Call for Artists- Blue Door Art Gallery

CALL FOR ENTRIES FROM ALL TYPES OF ARTISTS:

From the Community Galley at Blue Door Gallery, (a summer time community effort of the Blue Door Gallery in Yonkers NEW YORK). For the show, Inspired by Heritage, August 15th - September 12th, 2009.

We invite artists of all ages to provide generational viewpoints of the cultures that surround us. We also invite artists to submit proposals to share aspects of their culture through talks, demonstrations, storytelling and performance art that provide educational and awareness opportunities to the community as part of our outreach efforts.

Please send images of your work (CD or Photographs) and/or your one page proposal of your performance to yonkersbluedoor@gmail.com or mail to:
Blue Door Gallery,
Inspired by Heritage,
5 Hudson Street,
Yonkers, NY 10701.
A SASE may be included if you wish return of materials.
If sending via e-mail please place title of the show in the subject line.
The Blue Door Exhibition Committee will be the curator for the "Inspired by Heritage" Exhibition.
• Artists may submit up to three (3) images.
• Maximum artwork size: 36" x 60" framed.
• Three-dimensional no heavier than 100lbs
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: July 3rd, 2009

Blue Door Gallery, 13 Riverdale Avenue (south of Main St), Yonkers, NY 10701, (914) 375-5100, yonkersbluedoor@gmail.com, and www.bluedoorgallery.org

Yonkers Reads!

Yonkers Partners in Education, a non-profit based in Yonkers strives to ensure that all children who attend the Yonkers Public Schools have access to a quality education that prepares them for high school graduation, college, work, and success in life.

One of their programs is Yonkers Reads, in which 8500 K-3rd grade students—in all Yonkers elementary schools—receive a bag with books to read at home each week, accompanied by bi-lingual instructional materials for parents and caregivers. Upon returning the bag, each child will receive different titles for the following week.

As you can imagine, times are tough for programs like these-- budget cuts and what not.

You can support the YonkersReads program by shopping for books at the Barnes & Nobles in Yonkers this weekend. Read the flyer below (click for a larger version) for the complete details, or if you can't see it for some reason, visit http://www.ypie.org

"Music For Feet" Wednesdays in July

Lu Gmoser will be presiding over a five part series called "Music For Feet" focusing on music written specifically for dance.

It will cover Tchaikovsky's classic ballets, such as Swan Lake, Richard Rodger's Broadway ballets including "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" from On Your Toes, and Berlin, Gershwin, and Kern music written for the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Wednesdays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
1-3 pm

Westchester Community College, Valhalla (75 Grassslands Rd)

$70 for the series of five sessions (must be paid in full)
Advance registration requested
Information: 914-606-6793

Lu Gmoser is a musical theatre scholar and producer. She is the recipient of the 2004 Untermyer Performing Arts Council Award for her efforts in promoting the performing arts in Westchester, as well as the 2001 recipient of the Cab Calloway Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Gmoser was the producer of the Asbury Summer Theatre in Yonkers from 1979 to 2007 and is the author of Great Composers.

Volunteer Expo June 19

Volunteer Expo

Help transform your community, June 19

On June 19 there will be a Westchester Serves Expo at the Westchester County Center. Learn how you can transform your communities – and yourself – through service. Workshops on career transitioning, networking and using your skills in technology to help nonprofits. No pay, but volunteering can take you places.

“President Obama has called upon Americans to rededicate themselves to bettering their communities through volunteerism, and Westchester County government is responding,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “I encourage students, retirees, the underemployed or unemployed – anyone looking to make a difference – to drop by.”

The Westchester Serves Expo is on June 19 from 2 - 6 p.m. at the Westchester County Center, White Plains. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged by e-mailing EventsRSVP@westchestergov.com or calling (914) 995-2913.

The expo kicks off at 2 p.m. with welcome remarks by County Executive Spano and Emilia Nuccio, a successful businesswoman, philanthropist and volunteer in Westchester, who will talk about how you can make an impact on a community through volunteerism and the benefits of community service. You will then meet and have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with non-profit organizations looking for volunteers.

Perhaps you are unemployed or under-employed and looking for something worthwhile to do. Perhaps you are retired and want to find an outlet to share what you know. If you've never considered volunteerism before, now might be the right time. Not only can you make a difference in your community, but you can sharpen your skills.

The expo will also feature four workshops including:

Blogging for a non-profit... the right way (2:45 - 3:15 p.m.)

Do you blog? Nonprofits need to get the word out about their agencies to help raise money, but they often don't have the resources to do it online. Help promote them and their mission by blogging the right way.

Why volunteer when you're looking for work? (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.)

Build your network, skills and your confidence while helping your community. You will learn how volunteering can help lead you to a job or even a career change.

How youth can help change the world for the better (4:30 - 5 p.m.)

Have you ever wondered what you can do to help change the world for the better? Across the nation, youth are helping feed the poor, tutoring young children, visiting an isolated senior, cleaning up parks, or hundreds of other volunteer projects. Most people, young and old, do not know just how important their skills are. What are you good at? Sports? Computers? Listening? In this session we will explore your hidden talents and which non-profits are in need of people just like you.

Using social media to help non-profits (5 - 6 p.m.)

Are you on Facebook or Twitter? You will learn how Facebook, Flickr, and other social media technologies you use can help advance non-profit organizations.

The event is co-sponsored by the Volunteer Center of United Way and the Westchester Community Foundation.

