A Message from BMS Regarding the Corona Virus
Dear BMS Family:
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the public regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The CDC has asked schools and businesses to prepare for the virus affecting the United States directly. As the Executive Director, I assure you that we are also taking this very seriously.
Currently, our main response is directed toward illness prevention. We encourage our students, families and employees to follow the general illness prevention practices outlined below. We have also vastly increased our cleaning and sanitizing efforts of all classrooms, studios, instruments/pianos, offices and common areas. BMS' maintenance team is working very hard to maintain a clean and safe environment throughout the building and the theater.
As a precaution, we also ask individuals who have recently traveled from affected regions of the world to wait 14 days before returning to BMS.
As this situation unfolds, BMS staff will work closely with the relevant city agencies on all preventative and responsive measures in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I encourage you to monitor news and resources released by the NYC Department of Health, the New York State Department of Health and the CDC.
If you have specific questions, families can reach out to myself or our Operations Manager, Mr. Joe DeMars. The school's number is (718) 638-5660.
As always, the safety of our community is our top priority. We will continue to update you with any new developments.
Piruz Partow,
Executive Director
Have a Blast this Summer at BMS!
Summer Institute
The BMS Summer Music & Dance Institute provides children ages 5 - 8 with a broad introduction to music, dance, and the performing arts at Brooklyn's best and most affordable summer programming. BMS's seven week program is packed with creativity, fun, and new friendships.
This is the "best-kept-secret" for an affordable and enriching experience for Brooklyn kids, and is designed so that families can choose one week or all seven weeks, to accommodate other summer travel plans. Students get exposed to learning new instruments from BMS's world-class music faculty, learn new dance moves from our dance teachers, and put it all together in performances in the famous BMS theater.
Summer Music and Dance Institute Classes
Depending on the week, the Summer Music and Dance Institute offers students classes in Musical Theater, African Drums, Contemporary Dance, Music FUNdamentals, Drum Rhythmology, Piano, Violin, Ukulele, Guitar, Hip Hop Dance, and more.
Summer Intensives
As part of the Summer Music and Dance Institute, for students ages 9 - 12 we are excited to offer several intensive music and dance courses including: Dance Intensive, Hip Hop Intensive, Orchestra Intensive, Jazz Intensive, and Rock Band Intensive. These courses are tailored specifically to engage older, more experienced students. Rather than sampling a variety of music and dance classes, students have the opportunity to delve deeply into one specific instrument or subject matter.
ARC Music Program Soars with Brooklyn Music School Partnership
It’s been a few months since the kickoff of the ARTS@ARC Music Program with Music Therapist, Melissa Guttman. The ARTS@ARC program has since had four concerts: two at Brooklyn Music School and two out in the community. We checked back in with Melissa on the progress of the program.
ARTS@ARC meets every Tuesday and Thursday at the Flatbush YMCA. The program is part music therapy and part concert practice, though Melissa notes the personal growth benefits have been staggering.
“There is one member who never chose his own solo pieces even though he was a fantastic singer because he was shy. He has chosen two songs for this upcoming performance,” says Melissa. “Another singer used to be quiet and shy; now you can’t get him off the mic. He sings so loudly and passionately. He has completely come out of his shell.”
Music is a cornerstone of ARC Board President Jaimie Blackman’s vision for ARC. It allows individuals to increase their focus on concentration while also being a form of self-expression and emotional release.
While most participants sing and perform, two are focused on instruments and some are interested in soundboard and sound engineering. There is truly a place for everyone! Brooklyn Music School provides professional musicians to fill out the sound during concerts, allowing participants to focus on the particular performance aspect they enjoy most.
In the fall ARTS@ARC hosted a Blackbox concert which allowed the audience to be on stage with the performers in a more intimate, unique setting. In December, ARTS@ARC sang in the Holiday Spectacular which featured performances from multiple Brooklyn Music School groups and was brought to life by the community spirit.
ARTS@ARC also hosts concerts in the community. At Thanksgiving they had a show called “Sing and Serve” sponsored by a City Council Member. They also performed at the Tilden House, a local homeless shelter, this past Christmas. Melissa and ARC leadership are looking to expand the community concert program this year.
