Music Educators Association of New Jersey

MEA members Dan Crisci and Lisa Gonzalez were part of the 2017 Canticles for Life AIDS Benefit Concerts in April. Ginny Johnston conducted the 26-voice Triad Vocal Ensemble, which featured a mix of styles including anthems, Broadway, and an inspiring new work, "I Choose Love" by New Jersey composer Mark Miller. The Dan Crisci Jazz Trio also performed. Free will offerings were accepted at each concert. The Canticles for Life AIDS Benefit Concert ministry, founded in 1997, has raised over $131,000 for the New Jersey AIDS charities. The concerts have featured over two-dozen pieces by New Jersey composers. For more information, visit the website www.canticlesforlife.org.

In honor of Seymour Bernstein's milestone 90th birthday, Council Member Helen Rosenthal presented him with a Proclamation from New York City. The ceremony took place on April 27 at the Bernie Wohl Community Center. Friends were invited and audience members contributed remarks of their own, following Council Rosenthal remarks about Seymour's contributions to the City.

Beatrice Long performed at 6@6, a wonderful concert series, at the Yamaha Salon of NYC on April 25. Her program included Albeniz, Iberia Book 1, Ligeti, Capriccio, and Chopin, Étude Op. 25.

On April 22, Nancy Modell was invited to teach at the Greater Philadelphia Suzuki Association's Enrichment Day, a one-day musical experience "to light a spark and motivate students to pursue their practice with vigor and enthusiasm." Nancy taught Let Yourself Go!© sessions throughout the day to over 50 students, where students, ages 5-15, used their intuition to tap into their creativity and artistry. Over 180 students attended this event in Allentown, PA.

Pianist Murray Present (1921-2012) was a loyal and distinguished long-time member of MEA. A life-long resident of Montclair, his teaching career included 44 years as a Piano Professor at Montclair State University. The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University was pleased to announce to the MEA community of music teachers a new piano scholarship honoring the legacy of Professor Murray Present. The Murray Present Memorial Piano Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming pianist applying for undergraduate or graduate study at the Cali School of Music. The award will be in the amount of $5,000 per year. An undergraduate award may be extended for a total of four years, and a graduate award may be extended for two years. No special application is necessary; the recipient will be chosen from among those applying to the Cali School of Music.For further information, please contact Dr. David Witten at wittend@montclair.edu.

An interview with Sophia Agranovich about her new CD, Schumann; Carnaval and Fantasie, was published in the March-April issue of the Fanfare magazine. The sixth review of Sophia Agranovich's CD, Schumann; Carnaval and Fantasie, received an excellent review from the Audio Video Club of Atlanta. Sophia received a Gold Medal from the prestigious Global Music Awards for this CD."

Jackie Shiller presented a solo recital on March 5 at the Fort Lee Public Library. The program included Bach Partita No.1, Beethoven Op.2. No.3, Chopin Nocturne in D flat and Debussy Pour le Piano.

The New York Piano Society gala fund-raising recital was March 4 in Weil Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, including a celebration of Seymour Bernstein's 90th birthday. Seymour performed the Schubert Fantasy for Four Hands with his pupil Alok Dutt.

On March 2, Sondra Tammam presented a workshop for the Piano Teachers' Congress of NY on the 'Choreography of the Subtle In and Out Movements at the Keyboard' with the Taubman Approach held at the Yamaha Artists Headquarters. She was a guest presenter at the MTNA National Conference in Baltimore on March 19. Her student Maya Lily Knoller was a first prizewinner in the 1st Global Online Great Composers Competition in the Group 3 age-category, The Music of America.

Barbara Landi Hause performed Bach's Italian Concerto for the Schumann Club on February 23 in the Union Congregational Church, Montclair.

Jackie Shiller and her father, Allan Schiller performed together on Sunday, Feb 5 at the Teaneck Public Library. Works for violin and piano include Beethoven, Bartok, and Vivaldi. Guests from the Alacorde Trio to join in the 2nd half with Mozart's Piano Quartet in E flat Major.

Sophia Agranovich performed a solo recital at the Tenry Cultural Institute at the Leschetizky Association Concert Series on February 4. Works by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Liszt and Chopin.

Sophia Agranovich's video playing Ballade no.3 in A-flat Major by Chopin at the WQXR Chopin Marathon was chosen as the Juilliard Alumni video of the month in January 2017. http://www.juilliard.edu/alumni/video-month

Michelle Kuo and her son, Christopher, performed 15 duet recitals across the country supporting nonprofit organizations doing great work. They recently appeared at Whippany Park High School, NJ Jan. 14 and the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, CA Jan. 21. For more details visit: twopianojourney.com

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. 17 - May 9. Auditors can contact: Dr. Marla Meissner, email: musicprep@mail.montclair.edu, Tel: 973-655-4443

Jacqueline Schiller-Audi performed in a series of concerts entitled "Beethoven, Bruch and All that Jazz" with the All Seasons Chamber Players, consisting of members Bob Lawrence, violin, Zoe Hassman, cello, Lisa Hansen, flute and Jean Strickholm, piano. On December 11, she performed the Prokofiev Flute and Piano Sonata and Paul Schoenfield's Cafe Music at the Ridgewood Public Library. allseasonschamberplayers.org

Sondra Tammam was nominated as NJMTA "Teacher of the Year".

