Young Musicians at the Forefront: The Annual David Goldman Concert Program at the Jerusalem Music Centre
The Jerusalem Music Centre, founded in 1973 by the great violinist Isaac Stern and Jerusalem's legendary former mayor Teddy Kollek, is Israel's leading organization in nurturing outstanding young musicians. The Center has contributed crucially to the development of thousands of musicians, many of whom now flourish as performers, composers and teachers. Critical to the Centre's great success, is its close cooperation with Israel's conservatories and academies. It offers gifted students throughout the country, the unique opportunity to learn from leading musical luminaries. Last night, the Centre hosted its annual David Goldman Concert Program. Young musicians from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Poliphony Conservatory and Yizrael Valley Music Center, the Hassadna Jerusalem Conservatory, the Givataim Conservatory, the Israel Conservatory Tel Aviv and the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts participated in this concert. The program comprised excerpts of works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Brahms, Ravel, Bernstein and Vilensky.
Expectations at such an event are seldom high, but this musical offering prove to be truly inspirational and revelatory. To hear music beautifully and competently played by this extraordinary group of talented youngsters was a feast for the ear and a moment of deep reflection for the heart. One left the event with the feeling that in the hands of these youngsters, the future of classical music, a subject much debated, is assured. Moreover the close participation of both young Arab and Jewish musicians, such as in the rendering of Mozart's flute quartet K 285 is perhaps the best answer to the idiotic and irrational international calls of boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions emanating from Britain and elsewhere.
At the conclusion of the concert, at the entrance to the Music Center, the lucky audience was serenaded by the talented brass ensemble from the Thelma Yellin High School with an adaptation of Rossini's overture to the Barber of Seville and Schubert's March Militaire. This music, heard in this incomparable setting overlooking the illuminated walls of the Old City, was an experience to be cherished.
Fig 1: Members of the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, Tel Aviv, Credit Yael Ilan
Andras Schiff and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: That incomparable musician in the dual role of conductor and pianist
A notable recent musical event in Jerusalem was a concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with the consummate artist, Andras Schiff, who fulfilled the role of both piano soloist and conductor. The program opened with a warm enticing performance of Brahms's lovely Variations on a Theme of Haydn, Op 56a. Schiff who conducted without a baton showed his mettle as a versatile musician in this work, one of the main staples of the classical repertoire. Under his expert guidance, the Philharmonic responded magnificently. Particularly impressive were the lovely warm glowing strings of which the Philharmonic is justifiably famous.
This was followed by Beethoven's fifth and final piano concerto, the so-called Emperor. Here I really missed an independent conductor who could muster the complex orchestral forces. Schiff made a supreme effort to coordinate the proceedings but was not so successful, particularly in the first movement. Tight cohesion between orchestra and soloist was lacking especially at the opening of the work. The adagio slow movement and the final rondo fared better with perfect synchrony between piano and orchestra. Particularly beautiful was Schiff?s sumptuous piano playing in the adagio slow movement where one could luxuriate in the overwhelming satisfying musical experience.
As an encore, Schiff offered Brahms's Intermezzo Op 117, No 1. He made two valiant attempts to begin but was interrupted by a noisy audience anxious to exit and incessant cell phones. After this abated, the audience remaining was privileged to hear Schiff give an inspirational and emotional reading of this piece. Here his true genius came out to the fore. This was a restrained beautifully nuanced performance and the absolute highlight of the concert, indeed one of the most supreme moments of music making that I have heard in a long time.
Fig 2: The pianist Andras Schiff. Credit: Yutaka Suzuki.
The Annual Israel Festival: This year's festival comprising dance, theater, jazz as well as classical music runs from 23 May till 19 June
Amongst the classical music offerings in this Festival will be a performance in celebration of the centennial of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra under its resident conductor, Frederic Chaslin. Also scheduled to appear in the festival is the celebrated State Choir from Latvia, under its music director, Māris Sirmais. They will perform a cappella concert alone and in a subsequent concert will be joined by the Estonian orchestral ensemble Hortus Musicus conducted by Andres Mustonen in works specifically related to Jerusalem.
