Members Newsletter March 2015
Mentoring at Caramoor: Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Program “…it’s a welcome oasis during the typical tumult of a concert season.” –Steven Blier, Artistic Director of the Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars For over twenty years, Caramoor has made a commitment to foster the professional development of emerging musicians. In doing so, we’ve had the great pleasure of hosting an impressive roster of emerging artists through our Mentoring programs. These include: The Evnin Rising Stars, Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, Bel Canto Young Artists, and the Ernst Stiefel String-Quartet-in-Residence. Through residencies, week-long intensives, coaching, rehearsals, workshops, and community outreach, a carefully selected group of talented musicians and vocalists are nurtured by a slate of distinguished teaching artists. The above named programs culminate with performance opportunities at Caramoor, giving audiences a rare opportunity to see raw talent; and, for the artists, fulfillment of a lifelong dream to take the stage as emerging professionals at a world-class venue. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars was established in 2009 and focuses on vocal chamber music and the art of song in recital. It is led by New York Festival of Song’s (NYFOS’s) Artistic Director, Steven Blier and Associate Artistic Director, Michael Barrett.
2014 Schwab Vocal Rising Star Olivia Betzen performs in the Music Room. Photo by Gabe Palacio.
Reflecting on the upcoming Rising Stars program, Steven Blier, commented, “I look forward to NYFOS’s Caramoor residency every year; it’s a welcome oasis during the typical tumult of a concert season. When I chose this season’s program of songs by Italians and Italian-Americans, I knew I’d need an especially gifted Continued on page 5
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Board of Trustees James A. Attwood, Jr., Chairman* Peter Kend, Vice Chairman* Paul S. Bird, Treasurer* Angela Haines, Secretary* Judy Evnin, Chairman Emerita* Barry J. Alperin* James L. Amine Jon R. Bauer Gail A. Binderman Jonathan M. Clark* William Cordiano* Jane Phillips Donaldson Lawrence Elow Patricia Falkenberg Susan W. Freund* Michael E. Gellert* E. Robert Goodkind Mary Ann Hawley Stephen J. Jones Sandra S. Joys* Floy B. Kaminski Cecilia Tay Kellie-Smith Peter Nager* Nancy Offit* Richard H. O’Leary* David C. Oxman* Mrs. Andrew Saul Elaine Schroeder* Nina Stanton Richard Zinman* *Executive Committee Memberb
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Advisory Council Judy Aydelott David Barber Maria Brand Patricia F. Carey Isabelle Harnoncourt Feigen Effie Fribourg Francis Goldwyn Hélène Grimaud Ellen Grimes Susan G. Groner Maureen Hanagan Alexia Jurschak Olga Kagan Bim Kendall Dr. Lewis Kohl Abigail and Sundip Murthy Susan Morgenthau Edward Pla Rochelle Rosenberg Faith Rosenfeld Zita G. Rosenthal Ann Scheuer Alden L. Toevs Lisa Welch Catherine Ziegler
In This Issue: Mentoring at Caramoor: Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars (Pages 1 & 5)
Arts-in-Education / Think Spring (Page 4)
You Keep the Music Playing
Please, take a seat! (Page 6)
(Page 3)
Membership has its perks! As a perk of Membership, Caramoor welcomes you to make a reservation to have a photo-shoot on our beautiful grounds. From the Sunken Garden, Sense Circle, or Cedar Walk, to private porches, nestled nooks, or cozy corners, there are a number of unique settings at Caramoor at which to have a private photo session. We consider you a Member of our Caramoor family, so make a reservation to bring your family and your photographer to capture a family portrait, engagement, wedding, or other milestone memory moment. Photo by Gabe Palacio
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Photo by Gabe Palacio
You Keep the Music Playing Dear Caramoor Membership Family,
With the grounds full of snow, we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring and look forward to seeing you in the weeks and months to come. As always, please feel free to contact us any time we can be helpful.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making Caramoor’s 2014 Annual Fund a success! Each year we call on you, throughout the year and at year-end, to make a commitment to the presentation of world-class music, to emerging artists, and to the schoolchildren who come here to learn and grow. When you respond with generosity, we are humbled by your commitment to the arts, culture, and education (and respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life) – a renewed commitment to Caramoor. There would be no Caramoor without our members, and everything we do is made possible by your support. On behalf of all of us here, thank you again for your generosity.
Respectfully,
Nina Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Upcoming Performances & Programs March 7 / Saturday / 8:00pm Dom Flemons Trio Kristin Andreassen & Jefferson Hamer
April 11 / Saturday / 8:00pm Willie Watson Cricket Tell the Weather
March 15 / Sunday / 4:00pm Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Bel Canto/Can Belto
April 14 / Tuesday / 7:00pm Chamber Talk with Max Mandel April 19 / Sunday / 4:00pm Horszowski Trio
March 22 / Sunday / 4:00pm Calidore String Quartet 2014–15 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence
May 5 / Tuesday / 7:00pm The Mind and Music of Chopin: Richard Kogan, M.D., piano and lecturer
March 28 / Saturday / 8:00pm Edward Arron & Friends
June 2 / Tuesday / 7:00pm Chamber Talk with Max Mandel
March 29 / Sunday / 4:00pm Caramoor@Waveny Calidore String Quartet
For more information call 914.232.1252 or visit caramoor.org.