Three for the Show, June 20, 2 pm

Three for the Show celebrates the 150th birthday of the Dean of American operetta composers Victor Herbert, who wrote more than 40 musical shows including Naughty Marietta, The Red Mill, Babes in Toyland, and Mlle Modiste.

Among Victor Herbert's many melodious songs are "I'm Falling In Love With Someone." "The Italian Street Song," "Every Day Is Ladies Day With Me," "Toyland," and "A Kiss in the Dark"

Performers include
Alayne Faraone, soprano,
Mark Cummings, baritone
Kurt Kelley, pianist
Lu Gmoser, commentator


Lu Gmoser is a musical theatre scholar and producer. She is the recipient of the 2004 Untermyer Performing Arts Council Award for her efforts in promoting the performing arts in Westchester, as well as the 2001 recipient of the Cab Calloway Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Gmoser was the producer of the Asbury Summer Theatre in Yonkers from 1979 to 2007 and is the author of Great Composers.

Saturday, June 20, 2pm
Grinton Will Public Library
1500 Central Park Ave, Yonkers
FREE

Info: 914-476-3399

Yonkers IDA Incentives For Broadway Production Company

Yonkers IDA Incentives For Broadway Production Company

Courtesy of Westchester.com

Saturday, 06 June 2009

Yonkers, NY - The Board of Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (IDA) unanimously passed a resolution to move forward with a public hearing and to negotiate an economic development package for Hudson Scenic Studio, an award-winning national production and scenic fabrication firm that has served Broadway and the professional entertainment industry for nearly three decades. Currently located at 130 Fernbrook Street in Yonkers, Scenic Hudson has proposed a major renovation of 78 Fernbrook to accommodate a new manufacturing and warehouse facility. “No sector of our economy is immune to the current recession, so it is imperative that Yonkers and the IDA use every resource available not only to bring new businesses to the City, but to make sure we maintain and grow the ones we have” said Mayor Philip Amicone, chairman of the Yonkers IDA. “Hudson Scenic Studio’s presence in our City demonstrates our strength and stability, as well as our appeal to a broad range of industries. We look forward to working with them as they bring more jobs and tax revenue to our City.” The $2,660,000 project will entail the renovation of an existing 50,000-square-foot structure commonly known as the former Tyco Building. The Hudson Scenic Studio project will create 25 new construction jobs and 15 new permanent positions while retaining 135 full time jobs. Inducements from the IDA for the project could include a bond issuance, a sales and use tax exemption for materials and equipment used in construction as well as a structured property tax agreement. After a public hearing, the IDA will vote on a final development agreement. Ellen Lynch, president and CEO of the Yonkers IDA, added, “Proximity and accessibility to New York City gives the City of Yonkers the ability to attract a business like Hudson Scenic Studio. Passing this resolution is a critically important step in moving this project forward.” Among the services offered by Hudson Scenic are carpentry and stagecraft; scenic and backdrop painting; custom lighting services; production design, planning and budgeting; set electronics; rigging system design and installation; automation and mechanization; among dozens of other expert services. The public hearing will be held on June 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s Reception Room at Yonkers City Hall, 40 South Broadway.

Yonkers River Day is tomorrow!

YONKERS RIVER DAY 2009

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

HUDSON RIVER CELEBRATES ITS FLAGSHIPS
City of Yonkers to Greet Multi-Ship Flotilla

As part of the ongoing Quad Celebration (400th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River, www.exploreny400.com) Yonkers, Westchester’s largest city, with 4.5 miles of riverfront, will debut River Day, Saturday June 6 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, a celebration welcoming replicas of the original seven Hudson River flagships – the Half Moon, Cleveland, Harvey, Clearwater, Mystic, Woody and Onrust, which will travel, together with hundreds of other watercraft, from lower Manhattan the entire length of the Hudson River with a viewing in Yonkers at approximately 12:00 noon.

This will be the premier event in the Hudson Valley to commemorate 400 years of history of the river, and its boats and ships. A celebration featuring the best of the Yonkers Waterfront will take place at the John F. Kennedy Marina including:

• A cannon salute
• Artwork on display along the Esplanade
• Family-friendly refreshments and entertainment
• The Yonkers Science Barge on-board demonstrations
• Beczak Environmental Education Center children’s flag making
• Philipse Manor Hall National Trails Day walk

“River Day is a glorious way to show off Yonkers’ heritage and ties to the Hudson,” says Jim Pinto, the head of Yonkers Waterfront Development, ”And it’s a great kick-off to a full slate of River-themed activity in conjunction with the Quad Celebration that Yonkers will feature throughout the year.”

It is also important to note that Metro-North offers reduced fare packages via its “A Day on the Hudson” offer. More information can be found at www.mta.info/mnr.

Yonkers: The Lost City of Hip Hop

Jerome Enders, who grew up in Yonkers, has recently written a book that argues that Yonkers was a significant contributor to the birth of hip-hop.

Enders, who was known as Raw Rome back in the day, has put together his and others recollections of the early rap scene in Yonkers. He interviews characters such as Slimy Slim, Easy-E, and Kato to get a good sense of the 1970's and the birth of HipHop.

Enders whose break-dancing cousin introduced him to the scene and later became a dj at parties, has written an account of the era that tells the untold story of Yonkers and the birth of hip hop.

