The NYSMF Blog!! - News, Tidbits, and Other Stuff about the New York Summer Music Festival

$1,700 Scholarship for French Horn Players to NYSMF!

2011-03-09T13:58:00.002-05:00

Your eyes deceive you not, NYSMF really is offering not one, not just two, but not as many as four, huge scholarships for outstanding young french horn players to attend our great music camp this summer of 2011!

The Gretchen Snedeker Memorial Horn Scholarship was made possible by the immense generosity of her parents, Kathy and Jay, honoring the memory of a marvelous horn player.

Full details are at http://www.nysmf.org/scholarship-gms.html, but here are the basics:

Three full-tuition scholarships are available
Each scholarship is worth $1,700
Winners may attend NYSMF for one full session (2 weeks)
Deadline: April 1, 2011

That's less than a month left to get your act together and send in your scholarship application!

You must submit all your materials online to scholarship@nysmf.org, including:

Your online application form
Your $75 Application Fee
Your Teacher Recommendation (may be faxed or emailed at scholarship@nysmf.org)
Your Audition Recordings of the first movement of Mozart's 2nd Horn Concerto, and of a piece of your own choosing (upload both to YouTube or similar video sharing service, and send the link to us)
Your short essay about why you want this scholarship, and your musical goals, dreams, and passions.

Tell all your great horn-playing friends about this wonderful opportunity to play in NYSMF's 50 ensembles and classes, and to be a part of more than 40 concert performances each summer!

See you at NYSMF 2011.

Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Co-Founder / Director of Communications

More Los Angeles Fire Photos

2009-08-30T21:14:00.003-04:00

From our condo up in Sherman Oaks, a safe distance from the horrible fires up in La Canada.

Aug 2009 Fires in Los Angeles

2009-08-30T21:08:00.002-04:00

I took a bunch of photos of the fires up towards La Canada, north of my home in Los Angeles.

Selecting a Summer Music Camp: 20 Questions to Ask

2009-02-05T14:27:00.001-05:00

Hundreds of excellent music camps compete for talented young musicians each summer. How can parents choose the right music camp for their children? This list of 20 questions will help you target your search and determine which summer music camp is right for your budding singer, songwriter, musician or performer.

20 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Summer Music Camp for Your Child

I encourage you to print and keep this list nearby when you start comparing music camps. A good website or brochure will answer most if not all of these questions for you. If they don't -- don't be afraid call or email the camp to ask!

1. Who are the camp faculty?

Where do the faculty teach or work the rest of the year (universities? conservatories? high schools?), what kind of professional backgrounds do they have (graduate degrees? prestigious grants? performing ensembles?), and how much experience do they have with children?

How many faculty members are there? What is the faculty-to-student ratio?

Will my young musician have the opportunity to learn from renowned performers and artists, as well as nurturing and experienced educators?

Does the camp have a specialty that caters to my child's musical interests? (e.g., an international Flute Institute, a Classical Saxophone Institute, a performing arts program, or a jazz program)

2. What are the students like?

What age ranges will be present at camp? Where do the student musicians come from? Will my child be able to meet and make friends with international young musicians, as well as young musicians from across the United States? Will my child have the opportunity to collaborate with students from a variety of musical and cultural backgrounds?

3. What about safety and supervision?

How does the camp provide for the safety and security of my child? What is the counselor-to-student ratio? What health services are offered? Is there an infirmary or hospital on site or in the immediate area?

4. Will my child have opportunities to perform in ensembles?

How many different ensembles are offered? How often are performances, and are they open to the public? Will my child have the chance to perform alongside advanced students, faculty and visiting artists?

5. What is the camp setting?

Is the music camp in an urban or rural setting? Is the campus where the camp is located attractive, well-maintained, and scenic? Will my child enjoy studying music there, and will I enjoy visiting?

6. Does the camp bring in well-known visiting artists?

Does the music camp have relationships with real, working musicians from a variety of backgrounds? If so, do these visiting artists give concerts for the students? Free concerts? Are Master Classes available, and if so, are they free, or is there an added fee?

7. Can my child pay for private lessons with instructors?

If so, how is that arranged? Can I pre-pay for private lessons, or is payment made on-the-spot? Do all of the faculty and visiting artists offer private lessons, or do only certain individuals?

8. What is an average day like at camp?

What is the schedule for an average day, week, or session? How often do classes change? When are the meals? When is the free time? How about practice time? How often are there concerts and recreational activities? Will my child be challenged, or will he have lots of extra time on his hands?

9. How are the music facilities?

What is the performance hall like? Is there ample practice space available to student musicians?

10. What are the dorms or residence halls like, and how are students placed together in halls?

What is the dorm life like? Are the buildings secure? How far are they from the classrooms and performance space? Are there places to safely lock instruments when not in use? Is there a shared public space where students can watch TV, play games, or otherwise hang out?

Do counselors stay on the same floor as the students? Are boys and girls kept separate? How are roommates assigned? Are children separated by age? Can my child request a specific roommate?

11. What are the dining options?

What is the dining plan? What kind of food is served? What about students with special dietary needs? Are there restaurants nearby, or delivery options (e.g. pizza, Chinese food, healthful alternatives).

12. Will my child have a chance to explore a variety of career tracks in music and the performing arts?

Is there a wide variety of classes available? Are interdisciplinary classes offered, such as musical theatre, filmmaking, acting, musical studies, and composition? Will students have the chance to meet and speak with professional, working musicians in a variety of different careers? (e.g. performers, music educators, songwriters, composers, conductors)

13. Will my child have leadership opportunities at camp?

Can he or she become a counselor or teaching assistant? Are there opportunities to work on stage crew? To suggest or lead recreational activities? To initiate extracurricular ensembles? To write or produce musical or film productions? To edit the camp yearbook?

14. Is work-study or tuition reduction available?

Does the camp grant scholarships or financial aid? Can students work off all, or a portion of, their tuition? Are financial incentives offered for recruiting friends and classmates?

15. Is the camp easy to travel to?

What about transportation? How central is its location? How near is it to major transportation hubs such as airports, bus stations and train stations? Will camp staff pick up my child if he or she needs a ride to campus?

16. Is college credit available?

Can my high school student earn credits toward a music degree?

17. What fun group activities are available?

Music camp isn't just rehearsing and learning all the time. It's still a summer camp, which means fun activities and time spent outdoors. What kind of recreational, group activities does the camp offer to students? Are there movie nights, bowling nights, pizza nights, and swimming trips? Will my child have fun and, most importantly, make friends?

18. Can parents visit to see their children perform?

How often will my child perform in concerts, and can I attend them? Where will these concerts be? How will I find out about them?

19. How well does the camp communicate with students and parents?

How is the camp's website? Does it have an easy-to-find, easy-to-use FAQ section? Is the site updated frequently before, during and after each camp session? Are photos, video and audio of campers and concerts available on the site? If so -- do the people in the photos and video look like they're having fun?

Most importantly -- is it easy to get in contact with the camp? Is the camp staff good at responding to parents' questions and concerns?

20. What do alums of the music camp say about it?

Does the camp have a presence on popular social networks like Facebook? If so, what do past students say about their time spent at camp? How many students return in future summers, or choose to extend their stays?

# # #

Don't forget to print and keep this list nearby when you start comparing music camps. A good summer camp website or brochure will answer most if not all of these questions for you. But if they don't -- don't be afraid call or email the camp to ask!

BIO:

Keisuke Hoashi is the co-founder and Director of Communications for the New York Summer Music Festival, a summer camp for talented young musicians. He is a working actor and an artist-in-residence at NYSMF, where he teaches musical theatre, filmmaking and acting each summer. He is also a former trumpet player who attended the New York State Music Camp from 1982-1985.

NYSMF's Jesse Lewis Releases New CD

2008-04-03T01:21:00.000-04:00

NYSMF is proud to announce that our outstanding guitar faculty member, guitarist Jesse Lewis, has just released his second CD, ATTICUS.

Jesse will be returning to NYSMF this summer for the entire six-week season, coaching guitar and jazz ensembles, teaching beginning guitar, and in general making all of our jaws drop in awe of his skills and artistry when he plays. The man is an undisputed master of this instrument and seemingly every variation of it in existence.

Click on over to his website to read all about this wonderful new disc at http://www.jesselewismusic.com. You can listen to a sample track just by hitting the "Atticus" link there. Good listening.

Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications

Macbook Pro Audio Output Bug

2008-03-15T01:59:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, there's one important technological thingy that I - and everyone else at NYSMF - discovered about the Macbook Pro laptop computer. The audio output does not work properly when connected to an external amplified speaker.

In past years, I had successfully used my trusty white iBook to present the results of the NYSMF Filmmaking class. Through more than 20 short films, it connected perfectly to the projection system and amplifier, connected to two giant speakers, and had provided huge pleasure and satisfaction as the films played.

With the MacBook Pro last summer, we plugged its audio into the box that connects to the house speakers, pressed "play" ... and got inaudibly low levels from every single quicktime file I played. Even DVDs were affected, and even when a generous parent (thanks again Dawn S.!) did an emergency loan of her later-edition MBP, the same audio bug persisted. The presentation was ruined, and we ran out time and could not troubleshoot it or cobble together a fix quickly enough.

Bizarre and unexpected and for once, I was caught completely without a way to fix a simple technical issue. I had even tested it beforehand and thought it was fine - and then what could go wrong, did.

Since then I have done many internet and Apple support board searches for any other evidence of this bug. Nothing has yet appeared, which is why I posted this here tonight. To anyone planning on using an Apple Macbook Pro to play a film over an amplified loudspeaker system: DON'T DO IT! IT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY! YOUR AUDIO WILL BE LOW, SOMEWHAT DISTORTED, AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE IT SOUND RIGHT.

We now return to our regularly scheduled NYSMF blog. Thanks for reading!

--Keisuke
NYSMF Co Founder and Director of Communications
Fearless Squirrelhunter

The Brenda Earle Newsletter (11/2007)

2007-11-06T04:16:00.001-05:00

News from Brenda Earle
www.brendaearle.com

Fall has officially descended upon us. Now that the weather has become more seasonable (farewell Global Warming!) and the clocks have turned back (goodbye dinner in daylight), it's time again to drink hot tea instead of iced and time to trade in flip flops for those dreadful Ugg boots again.

Lots of exciting projects in the pipeline this month! I have been a mad writing fiend, writing arrangements for chamber orchestra, big band, SATB chorus and brass quintet. I have made writing a bit priority this fall and am very grateful for the SUNY Oneonta Chamber Orchestra, Saddle Brook High School Jazz Band and Water's Edge Bras for commission work from me. I have listed the works and performance dates later on in this email.

Have a look at the upcoming gigs listed below to see when you can check out my group next. Lots of shows in the NYC and NJ areas. Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.

Enjoy the month of November in all its colors and coziness! Also, Happy American Thanksgiving! (We Canucks had ours in October...)