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Arts-in-Education From our two-day “What’s in a House?” program: Yonkers students from several schools in the district took to the gardens at Caramoor this fall to experience In the Garden of Sonic Delights – Caramoor’s sound art exhibition – as part of our Arts-in-Education programming. The students spent time listening to and discussing several pieces that challenged their idea of what art can be, while having a lot of fun in the process. Although many of the installations have an interesting aesthetic component, we mainly focused on listening to the work and making connections between sound art and the two other components of our “What’s in a House?” program – music and architecture. In addition to learning about sound art, students created music with violist and teaching artist Jessica Meyer. Their music used percussion, pedals, and looping technology, and was inspired by several of the sound art pieces, the spirit of Lucie Rosen, and the rooms in the Rosen House. In another workshop, students worked with architect Bruce Levy, further exploring the
Photo by Scott Ellison
relationship between sound, art, music, and architecture. These two days at Caramoor became an experience that the students will never forget. 2015 is shaping up to be a busy year with thousands of students from local schools attending our various Artsin-Education programs, including the ever-popular Chinese Art and Culture and The Middle Ages and The Renaissance at Caramoor.
Think Spring … One of the earliest signs of spring on the grounds of Caramoor is the blooming of the magnolias. A stand-out, in placement and name, is the Star Magnolia or “Royal Star Magnolia,” located just off of Center Walk, on your left, as you enter the Garden Courtyard by the Box Office.
Photos by Karla Stewart
The Star Magnolia, Magnolia Stellata, is a shrub native to Japan, which was introduced to the United States in the 1860s. Magnolias take their name from the 17th-century French botanist Pierre Magnol; and, the Star Magnolia was named for the star-like shape of its flower. Although you can often miss early spring blooms due to late frosts, the Star Magnolia is hardy and the flowers are long lasting. The Star Magnolia also produces fruit that is around two inches long, which matures and opens in early autumn. Another beloved magnolia is the Yellow Magnolia located by the Rosen House, which also stands in memory of Thomas Daniel Burke, who passed away on September 11, 2001. This magnolia is a clone of the first Yellow Magnolia, the Elizabeth Magnolia, cultivated at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1956. 4
2015 Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Continued from page 1 quartet of singers—rich voices, eloquent interpreters, stylish virtuosos, and snazzy purveyors of American vernacular. The cast I found exceeded my wildest dreams: four superb singers, each of whom thrilled me and brought tears to my eyes when we worked together last summer. Chelsea Morris, Julia Dawson, Alec Carlson, and Shea Owens will revel in the challenges of Catalani, Rossini, Corigliano, and Harry Warren, and I can’t wait for our audiences to hear them. We were also blessed with a superb pianist for this year’s team, the extremely precocious Christopher Reynolds—an elegant musician, a keen mind, and a generous heart.” Since its inception, Caramoor’s Vocal Rising Stars program has received funding from the Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Fund for Young Artists. The program was renamed the Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Program, in 2012, to honor the memory of long-time Trustee Terrance W. Schwab and his family’s commitment to this dynamic mentoring opportunity for emerging vocalists.
Alec Carlson
Julia Dawson
Chelsea Morris
Shea Owens
The 2015 Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars Program residency at Caramoor begins March 9 and concludes on March 15 with a dynamic performance in the Rosen House Music Room. Chris Reynolds
Upcoming Special Events
Upcoming Membership Events
May 9 / Saturday / 8:30pm Cabaret in the Music Room: Eric Michael Gillett
April 25 / Saturday / 6:00pm Rosen Society Dinner (by invitation—Rosen Society Membership Level and above)
May 16 / Saturday / 6:30pm An Evening of Wine: A Benefit for Caramoor
June 7 / Sunday / 4:30pm Friends’ Garden Party (by invitation — All Membership Levels)
June 20 / Saturday / 6:00pm Opening Night Concert and Gala 70th Anniversary Celebration
For more information or to RSVP for a Membership Event, please call 914.232.5035 or email membership@caramoor.org.
For more information or to purchase tickets for a Special Event, please call 914.232.1492 or email events@caramoor.org. 5
Please, take a seat! Our efforts to enhance your Caramoor experience continue – this time in the historic Rosen House. We’re proud to announce that we are refreshing and renewing the Music Room, most importantly, with new audience chairs that will both be comfortable and an aesthetic match to this unique space. We would like to invite you to help us make this happen; please show your heart, once again, by investing in a New Chair for the Rosen House Music Room. In recognition of contribution to the Chair Fund (at the $500 level and above), Caramoor will install a personalized plaque on one of the new chairs. A chair is a terrific way to honor a loved one or to give as a gift. To learn more about adopting a chair, please visit caramoor.org or call the Development Department at 914.232.5035 ext.261. Please note that contributions to the Chair Fund do not support Caramoor’s Annual Fund and do count towards Membership. Gifts to the Chair Fund are tax deductible as provided by law.
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Photos by Gabe Palacio