So what else is in store? Melissa is hoping as the program grows in popularity, she can creating more opportunities for individual instrumental and vocal instruction.
Since partnering with the Brooklyn Music School on the ARTS@ARC program, there has been an increase in interest so please do not hesitate to contact ARC. To learn more, visit: https://arcny.org/programs-services/artsarc/ or call 718-531-7500.
2020 Middle School Jazzfest
The 2020 Middle School Jazzfest is coming up on March 7, starting at 11:30am in the BMS Theater! We couldn't be more excited to be joined by special musical guest, world-class saxophonist, Paul Nedzela. Plus, performances by the BMS Faculty Jazz Band, Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School, Community Roots Middle School, NEST+M Middle School, Inwood Leadership Academy, and Berkeley-Carroll School!
Admission is $10 suggested donation. We cannot wait to see you there!
The 10th Annual Valentine's Day Concert
Love is in the air! Join us for an evening of songs about romance at our 10th Annual Valentine’s Day Concert on February 15 2020 @ 5pm in the BMS Theater! Music is truly one of the most powerful languages of of the heart. What better way to celebrate love in all of its forms than through song?
This year we are thrilled to be accompanied by a Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch, an incredibly dynamic Jazz Vocalist whose songs have inspired and entertained thousands over a period spanning 30 years. Ms. Cumberbatch is a native of Brooklyn, New York and the daughter of Harold Cumberbatch, the great baritone saxophonist. She has performed alongside Hannibal Loukumbe John Hicks, The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Diedre Murray, and Lonni Plaxico to name a few. She currently works with The Baritone Saxophones, Thr Ray Abrams Big Band. The Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble, and her own Magnificent Trio.
Also sharing the bill are several of BMS' ensembles including Motown Mondays, the BMS AC Encemble, the Discount 90’s, BMS Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensembles, Private Lesson students and more!
Admission:
Door - $8
Advance - $5
BMS Musical Theatre Presents Annie KIDS
The BMS Musical Theatre department is proud to present Annie KIDS! Come see the culmination of our talented students hard work during the Fall Semester and enjoy a truly magical performance. We cannot wait to see you there!
The Musical Theatre program at BMS is defined by the philosophy that through teamwork, every child can find their creative voice, combined with intensive training in both acting and vocal performance.
Brooklyn Music School X ARC
Brooklyn Music School is proud to announce that we have entered into partnership with ARC. BMS’s Melissa Guttman is currently leading the ARTS@ARC program.
ARC is now officially joining the Brooklyn Music School family. You will see ARTS@ARC performances on the Brooklyn Music School calendar as they grow their ARTS@ARC program into a monthly concert series, starting with the 2019 Holiday Spectacular on December 21. Come see them perform alongside talented BMS students at 5pm and help us to celebrate the Holiday season with an incredible evening of dance and music. They will be joined by the BMS Youth Orchestra, Groove Ensemble and much more!
ARTS@ARC and Brooklyn Music School are looking forward to expanding their concert series by going on the road to local senior centers and other community venues after the success of this season’s Christmas concert at Tilden House.
There is so much to look forward in the upcoming year!
For more information about ARC or the ARTS@ARC program, call them at 718-531-7500.
The 2019 BMS Restore & Revitalize Gala was a HUGE success!
Our 110th Annual Restore & Revitalize Gala was an evening that we won't soon forget with an impact that will enrich our future for generations to come. We are so grateful to all who attended and helped to make this year's Gala our most successful and enthralling yet!
Thanks to your contributions, we are thrilled to announce that we were able to raise an astounding $124,000 - that's more than double the total for last year's event! These funds along with the New York State Council on the Arts' contribution of $112,000 will provide students with valuable scholarship opportunity, ensure that we are able to make all necessary renovations to our facilities so that students are able to learn and grow in an environment that reflects the quality of our standard for excellence, and places us well on our way to meeting our fundraising goal for renovating the historic BMS Playhouse!
Here are just a few moments that made this year's Gala unforgettable.
Have a look inside our most exciting and successful Gala YET!