Brenda
November 25th Jazz Vespers at St. Peter's Church

Brenda Earle Quaret + Voices

Sunday, Nov. 25th, 5pm

Brenda Earle Voices Project at St. Peter's Jazz Vespers
Brenda Earle, Julie Hardy, Charlie Christenson, Tim Newton - vox with...Jesse Lewis - guitar, Matt Clohesy - bass, Jared Schonig - drums

Brand new original sacred music and new SATB arrangements by Vince Mendoza and Peter Eldridge.

St. Peter's Church
619 Lexington Ave (at 54th St) NYC
212-935-2200
www.saintpeters.org
New Arrangements Commissioned!

Arranging Commissions
Brenda has recently written commissions for
Saddle Brook High School Jazz Band and Choraleers
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
Premiere on Dec. 19th, 2007

SUNY Oneonta Chamber Orchestra
Best of You - Foo Fighters, Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Premiere on Dec. 4, 2007 at Goodrich theater, SUNY Oneonta.

Water's Edge Brass Quintet
Holiday songs
Premiere Dec. 9th, 2007 at Trinity Episcopal Church (Cliffside Park, NJ)

Sacred Voices Project
New sacred music for four voices and rhythm section, and SATB arrangements of music by Vince Mendoza and Peter Eldridge.
Premiere Nov. 25th, 2007 at St. Peter's Church (NYC)

If you would like to commission an arrangement or composition specifically made for your ensemble (small or large, vocal or instrumental) just email Brenda at allsheneeds@hotmail.com.

Trinity Concerts presents Inaugural concert with Brenda Earle Quartet
Nov. 11th 4pm Brenda Earle Quartet @ Trinity Episcopal Church
555 Palisade Ave
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
(201) 943-1034
www.trinity-cliffsidepark.dioceseofnewark.org
with Keith Ganz - guitar, Ike Sturm - bass, Jared Schonig - drums

Thanks so much for your continuing support!
Brenda Earle
www.brendaearle.com
allsheneeds@hotmail.com

Complete November Calendar :
Nov. 6th 7pm Silverleaf Club, Scottsdale, AZ
"The Taste of Music, The Sound of Food and Wine"

Nov. 11th 4pm Brenda Earle Quartet @ Trinity Episcopal Church
555 Palisade Ave
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
(201) 943-1034
www.trinity-cliffsidepark.dioceseofnewark.org
with Keith Ganz - guitar, Ike Sturm - bass, Jared Schonig - drums

Nov. 18th 8:30pm-11pm Brenda Earle Trio at Bar Next Door
(insert address) $8 cover charge

Nov. 25th, 5pm Brenda Earle Voices Project at St. Peter's Jazz Vespers
Brenda Earle, Julie Hardy, Charlie Christenson, Tim Newton - vox
Jesse Lewis - guitar, Matt Clohesy - bass, Jared Schonig - drums

Brenda Earle | 736 Riverside Dr. #6G | 736 Riverside Dr #6G | New York | NY | 10031

What's the Story with the Extra Long Sheets?

2007-07-07T08:01:00.000-04:00

I have been receiving emails from you about "what the heck are extra long sheets?" Some have even gone as far as accusing me of making up this weird, inhuman sheet size, which of course wounds my feelings horribly. ;D

I will now tell you a story to try and explain the phenomenon that is an extra long, extra narrow mattress, which may shed some light on the matter. Just because it's a complete fiction from my own fertile imagination shouldn't detract from your enjoyment.

HOW EXTRA LONG SHEETS CAME TO BE
by Keisuke Hoashi
(play guitar intro here)

Once upon a time, there was a beanpole who wanted to grow up to become the world's most successful mattress maker. Envious of the glory achieved by Mr. Sealy, Mr. Serta, Mr. Dux, and the master of them all, Mr. and Mrs. Craftmaticbed, the beanpole vowed to beat them all at their own game.

Alas, the beanpole could never understand the mystery of the twin, full, queen, or king mattress sizes. And forget the California King! Utterly perplexed as to why anyone would possibly need so much surface area on which to sleep, the beanpole instead focussed on making a mattress that would be comfortable for all the peoples of the world who were made of sticks of bamboo, or rebar, or PVC piping.

The beanpole came up with a unique mattress that is a little longer and a little narrower than a standard Twin, and filled it with sharp sticks, pointed rocks, ancient springs, and mustard. And he proudly dubbed it the Beanpole Extra Long Mattress.

At first the world laughed at the Beanpole Mattress. "Who," they jeered, "will buy your mattress when they already have thousands of dollars' worth of twin sheet sets?"

The Beanpole was sad and went to Madison Avenue in NYC to try and burn itself to death. But as it was desperately flicking its Bic lighter, an Evil Ad Exec rushed up and said, "Don't give up, Mr. Beanpole. I can save your brilliant invention."

"How?" grumbled the Beanpole, who, not having any thumbs, fingers, or any limbs to speak of, was losing patience with itself.

"It's alllll marketing," said the Evil Ad Exec. "And I understand. I was just a simple Tomato Stake, until I came to Madison Avenue and got a job with Burson-Marstellar Advertising. Come."

And so they concocted a plan to market the Beanpole Mattress as the World's Best Dormitory Mattress. Targeting every college in America, they pitched the idea that supplying freshman with a twin mattress would be disastrous - can you imagine what a freshman would do, if they ever heard the words "twin" and "bed" together???

Quietly, they contacted the Fitted Sheet Industry for their support. They convinced them to create a brand new sheet size, and thus expand their market by up to 25%, after years of only being able to sell twin, full, queen, and king size sheet sets. Now there were FIVE mattress sizes, and those mattresses would be needing sheets, muuu hahahahahaha.

It was a rousing success! Every college in America bought 10,000 Beanpole Mattresses, and in a wild orgy of imagination, changed the name to "extra long".

And so the Beanpole married the former Tomato Stake, and the two retired to an organic farm in Seattle where they support zucchini and roses.

And THAT is why you need to bring a set of "extra long" sheets with you to NYSMF.

Aesop and Kipling would have been proud.

--Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Miscommunications

2007 SEASON: SURVIVING DAY ONE

2007-06-26T00:23:00.000-04:00

It's well past midnight on the first full day of NYSMF 2007. I'm joyfully exhausted despite the inevitable last-minute changes, problems, and solutions that strike us from all directions. All of it is solvable; all of it is part of the whole NYSMF deal; and all of it is absolutely wonderful to live.

The halls have a life now that they have been missing our entire past week of preparation time. Sure, it was pleasant having virtually the entire Curtis Hall dorm to ourselves, with no classes to teach, ensembles to coach, instruments to play. We could do our laundry any time we felt like it, or order pizza at any hour of the day, and even dance around our suite in our socks to the soundtrack of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

To be perfectly honest, I much prefer having all the students here. My time may no longer be entirely my own, but that is precisely why I shut down my life in Los Angeles and come all the way to Oneonta, NY every summer.

When I'm here, I have the incredible opportunity to touch other peoples' lives. I get to meet new folks yet unspoilt by cynicism or age, and to share with them ideas and knowledge that I consider important. And together, we get to create brand new things, songs that have never been sung before, films that have only existed in imaginations, musical performances as unique as every member of the ensemble.

That's the magic that helps me to survive the hectic maelstrom that surrounds the creators of NYSMF -- Jungeun Kim, Dan Spencer, Colleen Wheeler, and myself, Keisuke Hoashi. As well as all of our talented faculty and staff. We are here because we want to be here, and we want to give something back to the world. Many people before us helped to make us the successes we are today, and we are honored for the opportunity to pass on our forerunners' work to the next generation of fine human beings.

Tomorrow is the first full day of the NYSMF schedule. I get to start with the filmmaking class again (yee ha!), as well as continue my classes in "Practical Acting" and "Original Musical Theatre".

I'm nearly 40 years old and I'm still going to camp. I wish everyone could have so much fun in their lives!

FIVE DAYS TO NYSMF 2007!

2007-06-19T22:26:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Oneonta, and the New York Summer Music Festival! (yes, that is a tribute to Dr. Frederic Fay Swift's original tune, "Greetings from Oneonta and the New York State Music Camp", and I am darn proud to be able to do it.)

Keisuke Hoashi here, NYSMF's resident actor and instructor for acting, filmmaking, and original musical theatre, and I'm happy to say that our 2007 season is looking huge, healthy, and diverse to the point of ecstasy. We have students coming from all over the country, including over 20 states:

New York
New Jersey
Massachusetts
California
Georgia
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
Washington, DC
Virginia
Indiana
Colorado
Missouri
Maryland
Arkansas
Illinois
North Carolina
Washington
Kansas
Texas
Maine

We are also proud of all of our international students, which includes the great countries of:

Russia
Taiwan
Mexico
France
Norway
Puerto Rico
Korea
Newfoundland
Japan
Canada
Spain
Belize

This equals even the most diverse collection of students of Dr. Swift's original program, NYSMC, which at its peak hosted over 200 students every week, and over 300 for the summer. We are very proud of this achievement, as it would seem that we are certainly doing something right.

Dr. Swift, whom I had the great fortune of knowing back in my own music camp days, created his music camp back in 1947 because he wanted to give talented young musicians a place where they could not just play during the summer, but to learn, grow, and florish under the tutelage of equally dedicated professional musicians and educators.

How tragic is it, for example, when a fantastic young flute player ends her sophomore year of high school, but suddenly has no orchestra to play in for three long months? Or a cellist going into his senior year being forced to spend his summer working stock in the back room of a local pizzaria, instead of being able to continue cultivating his unique talent of making music?

Okay, the world won't end under these scenarios. But like Dr. Swift, everyone here at NYSMF believes that these great young musicians really need a place where they can keep up their skills. NYSMF gives them such a place, where these kids can be surrounded by like-minded, similarly-talented youngsters, and truly come together to form a wonderful, supportive community of musicians, voluntarily bound by their love of music.

Even I feel like my personal "Corny" meter often overflows, but in this case, I am proud to let it spill over like an avalance. I am vastly grateful for this opportunity to bring NYSMF to all of you, and I will never stop thanking you for it.

Five more days to NYSMF. I can't wait.

Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications

19 Days to NYSMF 2007!

2007-06-05T02:04:00.000-04:00

Hello again everybody, Keisuke Hoashi here, your NYSMF Director of Communications and very busy working Hollywood actor. And it is now only 19 days until the start of what we've been waiting for all year long ... NYSMF 2007.

The numbers are even more exciting than last year. As of today, we have around 300 talented young musicians signed up, as well as over fifty faculty and Visiting Artists on our impressive roster. We have people coming from over 20 different states acros America, and a dozen different countries across the globe! Some nations represented include Norway, Korea, France, Russia, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, England, and Belize -- enough that we need a world map to locate them all.

The NYSMF program continues to expand from within, as well. In past years, our instructors have brainstormed, masterminded, and brought to life our most innovative and exciting programs, including:

David Ludwig's Composition Program (in which students compose their own original works in just two weeks, and have them performed in concert);
Keisuke Hoashi's Original Musical Theatre Workshop (students learn to create their own original show in only 12 days)
Dr. Paul Cohen's Classical Saxophone Workshop
The NYSMF/Yamaha Silent Electric Strings program, greatly facilitated by our violin faculty member Sean Neukom and cello faculty member Lauren Riley

This year, we are proud to announce the NYSMF International Flute Institute, headed by our own Bonnie Bokyung Kim. This exclusive program is open by audition to only 15 or so top flute players, and they will be enjoying six daily hours of private lessons and masterclasses, designed to push their skills well into the realm of wildly talented professionals.

