of extra creativity to get the job done. Coming up with new expressions and metaphors to articulate what I need to get across has been one of the things I adopted early on.

Q: Favorite work for the violin?
A: How does anyone have only one favorite!? There are too many gems, and that’s a tough question to answer.

Q: How are you keeping sane during COVID-19?
A: I was doing a lot of yoga at the beginning of the pandemic and dabbling in painting and making some art projects for myself. I also recorded an album (soon to be released), so I’ve been doing a fair amount of practicing as well!

Robert is available for online private violin lessons for all ages and all abilities at Wharton’s Performing Arts School. Contact (908) 790-0700 or info@whartonarts.org for more information.

Filed Under: blog, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Performing Arts School, Wharton Institute

Meet New Trumpet Instructor Valdemar Castillo

October 19, 2020 by Alice Hamlet

An Interview with Wharton Arts faculty member Valdemar Castillo

PAS Trumpet Teacher Valdemar CastilloBorn and raised in Jersey City, Valdemar Castillo is a dedicated and passionate trumpet player with a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Performance from New Jersey City University, a degree he pursued while completing the requirements for teaching credentials for the state of New Jersey. He continued his studies under trumpet pedagogue Joe Burgstaller, former Canadian Brass member and faculty at Peabody Conservatory and Arizona State University. Castillo received a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University and was recently the runner-up in the Naval Academy Band audition, one of two premiere United States Navy ensembles.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A: Seeing the student’s progress. Nothing compares to seeing a child’s face light up from their own accomplishments. I’m just happy to be able to guide them to it.

Q: How has the pandemic changed teaching for you?
A: Music is such an in-person experience that it can be difficult to hear properly and listen properly online. It’s required me to listen to students 100% harder and make sure that they are always heading in the right direction. Upgrading my mics has been a lifesaver. As long as the student has a good sound model, that’s half the battle!

Q: Favorite work for the trumpet?
A: My favorite work for the trumpet has always been Centennial Horizon by Kevin McKee. It’s a gorgeous work with beautiful lyricism and flashy technical passages. What more can a trumpet player ask for!

Q: How are you keeping sane during COVID-19?
A: I miss playing with others and playing in halls for sure, but my twin babies at home are keeping me sane during the pandemic. Being home with them during this time is really a blessing. So the pandemic is really bittersweet!

Valdemar can be heard on the upcoming virtual Salon Series concert on Sunday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. EST performing works by Pennuquin, Marcello, Gershwin, and Kevin McKee, among others. Tune in to the free livestream on WhartonArts.tv.

Filed Under: blog, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Performing Arts School, Wharton Institute

5 Reasons To Take An Online Theater Class This Fall

September 23, 2020 by Alice Hamlet

5 Reasons To Take An Online Theater Class This Fall with Timothy Maureen Cole, Director of Musical Theater Arts

Five Reasons to Take Virtual ClassesThe past six months have been a journey for all of us. If you asked me in September 2019 if I thought I would ever teach 100% virtually, I would have said, “that’s not possible!” Yet here we are. Theater and music have traditionally been art forms that we practice in person, but I am a firm believer that life only offers us tasks that we can accomplish. That’s exactly what has happened with our theater classes at the Performing Arts School.

First of all, why should you sign up for a virtual class? Here are 5 Reasons to Take an Online Theater Class this Fall:

    1. Arts Education enriches students’ lives, and can even help reduce stress. This is a stressful time for all of us. Even if your student is back in the physical classroom, they are wearing masks for hours each day, their social time is limited, and their schedules are constantly in flux. Taking just an hour out of the week to focus on acting, singing, or dancing can bring a sense of normalcy. Many studies show that singing, in particular, can reduce stress, elevate your mood, and even help with self esteem.

 

    1. With performance opportunities limited, virtual classes keep your student engaged in the arts and honing their skills. Many students would be auditioning for community theater productions or singing in the choir at school every day. The pandemic has limited these types of opportunities for our students. PAS virtual classes provide an opportunity for your student to keep performing while improving their skills at the same time.

 

    1. Virtual classes are helping students build new skills that will be important in the future of the performing arts. Covid-19 has changed the way we look at the performing arts. Right now we must use online platforms, but many of these changes are likely to become commonplace.  Online or pre-recorded auditions in particular were already on the rise before March 2020.  Students that are interested in auditioning for community, regional, or even off-Broadway & Broadway casts will likely be asked to submit online auditions in the future.

 

    1. Theater classes build a sense of community. Even with activities opening up more this fall, students are still fairly limited in who they can see and how they can interact with others. Virtual theater classes offer a safe environment for students to interact with one another and connect through a mutual passion/interest.

 

  1. PAS classes are for everyone! Whether in person or online, PAS theater classes are accessible and fun for every student. We take great care in providing compassionate and skilled instructors, and truly believe that there is a place for everyone. Our instructor-to-student ratio is low to ensure that each student is an important part of our classes and performances. You will not be lost in the crowd!