The book is available at Amazon.com

Noel Fine Art Announces the Summer Show

Coast with Algae by Peter Devine, ©Noel Fine Art

Noel Fine Art has announced their Summer Show for 2009, an annual event featuring the gallery artists:

(Click on artist's name to view images)

• Biagio Civale
• Noel DeGaetano
• Peter Devine
• Michael Gesinger
• Elissa Gore
• Christian Kunze
• Tom Lollar

• Fred Mitchell
• Alvin Most
• Jenna Lyn Pallio
• Luca Spallanzani
• Leonard Stokes
• Hank Virgona
• Mansheng Wang

The exhibit will open on June 12th and will stay until the end of August. Check out this exhibit that has so many diverse techniques, mediums and styles.

For more information, visit their website at www.noelfineart.com , or contact Noel Fine Art at 914.337.4050.

Acme Flea Circus This Weekend- Hastings on Hudson

Pardon the shameless commercial interruption, but my show, the Acme Miniature Flea Circus will be performing at the Hastings-on-Hudson Popcorn and Puppet Festival on Sunday May 31. Showtime is 3:20 pm

The Festival runs 3-5 pm at the MacEachron Waterfront Park, 1 River Street, Hastings-on-Hudson. The park is right next to the Hastings-on-Hudson Metro North Station., about 30 minutes from Grand Central, and about 3 stops from the downtown Yonkers line.

other performers include
The Sourdough Philosophy Circus ( Bread and Puppet Theater)
Soup
Puppet Junction
Cosmic Bicycle Theatre
The Himilayas Band

Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 kids, $30 for families of 5 or more.
(rain location: Hastings High School Gym)

For more info, including directions, visit: http://www.rivertownsguide.com/puppet.php or http://www.trainedfleas.com

Yonkers Arts Fest 2009 at Lohud.com

Yonkers Arts Fest 2009 has made the front cover of the LOHUD Weekend section in yesterday's Journal News

Photos of the Yonkers Philharmonic grace the cover of the magazine insert and there is an almost 2-page article on the Fest.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20090528/ENTERTAINMENT/905280308/

A mobile version of the article is available here.

http://bit.ly/yartfest


And just in case, a copy of the article is below.






The Journal News



Festival finale in Yonkers


Mary Shustack
mshustac@lohud.com
May 27, 2009 03:56 AM
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It might be a student playing the piano, a sculptor demonstrating her technique or a dancer swirling around a stage.

No matter the medium, the arts scene seems to be thriving in Yonkers.

This weekend, the last official one of Yonkers ArtsFest 2009, will include a philharmonic performance, arts demonstrations and a lecture on painting, among other planned events.

"Yonkers ArtsFest is the first major undertaking for this new organization, Yonkers Arts," says Judith Schwartzstein, president of the nonprofit group. "Our mission is to supports art and arts organizations in the city of Yonkers."

Yonkers Arts, which Schwartzstein likens in ways to an arts council, decided it was time to spread the word about the city.


Since it's not a presenting organization, Schwartzstein adds, the group simply looked at all that was on offer - from cultural celebrations to dance performances, theater works to art exhibitions - and pulled them under an umbrella "so that we could help boost audience attendance and really promote all the wonderful arts organizations in the city."

So far, it's been a success. "It seems that everything has gone really well," Schwartzstein says.

That most every single event - except for a jazz performance held as a fundraiser for the arts academy at Lincoln High School - has been free has only added to the attraction.

"We really feel that our mission in supporting arts and arts organizations is to make the arts more accessible to more people," Schwartzstein says.


She points to the May 9 performance showcase, held at the Riverfront Library, where students and professionals offered everything from classical music, jazz and hip-hop to poetry and theatrical pieces.

It was designed, Schwartzstein says, to give the audience a glimpse into the city's offerings.

"People might say 'Wow. This is something I didn't know before,'" she says. "What we're trying to do is bring it together."

Organizations having their events highlighted through the festival are expecting a boost, too.

Those who attend Sunday afternoon's "Concerto Time at the Philharmonic" will indeed be sparked to explore the Yonkers Philharmonic. The 47-year-old orchestra, conducted by James Sadewhite, features both professional and avocational musicians, making it a true community group.


"I hope that it will attract even more people now," says Rosemarie Doerr, who (along with Marcia Klein) serves as president of the Fine Arts Orchestral Society of Yonkers, the group that sponsors the Yonkers Philharmonic. "They're trying to promote all the arts and of course, we are one of them."

Sunday's performance will feature the winners of the 31st annual Concerto Competition for high school students, a scholarship program in which the winners are awarded cash and the opportunity to perform with the orchestra.

"They're able now to play with the orchestra, which is a unique situation because there's not many orchestras around," Doerr says.

The afternoon will feature first-place winner Benjamin Boventer, a 17-year-old pianist from New Rochelle and student at The German School New York in White Plains, who will play the Grieg "Concerto in A minor."


The second-place winner is Matthew Crozier, 17-year-old trombonist from Harrison and student at Harrison High School. He will play "Concertino" by Ferdinand David.

Third-place winner Claire Allen-Solomon, a 16-year-old cellist from Pelham Manor and student at the Loyola School in New York, will perform the Haydn "Concerto in C Major."

Fourth-place winner Moriah Feiner Trenk, a 15-year-old pianist from Scarsdale and student at Scarsdale High School, will perform the Mendelssohn "Concerto in G minor."

Jenna Margiasso, a 17-year-old soprano from Pleasantville and student at Pleasantville High School, is the fifth-place winner. The soloist will sing three arias by Puccini, Copland and Handel.


Doerr says the scholarship-winner performances help the orchestra reach a wider audience. That's also the idea behind the group's summertime concerts, in local parks or other outdoor venues.

And falling under the ArtsFest umbrella, she adds, can only help visibility.