If you did not get the chance to attend this year's Gala, there's always an opportunity to be a part of the difference Brooklyn Music School makes every day in the lives of so many. Your support is what allows the Brooklyn Music School to fulfill its mission of making it possible for everyone, regardless of their background and resources, to be able to experience the joy of music and the artistic and intellectual benefits of musical performance. Donate today and change a life!
Artist Advisory Board Member Christopher Cerrone Grammy Nomination
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to our Artist Advisory Board member Christopher Cerrone for his Grammy nomination for the category of Chamber Music/Small Ensemble for The Pieces That Fall to Earth with Wild Up and Christopher Rountree! See the article in the Los Angeles Times here.
This is the second year in a row that a member of the advisory board was nominated, as Anthony Roth Costanzo was nominated last year for his debut album ARC.
BMS staged the NY debut of Chris Cerrone's opera All Wounds Bleed in August of 2018 to critical acclaim.
The BMS Artist Advisory Board members volunteer to work closely with BMS students through concerts, master classes, and other events to expose them to artists at the leading edge of their profession, and learn about the life of a professional musician. Learn more about our artist advisory board here.
A Message From the Brooklyn Music School Board of Trustees
Dear BMS students, families and friends,
We are delighted to share some very significant and positive news following the Annual Meeting of the BMS Board of Trustees.
First and foremost, the Board elected Shelby Green as our new Chair. Shelby is a professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has served as a BMS Trustee since 2018. We are extremely excited to have Shelby at the helm as we work to deliver on our mission of making it possible for everyone, regardless of their background and resources, to be able to experience the joy of music and the artistic and intellectual benefits of musical performance.
Shelby is joined by Peter Bordes and Brian Pope as Vice Chairs, Julia Yu — also a newly elected Trustee — as a treasurer, and Jordan Tamagni as Secretary. You can read their bios (and those of the full Board) here. This is a very strong and diverse team of corporate officers to guide the Board and support BMS going forward.
We are also very happy to tell you that four new Trustees have joined our Board.
Carletta Higginson serves as Director and Global Head of Music Publishing for YouTube and Google Play. She has over a decade of content, media and entertainment-related business with a deep understanding of the music landscape.
Samantha McDonald currently serves as the CFO of Flat World Partners, a next-generation advisory firm focused on impact investing. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading mergers and acquisitions and launching new revenue streams.
Jacqueline Parker is Of Counsel at the law firm of Ballard Spahr, LLP, where she is a senior attorney and expert in financial services law, risk management and legal compliance. She also teaches banking law at Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law.
Julia Yu has extensive experience as a Controller at Fortune 500 companies and as a CFO. She brings more than 20 years of diversified public accounting and capital management expertise, including extensive work advising the BMS Board on how to enhance and simplify the work of the finance team.
Carletta, Samantha, Jacqueline, and Julia will be invaluable members of the BMS Board, expanding our network of partnerships with donors, corporate sponsors and government officials, bolstering our governance and financial management capacity, and deepening our connections in the music industry. We look forward to everything they will bring to the Board as we guide BMS into the future.
In a related matter, the Board unanimously approved a new Diversity and Inclusion Policy, setting a goal of increasing diversity on the Board from around 25% in 2019 to 40% by 2024. Our new trustees greatly add to our diversity and we are well on our way to meeting our goal. Just as important, the Board is committed to inclusion throughout the BMS community, making sure that the different voices and perspectives of all stakeholders are reflected in our decision making and our business practices.
We are also tremendously excited to report that a charitable foundation will donate $100,000 in two installments in 2020 and 2021 to help upgrade our facility and jumpstart our capital campaign. Following last month’s announcement of our exciting new project with the Gotham Organization to develop a new, 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility adjoining our historic home in Fort Greene, this is great news for the entire BMS community. This builds on the $8.4 million in city and state capital that already has been allocated to BMS as a result of the hard work of our Board.
While there are always challenges to overcome and new milestones to work towards, we feel strongly that BMS is on track for a very successful future. Every one of you is an important part of that bright future. Your engagement and support are critical to achieving our goals and delivering on our mission. We thank you for everything you do to make the BMS community the welcoming, inclusive place it is.
