Announcing: Holiday Spectacular 2016

BMS invites you to the Holiday Spectacular on December 17th at 4:00 p.m.

Featuring many of our talented student performers, the Holiday Spectacular is a fantastic family event to get you and your loved ones in the holiday spirit with some amazing traditional music!

Tickets are $5 at the door.

Announcing: ARY Holiday Show '16

BMS Teachers at Havana International Jazz Fest

Duo Cantabile at BMS

Lauri Aguirre ~ Soprano and Mariano Aguirre ~ Classical Guitar

The voice and guitar ensemble Duo Cantabile has been charming audiences since its inception in 2002. They have received great accolades for their spirited and heart-felt performances. Lauri and Mariano Aguirre perform a wide variety of musical styles ranging from Renaissance to folk. Their repertoire includes original works for voice and guitar commissioned by the ensemble as well as numerous arrangements that they are constantly realizing. They have performed in the United States and Mexico in such venues as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Templo del Carmen, St. John the Divine, St. Peter’s Church in Chelsea, America’s Society and the New York Guitar Seminar.

In addition to forming this artistic venture, both musicians have active solo careers both here and abroad. Lauri has performed in opera, oratorio and musical theater venues ranging from the Finnish National Opera Company in Helsinki to the Village Light Opera Group in New York City. She has been a frequent oratorio soloist having performed such works as Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Schubert's Mass in G and Mozart's Regina Coeli and Requiem. Her operatic performances have included Le Nozze di Figaro, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoore, Don Carlo, and Falstaff, and most recently, leading roles in Riders to the Sea (Vaughan Williams), The Impressario (Mozart) and Dr. Heidegger’s Fountain of Youth (Beeson) at the Kaye Playhouse. Currently, Lauri can be heard on Sundays singing in the soprano section in the choir at The Oratory of St. Boniface Catholic Church.

Mariano has performed recitals in the United States and Mexico and has appeared at many festivals, including the Young Artist Series at the Aspen Music Festival, the Warwick Music Festival, and Mexico’s National University and Centro Nacional de las Artes. His awards include the Gregory Award for Excellence in Performance given by The New School University and the Artists International Competition. Mariano has recorded on the Vienna Modern Masters label. Aside from his performing endeavors, Mariano has a busy private music studio and is on the faculty at Mannes College of Music, Hunter College CUNY and the Brooklyn Music School. He is the festival director of the New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes and a sought after workshop leader and master class teacher. His students have won top prize at several international competitions.

Lauri and Mariano are graduates of the Mannes College of Music in New York City and hold bachelor and master degrees with honors from this institution. Lauri also holds a Master of Arts degree from Hunter College. Beyond their music making, the artists have also found joy as married partners and parents to their daughter Sofia.

"Duo Cantabile shines as a picture perfect example of emotional power in performance" - Classical Guitar Magazine

Sketches of Brooklyn: Live Art and Music

The Brooklyn Music School presents “Sketches Of Brooklyn,” a Musically Inspired Live Art Event featuring the work of Miles Davis.

BMS students and faculty will perform songs associated with Miles Davis which four featured artists will infuse into paintings. During the event, attendees will be able to observe the completion of the paintings while the songs are performed live and then have the opportunity to bid on the work during the event’s live auction. 

Featured artists are: Kiley Ames (www.kileyames.com), Selwyn Garraway (www.selwyngarraway.com), Daniel Hibbert (www.dhibbert.com), and Angie Boutin.

All proceeds from the silent auction will go towards BMS’ 2017 programming, operating expenses, and scholarship initiatives. 

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) is a non-profit community arts school whose mission is to provide access to the performing arts regardless of income, age, previous experience, or professional aspirations. In particular, BMS seeks to help those whose artistic voices are least often heard.

BMS at the 2016 New York City Marathon

BMS ensembles, soloists, and faculty will be performing at the Northwest corner of Lafayette and S. Portland to support runners and viewers participating in the New York City Marathon. Come out and join BMS on November 6 from 9am-12pm to support our school and one of the greatest New York traditions.

