DECEMBER 15: Little Red Riding Hood

Brooklyn Music School’s

Musical Theater Performance of

Little Red Riding Hood

Friday, December 15, 2017 at 7 p.m.

Tickets FREE for children ages 11 and under, $20 for adults

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents a Musical Theater Performance of Little Red Riding Hood on Friday, December 15, 2017 at 7 p.m. Tickets are FREE for children ages 11 and under, and $20 for adults ($10 for BMS students). 

The classic transformative tale of Little Red Riding Hood will come alive in BMS Playhouse on December 15, 2017. Presented by young musical theater performers, this imaginative production will feature the classic and original characters highlighting Little Red’s journey through the unfamiliar woods and her encounter with the clever trickster wolf. As our young performers enact the evocative story and narrate the powerful lessons learned through their characters’ passage, audiences are reminded of the value of trust, kindness and the importance of community/family in times of hostility. In this exciting production, the creatures of the forest and trees come alive as the Mother's song echoes through the entire journey. Don't miss this original musical written and produced by the BMS faculty, proudly featuring the school’s youngest talent in music and theater.

Music and lyrics by Pamela Martinez, book by Danielle Carroll, stage direction and choreography by Marie Zvosec, costumes by Deborah Wright-Houston, lights and set design Ed Morrill.

Artists for Puerto Rico Benefit Concert

The first edition of Artists for Puerto Rico will be held on November 11, 2017 at 4 pm at Brooklyn Music School (BMS), 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn.

Tickets are $30-50 and are available at www.artistsforpuertorico.com. All proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico.

“For this first edition, the Brooklyn-based, Latin jazz group SUPERMAMBO will open for the two-time Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra,” said Rafael Rosa, a Puerto Rican guitarist/composer and an organizer of the event. “We are all donating our talent and time. This is a long road ahead for them, as most of the island is still without basic necessities.”

“Rafael has been a dedicated faculty member for many years and was the guy to turn to when BMS wanted to help the people of Puerto Rico. I knew that his passion, motivation, and reputation as a guitarist and composer would make this event happen,” said Piruz Partow, executive director of Brooklyn Music School.

Hurricane María’s strong winds and rain brought disaster to Puerto Rico, including deaths and losses of millions of dollars to individuals, local government, and the private sector. Many of the island residents are still without power, which has caused issues with food distribution, access to water, and other basic needs.

“We know that the recovery process will be long for Puerto Rico, for which we have decided to get in touch with artists of all kinds as well as other organizations that are doing an amazing job in helping Puerto Rico,” said Orlando Montañez, organizer and co-founder of the Puerto Rico event production company, CUBE Group Events. “We have selected Boys & Girls Club de Puerto Rico, which has been helping children and teens on the Island for over 50 years, for this first edition,” Montañez added.

For more information about the Organization and how to contribute, visit www.bgcpr.org.

Relief Concert Series: Latin Edition, is a concert series in which important music artists will be

participating in order to contribute and donate to nonprofit entities that help the communities

most affected by Hurricane María in Puerto Rico.

For more information and tickets, visit www.artistsforpuertorico.com.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the two-time Grammy-winning Salsa and Latin Jazz band, sets the standard for excellence for authentic, New York style, hardcore salsa. Live or recorded, it doesn't get any better. Whether a concert hall or an outdoor jazz festival, there is no easing you in, they are coming at you full force from start to finish. Their energy on stage, rich sound and musical precision leave audiences mesmerized until the last note is played. With an unwavering respect for the music’s rich history, thirteen world-class musicians and vocalists come together to create an unparalleled musical experience. Now in its fourteenth year, SHO, as they are known to fans, is dedicated to the sounds of the barrio. Their music is characterized by the raw, organic and vintage sound defined by the genre. They are on a mission to keep the musical legacy of salsa dura "hard salsa" alive and expand its audience to those who love great music, not just Latin music. Grounded in the past, while focused on the future, they strive to keep the music relevant, while creating a unique and fresh approach. With four albums, and as many Grammy nominations, this Latin Jazz powerhouse knows it is crucial to continually push themselves and raise the bar.  They recently released their fifth album, featuring two of America's great jazz icons, Chick Corea & saxophonist Joe Lovano. Oscar Hernandez and Spanish Harlem Orchestra continue to raise the bar of excellence in their music.