I wasn't kidding when I said this was an exciting year! NYSMF ain't just plain ol' music camp -- as you have read for yourself, we're a heckuva lot more!

19 days. Excellent.

The Brenda Earle Newsletter

2007-04-07T23:30:00.000-04:00

April 2nd, 2007

in this issue

Brenda makes finalist at Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition!!
Brenda Earle Trio live at the Deer Head Inn
NEW WEBSITE!!
New York Summer Music Festival

We are excited to present to you the second Brenda Earle newsletter. You will find this jam packed with news, events and concert information. Enjoy and let us know what you think!

The biggest news (drumroll please...) Brenda has just been named a finalist in the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Piano Competition!! She is one of five woman pianists who was chosen out of the many many talented women who applied! Check the info below for details. What an honor!!!

Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Piano Competition!!!
Brenda in the finals!!

Brenda has just received word that she has been invited to perform at this event with four other talented women pianists. The competition takes place on May 11th at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. This is a huge honor!
For more info... http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/jazz/womeninjazz/

New and Improved Website
www.brendaearle.com

Brenda's website has gotten a full and complete facelift! (Please note: Brenda has NOT.) It is gorgeous and user-friendly and is much easier for the good-at-music/bad-at-computers Brenda. Please have a look/listen and let us know what you think.

A huge thank you to the fine people at A Sound Strategy who worked so hard. ESPECIALLY Michael Rapino, who is a great designer and even nicer guy!! (Thanks sooooo much Michael)

Brenda Earle Trio Live at the Deer Head Inn April 6th!
With Ike Sturm bass and Jared Schonig drums.

A legendary jazz venue in Delaware Water Gap, PA, this stage has hosted a who's who of jazz artists, including Keith Jarrett! Now it's Brenda's turn. Plan on a great evening of original music and Brenda's unique takes on standard repertoire.

www.deerheadinn.com
Deer Head Inn
5 Main Street,
Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327 570.424.2000

New York Summer Music Festival!!
Second Season - applications are still being accepted.

The New York Summer Music Festival is an amazing summer music program for students aged 9-college age. Brenda is proud to be on a faculty that includes some of the finest classical and jazz musicians/educators in the world. Some of the distinguished faculty members are Dr. Sherrie Maricle, Chris Rosenberg, Dr. Gregg Gausline, Keisuke Hoashi (Hollywood actor), etc.

This festival is unique in that there are numerous opportunities for students to rehearse and perform in large and small ensembles, write and produce an original musical theater piece, study filmmaking and have an amazing summer.

The program runs from June24-Aug 4th and students can sign up for 2, 4 or 6 week sessions. Applications are being accepted now!
www.nysmf.org

Stay tuned for upcoming events this Spring

April 4th Panel Discussion: "Life after MSM"
noon-1pm
Manhattan School of Music
122 Claremont Ave
New York, NY
www.msmnyc.edu

April 6th Deer Head Inn
Brenda Earle Trio
with Ike Sturm and Jared Schonig
www.deerheadinn.com
Deer Head Inn 5 Main Street,
Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327 570.424.2000

April 12th
Petrolia Youth Jazz Festival
Brenda Earle, Guest Clinician and performer
Petrolia, Ontario Canada
www.victoriaplayhousepetrolia.com

April 23
North Shore High School
with DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Glen Head, NY

NYSMF INTERNATIONAL FLUTE INSTITUTE

2007-03-24T21:31:00.000-04:00

NYSMF is proud to present its first International Flute Institute, to be held during the third session (July 22-Aug 4) of the New York Summer Music Festival (NYSMF).

Details are still being finalized, but I can release the following exciting information about the instructors for the NYSMF IFI. And as the name implies, they will be coming from all over the world -- including from Cooperstown! :D

There is even a page about the NYSMF IFI already up on a Korean music website - http://www.flutehouse.com! (If anyone can read Korean, please have a visit and let me know what it says!)

Michel Rousseau of the Paris Conservatoire of 10 and the Asnieres Ecole de Musique will be travelling all the way from Paris, France to join the NYSMF faculty.
Linda Chesis of the Manhattan School of Music, and the founder of the Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival, will also be joining the NYSMF IFI.
Yoon Young Lee and Yui Kyung Park, both wonderful teachers from Korea, will also join us and make the whole thing even more "international"!
NYSMF Faculty member Bonnie Kim (of Korea, Japan, Paris, New York City, and Virginia) will serve as coordinator for the IFI.

Clearly, the performance level will be astronomically high for the NYSMF IFI. There are already a large number of students signed up specifically for this program within our NYSMF program, and they will be working intensely in master classes, chamber music, private lessons, and who knows, perhaps even some sort of IFI-only triathalons and cooking contests will be happening. (I *did* say that the details are still being worked out, right?)

More details will be forthcoming as they are hammered out. Be prepared for a wildly exciting summer!

Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Flute Communications

Sing the National Anthem with the METS!

2007-03-23T20:22:00.001-04:00

2007 Mets Anthem Search @ the SNY Studios

It's Spring Training and Your Season Has Come.

Time to warm up your vocal cords and step up to the plate for your opportunity to perform the National Anthem at Shea Stadium.

It's the open auditions for the 2007 Mets Anthem Search.

What: 2007 Mets Anthem Search
When: Wednesday, March 28 11:00 am
Where: SNY Studios at Rockefeller Plaza West (Sixth Avenue @ 51st Street)

Details:

Sign up for auditions begins at 10:00 am.
Line of entrants will form outside of the SNY studio doors on 51st Street and continue toward Sixth Avenue.
All participants will sign in and be assigned a number at a check-in table inside the SNY studio.
All children under the age of 18 who are auditioning must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The first 100 people to arrive will be guaranteed an audition and a pair of tickets to an upcoming Mets home game.
All participants will have the opportunity to perform 30 seconds to a minute of any song of their choice. All singers must perform a cappella.
Recording artist and Mets' National Anthem singer Michael Amante and SNY's Gary Apple will comprise the judging panel.
All finalists who are approved will be invited back to Shea Stadium at a later date for the second round of the 2007 Mets Anthem Search, where they will be judged on their performance of the National Anthem.

For more information, please call (718) 559-3119.

The Brenda Earle Newsletter

2007-02-19T17:11:00.000-05:00

NYSMF jazz faculty extraordinaire Brenda Earle has just launched her new e-newsletter! You can sign up for your very own copy at http://www.brendaearle.com, and we will of course also repost her stuff here on the NYSMF blog! Here it is:

Brenda Earle Newsletter
What Brenda is up to...
February 2007

in this issue :
New and exciting...
Upcoming Dates
New Website!
New York Summer Music Festival

www.brendaearle.com jazz pianist.vocalist.composer.educator www.myspace.com/brendaearle

Welcome to the newsletter! Thanks to Constant Contact, we can now keep you posted on Brenda's "happenings" in a more attractive way!

So far 2007 has been a great! Brenda has been doing shows with Sherrie Maricle's DIVA big band, as well as shows in the NYC area with her trio. Look for the list of upcoming gigs below - perhaps she is coming to a city near you!

Brenda is currently working on new material, which she will be recording later on this year. New songs, new arrangements and some great orchestrations are in the works! She is also working on new music for voices. Stay tuned for samples to be posted on her website and myspace pages!

New and Exciting...
What is Brenda up to?

Brenda is getting ready to go to Seattle with Sherrie Maricle's DIVA big band, to play with the legendary Carmen Bradford and John Pizarelli! See Upcoming Dates for more info...

Writing writing writing new music for the trio, for big band and for voices. Stay tuned to hear clips!

Classical piano lessons? Brenda is back with legendary pianist and educator Sophia Rosoff, who teaches the likes of Fred Hersch and Barry Harris. Currently working on the Beethovan Variations in Cminor, Brahms Rhapsody in Gminor and a couple of Scriabin Etudes. Nothing concertworthy as of yet, but it's getting better.

New Website!
www.brendaearle.com gets a facelift...

We are excited to announce that Brenda's site is currently under construction, to make is a better, more cohesive (and more easily update-able). The new site should be up in the next week or so. Stay tuned...
Special thanks to Dennis Jeter and A Sound Strategy!

Upcoming Dates
Shows in February and March...
Feb. 20th, 2007 8:30-11
Perch Cafe (Brooklyn, NY)
Brenda - vox, Jesse Lewis - guitar, Ike Sturm - bass
www.theperchcafe.com

Feb. 28-March 4th
with DIVA Big Band in Seattle!
Performances with Five Play, DIVA and special guests John Pizarelli and Carmen Bradford.
Brenda - piano
www.divajazz.com

March 12th 8-11:30pm
Bar Next Door (NYC)
Brenda - vox, Jesse Lewis - guitar, Ike Sturm - bass
www.lalanternacaffe.com

March 20th 7pm
Vipassana at the Makor (NYC)
Joe Phillips' incredible work of art!
Brenda - piano
www.numinousmusic.com

March 22-25
BETTY & THE BELRAYS
Theatre for the New City
155 First Avenue (bet 9th and 10th sts.)
Brenda Earle - piano

March 26-27
Vipassana in recording studio
Joe Phillips' incredible work of art!
Brenda - piano
www.numinousmusic.com

New York Summer Music Festival
OUR SECOND SEASON!!!

After our incredible inaugural season, NYSMF is preparing for the 2007 Season. Brenda once again is on faculty, directing the amazing jazz choir, teaching piano, voice and composition and performing with the big band. Jazz choir devotees take note: this year's music is going to be even hotter than last year's!

This year's special guests include Dick Oatts, Chris Rosenberg, John Riley, Sherrie Maricle and Mike Holober.

For those of you who don't know, NYSMF is an amazing Summer Music Festival for musicians of both the jazz and classical persuasion. There are orchestras, wind ensembles, chamber ensembles and jazz large and small ensembles. It is an incredible place and it takes place at SUNY Oneonta in Upstate New York.

www.nysmf.org

BUY CDS!!!!

The critically acclaimed "happening" is available at www.cdbaby.com.

For people who hate to buy stuff online, email me at allsheneeds@hotmail.com and I'll mail one to you when you pay by cheque or money order.

All She Needs (2002) is also available this way.

www.cdbaby.com/cd/brendaearle

I hope you have all enjoyed the first installment of the Brenda Earle newsletter. Don't hesitate to get in touch and tell us what you think! We hope to send out a newsletter every couple of months to announce exciting events and keep you posted!