BMS's 4th Annual Musical Haunted House

BMS is excited to present the 4th annual Musical Haunted House. One of the great new traditions at BMS, the Musical Haunted House provides the community with a fun, family friendly Halloween activity filled with thrills, costumes, candy, and especially music. Guests will be led through four stories of BMS’s spooky decorated landmarked building with a shtick or treat waiting for them by BMS' students and world-class faculty. They will encounter themed classrooms such as: Zombeethoven, Glenn Ghoul, Knife at the Opera,  and culminating with a special performance in BMS’s historic theater featuring Hellvis (Devil Elvis tribute) and Hugs (Kid friendly Kiss cover band).  For younger ones an instrument petting zoo/graveyard will be offered.
 
The Musical Haunted House will be at Brooklyn Music School at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 30th. Tickets are $5 if purchased in advance or $10 at the door. Guests are encouraged to register with their friends.

Masterclass with Simon Ghraichy

On October 11th, BMS hosted French-born pianist Simon Ghraichy in a master class with BMS students Ivan Pena, Gavin Harris, and Chris Yip, followed by a preview performance of a duet between Mr. Ghraichy and BMS student Santos Simpson that will be performed at Mr. Ghraichy's upcoming Carnegie Hall concert. Each student performed a piece for Mr. Ghraichy and were offered valuable insight into the musical possibilities of their performances by Mr. Ghraichy. This free masterclass served as the second of three components of Simon Ghraichy's BMS residency, culminating in a concert at Carnegie Hall on Friday, October 14th at 7:30pm.

SVA Presents: A Brooklyn Cabaret 2016

Brooklyn Music School's Summer Vocal Arts Program invites young and old to join us for an intoxicating evening of song, dance, and humor featuring the music of Weill, Hollaender, Bolcom and unexpected others at "A Brooklyn Cabaret." 

This tantalizing evening is directed by the original star, Kim David Smith, who the New York Times describes as "a living artwork" and as "a younger generations' "Boy from Oz."

This one-night event will be Friday, August 5th at 7:30 p.m.

After the show, 21+ please join us for a thirst-quenching refreshment onstage!

Life is a cabaret, old chum, so some to a Brooklyn cabaret.

SVA Presents: Dido & Aeneas

Brooklyn Music School proudly presents Henry's Purcell's Baroque opera "Dido & Aeneas," which tells the passionate and tragic story of Aeneas, the only general to survive the conflagration of the great civilization of Troy, and, Dido, the Queen of the rising North African empire Carthage. Reserve tickets now for two performances on on Friday August 12 at 7:30 pm and Sunday August 14 at 3:30 pm.

When the ragged remnants of the Trojan fleet are swept ashore, Queen Dido must decide whether to destroy them or form a new alliance. Against her will and better judgement, Dido falls in love with the handsome foreign warlord and they are joined together in a single night of magic and passion. But the gods have decreed a different, turbulent fate for Aeneas. And these two great civilizations, rather than being bound in wedded alliance, are destined for bitter enmity.

Come see the Brooklyn Music School's production of this timely story with some of the most beautiful vocal pieces in Baroque opera. Featuring exciting emerging vocal artists, this production resonates with current themes of a Middle East and North Africa swept by war, the displacement of people on a massive scale, and the hope for rebirth and reinvention in a new land.

For more information or group tickets contact the Brooklyn Music School at (718) 638-5660.

2016 ARY Spring Concert

Join us and our After School students as we celebrate the end of the school year with two nights of music, dance, and musical theater performances as our kids show off what they've learned at BMS. 

Registration Open for Summer Vocal Arts 2016

Registration is now open for BMS's Summer Vocal Arts (SVA) and SVA Junior Artists Program! To inquire please contact Lina Tetriani or call our Registrar at (718) 638 5660.

The Summer Vocal Arts program provides students with a selective, 5 week intensive exposure to high level vocal arts preparation and performance. Each week will include approximately 12 hours of classes in singing, performance, acting, and yoga. 

This summer, SVA will present Henry Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas." The fully staged opera will take place on August 12th at 7:30PM and August 14th at 3:30PM at the Brooklyn Music School Theater, located at 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Tickets are $10-20. To purchase, visit the Eventbrite page below.

