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Welcome Spring

Special Music School PTA monthly Newsletter

Special Music SchoolParent Teacher Association

OVER $17,000 RAISED FOR THE SMS PTA

DUe TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

This will bethe Final Issue

ofUpbeat

WelcomeSpring

Spring is finally here Hallelujah!!!

APRILFOOL

talk about copyright infringementwith your kids

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Special Music SchoolParent Teacher Association

Special Music SchoolParent Teacher Association

Maestro Eiji Oue and members of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra swooped into our high school on March 10 with a joint program sponsored by the Tomodachi Project Initiative, entitled “The Power of Music”.

Maestro Oue was very warm and spent a lot of time with the kids, particularly coaching them on their post-Earthquake song, “Flowers Will

Bloom”, which they performed with members of the Tokyo Philharmonic and college students from Japan. He has proclaimed his intention to come to our school every time he tours with the Tokyo Philharmonic, so hopefully we will see them again—with all their TV camera crews!

SMS Welcomes The Tokyo Philharmonic

Here is a link to their program: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tokyo-Philharmonic-to-Perform-with-Students-from-Fukushima-and-NYC-to-Mark-100-Years-Earthquake-Anniver-sary-310-20140306#.UyWTxBZCiX2

9 Magazinevisit www.smsparents.org

UPBEATSpecial Music SchoolParent Teacher Association

SMSWe

believeyouCan

doit

A big congratulations to SMS students who participated in the Rondo Music Festival competition!

SMS Festival honorees for piano include Darren Jung, Yali Levy-Schwartz, Julia Kingston, and Annaliese Wee. Honorees for ensemble include Charlotte, Julia, and Isabel Kingston. This years participants had the privilege of auditioning at the historic Steinway Hall that will soon close it’s doors in that location for good.Nice work everyone!”

Rondo Music Festival CompetitionCongratulations

believe youcan

do itCharlotte, Julia, and Isabel Kingston also known as the Kingsters.

110 Magazine MagazineUPBEATvisit www.smsparents.org visit www.smsparents.org

UPBEATSpecial Music SchoolParent Teacher Association

Special Music SchoolParent Teacher Association

Remember those days when you were an aspiring artist and you had all the time in the world to travel and convert all your photos to black and white while discarding the color versions?

Then your kids came along and shattered your dreams. I mean...gave you a new perspective on life and taught you how to laugh again.

That moment you realized that color photography could be just as cool as black and white.

Well this is your time to shine!

Bust out that expensive digital camera that you haven’t used since you got an iphone and that all-black outfit that you wore in your dark and brooding photography classes .

We know you’re out there and we will find you.

Send us your photos, ideas or that great photo of your child that you thought should be published somewhere. You know...the one in the park...on the grass....the sun was out?

No resume needed.

If you’re an SMS parent, got a cool camera and are willing to point it at stuff then you’re in!

Feel free to volunteer a loved one that you suspect might have taken a photography course at some point.

email us please click here.

UPBEAt NEEDs YOU

Harold Rosenbaum invited the SMS Vox Nova (middle school girls) choir to perform on his concert of premieres in Merkin Concert Hall this past Sunday, March 30. Emily John then asked Chandler Carter (a wonderful composer, and father of SMS 8th grader, Owen) to compose a work for the girls chorus and he crafted a beautiful set of pieces. The Middle School girls premiered Canores as guest artists on the New York Virtuoso Singers Concert.

The New York Virtuoso Singers is one of the best and most musically adventurous professional choirs in the country; Harold Rosenbaum has been recognized many times for the outstanding work of his choirs. Click here is a link to more information about them: http://www.nyvirtuoso.org/season.html

Congratulations to the SMS Vox Nova Choir for their hard work—this was a difficult piece—and for their well-received performance on Sunday.

The New York Virtuoso Singers

Sir James Galway

SMS Flute students had a wonderful opportunity to experience the teaching of Sir James Galway in a public master class at the Kaufman Center on March 26 that drew a large audience from SMS as well as the New York and international flute community. With 65 recorded CDs and over 30 million albums sold, Sir James is a living legend in

the professional flute and classical music worlds, and is also dedicated to promoting the cause of music education worldwide. In addition to a performance by the SMS Flute Ensemble, three SMS flutists were coached by Sir James; Nadira Novruzov (Grade 6), Beatrice Mirzoyev (Grade 9), and Luis Diaz (SMS & YAP alum, currently a music

major at Nyack College). Sir James focused on technical and musical aspects for each student, while engaging all present with his rich personal knowledge of and experience with the repertoire and composers presented. At one point, while discussing finger technique, Sir James handed his solid gold flute to a stunned Luis Diaz, who

then proceeded to play that instrument while he played Luis’ old Yamaha. The point, that it is not just about the instrument but about the player, was clearly illustrated to all present! Sir James’ visit will certainly be remembered by all - it was an afternoon of animated teaching, inspiring musicality and insight into the art of music-making.

New York Flute club young musicians contest. Sophia Marquez with Flutist / teacher, Soo-Kyung Park, the

Program Coordinator

Congratualtions Sophia on winning 1st prize in the New York flute club young musicians contest.

The contest, designed for pre-collegiate flutists, has four age categories: age 8 and under; 9 to 11; 12 to 14; and 15 to 17 years of age. The concert winners performed at the

Flute Fair on March 16th. CON

GRAT

ULAT

ION

S

In the pit

On March 22nd

Center Stage

Isabel sat alongside Pippin violinist Rick Dolan, reading along with his part as he played songs like Magic To Do and Corner Of The Sky.

The Pippin orchestra welcomed violinist Isabel Schorr to their pit at the Music Box Theater.

For a few moments, Isabel had the stage all to herself. What a feeling!

This past month we bid on everything from pizza

parties to concert tickets to vacation homes.

Isabel Schorr, an SMS 7th grader, won the unique experience of sitting in the orchestra pit at the

Broadway revival of Pippin.

OVER $17,000 RAISED FOR THE SMS PTA

After the show

Listening

Before the Show

Isabel and Rick worked on their viola technique together.

to the show with in-ear headphones, the

orchestra was able to communicate with

Isabel through talk-back mics and kept

her very entertained throughout the

performance!

Isabel watched the actors and acrobats warm up

on stage, toured the backstage area, and met

some of her favorite Broadway performers.

With her enthusiasm, drive and talent, we don’t doubt Isabel will be back on Broadway in no time!

SMS PTA ON-LINE AUCTION BREAKS RECORD!

The On-Line Auction raised over $17,000! That is $4,000 better than last year. Our community

rocks … and so do Jhoanna Wade and Jennifer Laing, whose tireless

efforts, insanely long hours and dedication made this amazing Auction so Successful. Thank you both, from a very grateful PTA Executive Board and SMS

Community.

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Special Music SchoolParent Teacher Association