- Brooklyn Music School Board of Trustees
Our 110th Annual Gala Auction is Now Live!
And We’re Live!
Though our 2019 Restore & Revitalize Gala is sold out, you can still partake in the excitement! We are pleased to announce that the Silent Auction for our 110th Annual Gala is now LIVE and open to all. Don’t miss out on the fun - you can start bidding RIGHT NOW!
We are very excited to offer such a diverse array of items and experiences. There is something for every budget and taste to choose from. All proceeds go to upgrading the historic BMS Playhouse! So treat yourself and do good at the same time!
Welcome to the Future of BMS!
BMS is Expanding!
We are very pleased to announce that Brooklyn Music School has entered into a partnership with Gotham Group that will lead to a new 20,000 square foot BMS Music and Performing Arts Center that will be wholly owned by BMS and located adjacent to our historic facility on St. Felix Street.
We especially want to thank all those who have lent their support to this project over the past three years, including our NYC Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, our Mayor Bill de Blasio, the leadership of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and our Borough President Eric Adams.
Some of the highlights of the project include:
The new facility will be constructed without requiring BMS to ever go offline, so we can continue to support our wonderful students and families throughout construction.
We already have over 85% of the required financing in place and will be launching a new Capital Campaign in 2020 to raise the additional funding.
The new facility more than doubles our instructional space and provides a home that is fully accessible, safe, and acoustically designed as a state-of-the-art music school.
It will enable us to add important capabilities such as a new dance and recital space, a Digital Music Lab, a recording studio, and a music video production lab.
It enhances BMS's mission commitment to core audiences including urban youth, seniors, the disabled, and recent immigrants.
This will be a beautiful and contextual addition to the most historic block in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District and serve as a treasured community resource for many decades to come.
It has taken three years of preparations and fundraising to get to this point and we have hard work before us to obtain all the necessary permits and construct a world-class facility. We will need the support of the entire BMS community to reach our goal.
Anyone who has further questions or wants to help in the effort should reach out to our Real Estate Committee at (646) 652 7185 or sign up here.
Thanks for your continued support for Brooklyn Music School!
Shelby Green
Crocker Coulson
Benjamin Dyett
Richard Roberts
Phil Rutherford
Avery Seavey
Jeffrey Tannenbaum
Brooklyn Music School Real Estate Committee
It's our Birthday and You're Invited!
It’s our birthday and you’re invited! Help us celebrate our 110th Anniversary on November 12th! Come hang out with like-minded supporters of music, equity in arts education, and a strong and diverse Brooklyn and secure your seats by purchasing your table or tickets now
2019 marks 110 years that Brooklyn Music School has been changing lives and building a community centered around the idea that music and performing arts should be accessible to all.
Come out to celebrate a history of remarkable achievement with us over the past 110 years and to look forward to some big changes underway as we revitalize this historic institution in the heart of Brooklyn's cultural district. Over the past seven years we have increased the number of students we work with from 300 to over 8,000. Over 90% of the students we serve receive music and arts education at no or reduced cost.
On November 12th, we will be having an evening of music, great food, drinks, and celebration at our 110 Year Gala at the BAM Cafe at the Opera House next door to our historic facility in Ft Greene. Come hang out with like-minded supporters of music, equity in arts education, and a strong and diverse Brooklyn and secure your seats by purchasing your table or tickets now.
GET INVOLVED IN MAKING THE GALA A BLOWOUT!
Proceeds from the Gala will go to help match funds that have been allocated by the NY State Council on the Arts for badly needed upgrades to our BMS Playhouse, including installation of theater air conditioning and a renovation of our theater bathrooms. We have already raised $140,000 out of the $250,000 budget, but we need your help to close the gap and complete this work.
Parents, grandparents, and BMS supporters can get involved in multiple way to make this event a resounding success.
Join Our Gala Committee as a parent volunteer to help with organizing and spreading the word about this important event.
Become a Gala Sponsor by approaching your employer about showing their commitment to equity in the arts be sponsoring this important community event.