The SVA program runs from July 11th to August 14th, and costs $985. Scholarships are available on a selected basis.

The Summer Vocal Arts Junior Artists Program is a 5 week program oriented for students ages 7-15, and includes approximately 9 hours of classes in singing and dance, integrated with rehearsal that will introduce students to performance-oriented vocal arts and theater. SVA Junior Artists will present their 2016 performance, entitled "Love in Any Language" on August 13th at 4:00PM. Junior artists will also have the chance to participate in the Adult Summer Vocal Arts Performance of "Dido and Aeneas." 

The SVA Jr. program runs from July 11th to August 13th and costs $625. Scholarships are available on a selected basis. 

Registration Open for Summer 2016 Jazz Intensive

Registration is open for BMS's Summer Jazz Intensive, which will be running from August 15th through August 19th, 2016. This week-long intensive class for intermediate musicians, aged 10 and up, focuses on honing skills for improvisation and small group playing. The class runs from 9:00AM to 4:00PM with an hour lunch break at noon. The cost is $300 for the week and there are limited scholarships available.

What You Can Expect
Participants will explore the world of jazz improvisation and ensemble playing as they develop their abilities to hear jazz, learn basic scales and chords, build a jazz vocabulary for improvisation, and become familiar with harmonic devices to give them the keys to a new world of musical self-expression.

Gallery Block

These are example images. Double-click here to replace these images with your own content. Learn more

BMS @ Ft. Greene Park 2016

Join the BMS Rock & Jazz Ensembles as well as a few of our best solo performers Saturday, June 4th at 10:00 am for a free concert in Fort Greene Park. We'll be at the Artisan Market on the corner of Dekalb ave. and Cumberland st.

Announcing: Juicy - A B.I.G. Celebration

 On Saturday, May 21st, 2016 @ 7pm, the Brooklyn Music School will host its first B.I.G Birthday Celebration paying homage to local hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G. The event is billed as Juicy: A B.I.G Celebration. The birthday party celebration will feature music by DJ Pudge & live covers of Biggie classics by The Sus.Life Collective & friends. There will be rap cyphers lead by local hip-hop artists, but open to all that attend. There will also be birthday cake, refreshments and love being spread, the Brooklyn way. 

Admission is only $5. 

Since 1909, BMS has educated the borough and beyond with quality music and dance instruction for both children and adults in a variety of instruments and genres especially classical, rock and jazz, but has also recently developed programs in world music, hip-hop and music technology. “Everyone at BMS is excited to build awareness and educate our students/community by honoring one of Brooklyn’s most accomplished artists who grew up just blocks from our school and who made such a dramatic contribution to music in such a short time. Biggie’s music needs to be canonized in the same vein in which we teach Bach, Mozart, Ellington, Coltrane, Motown, The Beatles, Nirvana, etc,” says BMS Executive Director Piruz Partow. 

BMS asks that parents use discretion in bringing their children.

BMS @ Metro Flea Market

On Sunday, May 15th, 2016 The Brooklyn Music School jazz ensemble, ARY after school rock bands, and select solo performers will be taking the stage at the Metro Flea Market (180 7th ave at PS321.) Join us for an afternoon for excellent music, shopping, and food from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, Hope to see you there!  

Spring Savings on Classes at BMS

Spring is a wonderful time to learn a new instrument or resume an old passion for music. Brooklyn Music School has a wide range of options for the BMS Spring Quarter, running from April 3rd through June 28th 2016, from private lessons, to group ensembles, and our exciting new drumming classes at the World Percussion Institute.  

Students who commit and pay in full for a quarter of group classes or private lessons by April 2nd, 2016 will receive an additional 5% off of BMS’s already affordable prices.

Popular group classes at BMS include guitar, piano, violin, orchestra, Early Musicianship and Choir on Fire.

Brooklyn Music School offers private lessons for levels ranging from beginners to professional coaching taught by Brooklyn's most gifted musical faculty, many of whom are also accomplished, professional musicians. Among the broad range of instruments offered are piano, guitar, stand up and electric bass, voice, violin, viola, cello, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, drum kit, hand drums, harp, ukulele & more.