"Somebody might not be interested in sculpture or painting but is interested in live music - or vice versa," she says.

After all, helping develop an appreciation for the arts is at the core of the festival.

Stephen E. Force, the director of the Yonkers Public Library, says the exhibition at the Riverfront Library this month - a showcase of more than 30 Yonkers artists - has really drawn people in.


"It was such a nice exhibit and very well-received," Force says.

Instead of closing the exhibit today, as originally scheduled, Force says, it will now be moved to the library's fourth floor where it will continue through July.

And, he adds, the atrium space will be taken over by a new community art display - "Passport to Yonkers: Intergenerational Visual Arts Exhibit," which shows the work of Yonkers public-school students and senior citizens. It will open Wednesday and continue through June.

So while the ArtsFest may formally end, this exhibit is just one example of just how important the arts are becoming to Yonkers.

As Force says, "I think the calendar developed for the arts fest made people aware of just how much is going on in Yonkers."

Rod McDonald- Uptown Coffee House -June 7

Rod MacDonald, a well-known folk musician, will be playing at the Uptown Coffee House. on Sunday June 7 at 5 pm.

The Uptown Coffeehouse is an organization run entirely by volunteers dedicated to bringing live, traditional & contemporary folk music to the Bronx, New York., They have been in existence since 1987.

Throughout a 35-year performing career, Rod MacDonald has been entertaining audiences worldwide with his timeless ballads, modern folk songs, and his musical versatility. Possessing the heart of a troubadour, the soul of a poet and the voice of a virtuoso, he is as distinctive an entertainer as he is a songwriter. Known for his passionate interest in the events that shape our world's societies, Rod is a prolific and poignant communicator who is regarded as "one of the most politically and socially aware lyricists of our time." (All Music Guide).

Rod has released 9 solo albums, and has performed at many of the world's finest clubs and major international festivals in the U.S., Europe and Canada. The first American folksinger to tour the liberated Czech Republic, Rod performed frequently at the 3-4 day Straznice Festival for audiences of 10,000, where he debuted his passionate anthem "For The People", a tribute to the newly freed Czechs. He summered with the Oglala Sioux Indians on their South Dakota reservation where he met Frank Fool's Crow, ceremonial chief and medicine healer and to whom he dedicated his 2nd album, "White Buffalo" featuring the song of the same name. Said Rod, "he is a great inspiration to me, and to everyone who knows him."

Find out more about Rod's work at his website, listed below
www.rodmacdonald.net

Rod will be playing the Uptown Coffee House on Sunday June 7, 2009 at 5 pm Tickets are $15.
Read more about the Uptown Coffee House at http://www.uptowncoffeehouse.org/

Two local gigs for Spuyten Duyvil

Spuyten Duyvil
Spuyten Duyvil wanders the last 100 years of American music conjuring embittered civil war veterans, recalcitrant small town bawds, suicidal bureaucrats, star crossed lovers and brave hearted fools navigating the mysteries of daily life, more at: www.spuytenduyvilmusic.com


Saturday, May 30th at 7PM, at the Beczak Environmental Education Center's 'Saturday's By The Fire.' lecture series. Celebrating the quadricentennial of the European discovery of the Hudson River, food historian Peter G. Rose will present a luscious slide-talk exploring the foodways brought to America by the Dutch more than three centuries ago. Spuyten Duvyil will play a 45 minute set riverside by a roaring fire. Beczak is located at 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers NY 10701 and is easily accessible from the Yonkers Metro North station.

Friday, June 5th at 8PM at An Beal Bocht 445 W238th St. Riverdale, The Bronx, NY 10436. An Beal Bocht is an amazing, comfortable, LOCAL place to see great music, drink a pint and have some great pub food. (Kids are OK but don’t tell anyone I told you that...). Two sets.

Suburbia Roller Derby May 30

It's not quite art, but it kind of is, existing in a weird theatrical sports place somewhere near pro wrestling and so I thought I'd include it.

Suburbia Roller Derby May 30: Suburban Brawl vs. Jersey Shore Roller Girls
at E.J. Murray Memorial Skating Rink in Yonkers

from Found in Yonkers by Jennifer Walford

SOURCE: Suburbia Roller Derby on MySpace

Suburbia Roller Derby returns to the E.J. Murray Memorial Skating Center at 348 Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers on Saturday, May 30th.

The Suburban Brawl, Suburbia’s travel team of all-stars, kicks off the summer season with a bout against the Jersey Shore Roller Girls.

Doors open at 6 PM and the bout starts at 7 PM.

Tickets are available in three classes:

General Admission – bleacher, floor or bring your own chair. $12 pre-sale / $15 at the door
VIP Silver – includes chair rental. $15 pre-sale / $18 at the door
VIP Gold – track-side chair, goodie bag and priority entrance. $25

Kids under 8 are free in General Admission with paying adult.

For ticket information visit SuburbiaRollerDerby.com.

Summer Programming at Philipse Manor Hall

Philipse Manor Hall, the county's oldest house/museum/park in the heart of downtown Yonkers, is having a number of really great learning events this summer.

To find out more about any of these programs, contact Museum Programs Coordinator Brittany Wheeler at (914) 965-4027 or Brittany.Wheeler@oprhp.state.ny.us
You can also find out more at their blog : www.philipsemanorhall.blogspot.com

The Cochran Portrait Collection: The Finds, The Fakes, & The Forgeries

Saturday, May 30^th, 3 p.m. at Philipse Manor Hall

Philipse Manor Hall Site Manager Kimberly Flook lectures on the nature and history of the Manor’s portrait collection, which includes presidents, statesmen, artists and more. How did they end up here? Who is responsible for the 'best' and the 'worst' of them? Enjoy the stories you'd never quite guess at by just observing the artwork. This event is free.