For twenty years, Carmela Cecere has been chairing the Young Artist Invitational Festival on behalf of the Suburban Music Study Club. The purpose of the event is to seek out extraordinarily talented young musicians between the ages of 12 and 18 in order to offer them special recognition for their talents and accomplishments. On November 13, eight performers, including vocalists, oboists, violinists and pianists, were spotlighted and each received a small stipend of recognition. Pianists included students of members Beatrice Long, Tomoko Harada and Marina Young.

Beatrice Long performed a recital in support the annual scholarship program for the Greater Princeton Steinway Society on Sunday, November 6 at at Jacobs Music, 2540 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ. The program includes: Bach Italian Concerto, Albeniz - 'Evocation', 'El Puerto' and 'Corpus Christi Day in Seville' from Iberia I, 12 Études from Chopin Études Op. 25. steinwaysocietyprinceton.org. View PDF

Sophia Agranovich gave a lecture/recital for PVMTA on November 2. Her new CD album was released on November 18 on Centaur/Naxos label - Robert Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 and Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17.

In the 2016 MTNA NJ Composition Competition, Sophia Agranovich's student received Honorable Mention in the Senior division, and Nancy Modell's student received Honorable Mention in the Junior division.

Carmela Cecere's student, 15-year-old James Samson, presented his debut recital at the Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre on October 22. His performance supported the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation. Free will donations and matching grant of $3,300 was realized.

Jacqueline Schiller-Audi performed the Prokofiev Flute and Piano Sonata and Paul Schoenfield's Cafe Music in "Beethoven, Bruch and All that Jazz" concert series with the All Seasons Chamber Players, consisting of members Bob Lawrence, violin, Zoe Hassman, cello, Lisa Hansen, flute and Jean Strickholm, piano. The concerts and venues were: Sunday, October 16 - Central Unitarian Church, Paramus; Thursday, October 20 - Crane's Mill, West Caldwell; Sunday, October 23 - Edward Williams Hall, Petrocelli College at FDU, Hackensack; Sunday, October 30 - New Milford Public Library.

For her 20th season at Carnegie Hall, Michelle Chen Kuo was joined by her son, Christopher Kuo, for a celebration of treasured works in the two-piano literature from the Romantic and Contemporary eras. In their third season together in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, they traversed a repertoire filled with lively dances, including Ravel's captivating La Valse and Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, and duo masterworks, including Lutos?awski's wickedly difficult arrangement of Variations on a Theme by Paganini and Rachmaninoff's intensely passionate Suite for Two Pianos No. 2, Op. 17. This recital was the kickoff for their two piano concert tour across the country, where they are scheduled to perform in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, and California.

The Montclair Music Club's opening performance of its season was Tuesday, October 11, at the Union Congregational Church, Montclair included performances by MEA members: Rebecca Eng, Barbara Landi Hause, and Betty Rosenblum.

Sophia Agranovich performed a Romantic recital of piano music at the Polish Cultural Foundation on Saturday, October 1.

Joan Bujacich and Kathy Knittel performed on the Main Stage with The Heart Of Gold Band for the Festival On The Green in Morristown on September 25. Heart of Gold Band plays the best of Classic Rock music and is comprised of Joe Bilotti on guitar & vocals, Joan Bujacich on keyboard and vocals, Kathy Knittel on percussion, rhythm guitar and vocals, Joe Howell on bass, and John Hummel on drums.

Sophia Agranovich performed a recital at the New Jersey Institute of Technology on September 23.

David Witten, pianist, presented "Piano Recital Honoring the 2,567th Anniversary of the Birth of Confucius" on September 18 in the Leshowitz Recital Hall, Cali School of Music, Montclair State University. Confucius wrote, "The inner nature of man is the province of music." The recital honored the birthday of Confucius with music by the following composers:
Yinghai Li
Alexander Tcherepnin
Bohuslav Martinu
Alexina Louie
Wolfgang Amadée Mozart
Frédéric Chopin

Lisa Gonzalez, along with Marafanyi percussion group members Lara Gonzalez and Yael Shacham, ran workshops and performed on the summit of Mount Greylock at Bascom Lodge, Adams, MA in the beautiful Berkshires for their 4th annual Marafanyi Drum, Dance and Song FEST! on Sunday, September 4. Details on our FB page and rootsheartpulse.com.

On August 20 at 4PM Sophia Agranovich performed a solo concert at BargeMusic - 'the floating concert hall' in Brooklyn, NY. Program:
Frédéric Chopin:
Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 no. 1
Polonaise - Fantaisie in A flat Major, Op. 61
Franz Liszt:
Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Après une Lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata
Hungarian Rhapsody #14 in F Minor
and other works.

Vicky Griswold is looking for a buyer for the Plainfield Music Store. After 22 years, she wishes to retire. Asking $50,000, negotiable. If interested, please contact her at plfdmusic@aol.com or (908) 405-7577(cell) or (908) 754-3718.

