Try Something New!

Neighborhood Music School (NMS) invites individuals and families throughout Greater New Haven to its annual Spring Open House on Sunday, January 26, from 12 - 3 p.m. at 100 Audubon St. in New Haven.

The free event includes an "instrument petting zoo," where children can try playing real musical instruments, assisted by older students and teachers. There will be special interactive activities at the Open House, including Project Discovery, where kids and adults can play recorders and rhythm instruments together, a "drop-in" drum circle for all ages and a kids' Discover Modern Dance class where participants explore the elements of dance. Kids will use their skills for hopping, skipping, jumping and galloping with and without music.

There will be other free "drop-in" classes, including dance and early childhood music and movement, which explores rhythm, motor, aural and social skills for children six and under. For those interested in private music lessons, there will be placement consultations and free mini-lessons at the event for children ages five and up. Financial aid information will be available as well.

"We want people of all ages and experience levels to feel welcome at NMS. There's no audition required to take lessons here, and many people are pleasantly surprised to learn about our dance and drama programs," said Larry Zukof, NMS executive director.  "We have highly experienced faculty members and there are many opportunities to play music with other students. You may find yourself wanting to learn more than one instrument at a time!"

Open House
Interactive activities include:
12:15 p.m.   Project Discovery - Learn how to play the recorder!
1 p.m.           Afro-Caribbean drumming?for all
1:45 p.m.     Discover Modern Dance
No music or dance experience needed!

Early childhood classes:
12:30 p.m.   Making Music (age 12-24 months)
1 p.m.          Music in Motion (age 3-5)
1:30 p.m.     Yoga Musical Adventures (age 3-5)
2 p.m.           Music in Motion (age 2-3)
Dance classes:
12:30 p.m.   Creative dance (age 4-5)
1 p.m.          Modern dance (age 6-12)
1:30 p.m.     Ballet (age 6-12)
2 p.m.          Tap (age 6-12)
2:30 p.m.     Hip-hop (age 6-12)
No dance experience needed!

Spring private lessons, classes and ensembles begin the week of Monday, Feb. 3.

Neighborhood Music School, established in 1911, is one of the 10 largest community arts schools in the country. NMS offers private music lessons on more than 30 instruments; group music classes; classical, rock and jazz ensembles; and a Suzuki program. The school's dance program offers classes for adults and children in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, hip-hop and yoga.
NMS also offers a state-licensed, arts-based preschool for two, three and four year olds.

For more information please call Neighborhood Music School at 203-624-5189 or visit neighborhoodmusicschool.org.

Baubles & Beads & Masks...Oh My!!

Hooray! It's Mardi Gras time and you're invited!

On February 8 gather your Krewe and join Shoreline Arts Alliance for their 2nd annual Mardi Gras Gala at Saybrook Point Inn, 2 Bridge Street, Old Saybrook.  The festivities begin at 6pm with a signature drink and cocktails at an open bar, Cajun inspired hors d'oeuvres, Lucky Loot bags, an incredible silent auction and a photo op on the Red Carpet.  Dress for the evening is Mardi Gras formal, Black tie optional and Masks encouraged!
Following the cocktail hour we invite you to follow the Galvanized Jazz Band, in a traditional  Mardi Gras parade down Bourbon Street and into the main ballroom. The parade will be lead by the evening's King, Queen and Captain as they toss beads to guests along the route.  Dinner will feature delectable Louisiana cuisine specially prepared by Saybrook Point Inn Executive Chef Leslie Tripp.  First course is a Fried Green Tomato layered salad.  Entree choices include Daube de Boeuf-braised short ribs with creamy potatoes and collard greens or Creole style vegetarian Jambalaya with Cajun blackened butternut squash and Chocolate Pecan Pie with Bourbon whipped cream for dessert.  Along with the fabulous menu the main ballroom will feature a festive decor, more dancing to the Dixieland style music of Galvanized Jazz Band, the crowning of the King and Queen and a live auction to fund a need.  There will also be lagniappes and Aunt Sally's pralines for the ride home.
For 34 years Shoreline Arts Alliance has been a premier source of cultural events and competitions for people of all ages and the proceeds from the Gala will enable us to continue our mission to educate, encourage, enrich and engage the community-at-large through arts, culture and heritage.  The King, Queen and Captain are prominent business or community leaders who join us to celebrate our accomplishments and to ensure that the arts a part of the daily fabric of our community. These honorees are recognized for their embodiment of the spirit of philanthropy and support throughout the region.
We are anticipating another sellout crowd so if you are interested in being a sponsor or purchasing a table and/or tickets click here.  If you are interested in donating an item for our auction please contact Shoreline Arts Alliance at 203-453-3890.  Your attendance at the Gala makes a bold statement of your support for the arts and for artists of all ages.
Let's join together to keep our region a vibrant, arts-filled, thriving community...even if it takes all night!
For more information click here.  Saybrook Point Inn is offering a special overnight package for our guests.  Please contact them directly at 860-395-2000 to make arrangements. 