National trails day: Walk the Waterfront

Saturday, June 6^th, 10-12 (Registration 9:45 a.m.)

Lace up and learn with a walk along the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers. Visit a sculpture garden, downtown murals and get your dose of history in the waterfront district! Meet at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site to begin the walking tour. Don’t forget your camera, sunscreen, and good walking shoes!

This event is free. For more information call (914) 965-4027 or email Education Coordinator Lucille Sciacca at Lucille.Sciacca@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Lecture: Pirates, Smugglers and Explorers

Thursday, June 11^th at 7 p.m.

A lecture on the sea and the occupations it inspired! They'll lead you through stories of mariners, smugglers and inventors, all with a link to our local waterways.

This event is free. For more information call (914) 965-4027 or email Site Manager Kimberly Flook at Kimberly.Flook@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Create Your Own Exhibit: Pirates and Explorers

Sunday, June 28^th, 12-3 p.m.

Learn how to create an exhibit...by participating in the creation of one! Learn about how to build an exhibit with Philipse Manor Hall as your canvas! You'll learn about exhibits, create your own art, and then hang it yourself in the Community Gallery. The theme for this exhibit is "Pirates and Explorers" and is open to all ages. Your work will be hung in the gallery for two weeks.

This event is free with a suggested donation of $3/person. For more information, call (914) 965-4027 or email Museum Programs Coordinator Brittany Wheeler at Brittany.Wheeler@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Archaeology Days

Friday, July 10^th-Sunday, July 12^th

A three-day exploration of archaeological topics at Philipse Manor! Courses, workshops and lectures for adults and children will be offered during Archaeology Days; whether you're 5 or 95, a novice or a natural-born explorer! Visit www.philipsemanorhall.blogspot.com for a schedule as it becomes available.

Please contact Museum Programs Coordinator Brittany Wheeler for more information about the forthcoming Archaeology Days at (914) 965-4027 or Brittany.Wheeler@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Bronx Art Ensemble- Free Concert on Memorial Day

FREE MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT Sunday, May 24 • 2 pm Van Cortlandt Park near the Ecology Center enter park at Broadway and 246th Street Bronx Arts Ensemble Orchestra featuring David Gilbert, Conductor Halley Gilbert, Soprano Papo Vázquez, Trombone Hermán Olivera, Vocalist Program Music will include Selections from South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Gypsy; Morton Gould - American Salute Samuel Barber - Knoxville, Summer of 1915 Oliver Caplan* - For Pondering Special arrangements by Papo Vázquez Favorite marches by John Philip Sousa Presented with the support of Bronx Arts Ensemble, William Scribner, Executive/Artistic Director, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, New York City Dept of Parks & Recreation and Music Performance Funds, Local 802

DAVID GILBERT is acclaimed for his dynamic performances with orchestras throughout the United States, the Far East and Europe. He was the first American to serve as principal guest conductor of the Beijing Central Philharmonic. Mr. Gilbert is a faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music where he has conducted both symphony and opera. His compositions for chamber ensemble, orchestra, and opera include his ''Concerto for Trombone, Brass and Orchestra,'' ''Ballade Concertante for Tuba and Orchestra,'' and ''Phoenix Madrigal'' for flute and strings. Mr. Gilbert is Music Director and Conductor of the Greenwich Symphony and music director of the Bergen (NJ) Philharmonic and the Senior Concert Orchestra of New York.

Soprano HALLEY GILBERT graduated from Eastman School of Music last year and has already distinguished herself in many operatic roles with Opera for Humanity, Harrisburg Opera, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Greenwich CT Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, and the Genessee Chamber Orchestra. She has performed as featured soloist with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, Bronx Arts Ensemble, North Jersey Philharmonic, Oswego Opera Theatre's recital series, and Gateway Classical Music Society. She is the winner of many awards including Syracuse Opera Club, and first prize in the Steinway Hall Vocal Competition. The Greenwich Times noted her "clear, velvety sound" while The San Francisco Chronicle praised her "big, beautiful voice."

Acclaimed trombonist, composer and arranger PAPO VÁZQUEZ is the leader of Pirates Troubadours, specializing in Yuba' Jazz, Holande Pirate, Jibaro Waltz, Plena Funk and Mapeye Jazz. He has been commissioned to compose for the 19-piece Afro-Puerto Rican Jazz Orchestra, and was the first artist to receive a commission to compose for the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, resident band of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Papo's first classical composition was premiered in 2004 with the Bronx Arts Ensemble at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture. A native of Philadelphia, Papo began performing at 15 with such bands as those of Willie Colon and Eddie Palmieri. In New York he began recording and performing with top names in salsa - The Fania All-Stars, Ray Barretto and Chico O'Farrill. He has toured with the Ray Charles Orchestra and performed also with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Lewis, Hilton Ruiz and Milton Cardona, touring as a member of Tito Puente's Latin Jazz Ensemble and Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra. He has performed on film soundtracks for "Mo' Better Blues" and "The Mambo Kings". His latest CD is Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Orchestra "Marooned/Aislado" on his own independent label, Picaro Records.

HERMÁN OLIVERA became the main vocalist with Manny Oquendo’s group, Libre, in 1979 at the age of 20. He has toured the world, performed in numerous music festivals and worked with Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Machito Orchestra as well as The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Band.

*OLIVER CAPLAN, whose piece For Pondering will be performed at the Memorial Day Holiday Concert, was raised in the Bronx. He graduated from Dartmouth College with honors in 2004 and received his Masters of Music from Boston University’s composition program in 2006. Compositional interests encompass both concert music and collaboration with artists in other media. His piece for concert band Reason for Hope in a Complex World was premiered by the Columbia University Wind Ensemble in February 2008. His works have also been presented by the Bronx Arts Ensemble, 11:11 Theatre Company, dance choreographers Mary Chris DeBelina and Susan Graham, members of the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, and the Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra. An avid hiker, he finds inspiration through his time outdoors.

2nd Annual Rivertown Jazz & Blues Festival

Common Ground Coffee House and 12 Miles North, a Hastings arts organization, are producing the 2nd Annual Rivertown's Jazz and Blues Festival. This festival has expanded dramatically from 2 to 10 days over last year, and includes events from Yonkers to Tarrytown.

Highlights include a multimedia art and music installation to be held as an opening reception in Yonkers, New York on June 5th; a special concert on the waterfront on June 6 in Hastings, featuring the reknowned Holmes Brothers and others; a Friday, June 12th double bill concert at Common Ground with Pete Kennedy and the Matt Munisteri Trio, a Saturday, June 13th concert with Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadoccia, Hazmat Modine and The Mandingo Ambassadors in a sunset concert, also on the banks of the Hudson, and a a performance by jazz pianist David Janeway on Sunday June 14th.

Ticket prices range between Free (always acceptable) and $20. There are discounts for students and seniors.

Full details about the events and artists are available on the Common Ground Coffee House website, listed below.

You can also purchase your tickets online there.

http://commongroundfusw.com/news/rivertownsjazzandblues/

Blue Door Show and Tell: Artist Demonstrations.

WHAT: Blue Door Gallery, a project of the Blue Door Artists Association celebrates its second show "Show and Tell". This wonderful exhibition showcases exquisite pieces of art ranging from porcelain sculptures to woodcut prints. Each Saturday during this exhibition there will be special events such as poetry readings, jazz performances, and artist's demonstrations on techniques and inspirations.


WHERE: The Blue Door Gallery - 13 Riverdale Avenue, (South of Main
Street) in the downtown business district of Yonkers, NY.

WHEN: Opening Reception May 16th, 2009 from 2-5pm.

Schedule of Artists Demonstrations:

May 23

12 - 2:30 Don Axleroad woodcut prints
2:30 - 5:00 Leslie Miller digital portrait collage

May 30

12 - 2:30 Gino Civale dripping paint
2:30 - 5:00 Kaya Deckelbaum wire Mesh

June 6

12 - 2:30 Terry Brandon photography to painting
2:30 - 5:00 Jeff Campion mosaics

June 13

12 -2:30 Florence Suerig collaboration
2:30 - 5:00 Amy Bilden collaboration

June 20

12 - 2:30 Sally Aldrich clay wheel throwing, coils
2:30 - 5:00 Belle Manes painting & drawing

June 27

12 - 2:30 Suzanne Ashley salted watercolor print
2:30 - 5:00 Lily Schor clay slab faces

More info: http://www.bluedoorgallery.org/
http://www.bluedoorart.org

Park Hill Historic House Tour

Sunday, 5/31, 11:30am-5:30pm: Park Hill Historic House Tour.

Buy your tickets now and get the discount price. Tour five beautiful and unique historic homes and one gorgeous garden. Self-guided tour of houses, expert guided Walking Tour, Grand Old Tree Tour, and Lecture with slide show. For a photo preview and information about the homes and garden, a complete schedule of the day and to purchase tickets, go to Park Hill's website or contact Jane McAfee at 914-423-1835. Tickets include all the tours: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. There will also be food available, raffle prizes, tours of the Racquet Club and community organization displays at the Host Area at the Park Hill Racquet Club at the corner of Van Cortlandt Park Avenue and Lakeside Drive. It's a wonderful day in Park Hill!

The Houses

Colonial Revival
You would never know that just a few years ago, this stunning 1911 Colonial Revival was literally gutted and abandoned. In 2006, this expansive residence underwent a complete renovation with superlative results. Preservation of architectural detail and commitment to excellence were the hallmarks of this restoration. Dazzling by any standards, it blends exceptional craftsmanship with the finest materials.

The grand stair hall embodies the very essence of elegance with its hand-crafted Honduras mahogany paneling, gracious stair, and mahogany French doors leading into the living and family rooms. The dining room is also paneled in mahogany and has a beamed coffer-styled ceiling, built-in china showcase cabinets and window seat. Beautifully appointed, the kitchen features custom cherry cabinetry, granite countertops, and adjoining breakfast area. The second and third floors offer seven bedrooms, four baths and an enormous family entertainment space. Attention to detail and sensitivity towards the restoration is apparent throughout this home…..period reproductions in all the baths, refurbishment of existing intact original details and replication of others, custom-made casements and moldings and the finest door hardware throughout ….a determined awareness to stay true to the period.

Wonderful spaces that bring the outdoors in are two rooftop terraces and an original Widow’s Walk high atop the house. The newly terraced lawn is bordered by stone walls, bluestone steps, original brick wall and restored fountain at the back.

Arts and Crafts
Perched high above the street atop an enormous rocky outcropping, this stately 1913 English Arts and Crafts home is accessible via a switchback of stone stairs bordered by rock walls. This elegant residence defines grand living with its oversized rooms, traditional moldings, carved paneling, French doors and wonderful variety of windows. Don’t miss the secret room on the third floor, a cedar-clad hideaway behind a bookcase in a treetop bedroom.

Colonial
When this gracious Colonial was built, it had a truly unique roof…..copper shingles that were left over from Yankee Stadium when it was built in 1923. After 83 years and a brutal windstorm, the owner, “wanting to do right by the house,” began a nationwide search for a company who could replicate the hand-cut, hand-bent copper shingles and a craftsman who had the ability to install the overlapping, interlocking shingles. The new copper roof, one of a handful in the county, now tops the house.

A noteworthy highlight of this home is the sensitively designed rear addition overlooking the fish pond and waterfall. Much of the home’s restoration has been done by the owner, a Broadway percussionist, who also restores antique novelty musical instruments from the turn-of-the-century which are displayed throughout the house.

English Cottage
Designed and built by architect and Yonkers civic leader Arno Kolbe in 1905, this cozy English cottage was one of the first homes in Park Hill. Captain Kolbe, his family and two more generations lived in the home for 64 years. The present owners have lived in the house for 35 years, raising their family while lovingly maintaining the home’s character and charm.
A celebration of house, home and family history is apparent throughout the house. Highlights include original fixtures and hardware, photographs of the house and family dating from 1907, and family antiques and heirlooms inherited from previous generations. In the 1930’s, the kitchen renovation in this house was written up in the local newspaper as “very modern,” the very same cabinets still in the kitchen today.

Craftsman-Inspired Bungalow
Although this 1920 Craftsman-inspired Bungalow looks like an ordinary house from the outside, walking in is like opening a jewel box filled with gems. The interior has a Victorian feel with wonderful parquet floors, window seat, beautiful oak staircase, recessed oak paneling, columns framing the doorways and fireplace. The colors are unorthodox and gorgeous….deep plum, intense teal, sunset yellow, dark red….all framing the fantastic eclectic array of furnishings.

The owner did a stellar job of renovating the kitchen to be compatible with Victorian detail on the first floor and the “finished” basement patio room will remind you of a French country home. Expansive city and Palisade views…and sunsets… can be had from the living room and the second floor home office.

The Garden
At some point in our lives, many of us have felt the call of the exotic Orient. This Asian-themed garden focuses on peace and tranquility, creating an oasis of rest and rejuvenation. The most important feature of an Asian garden is water; there is a formal rectangular pond with a smooth surface and waterfall cascading to an informal, more natural pond with hiding caves for the goldfish.

The garden is dressed in white…only white annuals, perennials and bulbs….and many of the plants have variegated foliage adding a sense of color and texture when the flowers are not in bloom.

2009 Yonkers Arts Fest Happening ... Now!

I just found out about the 2009 Yonkers Arts Fest by perusing the Lohud News...

Now considering that I run an arts blog about Yonkers, (and that my show on May 17 is part of it), that you'd think I'd have heard about this before-- but alas and alack.

Not sure if it's a failure on my part to find out stuff, or an advertising shortfall on the festival's part, or some mixture of the two. Anyway-- there's a new event going on called the 2009 Yonkers Arts Fest, with lot of events going on in the next few weeks. And they are all free, courtesy of the folks at http://www.yonkersarts.org
(actually, my understanding is that with my performance, you do have to pay admission to the Philipse Manor House-- a very reasonable $5.)

The calendar is below-- but check out their website for photos, maps, and additional info, including the sponsors of all of the events.


You can also download a PDF of all of the events here:
http://yonkersarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/calendar-of-events.pdf

Calendar of Events

Performances and Lectures

Fridays, May 1 and May 8

Tours of exhibit: Whitfield Lovell: All Things In Time
6-7 pm followed by a free star show at 7 pm at the Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue
Information: (914) 563 4550 or www.hrm.org

Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2

Sarah Lawrence College Spring Dance Concerts
8 pm at the Bessie Schonberg Dance Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Saturday, May 2

The Yonkers Male Glee Club Spring Concert 2009
3 pm at the Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will Branch, , 1500 Central Park Avenue

Sunday, May 3

Untermyer Performing Arts Council presents A Soul of Mexico: A Celebration of Cinco de Mayo
1 - 4 pm at Untermyer Park, 945 North Broadway
Information: (914) 375 3435 or www.untermyer.com

Sunday, May 3

Sarah Lawrence College Spring Dance Concerts
2 pm at the Bessie Schonberg Dance Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Sunday, May 3

Yonkers Male Glee Club
3 pm at Saunders High School, 183 Palmer Road

Sunday, May 3

SLC Jazz Festival
7 pm - midnight in The Blue Room, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Wednesday, May 6

Music Workshop (Student performers)
8 pm in the Marshall Field Music Building - Room 1, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Wednesday, May 6 & May 13

Class Observations: Youth Theatre Interactions, Inc.
4 pm - 6 pm at 164 Ashburton Avenue-2nd floor
Information: www.youth-theatre.org

Thursday, May 7

Recital: Carina Zabrodsky, soprano with Martin Goldray, piano; Chet Biscardi, piano
7:30 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall,
Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Saturday, May 9