Private instruction is complemented by participation in group ensembles including our Rock & Jazz Ensemble and Adult Jazz Ensemble, both of which are free with a private lesson package.

BMS’s Dance Department  continues to expand our offerings with classes including Creative Movers, ballet, and hip-hop.

Last quarter our After School Program - Arts Reaching Youth was sold out. So sign up now to secure your child’s spot at Brooklyn’s most fun, creative, and affordable alternative for kids with working parents.

To sign up for classes visit our website at brooklynmusicschool.org or call our registrar at (718) 638-5660 for more information.

Registration Open for BMS Summer Institute

Brooklyn Music School announced that registration is open for our very popular BMS Summer Institute, running from July 5th to August 19th, 2016.

The BMS Summer Institute is designed as a fun, affordable and approachable intensive introduction to music, dance, and the performing arts for children ages 5 to 12.  Parents can sign up for all seven weeks, or a few weeks, depending on their family’s summer schedule. Last year’s program was sold out for a number of the prime weeks, so parents are encouraged to register early.  The fee for each week is $350, or $280 for the short week of July 5th-8th.

What You Can Expect

The BMS Summer Institute is designed to be “serious fun,” with a range of classes in music, movement, outdoor play, and educational field trips. Depending on the week, kids can expect to learn a range of instruments including African drums, guitar, violin, and piano. Students are grouped according to age and musical familiarity to make sure no one gets bored!

Then things get kinetic with a range of movement and performance activities, including musical theater, African dance, jazz dance, hip hop dance, and contemporary dance. Every week culminates in a performance on Fridays, where young performers can show off what they have learned to their families and friends.

This year’s program includes classes in introductory music theory, rhythmology, and music production, as well.

To learn more or register call us at (718) 638-5660.

BMS Middle School Jazz Fest ft. Robin Eubanks

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) announced that acclaimed jazz trombonist Robin Eubanks will be headlining the third annual Brooklyn Music School Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Mr. Eubanks will be conducting intensive workshops with some of the most talented middle school jazz enthusiasts from the New York area from 11:00 AM to 5:00 p.m. Then at 5 p.m. he will lead an all-star jazz band of BMS jazz faculty in a public concert and officiating in awards given out to the exceptional performers.

Brooklyn Music School Jazz Festival will feature performances by participating middle schools, clinics by the BMS faculty, professional development for participating school faculty members, and a $500 scholarship that will be awarded on site by BMS trustee Mr. Chuck Moritt. 

"BMS has a rich tradition of jazz instruction and we are thrilled to have Robin collaborating with our students and faculty to make this event even more special," said Piruz Partow, executive director. He is a cutting-edge trombonist who is redefining the role of his instrument in modern jazz, and will provide a terrific example of how the jazz form is being reinvented."

Mr. Eubanks and our faculty will be adjudicating performances to offer suggestions and encouragement as well as awarding certificates for outstanding musicianship. BMS intends for this festival to strengthen middle school jazz programs in Brooklyn.

Admission to the event is free, but those who wish to attend the concert with Robin Eubanks must register in advance on Eventbrite.

Chelsea Symphony Concert: Welcome To The Zoo!

We're thrilled that The Chelsea Symphony will be joining us at BMS on February 21 for an afternoon of family-friendly music making.  Maestro Julie Desbordes and emcee Miss Navida will be our guides on our musical adventure to the zoo in a concert experience not to be missed.  

Our program includes Camille Saint-Saëns enduring classic, "The Carnival of the Animals”  and Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” in addition to lesser known gems like Georg Phillip Telemann's Concerto in A Major, "The Frogs".  The event concludes with the world premier of a piece by BMS faculty member Seth Bedford, "Ballet of the Rubber Ducks”  which will feature BMS strings students.   And before we start, we'll have kid friendly workshops including an instrumental petting zoo. The event is free, but a small donation of your choice towards the orchestra will be accepted gleefully.

What?  The Chelsea Symphony Family Concert
Where? BMS Auditorium
When? Feb. 21, 2pm with pre- concert activities at 1:30.
How much? Free!