CLASSICAL BRIDGE, Inaugural Music Festival, Academy & Conference Comes to NYC This August

By: May. 08, 2018
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This August, New York City will host the first ever Classical Bridge, an international music festival, academy and conference designed to build bridges through the music. Presented by New York Concert Artists & Associates (NYCA), the inaugural event runs August 4 - 11 at Merkin Concert Hall atKaufman Music Center (129 West 67th Street, between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave), Symphony Space (2537 Broadway, at 96th Street), and Steinway Hall (1133 Avenue of the Americas at 44th Street). For tickets. reservations and more information visit www.ClassicalBridge.org.

The festival offers three components:
FESTIVAL CONCERTS featuring the festival orchestra and internationally renowned soloists ranging from 11 - 95 years old.

ACADEMY of celebrated artists offering master classes for aspiring musicians.
CONFERENCES. In an unique element that is unique to this particular music festival, Classical Bridge offers full schedule of panel discussions at which classical music industry leaders engage with musicians, addressing practical topics and mentoring emerging careers.

"With Classical Bridge, we aspire to create an event for the classical music community - musicians, aspiring artists, music industry professionals and music lovers - with the goal of building new audiences and providing helpful resources and innovative ideas to musical presentation," says Classical Bridge founder, producer and performing artist Klara Min. "Classical Bridge believes that we contribute to an ever-evolving music industry and society-at-large in the hopes of a more fully imagined musical life. We live in a time when division is rampant in daily conversation and headlines. But through music, we can find unity and build bridges across, nations, cultures, generations, and aspirational goals. We can inspire young artists through master classes, introduce great artists to new generations of audiences, and provide each with platform learn and collaborate. Through mentorship and a shared passion for music, we can bring together a community that puts music before any boarder, boundary or barrier."

The schedule for the inaugural Classical Bridge Festival conferences and concerts is as follows:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

CONFERENCE: Orientation
2PM at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway

CONFERENCE: Pre-Concert Discussion - Jed Distler in conversation with legendary violinist Ivry Gitlis
6PMat Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway

OPENING CONCERT: Chamber music with Ivry GItlis, violin
with Colin Brookes, viola; Alexander Buzlov, cello; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Andrew Gonzalez, viola; Sirena Huang, violin; Alissa Margulis, violin; Klara Min, piano; Spencer Myer, piano; Eric Silberger, violin; Borislav Strulev, cello
7:30PM at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway

Program: L'isle joyeuse (Debussy); Overture on Hebrew Themes (Prokofiev); Liebeslied/Paradise (Kreisler); Navarra "Spanish Dance" (de Sarasate); Octet for Strings in E-flat major, Op. 20 (Mendelssohn)


SUNDAY, AUGUST 5

ACADEMY: Studio lessons with Alexander Buzlov, cello; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Alissa Margulis, violin; Yong Hi Moon, piano; Eduard Zilberkant, piano
9AM - 3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Master Class with Ivry Gitlis, violin
12PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: One-on-One Career Advice Sessions with Bettina Mehne (by appointment)
12PM - 3PMatKaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: Panel Discussion - New media and musician entrepreneurship
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Sean Hickey, award-winning composer and Vice-President, Sales and Business Development of Naxos of America Inc., discusses the blend of art and administration. With a focus on musician entrepreneurship, new media, artist citizenry and navigating the current music and tech landscapes, Hickey's lectures at colleges, universities and conservatories throughout the world aim to engage and inspire, and to demystify marketing and social media strategies. He here speaks with select leaders in the field. Panelists: Sean Hickey, Collin Rae, Christopher O'Riley, Ariel Horowitz

CONFERENCE: Pre-Concert Panel Discussion: Living music ...how performing artists can develop new traditions
6PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
A special discussion of why new performing traditions - outside the traditional recital or concert - should be of interest to all, and led by a stellar group of visionary artists who are constantly redefining the presentation of new music. Panelists: Amanda Cook, Taka Kigawa, Kathleen Supove, Robert Patterson

CONCERT: 2018 NYCA Worldwide Debut Audition Winner: Milan Al-Ashhab, Violin; Adam Skoumal, piano
7:30PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Program: Paganiniana (Milstein); Poeme (Chausson); Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 (Ravel); Sonata for violin and piano (Janá?ek); Sonata No 3 for solo violin, "Ballade" (Ysaye);Nigun from Baal Shem (Bloch); Carmen Fantasy (Waxman)