Suggest Auction Items that parents and gala attendees will find irresistible, like dining experiences, vacation items, fine art, spa packages or the like. This is a great way for local businesses and professionals to do good and gain exposure at the same time.
Please email us at gala@brooklynmusicschool.org to discuss in more detail how you can get involved.
Join us for the 2019 Fort Greene House Tour
34th Fort Greene House Tour – Sunday, September 22, 2019 – Noon to 5:00pm – a self-guided walking tour - “Houses, History & All That Jazz” is the theme of this year’s vibrant tour.
34th Fort Greene House Tour – Sunday, September 22, 2019 – Noon to 5:00pm – a self-guided walking tour
“Houses, History & All That Jazz” is the theme of this year’s vibrant tour.
HOUSES…
Sponsored by the non-profit Fort Greene Association (FGA), this informative self-guided walking tour provides an inside look into seven striking and distinctive Fort Greene homes. Among the homes ticket holders will have the privilege of viewing are a former Tack House turned into a charming cottage retreat, an 1850’s brownstone which seamlessly blends evidence of a series of renovations from the 19th, 20th and 21st century, and an 1876 Brownstone lovingly restored over decades to period authenticity. Whether putting a working juke box in the dining room, a bath tub in a library or choosing to cook on a 1930’s Chambers stove, these creative homeowners are not afraid to follow their own rules when it comes to designing their homes. Several of the homes have also been featured as movie and television locations.
HISTORY…
This year’s tour is dedicated to the late Howard Pitsch, former FGA Chair, long-time resident and neighborhood historian who wrote the book “Images of America FORT GREENE.” A special 90-minute walking tour featuring some of Mr. Pitsch’s favorite places in Fort Greene will be offered to a limited group on a first come first served basis. You will have the opportunity to sign up after purchasing tickets via the fgahousetour.org website.
AND ALL THAT JAZZ…
To honor Fort Greene’s long tradition as a home to world class musicians, select homes on the tour will feature live music. We also celebrate the naming of a new park on St Felix and Lafayette after jazz legend and long-time Fort Greene resident, Betty Carter. August 1, 2019 Sponsored by the non-profit Fort Greene Association, Inc. PO Box 170563, Brooklyn, NY 11217-0563 historicfortgreene.org
The “Houses, History & All That Jazz” tour begins at the corner of DeKalb and Washington Park in front of the entrance to Fort Greene Park. Advance sale tickets are $25 (cash only) or via the website and PayPal. A list of local purchase locations for advance tickets is available online at our website, fgahousetour.org. Day of tour tickets are $30, cash only, available only at the Fort Greene Park location.
Come join this year’s Fort Greene House Tour and spend a delightful Sunday in one of Brooklyn’s most vibrant and culturally rich neighborhoods.
House tour website: fgahousetour.org
Twitter: @fgahousetour
Facebook: /fgahousetour
Contact: Info@fgahousetour.org 718-797-9019
FAB Fulton Jazz Series Returns this September
Once again, September is swinging -- every Friday evening throughout the month, thanks to the prolific musicians from Brooklyn Music School (BMS)! These talented teachers know how to jam -- and you can join them, at these lively street jazz sessions, free and open to all. No instrument? No problem -- just pull up a chair and enjoy the show!
Once again, September is swinging -- every Friday evening throughout the month, thanks to the prolific musicians from Brooklyn Music School (BMS)! These talented teachers know how to jam -- and you can join them, at these lively street jazz sessions, free and open to all. No instrument? No problem -- just pull up a chair and enjoy the show! You can even grab dinner to go from a FAB restaurant nearby and bring it to the plaza!
Opening the BMS Jazz Series at Fowler Square this year is Jeff Newell. Jeff is the Wind Instruments Chair at Brooklyn Music School, and he's accomplished on the saxophone, flute, and clarinet. Although he has played with various musical notables over the years and continues to perform and record with his own group, he is most proud of his many students, some of whom have gone on to become professional musicians. "I work to demystify music for my students, helping them perceive it as another language of human communication," Jeff says. "Learning to make music teaches us to work together and opens up channels through which we share emotional and spiritual joy." Come jam with Jeff on Friday, September 6 at 5:30 pm!