About SUPERMAMBO

Mambo King and timbalero extraordinaire Tito Puente was also an accomplished vibraphone player. The instrument was prominently featured on his early mambo recordings. Grammy-nominated Felipe Fournier is a percussionist and vibes player from Costa Rica who plays with Ruben Blades and classic salsa outfit Our Latin Thing. He has assembled a group of musicians who have collectively played with some of the greatest Latin musicians – Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon as well as the late Tito Puente himself.

BMS Presents: Lead Belly, Brooklyn!

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents Lead Belly, Brooklyn!, an All-Ages Sensory-Friendly Event featuring Dan Zanes, Claudia Eliaza, Pauline Jean and students from BMS on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 7 p.m. BMS is located at 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn. Tickets are $5-15.

Join us for a Community Celebration of Lead Belly’s Legacy at Brooklyn Music School. This unique event will feature Dan Zanes, Claudia Eliaza, and Pauline Jean performing a selection of Lead Belly’s music with the students of the Brooklyn Music School.

“Lead Belly's music made me want to play as a 7-year-old, and I've been doing that ever since,” said Zanes. “Lead Belly was the reason I started making music, and Lead Belly was the template for everything I've done in family music. I consider him to be the father of modern family music.”

At the end of the event, audience members will also have the opportunity to participate in a music video with Dan Zanes for the song "Rock Island Line" from his most recent album: "Lead Belly, Baby!,” produced with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and the event will also be filmed for a future documentary on the legacy of Lead Belly.

Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes occupies a unique place in American music where sea shanties, folk music, the spirit of early rock 'n' roll, and soulful originals collide. For over 15 years he has performed everywhere from thrift shop basements to Carnegie Hall, from Brooklyn to Bahrain and beyond, meanwhile releasing over a dozen children's albums and several DVDs reconnecting people to forgotten songs. Referred to as "the family-music genre's most outspoken and eloquent advocate" by TIME magazine, his widely acclaimed music has all been featured on Sesame Street, Playhouse Disney, Nickelodeon, HBO Family, and Sprout. Zanes recently finished “ Lead Belly, Baby!,” an album released on the Smithsonian/Folkways label celebrating the children's music of his main inspiration, Lead Belly (1889–1949), known as the King of the 12-String Guitar. Routinely performing with a large roster of friends, Zanes will be joined by Haitian-American jazz vocalists Claudia Eliaza and Pauline Jean, and other special guests.

The show will be sensory friendly. Zanes and his fiancée, Claudia Eliaza, are pioneers in the sensory-friendly performance movement. The Kennedy Center recently commissioned the two to create the first sensory-friendly folk opera, Night Train 57. “For me, the folk experience is about inclusion and participation -- welcoming people in,” Zanes said. “The spirit of Lead Belly's music that affected me as a 7-year-old drives me to want to create and present in a sensory-friendly atmosphere today.”

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Dan Zanes discovered Lead Belly's music on the day he got his first library card. On “Lead Belly, Baby!”, the GRAMMY-winning family music performer presents a fresh vision of Lead Belly's music for a new generation with a little help from his friends. Along with guests including Chuck D., Billy Bragg, Aloe Blacc, and Valerie June, Zanes brings the music of this American icon back full circle to its original home on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

For more information about the album, visit https://folkways.si.edu/dan-zanes-and-friends/lead-belly-baby.

Musical Haunted House

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents a Musical Haunted House on Sunday, October 29, 2017 from 3-6pm. 

The 5th Annual Musical Haunted House at Brooklyn Music School is fun for the whole family!

The event will begin with the world premiere of “Dead Zeppelin” and there is a rumor that this might be the final appearance of “Helvis”! A costume contest will take place during the concert, and raffle prizes will be awarded. Following the show, participants are invited to take part in a haunted tour, with a “Schtick or Treat” through the century-old schoolhouse, fantastically decked out in Halloween décor, with performances by students and teachers in costume.

“The Musical Haunted House is a fun time for the community to visit BMS,” said Piruz Partow, executive director of BMS. “ We are thrilled to have everyone join us again to sample our offerings in such a fun, unique way. This year we will be incorporating dance, world music, jazz and even more rock bands.”

BMS Announces New Advisory Board

Brooklyn Music School (BMS), located at 126 Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY, announces a new Advisory Board, created to play a key role in helping BMS continually enrich its educational and artistic offerings, improve its pedagogical approach, increase visibility in the community, and refine strategies for growth.

