New Choral Society Wraps Season
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Dr. John T. King has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of The New Choral Society (NCS) of Scarsdale since he founded it in 1994. But nothing seemingly could have surpassed the finale of its 2024-2025 season, Georg Friederich Handel’s Israel in Egypt, on Sunday afternoon, May 4, in those 31 years.
It was brilliant, strenuous, and a “barn burner” in the eyes, ears and minds of several in the sold-out audience in the sanctuary of Hitchcock Presbyterian Church on Greenacres Avenue in Scarsdale. The afternoon raindrops didn’t have a chance at spoiling this wonderful oratorio.
Smiling faces were all around for this particular piece.
For the avid students of choral music and/or those just listening for the simple enjoyment of the most professional music, Handel’s work and King’s interpretation of same on Sunday had everything: six soloists for the first time, three of them for their first appearances ever for NCS, Maestro King, who surprisingly had to carefully study the unfamiliar piece to him before introducing it to his singers and orchestra players, and Una Tone, always the energetic Concertmaster and the Elizabeth J. Broyd Chair (in honor of the founding Executive Director for her 25 years of service) playing Violin 1.
Soprano and Tenor Drew Most Applause
Kathryn Lewek, soprano, and Alex McKissick, tenor, drew the most applause from the concert attendees following the conclusion of the event.
From the Playbill for Sunday’s event, it says, “Kathryn Lewek is a born communicator who has been called ‘utterly enthralling’ by the New York Times.’ Combining charismatic stage presence with a voice of sumptuous range, crystalline purity, and rich emotional power, she headlines productions at the foremost opera houses and festivals worldwide.” American Tenor Alex McKissick “has been engaged by the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Irish National Opera, Des Moines Opera, North Carolina Opera, Aspen Music Festival, and a plethora of other musical houses, the Playbill said.
Other soloists for Sunday afternoon included: Ellie Dehn, Soprano; Tamara Mumford, Mezzo-Soprano; Daniel Rich, Baritone, and Michael Adams, Baritone. Dehn, McKissick and Adams were performing for the first time for NCS.
American soprano Ellie Dehn “has been praised by critics as a ‘revelation’ (Chicago Sun Times), acclaimed for her ‘great stage presence and a voice combining metallic clarity and sensual richness’ (Wall Street Journal),” the Playbill said. “American mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford has gained a reputation as an exciting and in-demand singer appearing with many of the finest orchestras and opera houses in the U.S. and Europe. Ms. Mumford has appeared many times with NCS including the 2020 and 2021 Messiahs and the 30th Anniversary Gala, the Playbill said. Mr. Rich “is a recent graduate of The Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program,” the Playbill also said. He has previously appeared with NCS for the performances of Messiah and the 30th Anniversary Gala. Praised by Opera News for “brandishing a beautiful, evenly produced, nicely ripe sound, baritone Michael Adams’ engagements in the 2024-2025 season include his return to the Metropolitan Opera as Scarus in Adams’ Anthony and Cleopatra. Mr. Adams was originally scheduled to make his NCS debut in April of 2020, which was postponed.
Ms. Mumford, Mr. McKissick, Mr. Rich and Mr. Adams appeared on Sunday by permission of the Metropolitan Opera.
All six soloists appeared on stage in different configurations during the singing and playing of the piece.
Learned Seminar Before Concert
To provide an educational introduction prior to the Handel concert on Sunday, on Wednesday evening, April 30, also in the sanctuary at Hitchcock, NCS presented Rabbi Jonathan Blake of Scarsdale’s Westchester Reform Temple, who is known to play his guitar often during services at his temple, and the same Dr. King provided a seminar with a closer look at the libretto source of Handel’s Israel in Egypt.
A good crowd showed up for that presentation, too, including a number of members from Westchester Reform Temple, singing members from NCS and the church’s Chancel Choir. It felt very much like an evening college course, only without college credit or an assignment to write an essay on what everyone heard, at perhaps the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, with most professional and interesting comments coming from the two commentators and selected examples of the actual music from the score.
Beautiful and professional music and a lecture on the subject to boot. Not a bad way to spend your leisure time if you’re a music lover. Thanks to Hitchcock, John King, also Minister of Music at Hitchcock, and his dedicated team.
Hoff-Barthelson Hosts Music of Our Time Festival, May 16–18
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Shaping the Sound of Tomorrow: Hoff-Barthelson Music School Hosts Music of Our Time Festival, May 16–18: Three Days of Contemporary Music Celebrating Innovation, Collaboration, and Creativity
Hoff-Barthelson Music School’s acclaimed Music of Our Time Festival returns May 16–18, 2025, with a vibrant lineup of student and faculty performances, world premieres, and a deep commitment to the music of the present moment. Under the artistic direction of renowned cellist and HBMS faculty member Peter Seidenberg, the festival celebrates works composed from 1975 to the present and underscores the school’s ongoing dedication to fostering creative expression and innovation in music education.
