NYSMF ONLY! CLASSICAL SAX PROGRAM!

Rub your eyes, douse your face with cold water, pinch yourself in the arm, you aren't hallucinating.

NYSMF is announcing the formation of the NYSMF FESTIVAL SAXOPHONE INSTITUTE, a two-week program dedicated to the art of the classical saxophone. Taught by Dr. Paul Cohen of the Manhattan School of Music, this NYSMF-only program runs during the second session (July 9 - 22, 2006).

Here's the official description:

Ever since the saxophone was invented in 1840, it has been a growing force in the music world, acquiring a defining role in diverse musical genres from classical to popular to jazz. In the last 60 years the saxophone has emerged as an important classical instrument in orchestral, wind ensemble, chamber, solo and recital music, giving rise to an impressive body of music with instrumental demands equal to the most sophisticated wind playing.

There are very few summer programs designed for the serious saxophonist to develop these skills and to prepare at the hightest level for high school contests and college auditions The Festival Saxophone Instittue at NYSMF is designed to fill this need. The program will have these goals.

1. Introduce the extensive range of saxophone literature that exists in orchestra, chamber and solo areas
   
2. Provide Master Class seminars and performance forums to develop tonal, technical and instrumental control
   
3. Provide unique and intensive coachings and preparation in saxophone quartets, saxophone ensembles and recital and chamber music
   
4. Provide a forum to address and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully audition for music schools and competitions.

OVERVIEW: NYSMF SAXOPHONE INSTITUTE
High school and college saxophone students will have the opportunity for in-depth exploration of the classical saxophone. In 2006, NYSMF will accept up to twenty qualified students for enrollment. The two-week program features formal instruction through private lessons, master classes, saxophone quartet, saxophone ensemble (ranging from sopranino to contrabass saxophone) chamber music studies, and lecture classes on saxophone history and literature.

OPTIONAL PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
Students work on repertoire already in progress, with emphasis on improving technique and tonal concept and execution. Equipment changes will not be made or suggested (unless requested) but a deepened awareness of what is possible with exisiting materials will be explored. New repertoire for advanced students will also be offered.

MASTER CLASSES
Students participate in master classes led by Dr. Cohen. Classes will include individual performers as well as ensembles.

PERFORMANCE CLASSES
These informal settings offer a supportive atmosphere for the development and discussion of performance skills througout the week. At the end of each week there will be a formal saxophone concert of solos, chamber works and saxophone ensembles.

INSTITUTE ENSEMBLES
Ensembles available for saxophonists will include the wind ensemble, symphonic band, orchestra (as needed) saxophone quartet (SATB or AATB), mixed chamber groups, saxophone with piano, as well as a saxophone ensemble. The saxophone ensemble is a large conducted group playing original and transcribed music. With an instrumentation of sopranino saxophone to contrabass saxophone (both provided by Dr. Cohen) students can play on other size saxophones as well as further refining critical ensemble skills through exposed, non-doubling parts.

Saxphonists of the world unite, and descend upon NYSMF this summer! Your prayers for being taken for more than a piece of a jazz combo have been answered! APPLY TODAY AT http://www.NYSMF>org!! And give us a head's-up by emailing us at info@nysmf.org.

NY POPS ORMANDY SCHOLARSHIP @ NYMSF

The New York Pops Orchestra continues its active support of NYSMF with the Ormandy Scholarship! Here's the description from the NY Pops website:

ORMANDY SCHOLARSHIP

New York Summer Music Festival
Each year select Salute to Music students receive scholarships to attend
the New York Summer Music Festival.

Named after the orchestra’s founding principal cellist, Martin Ormandy, the scholarship rewards students who have shown exceptional musical growth during the school year and who exhibit the musicality and discipline necessary to excel.

Interested students submit an essay on how they would benefit from the scholarship. Winners receive free tuition and expense reimbursement to attend a two-week session at the New York Summer Music Festival and Institute. There, they concentrate on improving their skills on their instruments while practicing and performing in a community of like-minded musicians.

Two free weeks at NYSMF! Visit the NY Pops site for details, and good luck -- although in reality, you actually don't need any luck, you need to be a good musician above all else. So keep playing and keep pushing yourself, it can pay off nicely.

Thanks NY Pops, and thanks Dr. Maricle for your wonderful support of NYSMF.

--Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications
And Squirrel Medium

NEW JAZZ PAGE@NYMSF.org

Need a bunch of professional jazzers this summer? Look no further than NYSMF!

http://www.nysmf.org/about02jazz-presskit.html

The NYSMF Jazz Faculty does a lot more than teach, conduct, and provide extraordinary private lessons for NYSMF students from June 25 - Aug 5 in Oneonta, NY. They do what all professional musicians do, too: they find opportunities to play professionally wherever they may be.

You can preview the sounds that your faculty can do. We've got links to some of their music online, just click and you can hear the playing of NYSMF's finest:

• Sherrie Maricle (NY Pops)
  
• Bob Sabin (Ranula Music)
  
• Jason Rigby (too many bands to mention)
  
• Brenda Earle (have you visited her site BrendaEarle.comand listened to her smooth singin' lately?)

Click, listen, and enjoy. And hey, if you need any professional jazzers for your jazz club, bar, wedding, bar mitzvah, or bris (okay, maybe not that), give our Jazz Coordinator Bob Sabin a call. Yee ha everyone.

--Keisuke Hoashi
NYSMF Director of Communications and Asparagus Sorbet