The new Advisory Board members are Hanna Arie-Gaifman, Martin Bresnick, Christopher Cerrone, Nels Cline, David del Tredici, Bridie Gauthier, Anthony Laciura, Dr. Victor Lewis, Lester Lynch, Elizabeth (Betsy) Hun Schmidt, Dalit Warshaw, and Dan Zanes. These highly skilled, illustrious, and lauded artists, educators, and leaders will provide support to the board and staff of BMS, and help to shape the future of the non-profit organization, which has grown by more than 30% each year for the past five years.

“We are honored to have such an illustrious group of artists and educators contribute to Brooklyn Music School’s mission of making high quality music and performing arts education accessible to all in our community,” said Crocker Coulson, Chair of the BMS Board of Trustees. “In order to remain relevant we need to continually raise the bar of the quality and breadth of the offerings we provide and find new ways to bring the excitement of artistic discovery to the next generation. These Advisory Board members have generously agreed to contribute their time and wise counsel to moving BMS forward.”

Members of the Advisory Board have all committed to contribute their time in meaningful ways, and over the next year BMS will be announcing a series of concerts, workshops, master classes, and lectures that will enable children and adults to interact and learn from musicians, dancers, performers, and arts educators at the top of their professions. Other members will contribute by providing strategic advice to the BMS Board or helping with the professional development of BMS faculty and staff. Additional members of the Advisory Board are expected to be announced in the coming months.

BMS presents "Echo & Narcisse"

Brooklyn Music School presents C.W. Gluck's rarely heard Baroque gem, "Echo et Narcisse."

Based on the myth of Echo and Narcissus, Gluck's interpretation centers on the internal and external challenges that the lovers have to overcome in order to finally join in love's union.

Themes of vanity, narcissism, lust, and jealousy are explored playfully, as the wrath of a jealous God, the mischievous arrows of love, and human compassion compete to shape the lovers' fates. This updated production touches on contemporary issues of the seduction of self-imagery and features an original painting/backdrop by artist Eve Devore. The modern aesthetic of the production is contrasted by a Baroque chamber ensemble featuring period instruments, conducted by Tali Makell.  

This drame lyrique was the last opera written by  Christoph Willibald Gluck, and after its production in 1779 he left Paris for good for Vienna. In retrospect, the story prophesizes a time in which a sickness of imagistic self-love disrupts human relationships and our society.

Proudly featuring emerging stars in opera, theater and dance, the Brooklyn Music School is dedicated to making opera into a living art form that challenges and engages diverse contemporary audiences. 

Directed by Marie Zvosec and costumed by Deborah Wright-Houston, "Echo et Narcisse" will take place in the BMS Playhouse. Don't miss this timely story and rarely heard luminous music composed by C.W. Gluck on August 17th and 19th at 7:30pm.

As the original home of The Little Opera Company of New York from 1925 to 1931, the BMS Playhouse theater has a long tradition of vocal performance in the arts community. 

Discussion: Make Music Your Profession

An Evening Music & Discussion with Grammy Award Winner Arturo O'Farrill

Tuesday, June 27th, 2017  6:00 pm

BMS Spring Spectacular

June 17th 5:00 PM

Featuring:

BMS Rock Bands

BMS Jazz Ensembles

Orchestra ARY After School

Dance Solo

Performances

BMS Dance Recital

Sat. June 17th 12:00 PM

Ballet I & II, Hip-Hop, & Creative Movers Classes Perform

Summer Music & Dance Institute Open House

Saturday, June 10th 1:00 pm

Join us for an open house and information session for our Summer Music & Dance Institute. Meet the program directors, teaching artists and counselors, take a tour of our historic school house and theater, and participate in a Q&A session.

BMS at The Fort Greene Artisan’s Market

BMS's Private Students & Ensembles perform in Ft. Greene Park at the Artisan's Market

BMS Gala 2017: Under the Brooklyn Moon

"Under the Brooklyn Moon" is a gala fundraiser benefitting the Brooklyn Music School. A play on Prince's directorial debut film, this event aims to raise awareness and support for BMS' continued contribution to the Brooklyn community through performing arts education. The Gala will be held Tuesday, June 6th, from 6:30 to 9:30 at the gorgeous Brooklyn Historical Society in Brooklyn Heights.