To contact Brenda allsheneeds@hotmail.com

www.brendaearle.com
www.myspace.com/brendaearle

Visiting Artist Update! BSO's Keisuke Wakao, Oboe

2007-02-19T02:06:00.000-05:00

NYSMF is proud to announce another Keisuke within our ranks! Oboist Keisuke Wakao will be joining NYSMF's ranks of Visiting Artists, and he will certainly be surprised when he arrives and finds that everyone knows how to pronounce his name. Here is his biographical information:

Keisuke Wakao is assistant principal oboe with the BSO. He has been principal oboe with the New World Symphony and substitute oboe with the New York Philharmonic. He was soloist with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra with Joseph Robinson under Kazuyoshi Akiyama and chamber soloist with the New Japan Philharmonic under Seiji Ozawa. In 1990, he performed the Mozart oboe concerto under Michael Tilson Thomas in Europe. Wakao was a finalist in the Lucarelli International Oboe Competition.

Diploma, Manhattan School of Music. Oboe with Joseph Robinson. Studies with Alfred Genovese, Ralph Gomberg at the Tanglewood Music Center. Studies with John Mack, Peter Bowman, and Eric Barr. Recordings on Denon. Also faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and Keisuke Wakao Oboe Camp, Tokyo.

Oboists, rejoice!

UPDATE: Thanks to NYSMF classical bass faculty person Bret Simner for notifying me that I butchered the spelling of "oboist". Bret has been promoted to Chief SpellChecker of NYSMF for his diligence, while I have been slapped around with an old oboe reed for my typo. Thanks Bret!

MSM and NYSMF

2007-02-05T17:07:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the Rosenberg Family (Chris, Erika, and Ivan) for their photographs of the New York Summer Music Festival's second annual NYSMF Day at the Manhattan School of Music!

This presentation was made possible by the generosity of the entire Manhattan School of Music, especially Chris Rosenberg, who is not only a king-like bigwig there, he is also one of our unbelievably skilled, dedicated, and accomplished jazz conductors at NYSMF every summer.

Immense thanks, too, to the great members of the NYSMF jazz faculty performing in these shots: Alejandro Aviles and Jason Rigby on sax; Gernot Bernroider on drums; Jesse Lewis on guitar; Brenda Earle on piano; and Bob "Killdozer" Sabin on bass.

Come on over to NYSMF this summer and work one on one with these incredible musicians! You'll be glad you did: you'll become so much more accomplished, polished, and professional as a musician, that you'll return home and blow away your competition. Seriously. That's what happened to me at music camp 25 years ago, and these instructors are even BETTER than mine were!

NYSMF at the MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC

2007-01-19T14:54:00.000-05:00

Howdy ho, music fans! You are invited to NYSMF Day at the magnificent Manhattan School of Music.

Made possible by the support of our wonderful faculty at MSM, This is a perfect opportunity for you to grab yourself a new NYSMF 2007 Brochure and to find out first-hand how preparations for the exciting 2007 summer season are coming.

WHAT NYSMF Day @ MSM
WHEN SATURDAY, JAN 27, 2007
WHERE Manhattan School of Music
WHEN 9 am - 6 pm

Students: come say hello to your old friends, and bring along any friends, enemies, or family who are really up for a powerfully challenging summer of music.

Parents: this is your chance to speak one-on-one with NYSMF administration, conductors, and instructors, who rank among the finest performers and educators in the entire world. If you have any questions about the program, this is the perfect time to get them answered!

NYSMF's faculty at MSM include:

Dr Paul Cohen (Classical Saxophone Institute)
Nathan Warner (Trumpet)
Chris Rosenberg (Jazz Conductor)
Ella Toovy (Cello)
Soo Kyung Park (Flute)
Christopher Nappi (Percussion)
Brenda Earle (Jazz Choir, Jazz Piano, Voice)

Stop by, have a chat, and don't forget that returning students are entitled to $100 off their NYSMF tuition! This offer ends on Feb 28, 2007, so get those applications in ASAP.

See you at MSM in NYC, TTFN, LMNOPQRSTUV!

--Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications

A Requiem for Michael Brecker

2007-01-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

I just read some very sad news. Jazz saxophonist legend Michael Brecker has just died after a long struggle with leukemia.
I know many of our jazz faculty at NYSMF have had the honor or performing with Mr. Brecker through the years. These include saxophonist Dick Oatts, who gave a master class and an incredibly memorable concert at NYSMF this summer; bassist John Patitucci and pianist/composer Michael Holober also honored us with a Master Class and Concert in August 2006; and drummer John Riley was the very first Visiting Artist of NYSMF's history last June.

Michael Brecker was the first jazz saxophonist I ever heard of. My first year of music camp was at the New York State Music Camp in 1982, where I was overwhelmed by an entire universe of music that I never even suspected could exist. One of my best friends there, Andrew Wolin of Norwich, NY, was a tenor sax player that listened to Brecker all the time. He even sent a tape to me with an incredible recording of "Hesitation", with Brecker and Wynton Marsalis, and I was hooked on the first listen.

Although I never became a total Brecker fanatic, I loved his sound and style for the next 25 years. Mr. Brecker was the model of excellence for jazz sax players for his entire career, and the world is diminished with his loss.

Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications

NYSMF Performance News Flash!

2007-01-15T22:24:00.000-05:00

Another notice of NYSMF's resident Jazz Choir director (as well as piano teacher, voice teacher, jazz combo coach, and all around supreme educator) Brenda Earle and her latest gig news. Oh, and NYSMF's fantastic guitar god, Jesse Lewis, is also sharing the bill with Brenda!

Hope you can make it -- and if you do, tell her Keisuke sent you. I unfortunately can't make it, i'm freezing my tomatoes off out here in sunny, frigid Los Angeles. Have a blast! -keisuke

Brenda Earle Trio at Perch
January 16th, 2007 8:30-11pm

Hey every one. Just wanted to let you know I'm playing at Perch in Brooklyn tomorrow night with Jesse Lewis on guitar and Ike Sturm on bass. Very low key little hang - no cover. Great food and drink and even better music. I'll be singing some new material, including a new version of a Keane song. Perch 365 5th Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets Brooklyn, NY 718-788-2839 www.theperchcafe.com

Brenda Earle is a singer/pianist originally from Canada and currently based in New York City. Check out...
www.brendaearle.com
www.myspace.com/brendaearle

New NYSMF Student News!

2007-01-12T15:50:00.000-05:00

More great news from NYSMF students, further enhancing our highbrow status as THE place for wildly talented young musicians:

Christina Dioguardi was chosen as priciple bassoonist of the Area-All State Orchestra and the Greater Westchester Youth Symphony. Currently she is attending Juilliard Pre-College and bassooning a lot.

Tim Woos
"I was a composition student at the 3rd session in 2006. I had a piece called Four Scenes for Orchestra premiered by the Vermont Youth Orchestra for 2 concerts on December 31st at the Flynn Theater."

What wonderful and magnificent success stories do YOU have to share with the NYSMF community? Please email us and let us know!

NYSMF Special Programs: the Yamaha Silent Electric Strings

2007-01-08T01:35:00.000-05:00

NYSMF/Yamaha Silent Electric Strings

Program made possible by the Yamaha Corporation of America; Ken Dattmore, Roger Eaton, Chris Manners, Naoyuki Nakabayashi

In 2006, the Yamaha Corporation of America generously granted NYSMF the full, unrestricted use of their full line of electric string instruments - known as the "Silent Electric", or SV, Strings. Two violins; a viola; a cello; and a bass (the only summer camp to receive one).

All NYSMF students were given the opportunity to use the SV Strings, whether they were just beginners trying out something new, or experienced string players looking for a new challenge.

The results were phenomenal, leading to Yamaha's ongoing grant to NYSMF. Several of Yamaha's top executives actually travelled all the way to Oneonta (one all the way from Hamamatsu, Japan!) to watch the NYSMF SV String Ensemble perform live.

This summer, students will once again be given the chance to play the most technologically advanced stringed instruments ever built. Here are some of the ways they may make use of Yamaha's generosity:

Silent String Composition
NYSMF Violin Teaching Assistant, Mr. Sean Neukom, took the opportunity to compose TWO original pieces for this set of five unusual instruments. Both were premiered at NYSMF, prompting interest from Yamaha in publishing and promoting these dedicated compositions. [VIDEO]

Silent String Ensemble
Mr. Neukom's first piece was performed by a group of extremely talented counselors; the second by an equally talented group of NYSMF students (average age: 15!). Not one of these musicians had ever played an SV string before, expanding their range and repertoire in ways they had never even considered.

Silent Jazz
Without question, the SV bass received the most attention, appearing in several NYSMF Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Combos. However, the violin and viola also both made their jazz premieres in the hands of students as young as 14 years of age!

Silent Strings in the Practice Rooms
Many students simply signed out the strings for an hour or two, and brought them into a practice room or an ensemble rehearsal just to try them out.

Silent Strings as Plot Devices
Our Original Musical Theatre Workshop used all five of the strings as key props in an original musical, written and performed by the members of the workshop. The title? "The Strings of Power", a foray into the fun and the ridiculous.

In addition, the Silent Violin appeared in one or two original short films produced by our Filmmaking Class, proving that the days of Stradivari and Guarneri wooden instruments in starring roles are coming to an end!

How Will YOU Use Them?
What would YOU, as a NYSMF student, do with the Yamaha SV Silent Electric Strings? Whatever you want to do. The SV strings are at NYSMF for YOU to learn about the new possibilities of instrumental music, to explore their features and limits. Or just for the plain "coolness" factor.

Whatever you decide, you can be sure that the NYSMF faculty will be with you to assist, and to bring your own vision of the SV Strings to life.

We look forward to working with the Yamaha Corporation for many, many summers to come.

Click here to download an application to NYSMF 2007.

The Legendary Brenda Earle and her New Year's Gig!

2006-12-31T19:37:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Brenda Earle

............

Press Release .....

Brenda Earle Announces

New York, NY Dec 31, 2006 I will be playing a show on New Year's Day at the Bar Next Door (also known as La Lanterna) from 8:30pm-11pm. The Trio is myself on vocals, Jesse Lewis on guitar and Ike Sturm on bass. $8 cover and the food/drinks/desserts are amazing! A great way to celebrate 2007 and/or to nurse your hangover by bingeing on carbs and great music!

Jan. 1st, 2007 8:30pm-11pm Brenda Earle Trio Bar Next Door 129 MacDougal St (take A, B, C, D to West 4th) New York, NY 10012 Tel: (212) 529-5945 with Jesse Lewis - guitar and Ike Sturm - bass

www.lalanternacaffe.com

DIVA-NYSMF JAZZ SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED

2006-12-21T23:21:00.000-05:00

Sherrie Maricle and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra are pleased to offer the DIVA–NYSMF Scholarship for young women pursuing a career in jazz performance.

The scholarship is open to all women instrumentalists who will be entering their senior year of high school or freshman year of college. The winner will be awarded free tuition, room and board to attend a 2 week session of The New York Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, NY.

NYSMF is a six week summer program that offers comprehensive musical instruction and performance opportunities for all musical disciplines. Visit http://www.nysmf.org and http://www.divajazz.com for more information.

An official application and guidelines will be published in the next issue of the JEJ and available on the IAJE website starting in February, 2007.

NYSMF & NY Pops Ormandy Winners in the News

2006-11-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

Repeated congratulations on the five winners of the Ormandy Scholarship, provided by NYSMF through the New York Pops Salute to Music program! They had a nice article written about them on the NY Pops website; please have a look here:

http://www.newyorkpops.org/newsletters/autumn2006/page7.html

NYSMF is only 7 months away!