Nancy Modell taught ECC! (Every Child Can!©) at the Lawrenceville School on Friday, July 15. 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.

Sophia Agranovich performed a solo concert on July 11 at the Miami Steinway Gallery. Program:
Frédéric Chopin:
Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 no. 1
Polonaise - Fantaisie in A flat Major, Op. 61
Franz Liszt:
Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Après une Lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata
Hungarian Rhapsody #14 in F Minor
and other works.

John Blasdale made his NYC Recital Debut on June 21 at West Park Presbyterian Church, W 86 St. (as a part of Make Music New York). His program included the intense Intermezzo in E Flat Minor op. 118 by Brahms, Beethoven's Piano Sonata in C Minor, op. 111, and his own Elegy in E Minor.

Nancy Modell led Suzuki Piano Teacher Training and taught students at the Colorado Suzuki Institute in Beaver Creek, CO from June 13-25.

Michelle Kuo performed a two piano recital with her son, Christopher Kuo, at the Steinway Gallery in Paramus on June 11. The program included works by Milhaud, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Guastavino.

The Fifth Dorothy Taubman Festival, led by Dr. David Witten, Artistic Director, was held June 11-12 and featured: Master Classes and an Evening Concert with Dr. Robert Shannon, Professor of Piano, Oberlin Conservatory of Music; inspiring sessions with Sondra Tammam, Dan Crisci, and Dragica Banic. Topics included:

• How to produce Coordinate Movement
• How the Taubman Approach promotes virtuosity

Sophia Agranovich performed at the special live event - WQXR All-Day Chopin Marathon, hosted by Elliott Forrest and Terrance McKnight on Saturday, June 4, where she played Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1 and Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47. You can watch it on-line here.

Nancy Modell presented a mini-workshop entitled Creative Composing for Pianists: Embracing Creativity, Nurturing Musicality at the Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference, May 26-30 in Minneapolis, MN.

Sondra Tammam presented a lecture-workshop entitled Healthy Coordinated Motion for all Pianists at the Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference, May 26-30 in Minneapolis, MN.

Sophia Agranovich performed solo recitals on May 23 at the Watchung Arts Center and on June 26 at the Lambert Castle of the Passaic County Historical Society.

Clarisse Kant had her opening of her art exhibit, Intermittent Artist, on May 15 at the Artist Framer in Cranford. The exhibit ran from May 9- 28. The 'exhibit guide' explains the exhibit title:
"In 1937, at the age of seven, I started to draw, inspired by the fashion ads in the daily Newark newspaper. The same year I began piano lessons and continued music studies until today. My visual art in acrylics, charcoal, inks, pastels, pencil and watercolors, was only produced every twenty years or so: in the 1940's, 60's, 80's and since 2014, when time allowed from my other responsibilities as student, hospital volunteer, wife, public school special education teacher, mother, piano teacher, and, since 1956, as officer of the Music Educators Association of New Jersey."

Julia Lam was honored that her daughter, Jeannette Fang, invited her to perform at the Memories of Chopin: A Mother's Day Piano Recital, part of a series of concerts developed by the Garth Newel Music Center. Julia and Jeannette performed "Ma Mère l'Oye (Mother Goose)" by composer Maurice Ravel, a four-hands piano work at the Herter Hall in Hot Springs, Virginia on May 7 at 7 p.m. Jeannette also presented works by Chopin.

Jacqueline Schiller-Audi performed with the All Seasons Chamber Players in a series of concerts featuring the Faure Piano Quartet in C minor and 4 Hungarian Dances by Brahms for four hands. The concerts were Sunday, May 1 (2pm) The Fort Lee Library; and Sunday, May 22 (2pm) The Ossining Library.

Kathy Knittel, Composition Committee Chair, released a CD, Acoustic Muses, this past December. The CD is comprised of five lyrical songs: Woodstock, Landslide, For Good, Michael From Mountains and Diamonds and Rust. Kathy's beautiful voice is accompanied by the fine guitar work of Joe Bilotti on Landslide and Michael from Mountains. Kathy sings and plays guitar on the Joan Baez tune Diamonds and Rust and is joined on vocals and piano by Joan Bujacich. Joan accompanies her on piano for the Joni Mitchell classic, Woodstock and on For Good from the hit musical Wicked. You can download these songs from iTunes and all the major online digital distribution sites. (Our President, Joan Bujacich designed the artwork for all the releases.)

Larissa Sokoloff performed the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467 with the Sol Solis Consort orchestra in CT on April 30.

Jacqueline Schiller-Audi of The Alacorde Piano Trio announced a CD release party/concert on April 23 at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. Their new CD can now be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and cdbaby.

Nancy Modell was invited to teach at the Greater Philadelphia Suzuki Association's Enrichment Day 2016, April 16, a one-day experience "to light a spark and motivate students to pursue their practice with vigor and enthusiasm." Nancy taught Let Yourself Go!© sessions throughout the day to over 50 students, where students use their intuition to tap into their creativity and artistry. Over 160 students attended the event held at West Chester University, PA.

Sondra Tammam was a visiting professor at the University of Graz, Austria, April 11-14. She conducted Master Classes and presented the Taubman Approach to the students of the Music Department.