Four visual artists will paint Prince-inspired artwork for auction during the event, accompanied by live music performances of Prince's Grammy award winning musical catalogue.

Brooklyn Music School's mission is to make high-quality musical instruction approachable and affordable. Funds raised during the event through donations and the art auction will be used to support programming and provide scholarships to deserving students in the community. 

Live art. Live music. Live auction. Drinks. Food. New friends. All for a great cause. Crazy things have been known to happen under a Brooklyn moon. So don't miss out!

“East by Middle East” (ExME) 2017

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents “East by Middle East” (ExME), an evening music festival celebrating Healing and Unity in downtown Brooklyn on May 4th 2017 from 6 to 10 p.m.

ExME brings a wealth of local talent to perform on the BMS Playhouse stage to highlight the ethnic diversity that makes our spectacular city shine. As part of our mission encouraging Healing and Unity, the event will send a strong message of solidarity with the many communities from the Middle East that contribute to Brooklyn’s diverse tapestry of faiths and cultures, with music drawn from the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions. Council Member Laurie Cumbo will open the night with remarks in support of the contributions of those from the Middle East and North Africa who have been instrumental in building a richer and stronger Brooklyn.

The event will feature three ensembles rooted in this large and diverse region:

●      New York Andalus Ensemble Today, a spirit of intercultural exchange is reborn in this multiethnic, multi faith group that performs in Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, and Ladino. Drawing upon repertoire from the ninth century to the 1960s, from al-Andalus and the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), the ensemble consists of a large choir and a wide array of traditional and modern acoustic instruments. Under the direction of ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas, the ensemble is conjuring the cosmopolitan synergy of Andalusia in present-day New York.

 ●      Zikrayat performs traditional and modern Arab music and dance from Egypt, Syria, and the greater Arab world, highlighting rare and little-known gems from the "Golden Age" of Egyptian cinema (1930s-1960s). Founded by violinist, vocalist and composer Sami Abu Shumays, Zikrayat features a talented lineup of performers of diverse backgrounds brought together by their devotion to these rich art forms.

●      Vatan or "homeland" in Persian, is a Brooklyn-based band of Middle Eastern-American musicians blending the lines between Persian folk music and country, funk and rock. With toe-tapping jams, Vatan brings the sounds of a fun and irreverent music into your home.

A pre-concert performance workshop is open to the public, featuring artists from the ensembles presenting instruments and listening context from the region, along refreshments. In the afternoon, ExME artists will share these musical traditions in an after-school performance workshop with elementary students at Fort Greene’s Public School 20.

Tickets for the Concert and Workshop are $20 adults; $15 students. Tickets for the concert are $15 for adults; $10 for students. Reserve your tickets now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-x-middle-east-a-night-of-healing-unity-celebrating-me-music-tickets-32369549193

The evening begins at 6:00pm with a “Meet the Instruments” performance workshop for the community, featuring artists from the three ensembles. The BMS Playhouse doors open at 6:30pm, with drinks and light refreshments available for purchase before the concert begins at 7:00pm. 

The Brooklyn Music School is located at 126 St Felix Street in the heart of the Ft. Greene cultural district, only one block from the Barclays-Atlantic Ave subway station, and convenient to many dining options.

 For more information visit our website at www.brooklynmusicschool.org or contact Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas at: (718) 638-5660 or sthomas@brooklynmusicschool.com

Middle School Jazz Fest w/Dr. Victor Lewis

Please join us for the closing concert at the Fourth Annual Brooklyn Music School Middle School Jazz Festival on March 4th, 2017 at 5:30 p.m., featuring the BMS Jazz Ensemble and the renowned jazz drummer Dr. Victor Lewis.

Victor’s dynamic drumming style and musical personality has supported influential bandleaders from Dexter Gordon and Woody Shaw to David Sanborn.  He co-leads the groundbreaking band “Horizon” with Bobby Watson and has been on faculty at Rutgers University Mason School of the Arts for over 14 years. 

The BMS Middle School Jazz Festival is designed to bring together talented young jazz performers from around Greater New York City for a day of intensive workshops, clinics, and collaboration, along with the award of competitive scholarships for continued study of the jazz art form at BMS.  Dr. Lewis will bring his expertise to work with middle school students throughout the day, and will also be awarding certificates for outstanding musicianship. The goal of this festival to strengthen middle school jazz programs and build a sustainable jazz community among young musicians in Brooklyn. The Festival runs from 12:00 to 6:30 p.m.