Next up in the BMS Jazz Series at Fowler Squareis Duane Eubanks! Duane almost very literally has jazz in his blood, as his mother, brothers, and uncle are all talented professional musicians. With the trumpet as his chosen instrument, Duane has studied and played with some of the most iconic artists of our time, including Wynton Marsalis, Dave Holland, and Stanley Turrentine. Always interested in jazz education, Duane is a valued member of the BMS faculty where he instructs students on the brass instruments. Do a musical "happy hour" with Duane, on Friday, September 13, at 5:30 pm!
Our weekly happy hour jazz series in Fowler Square continues with premier guitarist and composer Rafael Rosa. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rafael taught himself the guitar at age 14 and has gone on to perform at renowned venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, The Rainbow Room, 54 Below, Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club and many more, since his arrival in New York in 2011. He has recorded as both a sideman and bandleader and graduated from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music with a Masters Of Music in Jazz Performance.
Rafael is currently part of the Guitar Faculty at Brooklyn Music School. If you've got some musical chops, come run with Rafael on Friday, September 20 at 5:30 pm!
Musician Brian Woodruff is the Chair, Percussion, Co-Chair of the Jazz Department and Drum Instructor at Brooklyn Music School. "Beyond passing on my love of music, I try to give students a positive, one-on-one relationship with an adult figure who can perhaps fill some of the needs their parents can’t," he says. Brian's personal drumming style has been influenced by a wide range of musical traditions, including Cuban son and mambo, New Orleans jazz, and Haitian kompa. Outside of the classroom, he plays with his own sextet and with Jeff Newell's New Trad Octet. Catch Brian leading the band, and closing out the BMS series in Fowler Square on Friday, September 27, from 5:30-7:30 pm!
The BMS jazz music series is presented in partnership between FAB Fulton and the Brooklyn Music School, a cultural district community institution since 1912. Learn more about their programs and classes on their website: www.brooklynmusicschool.org.
The 2019 season of FAB FULTON events is made possible by generous support from Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo.
Special thanks to the Volunteers of New York Cares and dozens of FABulous local Community Partners.
Location
Fowler Square
Fulton Street and Lafayette Ave.
Fort Greene11217 Brooklyn , NY
Save the Date: BMS Gala 2019!
Save the Date: November 12, 2019! Join us in celebrating 110 years of Brooklyn Music School making music and performance accessible to all!
Save the Date!
Join us in celebrating 110 years
of the Brooklyn Music School
When
Tuesday, November 12
Cocktails 6:30 PM / Program 7:30 PM
Where
BAMcafé Lepercq Space
Historic Downtown Brooklyn
Host committee
John Flores, Chair
Zach Kouwe
Sasha Lazard
Brian Pope
Chuck Swartz
This year’s Gala Theme Restore & Revitalize is focused on raising funds for urgently required upgrades to our landmark facilities in Fort Greene, so that we can continue to serve our community for the next 110 years.
For more information or to get involved/donate/sponsor/attend BMS’ 110th Anniversary Gala, please email our team at gala@brooklynmusicschool.org
Celebrating Big Wins for Arts & Culture with L. Cumbo
BMS welcomed Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo to celebrate the historical, hard-fought, capital and expense arts and culture budget wins in Fiscal Year 2020.
CUMBO DELIVERS HISTORIC WINS FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
IN THE 35TH DISTRICT!
MAJORITY LEADER LAURIE A. CUMBO TO RALLY LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND CELEBRATE MILLIONS WON IN CAPITAL AND EXPENSE DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY ARTS, CULTURE, AND LIBRARIES, IN THE 2020 CITY BUDGET
BROOKLYN - Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo joins leaders from cultural organizations across Brooklyn to celebrate historical financial wins in this year’s city budget.
WHAT: Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo celebrates historical, hard-fought, capital and expense arts and culture budget wins in Fiscal Year 2020.
