Music Educators Association of New Jersey

The Alacorde Trio, Jacqueline Schiller-Audi, piano, Jee Sun Lee, violin, Suji Kim, cello, performed at the Teaneck Public Library on February 7 at 3pm. The program included Turina's Circulo, Gershwin's It Ain't Necessarily So, Summertime and I Got Rhythm (arranged by The Alcorde Trio), Piazzolla's Oblivion and Death of the Angel and the Dumky Trio by Dvorak.

The Alacorde Trio, Jacqueline Schiller-Audi, piano, Jee Sun Lee, violin, Suji Kim, cello, rescheduled their performance to January 31 at 2pm at the Haverstraw King's Daughters Public Library in Garnerville, NY. The program included Turina's Circulo, Gershwin's It Ain't Necessarily So, Summertime and I Got Rhythm (arranged by The Alcorde Trio), Piazzolla's Oblivion and Death of the Angel and the Dumky Trio by Dvorak.

Sophia Agranovich was one of the featured performers at WQXR program 'Reflections from the Keyboard' hosted by David Dubal on January 21 & 24.

Sondra Tammam is teaching Piano Pedagogy - Exploring the Taubman Approach, MUPR437-01 (2 credits), the only in-depth credit course on the Taubman Approach, at the Cali School of Music at Montclair State University on TUESDAYS, 4:00-5:40pm, from Jan. 19 - May 11. Sondra Tammam, a director of Taubman Seminars (Lincoln Center) and Taubman Festivals (MSU), worked with Dorothy Taubman for over twenty-five years. This is a very unique opportunity to learn the piano approach of Dorothy Taubman.

Jacqueline Schiller-Audi collaborated with her trio colleagues in a recital on Saturday, December 12, 7:30pm at NV Studios 400 Sylvan Ave in Englewood Cliffs. The program included Brahms Piano Trio in C Major and Rachmaninoff Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor.

Beatrice Long was featured recitalist in the Piano Lunch Series on Tuesday, December 8 from 12:10-12:50 pm at Christ & St. Stephen's Church 122 W 69 St. New York, N. Y. 10023 (69th Street & bt Broadway + Columbus Ave, NYC).

Sondra Tammam was a guest presenter at the Diller Quaile Keyboard Celebration, Opus 2 on Saturday, December 5. Her topic was, "Memorization - Putting the Fingers, Ears and Brain to the Score".

At the November NJMTA Conference at Rider University, Charlene Step chatted with composer Wynn Anne Rossi after her presentation on her new series, Musica Latina. The rhythmic series, featuring solos and duets, covers a cross-section of South America dances and folk music.

On Friday, November 20 at 8 p.m., the outstanding NYC based National Chorale, under the baton of Everett McCorvey, will perform a concert featuring the beloved choral work Carmina Burana, and will additionally include two original choral pieces by Thomas Parente, at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall): "October", is set to poetry of Robert Frost, and , "Look up at the Sky" features the words of local poet, Bruce Kaduk. To order tickets online go to: www.nationalchorale.org

Thomas Parente performs with the the innovative ensemble, Piaclava, on Sunday, November 1 at 6 p.m. as part of the Music in Montclair series hosted by Music Director, Markus Grae-Hauck and the UU Music Committee. A wonderful variety of new works by contemporary composers will be featured. Here's your opportunity to hear yet another line-up of fresh and vibrant compositions emerging from members of this generation of exciting composers. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, 67 Church St. General Admission: $20 Students; Seniors: $15; Children: $5

Sophia Agranovich released a new CD on a Centaur label featuring Franz Schubert: Fantasy for Piano in C major, D 760/Op. 15 "Wanderer"; Frederic Chopin: Ballade for Piano no 1 in G minor, B 66/Op. 23; Ballade for Piano no 2 in F major/a minor, B 102/Op. 38, Ballade for Piano no 3 in A flat major, B 136/Op. 47 and Ballade for Piano no 4 in F minor, B 146/Op. 52. It is available at ArkivMusic, Amazon, iTunes and other major distributors. Three excellent reviews are to be published in the Fanfare Jan-Feb 2016 issue.

Nancy Modell will present a session entitled Creative Composing: A Joyous Pathway to Musicianship at the "Empower Creativity" themed 2015 NAfME National In-Service Conference scheduled for October 25-28 at Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN.