Think Spring

Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring was very controversial piece at its premier 100 years ago.  Stravinsky created this piece in collaboration with Serge Diaghilev, director of the Ballets Russes.  The ballet was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and the production included outrageous costumes, unnatural choreography and told the story of pagan sacrifice.  It nearly caused a riot at its inaugural performance.  However, since that debut, the music has achieved greater recognition as a concert piece and is now considered one of the most influential musical works of the 20th century.

On Sunday, January 12, Essex Winter Series opens its 36th season with a performance of this great work.  The choreography, however, will be in the four hands playing this piece on piano.  Essex Winter Series Artistic Director, Mihae Lee, will be joined by her renowned colleague Randall Hodgkinson in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Rite of Spring.  They will also perform  Debussy’s Le Mer and Gershwin’s most popular large-scale piece, Rhapsody in Blue.

The entire 36th season of Essex Winter Series will be a tribute to its beloved Trustee Emeritus, Fenton Brown, who sadly passed away on September 2.  In celebration of his legacy EWS will present a series of five extraordinary concerts-offering world-class performances in a wonderful variety of music-from solo guitar to full orchestra and from Bach’s sacred music to red hot jazz.  This season is arranged by Mihae Lee and the newly-appointed Jazz Impresario Jeff Barnhart.  According to Mihae, who became not only a business partner of Mr. Brown but also a friend says about this season’s series, "It was a way to honor him and honoring a legacy that will live beyond his lifetime.  He was like a figure you would see in the movies. It is amazing that he was a real person."

Series tickets or individual concert tickets may be purchased at http://www.essexwinterseries.com/tickets.html.  Tickets are $125 each for the series of 5 concerts or $30/adult, $12/student for single concerts.   Performances are held at Valley Regional High School in Deep River (except for the performance on March 2 which will be held at John Winthrop Middle School, Deep River).

It promises to be a great season in celebration of the life of a great man!  Don't miss this Sunday's opener.

Other Concerts in the Series:
February 9- Jason Vieaux, Guitar
March 2-Stu Ingersoll Jazz Concert
March 30-Fenton Brown Emerging Artist with New Haven Symphony Orchestra
April 13-All Bach Palm Sunday Concert

A Family Affair

Explore the world of music with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s Family Concert series!  NHSO Family Concerts provide a lively introduction to the instruments of the orchestra through 60-minute interactive programs designed just for children and families.

Tickets are on sale now at www.NewHavenSymphony.org - adult tickets are $15 and include one free child’s ticket (each additional child ticket is $5).

The Family Concert series begins in January, when the NHSO Woodwind Quintet introduces children to their instruments with Sergei Prokofiev’s timeless classic Peter and the Wolf.  Hosted and narrated by Yale’s Tom Duffy, this afternoon concert will delight children of all ages.  Other selections include a musical telling of the famous story Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, set to music by Mr. Duffy, and a special swingin’ version of Edvard Grieg’s In The Hall of the Mountain King.  Saturday, January 11 at 2:00pm at Davis Street School, and Sunday, January 12 at 2:00pm at Shelton Intermediate School.

Continuing in February, the NHSO Jazz Quartet and renowned Connecticut storyteller Tom Lee bring Tales and Tunes to life in a charming family program.  With rhythm as the focus of an interactive concert, all can join in on the telling of pattern stories and the singing of familiar songs.  This enchanting event promises to engage the whole family in the wonderful world of musical stories with foot-stomping tunes from your NHSO!  Saturday, February 8 at 2:00pm at Davis Street School, and Sunday, February 9 at 2:00pm at Shelton Intermediate School.  Read more

Finally, the Family series concludes in March, as the violin, viola, and cello introduce you to the string family with a Simply Strings program that explores the wonderful world of chamber music.  Learn how the instruments work together – hands, body, and feet!  Through excerpts of many classical pieces, everyone will see and hear how the NHSO String Trio makes music together as a team!  Saturday, March 1 at 2:00pm at Davis Street School, and Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 at Shelton Intermediate School.

Starting at 1:30pm before each concert, the NHSO will offer an Instrument Discovery Zone where children can tap, tickle, and toot real orchestral instruments before the 2:00 pm performance.  Following the concert, families are invited to stay for an afternoon snack and meet the performers.

Come to all three Family Concerts and, through the Symphony’s Passport to Music program, your child will win a prize!