ROCHESTER, NY — Eastman School of Music students will bring their talents and passion for music to the community later this month, thanks to the School’s unique Music For All program. Small ensembles of two to six musicians will perform for audiences ranging from first graders to senior citizens.
Approximately 180 Eastman students will take part in Music for All 2007. All will give two performances in the community: one for a school-aged audience and one for adults. A total of 85 performances will take place between March 25 and April 13, many of which are open to the public (see below).
According to Elinor Freer, assistant professor of chamber music at Eastman and coordinator of the program, Eastman’s Music For All program is the most extensive and comprehensive outreach program of any collegiate music school. The participating students receive significant training before presenting their performances. This training begins each year with a seminar in January during which guest artists demonstrate for Eastman students the skills necessary to connect with audiences of all ages. In February, Eastman student groups spend time preparing their own school and community presentations under the guidance of Eastman faculty members, before finally taking their show “on the road” in March.
“All 21st-century musicians must become powerfully communicative advocates for their art,” Freer says. “Music for All gives Eastman students the opportunity to develop the performance and communication skills necessary to become such advocates — and allows them to contribute to building new audiences for classical music.”
In addition to several dozen private performances, the following events are open to the public:
Sunday, March 25: 7:30 p.m.
Oxbow String Quartet
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
77 Country Corner Lane
Fairport, NY 14450
223-2796
Saturday, March 31: 2 p.m.
Family Concert
"Just Another Tuba Quartet"
Borders Books and Music
1000 Hylan Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
292-5900
Sunday, April 1: 2 p.m.
Five Degree Wind Quintet
Central Library of Monroe County
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604-1896
428-8304
Sunday, April 1: 4 p.m.
Matt Osika Brass Quintet
Scottsville Free Library
28 Main Street
Scottsville, NY 14546
889-2023
Tuesday, April 3: 12:15.p.m.
Filip Blachnio Trio
Downtown United Presbyterian Church
121 N. Fitzhugh Street
Rochester, NY 14614
325-4000 ext. 17
Wednesday, April 4, noon
The “Masters of Music” Wind Quintet
Drake Memorial Library
SUNY-Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, NY 14420
395-2797
Thursday, April 5: 7p.m.
Eastman School Wind Quintet
Brighton Library
2300 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
784-5345
Tuesday, April 10: 12:15p.m.
Brits/Mitchell Piano Duo
Downtown United Presbyterian Church
121 N. Fitzhugh Street
Rochester, NY 14614
325-4000 ext. 17
Tuesday, April 10: 7p.m.
Guitar Power Trio
Brighton Library
2300 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
784-5345
Friday, April 13: 7p.m.
Family Concert
PJ Storytime with the ESM String Quartet
Barnes & Noble
3349 Monroe Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
586-6113
Each year the Music For All program sends over 40 chamber music groups out into the local community to perform approximately 90 concerts at locations such as schools, colleges, libraries, bookstores, hospitals, churches, and senior centers. Over 2000 people in the greater Rochester community are able to enjoy live music through Music For All each year. For more information, visit www.esm.rochester.edu/musicforall.
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