Two major Rochester, NY institutions, Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) and The Strong National Museum of Play (The Strong), have formalized their existing partnership by expanding musical programming offered to the museum’s patrons, predominantly focusing on events for children and seniors.
These well-known institutions have worked together for many years, but the onset of COVID-19, along with scheduled renovations at the museum, paused the collaboration. Both organizations are thrilled to resume these specialized events, beginning with two specific programs: Evenings with Eastman, short concerts in the museum’s atrium featuring solo instrumentalists or ensembles, and Story Time Club, interactive events where ECMS Faculty provide instrumental accompaniment to narrators as they read children’s books aloud.
“Evenings with Eastman” at The Strong
Dr. Petar Kodzas, Associate Dean & Director of the Eastman Community Music School, points out that “no one knows more about the value and importance of play than the experts at The Strong, while we at ECMS are experts on a different kind of play — musical! We serve children in the same age group, operate in the same neighborhood and it is very organic for us to intertwine the ways that each of our institutions ‘play.’”
“Music and play go hand-in-hand, so we’re pleased to be working with the talented musicians from ECMS to provide more musical programming and performances to our members and guests,” says Steve Dubnik, president and CEO of The Strong. “It’s always wonderful when two premier arts and cultural organizations work together to share the power of play and music with our community.”
According to Jamal J. Rossi, Dean of the Eastman School of Music, “Recognizing that we ‘play musical instruments,’ the collaboration between music and play, as exemplified by our partnership with the Strong National Music of Play, is a collaboration that benefits the children of our community.”
Upcoming Events:
Friday, April 14 at 6:00 p.m. in The Strong Museum’s Adams Atrium
Evenings with Eastman feat. The Kilbourn Quartet. The Kilbourn Quartet is a group of seniors currently enrolled in the Chamber Music Certificate project at Eastman School of Music. Members: Chloe Yofan, violin; Emilie Tupper, violin; Wednesday Hsu, viola; Noah Janowicz, cello.
Monday, April 17 at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in The Strong Museum’s Adams Atrium
Story Time Club feat. Sunshine Quan, harp. Chinese Canadian harpist Quan is currently pursuing a DMA degree in Harp Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music under the generous sponsorship of the Eileen Malone Scholarship. She also works as an Intern in Harp for ECMS.
To learn more about these performances, and other upcoming events from the Eastman Community Music School, visit their website.
Media only:
Lauren Sageer, Eastman School of Music, (585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu
Shane Rhinewald, The Strong, (585) 410-6365, srhinewald@museumofplay.org
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About The Strong National Museum of Play:
The Strong is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to the history and exploration of play. It is home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play and houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play.
About Eastman Community Music School:
The Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) in collaboration with members of the collegiate division faculty, strives to introduce students of all ages to the joy and discipline of music by providing a rich environment that supports each student’s musical participation and enjoyment, develops a solid foundation for the young musician aspiring to a professional career, presents opportunities for lifelong musical experiences, and offers ongoing development for teachers and other music professionals. ECMS believes that music is not only an essential part of a quality education, but also a powerful contributor to quality of life. George Eastman created ECMS in 1921 for the enrichment of the residents of greater Rochester, with the expectation that this experience should be available to everyone, regardless of age, musical background, or ability to pay.
About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
About the University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.