Wharton Arts is happy to offer several of our mainstay classes this fall (with a few modifications, of course!), but I am most excited to share some of our brand NEW offerings that were created specifically with virtual learning in mind:

 

    • Acting for the Camera (WED at 5:30) starting on 9/30:  Performing online is very different than performing on a stage. Actors need to be aware of their lighting, angles, facial expressions, backgrounds, and so much more. Virtual learning is a perfect platform for learning this skill which can be applied to all online performances, and also utilized for any filmed performances in the future. Students will work with our instructor, Ms. Sara, for 8 weeks on scenes and monologues from the theater and TV/film. The class culminates with an online showcase for friends & family.

 

    • Vocal Ensemble Project (THUR at 5:00) starting on 10/1: Singing in groups is very difficult right now. Many school choirs are not working on music in their classes. The Vocal Ensemble Project allows students to experience singing together virtually. Over the course of 8 weeks Ms. Ema will work with the class on some fun vocal repertoire. Students will learn together, and then record their individual voices, which will be edited together to create an amazing ensemble performance for the last day of class.

 

  • How to Audition Virtually (MON at 4:30) starting on 10/5: Before the pandemic, many theater companies and even schools were requesting online auditions from prospective cast members. The future is sure to be full of even more of this! Learn how to audition virtually over the course of 8 weeks with Ms. Mariah. Students will choose and prepare an appropriate song and monologue to present at a mock audition. The class will also include movement and dance to prepare students for audition combinations. Take the material and knowledge with you to audition with in the future! 

You can find all of our class offerings on our website. You can reach out to me directly with any questions at timothy.cole@whartonarts.org. Let’s keep our students engaged and performing online!

Timothy Maureen Cole holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Ithaca College, and has been teaching voice, music theater, and piano since 2007. She holds certification in Early Childhood Music Education from Kindermusik International, and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In addition to private and group instruction, Cole has collegiate teaching experience at Horry Georgetown Technical College and James Madison University.

Filed Under: blog, Performing Arts School, Wharton Institute

New Jersey Youth Symphony Student Organizes Black Lives Matter Benefit Concert

June 23, 2020 by Alice Hamlet

Black Lives Matter ConcertOn Saturday, June 20, nearly a dozen young musicians, many of whom are New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) students and alumni, participated in a virtual fundraising concert organized by NJYS cellist Noelia Carrasco in response to the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement. The event, which took place virtually via Zoom, exceeded its fundraising goal, raising $676 to be donated to the Black Lives Matter Organization. Here is what Noelia had to say about the event in her own words:

My name is Noelia Carrasco. I live in Rockaway, NJ, and attend Morris Knolls High School. I have been playing the cello for nine years and am a member of the NJYS Youth Symphony, participate in the chamber music program at the New York Youth Symphony, and volunteer with the Paterson Music Project.

Upon hearing about the death of George Floyd, I joined millions around the world who took this as the final straw in what has equated to years of oppression and injustice for the Black community. Racism, prejudice, and inequality are so prevalent in our society, yet can be so easily swept under the rug, dismissed to be too sensitive of a topic to be discussed. I was brimming with frustration and anger that the country I live in could allow such heinous crimes to continually occur. I knew I had to do something to take action.

At first, it was discouraging to be limited to signing petitions, writing emails, making phone calls, and spreading awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement in a few, limited ways. But then I realized that I could use my passion for music in order to make a statement: that with music we can unify our communities and work towards something greater than ourselves. Although we cannot change the world with one concert, we can contribute to this process of change by allowing music to remind us of humanity, compassion, and empathy.

For the concert’s repertoire, I asked that all of the performers select a piece that they were really passionate about—something they could easily connect with emotionally. I wanted to remind the audience during this concert that even during this unprecedented era, we must not let hatred and animosity cloud our vision. We must look forward with the guidance of love and peace.

The performers and repertoire for the concert:

Pianist Alexandria Stevenson, a rising senior at Morris Knolls High School, performed Aufenthalt by Franz Schubert.

Violinist Samuel Lederman, a rising junior at Newark Academy, performed Liebesleid by Fritz Kreisler.

Cellist Sean Lee, rising sophomore at Emory University and NJYS Youth Symphony alumnus, performed Prelude from “The Gadfly” by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Cellist Leo Capurso, rising senior at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, performed the Allemande from Suite No. 2 in D minor for Unaccompanied Violoncello by J.S. Bach.

Pianist Linda Ji, rising senior at Morris Knolls High School, performed Argentinian Danze No. 2 by Alberto Ginastera.

Cellist Noelia Carrasco, rising senior at Morris Knolls High School, performed Salut d’Amour by Edward Elgar.

Violinist Priscilla Tam, rising senior at Parsipanny Hills High School, performed the Adagio from Sonata No. 1 in G Minor by J.S. Bach.

Violist Dora Bonyai, rising senior at New York University, performed Viola Sonata No. 1: Sehr Langsam by Paul Hindemith.

Cellist Noel Cho, rising freshman at Brandeis University, performed the Allemande from Suite No. 4 for Unaccompanied Violoncello by J.S. Bach.

Violinist Ryan Nguyen, rising freshman at Stanford University and NJYS Youth Symphony alumnus, performed Cantabile in D Minor by Niccolo Paganini.

Filed Under: blog, New Jersey Youth Symphony, Paterson Music Project, Performing Arts School, Wharton Institute

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