A centerpiece of this year’s festival is the world premiere of All the Sounds Around Her by acclaimed composer Kian Ravaei, commissioned by Hoff-Barthelson through its Wilma Machover Residency and Commission Program. Inspired by the life and legacy of beloved children’s musician Ella Jenkins, the piece incorporates call-and-response singing, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and Jenkins’s signature multilingual counting games. It will be performed by the HBMS Vocal Ensembles, the Westchester Children’s Choir, and the HBMS Festival Orchestra under the baton of Leandro Gazineo at the Large Ensembles Concert on Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 pm, to be held at the Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation in White Plains.
Another festival highlight is the debut of the Micro-Commissions Project, an innovative collaboration between HBMS and the Manhattan School of Music. Co-directed by Peter Seidenberg and Reiko Fueting, MSM Chair of Composition, the initiative pairs ten HBMS students with ten MSM undergraduate composers, resulting in brand-new works written specifically for each student's instrument and level. These world premieres will be presented at a special recital on Saturday, May 17, at 8:00 PM.
“The Micro-Commissions project has been a truly music-of-our-time experience,” says Peter Seidenberg. “It’s been inspiring to see how much the students have learned from one another through the collaborative process of bringing these new works to life.”
A full schedule of recitals rounds out the festival, all taking place at Hoff-Barthelson Music School, located at 25 School Lane in Scarsdale:
• Friday, May 16 at 6:30 pm – Contemporary Works (1975–Present)
• Friday, May 16 at 8:00 pm – Women Composers at the Millennium
• Saturday, May 17 at 1:00 pm – Young Composers Recital, featuring works created in HBMS composition classes under the direction of Dr. Derek Cooper
• Saturday, May 17 at 2:00 pm – Contemporary Works (1975–Present)
• Saturday, May 17 at 4:00 pm – Our Mentors in Modernism (featuring works by Schoenberg, Ives, Stravinsky, Bartók, and Britten)
• Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 pm – Micro-Commissions Project
In addition to the world premiere by Kian Ravaei, the festival finale on May 18 will include performances by the HBMS Flute Club Ensemble (directed by Donna Elaine), the Chamber Orchestra (directed by Robert Schwartz), and individual student performers. The event will also feature the announcement of the 2025 recipient of the Wilma Machover Creative Development Fund, which supports emerging composers in their artistic development.
“The Music of Our Time Festival represents the forward-thinking spirit that has always defined Hoff-Barthelson,” says Executive Director Gabriella Sanna. “Through these concerts, commissions, and collaborations, our students become active participants in shaping the future of music while honoring Wilma Machover’s visionary legacy.”
All recitals at the School are free of charge. The Large Ensembles Concert on May 18 requests a suggested donation of $20, with free admission for HBMS students.
For more information, visit www.hbms.org, email [email protected], or call 914-723-1169.
Doused in Color
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Cold temps, cloudy skies and drizzle didn’t dampen the spirits of 150 runners who participated in the third annual Color Run at Greenacres School on Saturday April 5, 2025.
This was no ordinary run. As the participants took their one-mile loop around the field they were doused in color chalk at every zone. By the time they crossed under the balloon arch at the end of the route they were covered in a rainbow of chalk powder, making a beautiful tableau.
Kids ran in three waves from 10 am to 12:15 pm and jumped in glee as they were showered with chalk. Organizer and Greenacres mom Alison Milam explained that the chalk is “non-toxic, eco-friendly, FDA approved, food-grade, washable dye sourced from a very reputable company called Kulture Khazana.”
Contributing to the event was a live band from School of Rock in White Plains featuring local kids: Jaxson Pauker (a GA alum!), Adam Katz, Henry Maass, Jyoti (“Joey”) Rustogi and Lily Gordon. Food was available from the Westchester Burger Company food truck.
And thanks go to Ronique Segree, mom to Zavier (4th grade) and Zahir (kindergarten) who constructed a full 10x10 balloon arch on site for the finish line.
A Banner Season on Broadway - See What's On Stage Now
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Idini Menzel becomes a tree hugger in RedwoodSince the streets of Scarsdale were quiet this week, we were able to take advantage of the lull to go to the city where we found Times Square flush with theater goers. We secured tickets to a few Broadways shows – and fortunately all were hits.
Here are just a few of the hits on Broadway now that you might enjoy:
For those who like musical theater we can recommend Old Friends, a revue of some of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved songs from his decades of success. You can’t help but enjoy the songs from Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Gypsy, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd and more. We were surprised to find out that Sondheim also wrote the lyrics to Leonard Bernstein’s score for West Side Story – so a few numbers from that show were included too.