Also featured will be Vox Luminis, one of the most prominent groups performing Baroque and Renaissance music. Their programming includes Scarlatti's Stabat Mater and his Te Deum.
David Stern will conduct Handel's oratorio, Esther. This will be performed by the Israeli Vocal Ensemble, one of Israel's leading professional choral groups accompanied by the Baroque Orchestra, which specializes in performing this music with ancient instruments.
A marathon of Beethoven's music will be directed by Gil Shohat. Works scheduled include his violin concerto, the Spring and Kreutzer sonatas for violin and piano as well as several piano sonatas and the third Razumovsky Quartet.
The Eden-Tamir Music Center in the village of Ein Kerem will host 8 concerts predominantly devoted to chamber works. This includes a Mini Schubertiade.
Another exciting musical event will feature Israeli mandolin player Avi Avital (a 2010 Grammy nominee) with bass virtuoso, oud player, and composer Omer Avital. Their unique concert will cross musical boundaries combining different styles. #
For a day Union Square was transformed into a street lab organized by Israel Sci-Tech Schools, the largest non-governmental school system in Israel. Top high-school students from Israel demonstrated their experiments and high-tech inventions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM.) Among those who attended the event were Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York, who commended the students on their outstanding work. “The creativity and ingenuity exemplified by these students is an inspiration to us all. The Israeli Sci-Tech program has been adapted to many schools in the United States,” stated Aharoni.
“We decided to start with this program because of the crisis in science,” said Joel Rothschild, director of Moshinsky & R&D Center Administration, underlining that “no kids want to study science and therefore we want to find a way to promote engineering, giving them a big motivation. The kids want to be creative. We need to find a new education program that motivates students, because in engineering and science almost nothing is impossible”.
For each of the students this experience represents an important step in their future career. “My dream is to became a doctor, but studying science and being part of this event is amazing,” said Sapir Cohen, age 17. She developed a special application for Smartphone that is able to scan food for allergens like milk. “I am allergic to milk so I wanted to develop something in order to help other people like me,” she said.
All the inventions were very surprising, such as a computer program able to summarize pages of text not only online but also handwritten. “We are students and we will need this kind of application,” said Noam Gafter, age 17, who created this project with Arie Pavlov, age 18, and Mark Vaykhansky, age 17. Some of the invention needed more than one year to be realized, like the device to prevent teen drunk driving that allows parents to block the engine. According to Yehuda Negosi, age 17, “is a great invention especially for parents because they can see the test's result from the breathalyzer and they can decide if the son or daughter can start the engine”.
Another curious invention was a recycling basket. Hen Assur, age 18, explained that “in order to inspire kids and educate them we decided to create a sort of game for recycling”. In fact, like a basketball game, children have to throw the bottle inside the basket where there are many sensors that give points like in a game.
All these young students are an important example of what young people are capable of in technology and science, creating new devices that can be significant in our everyday life. #
Sheldon Drucker, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Chief Operating Officer and current Interim President, has been named the university’s seventh president. Fairleigh Dickinson University’s board of trustees announced the appointment which took effect immediately. Drucker succeeds J. Michael Adams, who passed away after serving the university for 12 years.
In his 17 years serving FDU, Drucker has been an influential force driving numerous initiatives, including the establishment of a new campus in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2007 and FDU’s School of Pharmacy, which welcomed the inaugural class in 2012.
He has also played a major role in balancing budgetary stewardship with investments in the future by helping to engineer a strong financial turnaround and provided a foundation for future growth. He led the continued financial growth of the university and helped develop more than a decade of consecutive balanced budgets.
“In the last two years serving first as acting president and then as interim president, Shelley has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and proven himself an influential and inspirational president,” said Patrick J. Zenner, Chair, FDU Board of Trustees.
“FDU has enjoyed a rich history of innovation and achievement and I look forward to building on that legacy and doing everything possible to help our students transform their lives,” said Drucker.
The conference is geared toward increasing knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust and other genocides with instructional strategies for educators to engage their students. Echoes and Reflections is a multimedia curriculum on the Holocaust.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from Holocaust experts and scholars, meet and hear from Holocaust survivors, participate in interactive lessons, receive a certificate of completion of professional development, and possibly receive funding for round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations in NYC.