Sherrie Maricle performance!

2006-11-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

Hey all NYSMFers! Dr. Sherrie Maricle, the newly christened NYSMF Director of Education (congratulations, Doc) and Conductor extraordinaire of our very own NYSMF Jazz groups, sent out this performance notice of her fantastic combo. Go and catch it if you are in the area!

Come to PA on Friday, Nov. 10th to enjoy the last remnants of the fall foliage, then listen to

FIVE PLAY PLUS
at
The Deerhead Inn, 7pm - 11pm.
Deer Head Inn 5 Main Street
Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327 570.424.2000

Sherrie Maricle - drums
Noriko Ueda - Bass
Brenda Earle - piano/voice
Tanya Darby - trumpet
Jami Dauber - trumpet
Eric Von Kleist - Alto and Flute
Janelle Reichmann - Tenor and Clarinet

2007 Brochure & 2006 Cadenza Online!

2006-11-03T13:40:00.000-05:00

The new NYSMF 2007 Brochure is now online and available for download! To get your copy, click on the following link:

Alternatively, you can go to the new revamped NYSMF website when it is actually revamped, and download it from the "quicklink" menu on the left. I'll put another notice up when it actually IS new and revamped and uploaded.

In other great news, the electronic version of the official NYSMF yearbook, CADENZA, is now online, too! You can go to the following location to download your copy:

http://www.nysmf.org/graphics/cadenza

Because of bandwidth considerations, you will have a choice of downloading your copy of "Cadenza"
in three flavors: low res (3mb), medium-rez (8mb), and freakin' high res (50mb). Choose your flavor, and go get it!

Keisuke

YANKEE NYSMF VIDEO!

2006-09-29T22:40:00.000-04:00

Here's the link to the NYSMF brass on YouTube! More photos and video to come, as soon as I can process them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFTOe9ZljW4

Thanks to the legendary Joe Verderese for providing this clip.

TONIGHT IN DA BRONX

2006-09-28T14:05:00.000-04:00

Come one, come all, see the magnificent reps of the NYSMF Brass play the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium tonight at 7pm!!! Here is our "playoff" roster (okay, okay, you can groan and curse at my total geek sense of humor, go ahead):

TRUMPETS: Patrick Hoffman, Nathan Warner, Kyla Moscovich, Justin Hernandez,
TROMBONES: Paul Bryan, Joe Verderese, Cale Israel, Frank Ortiz
FRENCH HORNS: Sara Hoffman, Michelle Zoeckler, David Braid, Jason Sugata
TUBA: Madison Martineau

I see that Frank just can't get enough of that Bass Trombone, after getting such a taste of it in Select Jazz this summer.

Send us an email to info@nysmf.org if you catch a sight of them tonight! I'll be watching from LA myself.

A huge, huge, huge thank you goes out to Sherrie Maricle, Education Director of the NY Pops and #1 Tremendous Friend of NYSMF, for making this all possible. Everyone give her a kiss when you see her next, okay?

--Keisuke
NYSMF Director of Communications

NYSMF BRASS AT YANKEE STADIUM THURSDAY!

2006-09-25T00:17:00.000-04:00

That's right, folks -- top players representing the NYSMF Brass Faculty, staff, and student will be performing LIVE AT YANKEE STADIUM!

Thanks to Dr. Sherrie Maricle (NYSMF Jazz Conductor, NY Pops Education Director , and all-around wonderful person), you will be able to listen and watch the best of NYSMF perform the National Anthem at the upcoming Yankees - Orioles game THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006.

Preliminary members of NYSMF in attendance include Nathan Warner, Paul Bryan, Angela Guido, Patrick Hoffman, Dr. Maricle, and a bunch of other friends. (This list is not finalized and is subject to change, by the way.) Heck, I was even considering flying out specially from LA with my old Bach Strad 37 silverplated Bb trumpet to join in on the 5th trumpet part ... but I can't.

My excuse? I will be shooting an episode of the new ABC comedy "Notes from the Underbelly" on the Warner Brothers lot in North Hollywood next week, so you won't have to listen to me struggle not to embarass myself on the ol' horn ... YET.

In any event, even if you are not a Yankee fan, get yourself to the stadium this Thursday, or at least pop onto the opening of the game at 7pm, and re-live just a little slice of our fantastic summer together. Listen to the NYSMF Brass at Yankee Stadium, and it's okay to wipe away a little tear of joy as you whoop, holler, and applaud their fantastic rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" before fifty thousand cheering fans in New York, and millions of others worldwide!

Remember -- September 28, 2006 / 7 pm / Yankee Stadium / This Thursday / be there in your heart!

Keisuke
NYSMF Director of All Kinds of Stuff

NYSMF BRASS AT YANKEE STADIUM!!!

2006-09-08T03:57:00.000-04:00

That's right, representatives from the NYSMF brass faculty, staff, and students are all working on a LIVE performace at Yankee Stadium at the end of September!

Thanks to Dr. Sherrie Maricle, we have secured an invitation to perform the National Anthem before the September 28 game vs Baltimore.

Now, nothing is absolutely, positively confirmed, but stay tuned to all of our communications outlets. We'll let you know as soon as we can about your NYSMF friends and family playing for the most successful baseball franchise in history.

This just makes my being a Mets fan all the more difficult. But hey, anything for the NYSMF team, right?

--keisuke
Comma Director

DVDS ARE READY!

2006-09-08T03:38:00.000-04:00

Rejoice, NYSMFers around the world! The DVDs for Sessions 2 and 3 of NYSMF 2006 are ready! I will be stuffing DVD cases, envelopes, inserts, etc., and making a trip to the post office this weekend with your loot.

Thanks for your patience. I've enjoyed it quite a bit, even though I have tons of other stuff to cover for NYSMF. For example:

Dr. Sherrie Maricle is taking her quintet, FIVE PLAY, on tour to Japan next week! She is a terrific supporter of NYSMF, both she and the NY Pops Orchestra, and she will graciously bring along some NYSMF publicity to give away during her Japanese concert tour. Hopefully we'll be brushing up on our Japanese language skills next summer as a result! (Thanks Sherrie!)
The 2007 NYSMF Brochure is already in production. Look for it in your mailboxes soon, and please pass it along to any friends, family members, relatives, or even strangers who seem they would benefit from coming to a great summer music program. People just like you. ;D
NYSMF CD production is approaching full swing as well. My thanks to Terry Kirchsengessenwassermusikoboisita for all of his hard work in making sure we had professional-quality recordings available for all of us to enjoy.
NYSMF WEBSITE Updates. Yup, although the site is still in great shape, that doesn't mean it couldn't stand a bit of reogranization. We do need some changes so that it will be easier to navigate for you and for all future campers, plus make it easy enough that a parent can use it. (Ouch!) Nothing has been completed yet, other than all the photos and stuff, but dang.

My own life is finally starting to resemble "normal". I went on my first "after-camp" audition today, a commercial for Blue Cross, and got to perform four or five different variations on camera. Now, I know most of you would then ask, "when will you know if you got it?" To which I would reply, "If I got ... what?"

That's not being snotty, really! One of the most important tools of my profession - acting - is the ability to prepare, work, and perform to the best of my skills for an audition, and then to forget completely about it.

That's not to say it isn't a fun and exciting process. But when you go on fifty to a hundred auditions a year, it's not very good for your blood pressure to obsess about every single one. And you know me, I don't like to pump up the tension factor for any reason. Except, perhaps, on Pizza Night.

Stay tuned for your DVD and CDs in the mail soon!

--keisuke
The NYSMF version of Lt. Uhura
"Hailing Frequencies Open ... ouch! It's hailing outside!"

DVD Production Happenin'

2006-09-03T04:50:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, and thank you to all who have ordered official NYSMF DVDs and CDs since I put up the order page just eight or nine days ago! The response has been absolutely wonderful -- and to be honest, kinda overwhelming for me.

In addition to my duties as co-founder and Director of Communications at NYSMF, I was also the official videographer and photographer. I made sure that either myself or my video crew (Evan Fleisher, David White, and Mark Turner, all of whom did super jobs and really saved me from overwork) got all of the student ensemble performances taped onto the top pro-sumer miniDV cam around.

Total? More than SEVENTY one-hour-plus-long tapes!

I have finally managed to capture all of that footage into my computer, requiring an additional TERABYTE of storage space. Then I discovered that iMovie on the new Intel Macs does not work properly: there is a well-known bug in Apples movie editing program that makes the audio in transitions unusable, meaning that I had to return to my older G4 model computer to do the actual editing. I've also learned that making "chapter markers" in iMovie does not necessarily create the required chapter stops when you export the film to DV format, and then try to transform it into a regular old DVD using Roxio Toast. This means that I'm using iDVD on an older G4 model computer ... while my new-ish, blindingly powerful MacBook Pro is essentially worthless and totally unusable for video editing work.

I think that i will be able to sequence video on this MacBook Pro, but I can't do any real editing for fear of the transition problem. Sigh.

From my extensive research on the new Apple Intel Macintosh computers, I was certain that this first generation of new systems was NOT ready for release. But of course the company released them anyway, following the long-standing policy of all technology-based companies: let the USERS play the role of bug-testers, and fix the problems for later.

The upshot of all of this? DVD and CD production is proceeding much more slowly than I had ever anticipated. But fear not! the first DVDs ancd CDs are already rolling off my drives, getting new faces printed on them with my new disc printer, and being packed into all of the new storage cases and mailing boxes that are littering my increasingly cramped apartment in Los Angeles.

I need to add "please allow up to 8 weeks for delivery" onto the NYSMF Store page. But it's all worth it. Ya know why? It's because I now get to watch these videos as I edit them -- allowing me to re-live some of the best of our first summer of NYSMF. It makes me prouder than ever to be a part of it all.

Okay, back to work! Keep sending in those orders, and I'll keep working on them for you.

Kinda Behind the Scenes at Band Camp

2006-08-29T14:27:00.000-04:00

I've been working my buttocks to the coccyx getting NYSMF concert DVDs and CDs ready for shipping, but I've also been transforming some of all those little non-concert videos into MP4 format so you can watch those little slices of life from NYSMF this summer.

Like Nick Hart struggling into a size XS tee shirt during the Bass Olympics ...

.. and who can forget that pie-eating contest? Without puking, anyway?

My personal favorite, though, is the rehearsal of "Al Solosha" with David Crone in Festival Choir, session one. The sound of all of you singing that number still gives me chills. Good ones.

Which is the whole reason why I was taking these videos all summer long. When I was a kid attending the New York State Music Camp, we had no low-cost, high-quality means of videotaping ourselves, just ancient, clunky, noisy camcorders. I would have given anything to be able to see what life was like back then, even if I was forced to see my bad teenage haircuts again.

Well, this is just another little gift from me to you. Enjoy them, and I hope you look upon them as fondly in 20 years as I would have for my own band camp experience.

-- Keisuke

http://www.nysmf.org/video/2006/index.html

Keisuke

NYSMF on MySpace.com

2006-08-16T07:16:00.000-04:00

Thanks to NYSMF, I may finally use online communities as they were intended. MySpace,Friendster, and Xanga are now actually useful ways of sending NYSMFers information and news about myself and about the camp -- as opposed to being places for lame, shameless, uninteresting self-promotion. (For those of you in the know, just think of how many unsolicited pleas for friendship have come from tiny bands, BS artists, and inappropriate websites disguised as humans? Yuck.)

Friends from NYSMF have tripled the number of "friends" I had at all of these services. The NYSMF group on MySpace has similarly grown -- it will be much easier to stay in touch with everyone with all of this online interest.

What really touches me is the fact that all of these new contacts are completely personal. Everyone who has sent "Friend requests" to me are real people, people that I have actually met and worked with and spoken to about squirrels through NYSMF. People whom I like and respect and who share a love of music.

Thanks to NYSMF, the communities that I belong to on these online networks actually mean something to me. They allow me to stay in touch with people whom I can NOT just phone or hang out with.

It's nice to see the internet being used for something so ... well ... human. I like it.

Stay in touch, all you NYSMFers. I'll be using these sites heavily to keep you up to date with what's happening at our festival during the year!

MySpace
Friendster
Xanga
NYSMF group on MySpace

The Fearless Squirrel Hunter

After-NYSMF: day three

2006-08-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

It's 10 am, wednesday ...

Normally at this time, I would be frantically finishing up prep for announcements with Ms. Kim in the main office, hoping I hadn't missed anyone's birthday, and praying to every deity imaginable that it would NOT be another "Wacky Wild Schedule Day".

Instead, I'm packing up my room in Hulbert (yes, I lived in Hulbert, well hidden from prying eyes), wondering just how much extra paper and computer cable I have accumulated during this summer, and worrying about keeping my box of 70 mini-DV tapes safe until I can process them into Official NYSMF DVDs. These will be all the concerts, some of the master classes, and the Yamaha/Silent String documentary that I need to put together this year. Yikes. I need to open a new production house: how does "NYSMF Productions Ink" sound?

This is one of the oddest feelings I've encountered for some time. The entire two months I have spent in Oneonta have taken on a thoroughly unreal quality. "Did all of that really happen?" I have to keep asking myself. It's as if I have been asleep and dreaming for all of that time, and will suddenly awake in my own bed in Los Angeles, struggling with post-dream disorientation.

The intensity and sheer joy of this first summer of NYSMF is the culprit. After doing so much in such a short time, and doing all of it every single day, anything else in life is looking pretty tame in comparison. All of us accomplished something every single day here at NYSMF, sometimes every single hour or minute or second, whether it was prepping a student's file; emailing a parent; talking to a business; teaching a class; playing in an ensemble; organizing an event; everything and anything.

In contrast, I could spend all year in LA doing nothing but watching TV. That's one of the real gifts of being part of NYSMF: it focussed my energies and skills away from reruns of "Sealab 2021" or my dogged determination to watch every last episode of "Dragonball" via Netflix. Instead of wasting all of my time, I was doing something really great every single moment.

I suppose I could set a good example and carry over this NYSMF energy into my regular life. Stay tuned -- I've got LOTS of work to do to get you your concert DVDs, organize all the photos I took, and to take a big part in getting NYSMF 2007 all set up and ready to go next June 24, 2007. And I hope to see you all there again, too!

--Keisuke

Farewell Summer 2006

2006-08-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

The final notes of the All-NYSMF Choir's rendition of "You are So Beautiful" sounded just after 10pm tonight. In a surprise and wonderfully sweet gesture, conductor Dr. Robert Barstow presented NYSMF's Executive Director, Ms. Jungeun Kim, with an enormous bouquet, and had her stand on the stage, facing the choir, who then sang the great old standard to Ms. Kim.

The applause ran loud and long, but all too soon it faded. The house lights came up, and I took a step forward for the final time this summer.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," I said, "that concludes the 2006 Premiere Season of the New York Summer Music Festival. Thank you for showing us that there is still magic left in the world. Have a great year, and we'll see you next summer. Good night."

I love you all. Visit here often until we meet again.

Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications

Tribute to Skitch Henderson

2006-07-30T07:54:00.000-04:00

Impossible as it is to believe, we have just entered our sixth and final week of NYSMF's premiere season.

This previous week has been fantastic. The Chamber Orchestra has been working overtime, rehearsing madly for the upcoming "Tribute to Skitch Henderson" concert, which will feature tunes that the New York Pops Orchestra would have performed under the late maestro.

Skitch was a tremendous friend of the people here at NYSMF, working every year with our Jazz Ensembles director Dr. Sherrie Maricle (also the Education Director of the NY Pops) and our Executive Director, Jungeun Kim. Sadly, Mr. Henderson passed away less than a year ago, but we wanted to ensure he remained a part of the magic here at the NY Summer Music Festival with this tribute.

The concert is at 3pm today, Sunday, July 30, 2006. If you can make it, please come on out and share our homage to a great friend and a great musician: Mr. Skitch Henderson.

NYSMF/YAMAHA SILENT STRING PREMIERE

2006-07-12T23:21:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, July 8, at 3 pm, the New York Summer Music Festival premiered an exciting new work by our very own Sean Neukom, a Teaching Assistant in violin. The piece was entitled "Tango for Silent Strings", and was conceived, created, and completed in less than a single week! (Click the photo to play the video!)

Sean took the initiative to compose a piece especially for our set of Yamaha Silent Electric Strings - two violins, viola, cello, and bass - which we received from the Yamaha Corporation, completely free of charge and free of obligations.

"We want to get these instruments into the hands of the people who would get the most out of them," Ken Dattmore, the Marketing Manager of Orchestral Strings at Yamaha, told me after awarding the Silent Strings to NYSMF.

I'd say we fulfilled Yamaha's hopes extremely well! And in less than two weeks, too. Click the link below to see -- and to hear! -- the world premiere of Sean Neukom's "Tango for Silent Strings", performed last Saturday at the New York Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, New York.

And if that's not enough ... we at NYSMF already have ANOTHER world premiere on tap for next weekend, starting Friday, July 21st.

An all-NYSMF-student ensemble has commissioned Sean Neukom to write a SECOND original composition for its premiere during that set of concerts.
One of our NYSMF students has chosen to use the Silent Electric Cello in his jazz combo -- or is it a chamber group?
Our Musical Theatre Workshop, which already distinguishes itself from all similarly named programs by writing an ORIGINAL musical theatre show every two weeks, will be using the Silent Strings as important story elements in its upcoming presentation (Friday, July 21, 6:30pm).

For NYSMF's complete concert schedule, please visit our online calendar at http://www.calendar.yahoo.com/nysmf. And come on out to enjoy the finest in all kinds of great music -- not only do we have world premieres going on all the time, we also have some incredibly good orchestras, bands, wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, chamber music, and much, much more.

NYSMF ain't just another band camp. We're mighty proud of our students!

Photos from NYSMF Session 1 (June 25 - Jul 8, 2006)

2006-07-12T20:22:00.000-04:00

I've been very busy in my myriad roles here at NYSMF, but I wanted to make sure to post photos and video whenever I can to share the wonders of our first few days and weeks at SUNY Oneonta.

NYSMF VISITING ARTIST SERIES

Both visiting artists also performed special concerts just for NYSMF students and staff; those photos are on the second pages of their photo series.

NYSMF / YAMAHA SILENT STRINGS
These photos document the very first time that these instruments were removed from their cases and actually tried out by NYSMF students. The youngest was 12 years old; the oldest was 23; and none of them had ever used these types of instruments before.

We've tons of other photos available on our website at http://www.nysmf.org/photographs/2006/index.html. Photos are all copyright ©2006 by Keisuke Hoashi; all rights are reserved for Keisuke Hoashi and the New York Summer Music Festival. You may use the photos on the site for your own personal use; if you wish to use them for any commercial purpose, please contact me at info@nysmf.org and we'll work something out.

Otherwise, enjoy seeing the results of our extremely successful Session 1 of NYSMF!

Keisuke
NYSMF Director O' Communications

Now THAT'S How to Have a First Session!

2006-07-09T01:55:00.000-04:00

It's 1:30 in the morning, and we at NYSMF have just brought our first session ever to a thunderous conclusion.

Just over twelve hours ago, we began our day of concerts with the winners of our Student Recital Series. All of these young musicians had won the privilege of performing solo before a live audience, and they were all marvelous, of course. A huge succession of groups followed: the Symphonic Band, the Lab Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Choir, the Select Choir, Cello Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and so on, filling our day with nearly eight hours of almost nonstop music.

A very special treat for me (and for all the audience) was the Intergalactic premiere of the NYSMF/Yamaha Silent Electric Quintet, performing an original piece by our very talented NYSMF violinist Sean Neukom -- the "Tango for Electric Strings".

We know we're onto something really, really good here. I spoke with parent after parent today, congratulating us at NYSMF for creating such a rich, varied, and opportunity-laden program.

Photos are online at http://www.nysmf.org/photographs/2006. Check them out! I'm too tired to type anymore, but I'm feeling immensely proud of what we have accomplished here. As a parent said to me, we really built this entire massive program from nothing, and have created something very special for young musicians.

And now we get to do it all again! Second Session begins in only eight hours. I really should try to get some sleep before then. Good night, and good morning to all.

Keisuke

Some Fun Jazz

2006-07-07T02:08:00.000-04:00

Proof that you can make a great jazz combo out of ANY moderately recognizable tune! This great little performance is from the Staff (Counselor/Teaching Assistant) recital last week. Enjoy.

WEEK ONE!

2006-07-02T00:56:00.000-04:00

It's been an incredible week here at NYSMF. Our first year, first season, first everything. A year of firsts is unavoidable, but we are making sure that it's more than just a linguistic irony.

FIRST VISITING ARTIST: JOHN RILEY
Shown here with NYSMF jazz bassist Bob Sabin, Mr. Riley (http://www.johnriley.org) arrived this past Wednesday, safely navigating all of the broken roads and flooded highways filling central New York. He gave an extraordinary Master Class (free of charge for NYSMF Students) and followed up with a concert rivaling any top jazz group you could find anywhere in the world.

Here's another shot of Mr. Riley with the percussion students attending NYSMF's first session.

There's much, much more to come. Stay tuned!

Keisuke
NYSMF Director of Communications

THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENROLL AT NYSMF

2006-05-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

Our regular deadline of May 15 is now a fleeting memory -- but good news, if you weren't able to get your application out to us by then. NYSMF still has a few spots available in all three sessions, and we will be accepting new applications until the end of JULY!

For details, jump on over to our official NYSMF website and click on the "Join Us" navigation button.

Campers this summer are coming from all over the world to NYSMF! We have students from Korea, Italy, France, Algeria, Russia, and Japan, as well as from the far reaches of the United State, including Nevada, Florida, and California!

Thirty short days until our first day at NYSMF. I'm all a-flutter.

--Keisuke

VOCALISTS: New courses just for you!