"We are delighted to have Victor joining us at the festival this year, as he exemplifies the combination of artistry and commitment to education that will make jazz a thriving form with the rising generation," said Jeff Newell, Chair of the BMS Jazz Department.

Interested musicians or schools should contact Jeff Newell at (718) 638-5660 or jnewell@brooklynmusicschool.org.

Tickets to the closing concert are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Reserve now at http://bit.ly/2k9sQkD

Announcing: Stormy Weather

The Brooklyn Music School is proud to present the 4th annual Valentine's concert entitled Stormy Weather: Songs of Love and Despair. This emotionally charged program features soul stirring ballads and some of BMS's most talented vocalists. A great pre-Valentine's date night for those in love, or chance to commiserate about love lost and heartbreak. BMS singers will perform songs from Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and popular tunes by John Legend, Fiona Apple and Leonard Cohen. Don't miss this exciting concert! $8 in advance or $10 at the door.

Tickets also available for VIP reception with the performers after the show with refreshments.

Scherzo! Scenes From Beloved Comic Operas

Seduction, flirtation, mistaken identity, scheming and humor-- these are among the themes of classic comic opera scenes and arias to be performed in "Scherzo: Scenes from Beloved Comic Operas." 

Demonstrating that opera is not only about tragedy and doom, this production by Brooklyn Opera Works includes selections from Mozart, Rossini, Offenbach, Bernstein, and Gilbert & Sullivan performed by talented BMS vocal students and emerging opera stars. It is the perfect antidote to winter gloom and great date night or chance to introduce younger audience to opera in an approachable and friendly format. Lighthearted and cheerful, the program features trills, high notes, lust, and unforgettable personalities!

There are two performances: Thursday, Jan 26th at 7:30 and Saturday, Jan 28th at 4:00 pm. Brooklyn Music School's theater is located in the heart of Brooklyn's cultural district with connections to all major subway lines and in Fort Greene neighborhood packed with charming restaurants and bars.

Heavily discounted group packages available for school groups, seniors, and community organizations.

FREE Music Theory for Private Students

Songs of Spirit and Unity: A MLK Jr. Tribute

The Brooklyn Music School is proud to present Songs of Spirit and Unity: A Martin Luther King Jr. tribute concert featuring guest vocalist Ms. Karen Bernod.

Song was among the most important unifying and rallying factors in Dr. King’s movement of peace and equality, a movement that has provided many Brooklyn Music School students and faculty with the opportunity to pursue music and other skills at all levels.

About Ms. Karen Bernod
Ms. Karen Bernod is an R&B, soul, neo soul, and jazz singer from Brooklyn. Ms. Bernod began her career by singing background vocals for House artists. This eventually lead to the opportunity for her to work on projects with Mr. Paul Simon, RuPaul, Ms. Whitney Houston, Mr. Luther Vandross, Ms. Stephanie Mills, and many other artists. Ms. Bernod then traveled abroad to record and tour with Ms. Erykah Badu and D’Angelo, and Incognito, and she has worked extensively with Ms. Chaka Khan, Ms. Mary J. Blige, and Ms. Martha Redbone. In addition to all of her collaborative endeavors, Ms. Bernod has released three records as a soloist and remains an important figure in the community through her activist and volunteer work.

Tickets

Winter Quarter Registration Open | BMS Holiday Closure

We at BMS would like to extend our sincerest thanks and congratulations to all of our students and families for a great Fall quarter! We will be closed until January 3rd, including the World Percussion Center courses.
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Enrollment for the Winter quarter is now open.

Private Lessons: Register now to secure your favorite BMS teachers and preferred times for the Winter Quarter. 5% discount for payment before Jan 4th!

Group Classes: With classes including Group Instruments, Music Theory, Drama, Hip Hop Dance, Musical Theater, and many more, we encourage you to investigate our course offerings and find the classes that are right for you and your family. 

Highlights for younger students include:
Children's African Drum and Dance
on Sundays at 11:30am (ages 2-4) and 12:30pm (ages 5-7)
Creative Movers
on Saturdays at 10:00am (ages 3-4)
Early Musicianship
on Saturdays at 10:00am (ages 3-5)

BMS Holiday Academy 2016