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| New York Summer Music Festival Announces Inaugural Season Open to talented young musicians of all levels, ages 10 - 25, the New York Summer Music Festival announces its inaugural season, June 25 - August 5, 2006. NYSMF is located in Oneonta, New York, (70 miles west of Albany, NY) in the Catskill Mountains. The Music Department of the State University of New York, College at Oneonta hosts the festival. NYSMF features conductors and faculty from among the world's most prestigious musical institutions, including The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute, The Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Columbia University, and The New York Pops, among many others. NYSMF faculty have performed around the world as soloists, conductors, guest artists, master clinicians, etc. NYSMF's Visiting Artist Series provides students an unparalleled opportunity to work with master orchestral and jazz musicians from around the world in a casual yet professional environment. The 2006 lineup currently includes bassist John Patitucci, violinist Aaron Rosand, saxophonist Dick Oatts, violinist Ida Kavafian, and many other artists who have performed with the Chick Corea Akoustic Band, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the NY Philharmonic, among dozens of others worldwide. NYSMF offers its students more than 50 performing ensembles and classes, all of which meet and rehearse every day during the six-week summer program. Students present concerts every week or two weeks, playing different repertoire in every performance. "The NYSMF program inspires young musicians to perform to their highest levels, " says NYSMF Associate Director James Gregory. "Students really enjoy rising to the challenge of performing new music every week, in all types of large and small ensembles. NYSMF students end up playing more concerts in one summer than they do during the rest of their school year." Major performing groups include Bands, Wind Ensembles, Orchestras, Choirs, and Jazz Ensembles; students may also choose to join dozens of smaller ensembles, chamber groups, and combos. In addition, NYSMF also offers unique creative programs in Composition, Filmmaking, Acting, and Musical Theatre, where students learn to create, perform, and produce their own original works in just two weeks. "We not only give our students opportunities to perform every week, we give them the chance to explore their own unique creative voices, " says NYSMF Director of Communications and Resident Actor, Keisuke Hoashi. "We teach them how to compose their very own music, write their own songs, musical theatre works, even to direct their own short films. Our creative programs really expand the scope of NYSMF far beyond those of more traditional 'band camps.'" College credit from SUNY Oneonta is available for selected NYSMF courses. Students also have the option to enroll in summer session courses at SUNY Oneonta, which has been a college of liberal arts and sciences since its establishment as a state school in 1889. All concerts are free and open to the public, although some special performances will charge a modest admission fee. Donations are welcome and will go towards the NYSMF Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to NYSMF students. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |