THE STORY: AUGUST 2024
SUMMER SEMESTER II: JUNE 30 - AUGUST 24
Summer success continues at New Music School with student competition wins, performance spotlights, and high achievements! Congratulations to our recent Competition winners and Summer Festival participants:
STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Former NMS student (and former NMS intern) James Petros won 1st prize in the Orfeo International Music Competition in Vipetino Italy!
Violinist Sylvia Pine was invited by the Alfredo de Saint Malo Festival in Panama City to perform at their Family Concert, doing a Vivaldi “Concerto for Two Violins” with her mother, Rachel Barton Pine, accompanied by a string orchestra. Sylvia also participated in the Northwestern Bach Academy, Amherst Early Music’s Baroque Performance Academy, and the Tutti Chamber Music camp, where she was the winner of this year’s Concerto Competition.
Kenneth and Joseph Gallwas participated in the Duo Piano Master Classes as part of the Summer Performance Workshops at Northwestern. They worked with Sylvia Wang, Alan Chow, and the Liang-He Piano Duo.
Beatice Valenzuela, Kevin Hernandez, and Zarin Metha all spent time at Juilliard making music! Zarin was studying with the Juilliard Piano Program, and Kevin and Beatrice participated in the Sphinx Performance Academy at Juilliard.
We had great NMS success at the Chicago International Piano Competition. Zarin Mehta won 3rd prize in the Grand Prize Category for Professionals. Tong-Bai Deng was awarded best Performance of a Contemporary Work and won first place his division, Young Artist 2. Constantine Wang also competed in the Young Musician III category.
FALL 2024 STUDENT ENROLLMENTS:
Fall 2024 enrollment is open from now until Saturday August 24th! Please talk directly to your teacher to inform them of your commitment to the Fall Semester, or call the school @312-612-1969 to speak to Natasha to confirm your enrollment.
NMS AT RAVINIA!
Thank you to all the students and families who came out to Ravinia to support International Young Artist Concerto Competition Winner, Joshua Kováč, cellist.
We greatly appreciate when NMS shows up for young talent, and hope students, parents, and siblings alike were all inspired by both Josh’s performance, and the splendor of the CSO.
NMS violin faculty member Desirée Ruhstrat soloed with the CSO on Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35, under the baton of conductor Carolyn Kwon. Both women were making their Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut in spectacular fashion, with the Canon’s of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture punctuating the concert.
UPCOMING RESIDENCIES AND MASTERCLASSES:
Ethan Lin, Flute, in Performance, Masterclass, and Workshop.
WHEN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8th @ 5:30pm
WHERE
NEW MUSIC SCHOOL, 900 N MICHIGAN AVE, L6
Prize winner of the 2021 Puerto Rico International Collaborative Competition and Donald Peck International Flute Competition 2019, flutist Ethan Lin-Schwartz has toured throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. Raised in Southern California, Ethan has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and many other established ensembles. Over the past 15 years, Ethan has dedicated himself to educating and pairing flutists with instruments that reflect their success. Currently, he is the Executive Sales Manager at the world-renowned Burkart Flutes and Piccolos and serves as Principal Flute for Symphony Pro Musica in Hudson, Massachusetts.
Ethan will be performing with NMS flute faculty member, Steve Yepez and pianist Summer Baek, as well as giving a Masterclass and “Quick-Fix Flute Tips” workshop for NMS students. Our student performers have already been selected, but please register to observe.
Sean Bennett, piano, in Masterclass.
WHEN
MONDAY, AUGUST 12th @ 6:00pm
WHERE
NEW MUSIC SCHOOL, 900 N MICHIGAN AVE, L6
Sean Bennett is a classical pianist of American origin most notable for being one of the most downloaded classical musicians in the history of the internet (nearly 2 million downloads to date), one of the youngest to perform Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3 at 14, the first to write-down, record, and perform the famed Horowitz arrangements all in the same concert, and the world's expert on the science behind why music sticks in peoples' thoughts (a process he calls "Musical Imagery Repetition," or MIR).
Bennett’s has taught musicians for almost 30 years. His teaching activities have focused on masterclasses and ongoing coaching of prodigious talents and touring concert artists. More details and recordings of Sean Bennett may be found at his website, seanbennett.net.
Sean will be giving a masterclass to our piano students.
Andrew Sords, violin, in Mini-Residency.
WHEN
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th @ 3:00pm
WHERE
NEW MUSIC SCHOOL, 900 N MICHIGAN AVE, L6
American violinist Andrew Sords maintains a prolific touring schedule with his piano trio and as soloist with orchestras. Having appeared on four continents and in nearly all of the 50 states, his performances have been cited for combining visceral virtuosity and ravishing tone, while international critics have endorsed Sords as “a fully formed artist” (Kalisz-Poland News), “utterly radiant” (Canada’s Arts Forum), and “exceptionally heartfelt and soulful” (St. Maarten’s Daily Herald). Learn more about Andrew on his website.
Andrew will be be giving lessons and a masterclass.
FALL THEORY!
Our Fall semester begins on August 25th, however please note that Theory Table and Theory Lessons will start on Sunday, September 8th. We hope everyone is excited to get back to online or table theory to continue strengthening the skills that make their playing possible!
SAVE THE DATE:
New Music School Events, Fall 2024
August 8th: Ethan Lin Masterclass and Flute Workshop
August 25: Fall Semester Begins
September 7: Andrew Sords Mini-Residency & Masterclass
September 8: Theory Begins
October 27: NMS Halloween Recitals
November 17: Departmental Recitals
December 7: Juries - Strings
December 8: Juries - Piano
NMS Academic Calendar available on google calendar here.