ROCHESTER, NY — With the fall semester winding down and the holiday season upon us, the Eastman School of Music’s Community Education Division (CED) is sponsoring two events — one right before the holidays, one right after — to showcase its own and celebrate its prominent role in educating hundreds of Rochester area musicians of all ages.
CED Homecoming • Saturday, December 20
CED’s annual "Homecoming" — a daylong music extravaganza featuring concurrent performances by CED students and ensembles — will take place Saturday, December 20, from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m . in Kilbourn Hall, the Main Hall, and Room A-902 of the Eastman School (26 Gibbs St.). Current and former CED students, parents, and the general public are invited to experience a day of non-stop performances featuring nearly all of CED’s youth and adult ensembles. This includes, among others, the Children’s Chorus, Harp Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and New Horizons Orchestra, Dance Band, and smaller ensembles. The music then continues from 2-5 p.m. with several general, advanced, and adult recitals in Kilbourn Hall and Howard Hanson Hall.
CED’s Homecoming tradition, begun in 1998, has become a big event for CED students and faculty.
"It allows us to showcase the incredible talent and musicianship in the CED, which is not always immediately known to the public" said Howard Potter, associate dean of community education.
CED Alumni Concert • Tuesday, January 6
Eastman’s CED continues to shine right after the new year as well. For the first time ever, it is presenting a special concert featuring several former CED students — most from the Rochester area, all home on a semester break ? who are now pursuing degrees in music at prominent schools such as Eastman, Juilliard, and elsewhere. The concert, which will take place at 8 p.m., Tuesday, January 6, in Kilbourn Hall (26 Gibbs St.), will feature the music of Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and others, and is free and open to the public.
Performers include harpist Emily Caton of Spencerport; flutist Erin Hunt of Penfield; brothers John (violin) and Joseph (piano) Irrera of Batavia (who both now are collegiate students at Eastman); flutist Joyce Kim of Pittsford; percussionist Peter Zlotnik of Penfield; and pianist Anna Liberson of Albany.
“We’re delighted to present these fine young artists in concert,” said Potter. “Their talent and passion for music clearly were nurtured though their years spent in Eastman’s CED. It’s gratifying to see them pursuing music at the collegiate level."
The Community Education Division has been an integral part of the Eastman School of Music since its founding by George Eastman in 1921. With an accomplished faculty in an unparalleled setting, today’s CED offers nearly 1,100 motivated students of all ages and ability levels a wide variety of opportunities to learn and perform music through private lessons, group classes, and ensembles. For more information about the CED or its upcoming events, the general public may call 274-1400 or visit www.esm.rochester.edu/community.
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