WHO:
Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo,
Cultural leaders and Advocates
Jewish Children’s Museum
Weeksville Heritage Center
Brooklyn Music School
Brooklyn Public Library
Cool Culture
BRIC Arts Media
Brooklyn Center for the Arts
WHEN: Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
WHERE: Brooklyn Music School, 126 St Felix St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
That Musical about a Helper Unicorn
Set in a Magical Forest, this whimsical comedy for children tells a story of fantastical creatures from Krinklies, feathery blue crocodiles, to Unicorns. Fernie, a not-too-helpful helper unicorn, thinks she knows the best way …
Coming up on June 22, the Brooklyn Music School’s Musical Theater and Performance program will present the musical That Musical about a Helper Unicorn.
Set in a Magical Forest, this whimsical comedy for children tells a story of fantastical creatures from Krinklies, feathery blue crocodiles, to Unicorns. Fernie, a not-too-helpful helper unicorn, thinks she knows the best way to help not just one but three misguided creatures make their way through the magical forest of discoveries and challenges. On the journey we find that the biggest obstacle facing our Fernie and her wards is overcoming themselves and the limitations of their own bad habits. An original musical by Adele Powers and Zak Sandler. That Musical About a Helper Unicorn is a magical adventure you won’t want to miss!
Spring Spectacular 2019
This Saturday, June 15, the Brooklyn Music School is proud to present its annual Spring Spectacular. This event will showcase the incredible skills that our students have developed over the 2018-19 academic year at the Brooklyn Music School.
This Saturday, June 15, the Brooklyn Music School is proud to present its annual Spring Spectacular. This event will showcase the incredible skills that our students have developed over the 2018-19 academic year at the Brooklyn Music School.
The program will feature:
The BMS Youth Orchestra (Michael Vanonni, Director)
The BMS Musical Theater Program (Lena Tetriani, Director)
Jason Walter (Violin Student)
1 o’clock Jump Jazz Band (Brian Woodruff, Director)
Gordon Li (Piano)
2 o’clock Jump Jazz Band (Jeff Newell, Director)
Mei Yolles (Violin)
Tuesday Afternoon Jazz Ensemble (Jeff Newell, Director)
Aren Heyward (Piano)
Adult Jazz Ensemble (Jeff Newell, Director)
Nika & Luca Noudjoumi (Piano & Vocals)
Backyard Silvertree (Rafael Rosa, Director)
Rock Rage (Alex Rivers, Director)
During the event, there will be a ceremony to honor the Senior Music Mentors, as well as the inaugural presentation of a new Guitar Scholarship in honor of Gregory DeGroat.
There will be a reception following the event, all are welcome to attend.
Notes from Paris
Brooklyn Music School recently completed the second part of their musical exchange with Ecole d’Art Musical in April. This year a group of 17 students and their families traveled from Brooklyn to Paris to participate in two concerts with the Ecole d’Art Musical on April 23 at Le Madeleine and on April 24 at the Mairie du 5eme.
Brooklyn Music School recently completed the second part of their musical exchange with Ecole d’Art Musical in April. This year a group of 17 students and their families traveled from Brooklyn to Paris to participate in two concerts with the Ecole d’Art Musical on April 23 at Le Madeleine and on April 24 at the Mairie du 5eme. The first part of the exchange happened in the spring of 2018 when BMS welcomed 60 students from the Ecole d’Art Muscal and their parents for a concert in the BMS Theater.
The 17 BMS students had prepared over several months for the concerts under the tutelage of their private strings department instructors and with the guidance of the strings department chair and orchestra director Michael Vannoni.
Upon arriving in Paris, the BMS students rehearsed together with the French students for a day prior to their two performances.
Below is a full length recording of the concert on April 24.
BMS believes that traveling and musical exchanges with communities from other regions of the world is an important part of music education and community building.
When asked about his thoughts on the outcome of the performances in Paris, Piruz Partow, BMS’s Executive Director, said, “I was delighted to see the students rise to the occasion, and it was really apparent that they knew that they were not only representing themselves, but also BMS, Brooklyn,NYC, and the US over all.”
On Saturday, May 4, we had a chance to catch up with some of the students who went on the Paris trip to get their impressions of the performances and what they learned and experienced.