Public Art Walking Tour with the Artists

Boaz Vaadia Installation
City Hall Sculpture Park

• 10:30 am: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles with Haifa Bint-Kadi. (meet at the Corner of Nepperhan Ave. and Broadway)
• 11 am: City Hall Sculpture Garden with Luis Perelman (meet at City Hall, corner of Broadway and Nepperhan)
• 12noon: Gateway to the Hudson with Richard Haas (meet at corner of Riverdale and Main Streets)
• 1 pm: Muhheakantuck/River that Flows Two Ways and Yonkers Sculpture Meadow on the Hudson with Barbara Segal (meet at Metro North Viaduct Main and Buena Vista)
• 2 pm: First Lady of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald with Vinnie Bagwell (meet in front of sculpture on grounds of RR station)

Saturday, May 9

YONKERS ARTS FEST 2009 SHOWCASE
Performing Arts Showcase - Professional and Student Musicians, Dancers, Poets and Actors
7 pm in the Riverfront Public Library Auditorium

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Westchester News 12 Anchor Brian Conybeare

• Lincoln High School Gospel and Concert Choirs
• Yonkers High School Drama Club, Scenes from Hamlet
• Megg Farrell Songs featuring Oliver Hensel-Brown and Jesse Brenneman
• Tamara Jaton, Violin solo with Courtney Manning, piano
• Bobby LaVell, Jazz solo
• Antony Yeager, Poetry
• Michael Ingram, Broadway melodies
• Axara, Hip Hop Dancers from The Loft
• Abby Welhouse, flute, Chelsea Wright, piano
• Treble in Paradise, Sarah Lawrence College Women’s Acappella Group
• Vocal Minority, Sarah Lawrence College Men’s Acappella Group
• Romel Brumley, Baritone
• Adazeke Lynn Beville, “Call to the Wilderness”
• Patrick Gallagher, Piano solo
• Bob Bisaccia and The Kenny Lee Quartet

Sunday, May 10

Groupo Folklorico
2 pm or 3:30 pm at Iglesia San Andres, 22 Post Street
Information: (914) 963 9523.

Sunday, May 10

“Bach to the Future”: Bach, Mozart, Whitacre, Purcell, Handel, Bizet and Verdi with the Sarah Lawrence College Chamber Choir and Women’s Ensemble; Patrick Romano, director
5 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall,
Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Sunday, May 10

Recital: Works by Mozart, Bach, Chaminade, Kennan. Abigail Wellhouse, flute; Chelsea Wright, piano and harpsichord; Suna Chung, piano
8 pm in the Bessie Schönberg Dance Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Tuesday, May 12

Cygnus Ensemble
1:30 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Tuesday, May 12

Sarah Lawrence College Orchestra; Jonathan Yates, conductor
8 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Thursday, May 14

Be the Change Evening of Jazz -Latin and Contemporary Jazz
7 pm at Lincoln High School Arts Academy, 375 Kneeland Avenue
Information: (914) 376 8400

Thursday, May 14

Recital: Shakira Croce, flute; Madison Davis, voice
7:30 pm in the Marshall Field Music Building, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Saturday, May 16*

Youth Theatre Interactions

Youth Theatre Interaction’s Outdoor Cultural Experience: Dance, Drama, Music and Vocals
4 pm at Andrus Park, Central Park Avenue & Arlington Street
Information: www.youth-theatre.org

Sunday, May 17

Youth Theatre Interactions’ Outdoor Cultural Experience: Dance, Drama, Music and Vocals
4 pm at Cerrato Park, Riverdale & Vark Avenues
Information: www.youth-theatre.org

Sunday, May 17

“Exploring With Henry Hudson” A theater performance by Adam Gertsacov
3 pm at Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Avenue
Information: www.philipsemanorfriends.org

http://www.henryhudson.info

Saturday, May 30

Lecture: The Cochran Collection of American Portraiture by Kimberly Flook Adams
3 pm at Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Avenue
Information: www.philipsemanorfriends.org

Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra

Sunday, May 31

Concerto Time at the Philharmonic Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra Featuring winners of the Concerto Competition for high school students
3 pm at Saunders High School, 183 Palmer Road
Information: (914) 476 3711 or (914) 631 6674 www.yonkersphilharmonic.org

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EXHIBITS

Windows on Main Street

May through June
Displays of artwork in storefronts and lobbies on Main Street and other streets in Downtown Yonkers

City Haul: Trash2Treasure

Through May
Curated by Barbara Segal; Sponsored by DPW at Yonkers City Hall

Saturday, May 9 – Thursday, May 28

Yonkers Artists Showcase - Artwork in all media by artists working or living in Yonkers
Curated by Luis Perelman at Yonkers Riverfront Library

Artrucks

Saturday, May 9

“Artrucks” will be on view in front of the Riverfront Library

Saturday, May 9

Closing reception - Blue Door Takes Off
12 noon - 5 pm at the Blue Door Gallery,
2 pm Artists Walk and Talk
13 Riverdale Avenue
Information: www.bluedoorgallery.org

Through Friday, May 15

Judith Oskner : “Town and Country”
Sarah Lawrence College Library Gallery
Information: (914) 395 2472

Saturday, May 16

Opening Reception - Show and Tell
Artists’ demonstrations of techniques each Saturday
Exhibit runs through Saturday, June 27
Blue Door Gallery, 13 Riverdale Avenue
Information: www.bluedoorgallery.org

Sunday, May 17

Evolution Arts
Yonkers Downtown Waterfront BID
1 - 4 pm at Plaza Park just south of RR station
Information: www.yonkersdowntown.com

Wednesday, June 3

Passport to Yonkers: Intergenerational Visual Arts Exhibit – Yonkers Public School Students Community Senior Citizens
6:30 pm at the Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center
Information: (914) 376 8265