On Saturday, October 17 at 8:00pm, in her 19th season at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Michelle Chen Kuo is joined by her son, Christopher Kuo, who returns to Weill Recital Hall for the third time since his 2006 solo debut. Together, they celebrate the splendor of Russian two piano music featuring Anton Arensky's vividly colorful Suites for Two Pianos No. 1 & 2 "Silhouettes", Sergei Rachmaninoff's playful Russian Rhapsody, and his widely treasured and intensely passionate Duo Suites No. 1 "Fantaisie-Tableaux" & 2.

Anita Gordon will perform a solo recital on the MacDowell Club recital series on Sunday, October 11 at 3 p.m. at Fransiscan Oaks, Denville. The program will include music by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, and Chopin.

Joan Bujacich will present a session titled Motivational Ideas for You and Your Studio for The Professional Music Teacher's Guild of NJ on Monday, October 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Johnson Public Library, 274 Main. St., Hackensack, NJ. The challenge of finding a balance between musical growth and music as a place of health (for both teacher and student) will be a recurring theme during her presentation. This program is free and all are invited to attend!

Long Duo, Beatrice Long and her sister Christina Long will be giving a recital at Watchung Arts Center on Saturday, October 3, 8 p.m. The program, entitled Night Tales, will feature music by composers Felix Mendelssohn, Maurice Ravel, Frédéric Chopin, Béla Bartok, Antonín Dvorak, Charles Griffes and Karol Szymanovsky, for solo and piano four hands. Tickets are $16 in advance, $20 ($18 for WAC members, $10 for students) at the door. You may purchase tickets securely through Eventbrite. For more information, please call 908-753-0190.

Seymour: An Introduction, directed by Ethan Hawke, will be showing at the Summit Film Society in Summit, NJ on October 2 at 8PM. Meet Seymour Bernstein: a virtuoso pianist, veteran New Yorker, and true original who gave up a successful concert career to teach music. In this wonderfully warm, witty, and intimate tribute from his friend, Ethan Hawke, Seymour shares unforgettable stories from his remarkable life and eye-opening words of wisdom, as well as insightful reflections on art, creativity, and the search for fulfillment. Seymour: An Introduction will leave audiences uplifted and inspired. Q + A with Seymour Bernstein and Birgit Matzerath to follow.

In Memoriam: Joseph Smith
Pianist, vocal coach, music teacher, writer, lecturer, and adjunct professor Joseph Smith died early on March 23rd. He taught Introduction to Music for the Cali School since fall 2004. His many gifts brought him wide recognition and affection and he will be greatly missed. A memorial concert at the Cali School will take place on Sunday, September 20th.

Sondra Tammam will perform Piano Trios in a faculty recital in Leshowitz Recital Hall, Saturday, Sept 19 at 8PM, at the Cali School of Music, Montclair State U., with guest artists violinist Ariel Shamai and cellist Alex Bacelar. The program includes: Beethoven: Trio in B-flat, Opus 97 ("Archduke") and Schubert: Trio in B-flat, Opus 99.

Nancy Modell will conduct Suzuki Piano Teacher Training and teach students Suzuki Piano Book 2, August 2 - 7, at the 2015 Greater Washington Suzuki Piano Institute in Mclean, Virginia.

Clarisse Kant has been recognized for her creative art talents. She was recently awarded first prize in the drawing category in the Union County Seniors Art Competition for "Nude on a Pillow." This competition is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The work of all first-place winners will be exhibited at the Freeholders' Gallery on the sixth floor of the Union County Administration Building from July 14 - Aug. 19, then move to East Windsor to participate in a state-wide Seniors Art Competition.

Sophia Agranovich will perform 2 solo recitals. The program will feature, among other compositions, Robert Schumann's Carnaval and Fantasie.

1. On Sunday, July 12 at 5PM at The Lambert Castle Concert Series in Paramus, NJ. Click here for directions. Tickets are $15. The proceeds benefit the Passaic County Historical Society.
2. Bargemusic - 'New York City's floating concert hall' - on Saturday, July 18 at 4PM. Admission is free. For more information see bargemusic.org.

Nancy Modell will teach ECC! (Every Child Can!©) at the NJ Suzuki Workshop in Lawrenceville on Friday, July 10. A one-day introductory course on the Suzuki philosophy and its application to education, ECC! provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the Suzuki approach to teaching and learning.