The College Prep program at Grace Outreach will award the Darlene Jeris Scholarship, which includes $850 cash, to women ages 18-24 for the summer 2013, June 24 – July 30. This competitive program gears students to enter CUNY in fall 2013.
You must have either a high school diploma or a GED and going to a CUNY Community College in the fall to be eligible to apply. Stipend support is available.
Grace Outreach's College Prep program gives a group of 20 students intensive instruction to prepare for the COMPASS/remedial exams. Students who begin their college work with zero or only one remedial class have a MUCH better chance statistically of earning their associate’s degree within 3 years. Grace Outreach operates this special summer program as a member of the Bronx Opportunity Network (BON) consortium. The scholarship is named in honor of the founding executive director of Grace Outreach.
Apply now! The deadline is May 31 but prospective students are urged to submit their applications as early as possible as there is a huge demand for these seats.
For an application form, contact Lisa DeMun, Grace Outreach office manager, or call 718-328-0580 to receive a mailed or e-mailed copy. With questions, contact Carol Williams at carolw592@gmail.com.
“We believe that education is a right, not a privilege. That’s why we’re here: to empower women like you to exercise your right to continue your education and move towards financial independence.
By deciding to continue your education, you are making an investment in your future. Our program is all about women helping women help themselves, and designed to ensure your success by providing individualized support each step along the way.
Here you learn from each other – without any outside distractions – and leave with the tools and self confidence that translate to your children, your family and your community.”
-- Margaret Grace, Grace Outreach Board Co-Chair
More About the Grace Outreach D. Jeris Scholarship
The scholarship offers you three things:
Payments of $400 as you complete the requirements for a summer prep program and join first semester activities at a CUNY college.
A Grace Outreach college counselor will help you to succeed in your first year at a CUNY college, and you will gain membership in a great peer program.
Training this summer (prep program) to improve Math and Writing in order to master the CUNY Skills ACT/COMPASS Placement Test.
Eligibility
You must be a GED graduate of Grace Outreach or a high school graduate by June 2013
You must be a female within the age range of 16- 24 and a resident of New York State
You must apply to a CUNY College
Entry Requirements
Fill out a GO scholarship application
Attend an interview
Participate in the GO Summer Program and a fall college support/study group
The deadline for the application is May 31, 2013; pick up an application form from Lisa DeMun, Grace Outreach Office Manager, or call 718-328-0580 to receive a mailed or e-mailed copy.
Award of your Scholarship
Grace Outreach is awarding a total of $850 in cash to 18 students
20 hours a week of college prep with a total payment of $400 by the end of the summer
Payments when you meet your first semester college goals
St. John's University Department of Fine Arts presents:
2013 BFA Thesis Exhibition
The Department of Fine Arts is proud to announce the opening of the BFA Thesis Exhibition 2013. This exhibit is organized by the Department of Fine Arts and is presented with the cooperation of Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs at their location in Long Island City. This is the third year of this collaboration between St. John's University and Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs.
The work of this year’s thesis exhibition embraces diverse creative techniques and strategies that range from photography and video to drawing and sculpture and from the deeply personal to the broadly cultural.
DORSKY GALLERY | Curatorial Programs is pleased to host St. John's University Department of Fine Arts 2013 BFA Thesis Exhibition featuring Brittany Culotta, David Hwang, Minh Dao Nguyen, Kenneth Pizzo, Deanna Rizzi, Jessica Speaks and Raphael Thomas.
DORSKY GALLERY | Curatorial Programs (DGCP) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that presents independently-curated exhibitions of contemporary art. Working with curators, writers, and art historians, DGCP aims to illuminate and deepen the public's understanding and appreciation of issues and trends in contemporary art.
It’s not uncommon to find peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or products consisting of eggs and wheat in the school or summer camp cafeteria, but for many children who suffer with food allergies, these products can raise high concerns. According to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), 8 percent of U.S. kids have been diagnosed with food allergies and every 3 minutes, a food allergy reaction occurs. With food allergies on the rise, it’s extremely important for parents to inform teachers and staff of their child’s allergies, as well as take precaution into their own hands.
Hope Paige has created new, fashionable, and affordable medical bracelets for children to remain safe when suffering with food allergies when away at summer camp, in the classroom, on a field trip or a play date at a friend’s house. These ID bracelets are stylish and easily blend in with everyday pieces, but during a time of need, will stand out to medical professionals. With fun colors, styles and a personalization option, these bracelets will allow any child to show off their personal style with a one-of-a-kind bracelet while staying safe.
In addition to the bracelets, Hope Paige has created an infographic illustrating the amount of children suffering from allergies who will be attending summer camp this year.
The senseless violence at the Boston Marathon is upsetting to all of us, and it’s particularly painful to watch the videos and see the photos of yesterday’s events. Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy, as well as their families and loved ones.
I wish I could tell you how to protect your students from fear and pain — I can’t. They may have learned that some of the victims were children like them, or seen the disturbing images. What I can do is share some thoughts on how to help them process these events in the healthiest way.
It’s important for you to acknowledge the event and give your students an opportunity to express their feelings about it. You should invite, but not force, questions, and answer them as simply as possible, in a developmentally appropriate way. It’s likely that some of your students will be worried about their own safety; you can respond to this by reassuring them that incidents like these are very rare.
Keep in mind that this won't be the last time you talk about this tragedy; coming to terms with this will take time, and can involve transitioning to positive ways your class or school can act to bring comfort to the people in Boston.
If you think that one of your students has been seriously impacted, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Child Mind Institute (212.308.3118). A collection of our trauma resources for parents and teachers can be found on childmind.org here.
Echoes and Reflections is an award-winning, comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum on the Holocaust. Provide your teachers with excellent professional development from the leading Holocaust education program. Comprehensive, meaningful, integrated, and convenient, the Echoes and Reflections program offers classroom-ready materials for middle and high school teachers, PD credit, and a copy of the curriculum at no cost.
The program includes everything educators need to teach the complex issues of the Holocaust to 21st century students. Its modular curriculum design features classroom ready-materials — the photographs, artwork, diary entries, government documents and other primary source materials help high school and middle school students build an authentic and complete portrait of the past.
The DVD of Visual History Testimony includes experiences of survivors, rescuers, liberators and other witnesses, thereby individualizing the history of the Holocaust while challenging students to examine their own personal narratives. A comprehensive website provides resources to supplement the materials found in the curriculum and to enhance both teachers' and students' experiences with Echoes and Reflections.
IWitness enables teachers and their students to explore 1,000 video testimonies from Holocaust survivors and other witnesses, including all of the testimonies and video clips in Echoes and Reflections, along with supporting activities and resources that help build literacies needed in the 21st century.
During his sophomore year, Charlie Margaritis learned of gross human rights violations during the ongoing war in Uganda. In that conflict, tens of thousands of children were abducted, enslaved or murdered. He could not remain a bystander. He chose another path – to become an Upstander. He educated his peers about the conflict and reached out to “Invisible Children” in San Diego. He decided to organize a school-wide assembly at which the representative of “Invisible Children” spoke about the crisis in Uganda. A Southampton High School Chapter of Invisible Children grew out of the assembly, spearheaded by Charlie who remains its President. He also founded and is President of Key Club International at his school.
Charlie has widened the scope of his activism to try not only to help the children of Uganda, but to stop the war altogether. He lobbied Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to keep military advisors in Central Africa. He joined MoveDC last November in Washington, DC to raise awareness about Uganda and to support the President’s ground-breaking legislation identifying Joseph Kony as a war criminal. In addition, last summer, Charlie attended a peace and leadership conference titled “Fourth Estate.”
“Charlie’s activism is an example to us all of how we can effect change from wherever we currently stand,” said Dr. Sarah Cushman, Director of Youth Programs. #
Each month the Center accepts nominations from teachers, civic leaders, family and friends of a Long Island youth that has implemented the Center’s mission by advocating respect for all people. To nominate a student for “Upstander of the Month” or learn more, email Dr. Cushman at sarahcushman@holocaust-nassau.org.
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