2006-05-25T04:32:00.000-04:00

Hello NYSMFers! It's only five more weeks until the opening of the greatest summer music camp on earth. And we're still working to make it better! Our prestigious voice faculty member, Dr. Lori McCann of NYU, has added the following courses for our serious vocalists this summer. (And shame on any of you who think the voice isn't an instrument -- it's the most important one we've got!)

Fundamentals of Singing
A technique class for beginners with emphasis on breathing, phonation, resonance, articulation and how to learn a song. (primarily for vocalists ages 10-14)
Song Analysis and Performance
Continues with these skills and will focus on analyzing the texts and interpretive elements of the songs, with work on foreign language transcription and pronunciation (IPA-International Phonetic Alphabet), translation, how to research your songs and poems and apply everything to performance. This would be primarily for ages 15 and up. Chamber pieces may be incorporated into this class for the advanced students.

The ages of students for both sections are flexible.

Dr. Lori McCann, Program in Vocal Performance
Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
Steinhardt School
New York University

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Voice
Teachers College, Columbia University
Department of Arts and Humanities
Music and Music Education

YAMAHA LOVES NYSMF

2006-05-13T01:05:00.000-04:00

Attention, all NYSMF string players! I have fantastic, ultra-cool, intensely incredible news!

This summer at our camp, you will be part of the most exciting advance in string instrument design and technology since the Cremona masters created the first Stradiveri-quality violin.

NYSMF has been honored by the Yamaha Corporation of America as one of only six recipients of an official YAMAHA SILENT ELECTRIC STRING QUARTET!

That's right, NYSMF students in our premiere 2006 season will have full access to the funkiest, most modern violin designs ever created. Yamaha is loaning NYSMF these instruments in order to put them in the hands of the people who will benefit the most from having them -- our students.

As an added bonus, Yamaha is also throwing in a Yamaha Silent Electric Bass, giving NYSMF a full complement of these rare, innovative instruments.

We shall take full advantage of the Silent Strings within our existing NYSMF programs. What does that mean to you, the student string player? The programs are still under development, but here is a sampling of what will likely happen:

Every string player will have the chance to actually play these instruments in our many string classes, performance and rep classes, etc.
You will have the opportunity to compete for the privilege of being part of the Elite Electric String Ensemble, an all-electric string group that will perform in concert for the Student Recital Series. You may also perform during our big weekend concerts, featured in a crowd-pleasing, edu-tainmentnumber, maybe even doing a fiery dueling piece against a standard wooden quintet.
Faculty won't be left out of the fun: they will get to use the instruments, too, in classes, lessons, and in concert.
Jazzers rejoice! Gone will be the days of fighting to be heard over the trumpets: with the amplification built into these Silent Electric Strings, you can crank it up to "eleven" and take a solo that will rival anything Nathan Warner can blast out!
Filmmakers join in the fun, too! Members of the filmmaking class will be given the task of following, documenting, and interviewing all the NYSMF musicians who use these instruments. You will also film all of the Silent String performances, as well as videotape audience response to this amazing equipment. The resulting footage will be cut into a documentary by resident NYSMF actor, filmmaker, and writer Keisuke Hoashi, and presented as the first official NYSMF DVD.

Where else but NYSMF would you ever have this kind of amazing opportunity?

... that's right, nowhere else.

Not too shabby for a brand new music camp, is it?

---------------------------
Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications
http://www.nysmf.org
607-267-4024
info@nysmf.org

THE NYSMF MAY 15 APPLICATION DEADLINE IS COMING

2006-05-08T16:46:00.000-04:00

Yikes, the regular application dealine of May 15, 2006 is fast approaching! If you've not yet sent in your application forms, you can still download them from here.

NYSMF is buzzing along. Enrollment is very healthy, but we still have some spots available for talented young musicians in all three sessions. So if you're a band geek or an orch dork or a choir nerd (like me), you can still get in on the Premiere Season of the best summer music camp around. A place where it's utterly cool to be a talented musician who loves the art. It's even a haven for an actor like me.

And by the way, if you for whatever reason cannot get your application in by next week, don't worry. NYSMF will be happy to accept late applications up to the last session of camp (July 23), please just email or call at (607) 267-4024 to make arrangements.

Less than seven weeks until camp starts! I'm all aflutter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Keisuke Hoashi
Director of Communications
NYSMF (New York Summer Music Festival)
PO Box 947 - Oneonta, NY 13820
http://www.nysmf.org
-----------------------------------------------------------

AN URGENT NOTE TO NYSMF BASS AND GUITAR PLAYERS

2006-05-01T14:43:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, Keisuke here again, and I'm passing along an important request from Jazz Coordinator Bob Sabin.

If you're an electric bassist or guitarist, PLEASE BRING YOUR AMPS WITH YOU TO CAMP THIS SUMMER. A small portable unit would be best, but please bring an amp for your own instrument.

It might seem a redundant request, since you can't play an electric instrument without an amp. We simply won't have enough to go around at NYSMF for all the players who are coming, or for all of the classes and ensembles that you will be playing in.

So please help us avoid a crushing amp logjam, and BRING YOUR AMP WITH YOU TO CAMP. Thanks everyone!

--Keisuke
Only 8 weeks left until NYSMF!

A WONDERFUL NYSMF TESTIMONIAL BY JEAN B. CERIN

2006-04-07T04:12:00.000-04:00

Hey there everyone. One of the fantastic members of our counseling staff, JEAN B. CERIN, very kindly wrote a heartfelt testimonial about what a wonderful world we are creating for everyone at NYSMF this summer. Read on and be as touched as we were!

Ms. Jungeun Kim and her amazing staff of professionals at NYSMF are among the finest group of musicians the North East has to offer.

Hailing from the most prestigious music schools in the country, they come together to form an intense yet welcoming musical environment preparing young musicians, like myself, for the larger world of classical music.

Ms. Kim was kind enough to invite me to take part in past endeavors (with virtually the same people as now works at NYSMF) and it was truly unforgettable. I was literally bombarded with music. From morning till night I was singing, playing the piano, attending concerts, taking conducting class, and meeting other young musicians like myself who had a passion for the art.

I grew immensely both as a musician and a human being. Intense summer programs provide the setting to put into practice all the principles that you learn in music classes and lessons over the year all day long as well as learn tons more. The volume of repertoire covered and the unwavering stride toward artistic excellence with which we approached it, forced me to search within myself and find an Œintellectual passion‚ to face each new work and master it quickly.

Following that great summer, a number of wonderful musical opportunities have opened up because of this learning experience, thanks to the professionals I met and am still in contact with.

NYSMF is an event not to be missed. Ms. Kim and her staff have proven themselves not only amazing teachers and musicians, but kind and welcoming human beings that helped change my future and will surely do the same for others.

- Jean Bernard Cerin, Baritone

NYSMF ONLY! CLASSICAL SAX PROGRAM!

2006-03-25T04:53:00.000-05:00

Rub your eyes, douse your face with cold water, pinch yourself in the arm, you aren't hallucinating.

NYSMF is announcing the formation of the NYSMF FESTIVAL SAXOPHONE INSTITUTE, a two-week program dedicated to the art of the classical saxophone. Taught by Dr. Paul Cohen of the Manhattan School of Music, this NYSMF-only program runs during the second session (July 9 - 22, 2006).

Here's the official description:

Ever since the saxophone was invented in 1840, it has been a growing force in the music world, acquiring a defining role in diverse musical genres from classical to popular to jazz. In the last 60 years the saxophone has emerged as an important classical instrument in orchestral, wind ensemble, chamber, solo and recital music, giving rise to an impressive body of music with instrumental demands equal to the most sophisticated wind playing.

There are very few summer programs designed for the serious saxophonist to develop these skills and to prepare at the hightest level for high school contests and college auditions The Festival Saxophone Instittue at NYSMF is designed to fill this need. The program will have these goals.
Introduce the extensive range of saxophone literature that exists in orchestra, chamber and solo areas
Provide Master Class seminars and performance forums to develop tonal, technical and instrumental control
Provide unique and intensive coachings and preparation in saxophone quartets, saxophone ensembles and recital and chamber music
Provide a forum to address and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully audition for music schools and competitions.

OVERVIEW: NYSMF SAXOPHONE INSTITUTE
High school and college saxophone students will have the opportunity for in-depth exploration of the classical saxophone. In 2006, NYSMF will accept up to twenty qualified students for enrollment. The two-week program features formal instruction through private lessons, master classes, saxophone quartet, saxophone ensemble (ranging from sopranino to contrabass saxophone) chamber music studies, and lecture classes on saxophone history and literature.

OPTIONAL PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
Students work on repertoire already in progress, with emphasis on improving technique and tonal concept and execution. Equipment changes will not be made or suggested (unless requested) but a deepened awareness of what is possible with exisiting materials will be explored. New repertoire for advanced students will also be offered.

MASTER CLASSES
Students participate in master classes led by Dr. Cohen. Classes will include individual performers as well as ensembles.

PERFORMANCE CLASSES
These informal settings offer a supportive atmosphere for the development and discussion of performance skills througout the week. At the end of each week there will be a formal saxophone concert of solos, chamber works and saxophone ensembles.

INSTITUTE ENSEMBLES
Ensembles available for saxophonists will include the wind ensemble, symphonic band, orchestra (as needed) saxophone quartet (SATB or AATB), mixed chamber groups, saxophone with piano, as well as a saxophone ensemble. The saxophone ensemble is a large conducted group playing original and transcribed music. With an instrumentation of sopranino saxophone to contrabass saxophone (both provided by Dr. Cohen) students can play on other size saxophones as well as further refining critical ensemble skills through exposed, non-doubling parts.

Saxphonists of the world unite, and descend upon NYSMF this summer! Your prayers for being taken for more than a piece of a jazz combo have been answered! APPLY TODAY AT http://www.NYSMF>org!! And give us a head's-up by emailing us at info@nysmf.org.

NY POPS ORMANDY SCHOLARSHIP @ NYMSF

2006-03-16T16:20:00.000-05:00

The New York Pops Orchestra continues its active support of NYSMF with the Ormandy Scholarship! Here's the description from the NY Pops website:

ORMANDY SCHOLARSHIP

New York Summer Music Festival
Each year select Salute to Music students receive scholarships to attend
the New York Summer Music Festival.
Named after the orchestra’s founding principal cellist, Martin Ormandy, the scholarship rewards students who have shown exceptional musical growth during the school year and who exhibit the musicality and discipline necessary to excel.
Interested students submit an essay on how they would benefit from the scholarship. Winners receive free tuition and expense reimbursement to attend a two-week session at the New York Summer Music Festival and Institute. There, they concentrate on improving their skills on their instruments while practicing and performing in a community of like-minded musicians.

Two free weeks at NYSMF! Visit the NY Pops site for details, and good luck -- although in reality, you actually don't need any luck, you need to be a good musician above all else. So keep playing and keep pushing yourself, it can pay off nicely.

Thanks NY Pops, and thanks Dr. Maricle for your wonderful support of NYSMF.

--Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications
And Squirrel Medium

NEW JAZZ PAGE@NYMSF.org

2006-03-12T04:22:00.000-05:00

Need a bunch of professional jazzers this summer? Look no further than NYSMF!

http://www.nysmf.org/about02jazz-presskit.html

The NYSMF Jazz Faculty does a lot more than teach, conduct, and provide extraordinary private lessons for NYSMF students from June 25 - Aug 5 in Oneonta, NY. They do what all professional musicians do, too: they find opportunities to play professionally wherever they may be.

You can preview the sounds that your faculty can do. We've got links to some of their music online, just click and you can hear the playing of NYSMF's finest:

Sherrie Maricle (NY Pops)
Bob Sabin (Ranula Music)
Jason Rigby (too many bands to mention)
Brenda Earle (have you visited her site BrendaEarle.comand listened to her smooth singin' lately?)

Click, listen, and enjoy. And hey, if you need any professional jazzers for your jazz club, bar, wedding, bar mitzvah, or bris (okay, maybe not that), give our Jazz Coordinator Bob Sabin a call. Yee ha everyone.

--Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications and Asparagus Sorbet

OFFICIAL NYSMF PRESS RELEASE

2006-02-28T17:25:00.000-05:00

We're getting more legit by the day, now we have official press releases starting to circulate all around the world. They are based currently at:

EWorldWire

PRWEB

If you need a copy for yourself, you can pick one up off the NYSMF website as a PDF file. Just click here and viola. Why would you need one? To give to your local newspaper, college paper, radio station, etc, of course! Download away.

NYSMF'S IN THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE!

2006-02-26T03:59:00.000-05:00

That's right, NYSMF has an ad in the special "Camps and Schools" advertising supplement in today's New York Times Magazine section! Personally, i get a huge kick out of that.

In addition to our ad in the Sunday, Feb 26 NY Times, you can find us in upcoming issues of:

DownBeat magazine
JazzTimes magazine
Strings Magazine
TeenStrings magazine
The Juilliard Journal
The MTNA Conference Book
The NYSSMA School Music News
American Music Teachers AMT magazine
and on intergalactic television and radio.

Help us out, if you know cool friends who you'd like to see at NYSMF with you this summer, point them to us! We'll give you a few bucks as a "thank you", and maybe even a tee shirt ... hmm ... hey, that's not a bad thought at all ...

--Keisuke
NYSMF Director O' Communications
and resident fondue expert

FACULTY PERFORMANCE!

2006-02-25T04:11:00.000-05:00

Hey there all you NYSMFers! Cool news: one of our resident jazzers and sax players, ALEJANDRO AVILES, is going on a US State Dept concert tour of South America!

But if you want to hear them play before they take off, you can catch them at Lincoln Center in NYC this Saturday -- today!

The Alejandro Aviles Latin Jazz Quartet

Saturday Feb. 25, 2006
1PM
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
Jazz @ Lincoln Center
60th Street and Broadway
New York City

No cover charge.

Alejandro Aviles, alto and soprano saxophones
Jason Gillenwater, tenor saxophone
Ricardo Rodriguez, bass
Henry Cole, drums

Come have a listen and wish Alejandro a good trip.

APPLY FOR A CANADIAN MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP

2006-02-24T18:30:00.000-05:00

NYSMF students, take note of this scholarship opportunity!

Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra is proud to announce the 2006 NACO Bursary Competition. Please see the attached information brochure.

Total Awards up to $18,500.00. The application to audition for the annual NACO Bursary Competition is available online by February of each year. The application deadline is March 15, 2006 17h00.

For full information and an online application, please go to the Education and Outreach section of our NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca .

If you are aware of any strongly talented young musicians between the ages of 16 and 24 pursuing his or her professional career who meet the eligibility criteria as attached, please forward them this application. We would appreciate your assistance in posting this information on appropriate electronic notice boards where possible.

Thank you for your consideration and attention.

Sincerely,

Tamara Kater
Music Education
National Arts Centre
53 Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5W1
Tel: 613- 947-7000 ext 485
Email: tkater@nac-cna.ca
www.nac-cna.ca

The NYSMF Blog!

2006-02-21T00:41:00.000-05:00

NYSMF JAZZ!

Greetings everyone, I hope everyone had an appropriately festive President’s Day! Were we supposed to buy presidents? Personally, I sent a card.

For those of you I don’t know, I’m Robert Sabin, jazz bass instructor for the New York Summer Music Festival. NYSMF is riding on all cylinders toward the highly anticipated June 25th launch date of the Festival, and the entire returning jazz faculty (myself, Jason Rigby, Gernot Bernroider, Jon Irabagon, Alejandro Aviles, Nathan Warner, Brenda Earle, and Joe Vererese) is excited about the new facilities at SUNY Oneonta, and with good reason. A larger space will give the program the opportunity to continue to grow, providing the best and most comprehensive summer jazz program for our students. This year is going to be the best and most exciting festival we’ve ever been apart of, and we’re just getting started. Much props to our fearless leader Ms Kim for orchestrating this great feat!

On the guest artists front we have some exciting and dramatic developments. We have assembling a roster of visiting legends to lend us their insight and incredible playing for this year’s guest artist series. Each artist will give a master class, and an evening performance.

Session one will feature one of the greatest bassists and musicians in the world, John Patitucci, with on of our outstanding resident conductors, Mike Holober. As anyone who has seen this duo perform knows, this will be a day not to be missed. John performs regularly with legends such as Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea, and is one of the biggest names in the jazz world. To say that he is “in demand” is about as big an understatement as is possible, making this a remarkable, and rare, opportunity for our students!

Second session brings the inimitable saxophonist Dick Oatts! I like to refer to him simply as “the man” because of his unbelievable ability, musicianship, and his incredible ability to inspire everyone he comes into contact with. He holds one of the most prestigious appointments in the jazz world, lead alto for the legendary Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and his playing defies the imagination. It is an honor to have him grace the Festival this year!

Third session brings another legend, drummer John Riley, from the ranks of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, not to mention Stan Getz, Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, Gary Peacock, Mike Stern, Joe Lovano, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, John Patitucci, Bob Berg, and many others. John is one of the most unbelievable drummers on the planet, and no doubt will be one of the highlights of the festival.

But wait there is more….

As those that saw the NYSMF Jazz Faculty perform at the Manhattan School of Music last month know, we have a new guitarist joining our ranks! Jesse Lewis is one bad mama jama, for sure. An amazing musician, Jesse will be teaching advanced, and beginning guitar ensembles, not to mention guitar lessons. The new and improved guitar program will offer something for everyone, from the beginner looking to get it together, or the advanced guitarist looking to expand his or her abilities from one of the finest players on the East Coast. It is wonderful to have such an established player on board, one who can play everything from classical, rock, funk, and tear it apart as a jazz player. Welcome aboard Jesse!

Hey NYSMF has a myspace page! Check out the great page Keisuke put up at http://groups.myspace.com/nysmf and join!

More exciting developments are on the way, so stay tuned. I welcome all feedback and questions about our program, so please drop me a line at bobsabin@earthlink.net. I would be happy to give any specific details on what our program can offer prospective students and parents. We are the most best and experienced summer music festival in the North East, and we’ll be showing why in just a few months!

Stay warm everyone! see you soon,

Robert Sabin

NYSMF AT IAJE

2006-02-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings from hot, sunny, city-once-again-on-fire Los Angeles. Despite the heat, I've been battling either stomach flu, food poisoning, or something equally unpleasant for the last week, and that's why I've been so slow to put anything else up here. Sorry about that, folks.

Bob Sabin, however, has been on the ball in my place. Our resident Jazz Bass extraordinare recently sent me a bunch of photos from NYSMF's presence at the January IAJE Conference
in New York City. Have a good look -- all these handsome mugs will be joining us at NYSMF this summer and make you greater players.

Here we've got the NYSMF triple threat of Gernot Bernroider, Bob Sabin, and Jason Rigby, which will be replacing all memory of the Stan Getz Trio very soon now.

Here's a shot of the legendary Mike Holober with some fellow who also plays bass ... no, seriously, it's the incredible John Patitucci on the left. He will be coming up to NYSMF to blow us away with his great playing, and hopefully some good stories about Holober!

Bob also got us a shot of John Riley, a master drummer who will also join us at NYSMF this summer of 2006.

And one more shot of some of NYSMF's exalted Jazz Faculty. Ladies and Gentlemen, Joe Verderese & Bob.

WELCOME TO NYSMF'S BLOG!

2006-02-09T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hello there everyone! Welcome to the brand-new NYSMF Blog, where you'll find regularly irregular posts about the finest new music camp in the land, the New York Summer Music Festival NYSMF.

My name is Keisuke Hoashi, the NYSMF Director of Communications, as well as the person in charge of our wildly unique Musical Theatre program. (More on that later. It'll be worth the wait.)

NYSMF is a brand new summer music festival / band camp / music festival, being held this summer of 2006 between JUNE 25 and AUGUST 5, 2006. All young musicians ages 10 though 25 are welcome to come.

We offer all the expected great stuff you've come to expect in your band camp: three orchestras; three bands/wind ensembles; a half-dozen jazz ensembles; and a bunch of choirs, ranging in levels from fun-loving beginners to equally fun-loving professionals. Playing in these groups every day will advance your own playing by unbelievable leaps and bounds -- there's nothing like playing alongside other talented musicians to make you even better!

We also offer many programs totally unique to NYSMF. For example:

COMPOSITION
Any student can apply to be part of this program, directed by Resident Composer David Ludwig. You'll learn things about writing music that even graduate programs don't offer, working side by side with David as you work on your own composition to be performed by members of the outstanding NYSMF faculty. At the end of the workshop session, you'll get an excellent recording of the performance!
ORIGINAL MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP

"Big Deal," you may scoff, "I've suffered through tons of lame musical theatre in my high school, what's so great about THIS program at NYSMF?"

Well, my friend, at NYSMF:
1. you work with a real live professional Hollywood actor, Keisuke Hoashi.
2. He'll teach you the basics of writing your own original songs, lyrics, skits, sketch comedy, and even full plays.
3. The NYSMF Musical Theatre staff will help you create your own original music
4. You'll have opportunities not only to write and act, but to direct, choreograph, stage manage, every backstage and front-stage aspect of producing Musical Theatre
5. Your original work will be part of a world-premiere ORIGINAL MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION -- a brand-new show every two weeks, entirely written and created by you and your student peers.
VISITING ARTISTS PROGRAM

You not only get to see legends like John Patitucci and Aaron Rosand play live (and for FREE), you get to attend Master Classes with these luminaries (for FREE), talk and question them about life as a professional musician (for FREE), and you may even take a private lesson with them (not for free, but you can't have everything). This is really a chance of a lifetime for a young musician!
FILMMAKING PROGRAM

You're not dreaming. We really DO offer a filmmaking program, where you will work with a small team of fellow students to write, film, edit, and produce a 5-minute film to be screened every two weeks! Under the direction of Keisuke Hoashi, you'll learn all the basics that are normally reserved for incredibly rich film school students, and really put them to use.

Sound good? Click here to visit our website at http://www.nysmf.org, and fill out an application today! We look forward to seeing you at camp this summer -- and keep visiting here to read all the latest NYSMF news all semester long!

-- Keisuke