And it’s not just the music. The fact that the music is performed by an all-star cast including Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga and Gavin Lee makes it even more enjoyable.
See this Old Friend while it’s on stage at the Samuel J. Freidman Theater through June 15, 2025.
We were also lucky to get tickets to see megastar George Clooney in Good Night and Good Luck. Clooney plays newsman Edward R. Murrow in the age of Joseph McCarthy. The story line has an eerie resemblance to today’s assaults on the media and free speech. As McCarthy engages in a witch hunt, destroying everyone in his path, Murrow seeks to expose him for what he really is while appeasing CBS President Bill Paley who worries about the loss of show sponsors.
The Winter Garden is a huge theater, and you may not be able to catch some of the lines from the farther seats, but if you can score some tickets at a reasonable price, (we heard some paid $900!), you’ll be happy you got to see this history-making production.
Last we didn’t want to miss Idina Menzel in Redwood. She’s a big presence with a big voice and the staging of the production breaks new ground. In the play, Menzel plays a distressed, overwrought mother, who’s on the verge of a breakdown. She takes a cross-country drive and seeks solace in a redwood forest. The set revolves around the base of a magnificent redwood tree and the entire stage becomes a panoramic screen for the projection of the forest, the tree canopy and the sky above. Sitting in the audience you are transported to the forest, surrounded by rustling branches, sunlight, changing weather systems and even a forest fire. The use of videography is stunning.
Menzel and the cast spent much of the performance suspended from climbing ropes, doing aerial gymnastics while singing their story. It’s unusual, enchanting and a reminder of how spending time in nature can help us get our feet back on the ground.
See it at the Nederlander Theater, now through August 17, 2025.
Hoff-Barthelson Music School Announces Spring Orchestra and Chamber Music Auditions on May 4, 2025
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Hoff-Barthelson Music School is thrilled to invite young musicians to audition for its highly regarded Orchestral and Chamber Music Programs on Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 9:00-1:00 pm. These programs offer students invaluable opportunities to develop their ensemble skills, refine their musicianship, and perform in a supportive yet challenging environment. Participation in these ensembles fosters discipline, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation for the art of making music together.
Orchestral Program: A Pathway to Musical Excellence
Hoff-Barthelson’s Orchestra Program provides an enriching experience for students at various skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Led by accomplished conductors and dedicated faculty, the program nurtures young musicians by exposing them to diverse orchestral literature, honing their technical abilities, and instilling a strong sense of musical artistry.
"Playing in an orchestra is a transformative experience," said Leandro Gazineo, Director of the Orchestra Program. "It challenges students to listen, lead, and grow as musicians while being part of something greater than themselves."
The program features multiple ensembles tailored to different skill levels, ensuring that each student is placed in an environment that supports their growth. Through intensive rehearsals and inspiring performances, students gain confidence, discipline, and a deeper understanding of orchestral music.
Chamber Music Program: Small Ensembles, Big Impact
The Chamber Music Program at Hoff-Barthelson offers students the unique opportunity to perform in small ensembles, where communication, teamwork, and individual responsibility are key. Under the expert guidance of experienced faculty members, students explore a rich repertoire that strengthens their interpretative skills and technical precision.
"Chamber music is one of the most rewarding ways to make music," said Laura Giannini, Program Director. "It teaches students how to listen deeply, respond intuitively, and truly collaborate with their peers in a way that builds musicianship and lifelong friendships."
Designed for string, woodwind, brass, and piano students, as well as vocalists, the Chamber Music Program allows participants to engage with like-minded musicians and experience the joy of making music in an intimate setting.
Who Should Audition?
Auditions are open to dedicated students interested in joining an orchestra or chamber ensemble for the 2025-26 academic year. Musicians of all levels are encouraged to apply, as placement is determined based on skill level and experience.
Audition Requirements and Registration
For complete audition guidelines and to register, visit www.hbms.org or contact the school at (914) 723-1169.
Don't miss the chance to be part of Hoff-Barthelson’s vibrant ensemble programs! This is an opportunity for young musicians to challenge themselves, connect with peers, and take their artistry to the next level. Register today and embark on an inspiring musical journey!
About Hoff-Barthelson Music School
Hoff-Barthelson Music School, based in Scarsdale, NY, has earned national recognition as a premier community music school, known for its outstanding leadership in education, performance, and community service. With a faculty drawn from the region’s most talented teachers and performers, the School has long been one of Westchester County’s most cherished cultural resources. At Hoff-Barthelson, students find a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of education, performance, and community service. Students of all ages, aptitudes, and levels of interest enjoy a supportive, joyful learning environment; a focus on the whole person; exceptional teaching; and a multifaceted curriculum.
Photo credit: Hoff-Barthelson’s Festival Orchestra led by Maestro Leandro Gazineo. Photographed by Mickey Riad.