MONDAY, AUGUST 6

ACADEMY: Studio lessons with Alexander Buzlov, cello; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Alissa Margulis, violin; Yong Hi Moon, piano; Eduard Zilberkant, piano
9AM - 3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Master Class with Gábor Takács-Nagy, ensemble
12PM atMerkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: One-on-One Career Advice Sessions with Bettina Mehne, Christina Baker (by appointment)
12PM - 3PM atKaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: Panel Discussion - Diversity in performance and presentation
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Legendary philanthropist, performing artist, professor and founder of ArtsForce and Sphinx, Jacqueline Jove, discusses the role of diversity in classical music with a group of distinguished guests, how diversity and inclusion is essential for the growth and dissemination of the artform and which is currently under threat. Panelists: Jacqueline Jove, Alexander Fiterstein, Emil Kang, Jeremy Ganter

CONFERENCE: Pre-Concert Panel Discussion: New approaches to recording, production and distribution
6PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
The DIY ethos permeates all areas of music, and perhaps none more so now than in the world of classical music presentation and recording. Sean Hickey leads a discussion with some of the most successful individual entrepreneurs in the space. Panelists: Collin Rae, Bob Lord, Judd Greenstein

CONCERT: Chamber Music - Stravinsky/Shostakovich/Tchaikovsky
Sirena Huang, Eric Silberger - violin; Colin Brookes, Andrew Gonzalez - viola; Alexander Buzlov, Borislav Strulev - cello; Vyacheslav Gryaznov, - piano; Alexander Fiterstein - clarinet
7:30PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Program: L'Histoire du soldat Suite (Stravinsky); Piano Trio No.2 in E minor, Op. 67 (Shostakovich); Sextet "Souvenir de Florence", Op. 70 (Tchaikovsky)


TUESDAY, AUGUST 7

ACADEMY: Studio lessons with Alexander Buzlov, cello; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Alissa Margulis, violin; Gábor Takács-Nagy, ensemble; Eduard Zilberkant, piano
9AM - 3PMat Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Master Class with David Kim, violin
12PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: One-on-One Career Advice Sessions with Bettina Mehne (by appointment)
12PM - 3PM at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: Panel Discussion - Rethinking and retooling concert presentation, programming and performance
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
From large hall to intimate cabaret, there are a plethora of choices in engaging with classical music that didn't all exist a decade ago. What are the approaches some of these leading music directors and leaders take, and what might programming look like a decade from now? Panelists: Glenn Cornett, Judd Greenstein, Justin Kantor

CONFERENCE: Pre-Concert Discussion - Finding an original voice as soloist
6PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
There is most certainly no shortage of tremendously talented instrumentalists and singers, hailing from all corners of the globe, many with big ambitions. What sets you apart and why should others care? A critical discussion of finding an original artistic voice. Panelists: Carsten Durer, Klara Min, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Sean Hickey

CONCERT: Chamber Music - Brahms/Schumann/Schubert
David Kim, Alissa Margulis, Eric Silberger - violin; Andrew Gonzalez - viola; Alexander Buzlov - cello; Juan Carlos Fernandez-Nieto, Zhenni Li, Klara Min, Eduard Zilberkant - piano
7:30PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Program: Fantasy in F minor for four-hands, D. 940 (Schubert); Violin Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven); Sonatensatz (Brahms); Quintet, Op. 44 (Schumann)


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8

ACADEMY: Studio lessons with Alexander Buzlov, cello; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Phillip Kawin, piano; Alissa Margulis, violin; Yong Hi Moon, piano; Eduard Zilberkant, piano
9AM - 3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Master Class with Yong Hi Moon, piano
12PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: One-on-One Career Advice Sessions with Bettina Mehne (by appointment)
12PM - 3PM atKaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Masterclass with Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: Group Discussion - New media and entrepreneurship opportunities for young artists
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Sean Hickey, award-winning composer and Vice-President, Sales and Business Development of Naxos of America Inc., discuss the blending of art and commerce. With a focus on musician entrepreneurship, new media, artist citizenry, and navigating the current music and tech landscapes, Hickey's lectures at colleges, universities and conservatories throughout the world aim to engage and inspire, and to demystify marketing and social media strategies.

CONFERENCE: Group Discussion - Promotional opportunities for artists in the streaming space
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
In many ways, the ubiquity of streaming means that the world's music is at our fingertips, and at low to no cost for all. Mark Forlow leads a discussion on how best to capitalize on opportunities within the services (Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, etc), and what Big Tech and the services ask of artists.

CONFERENCE: Pre-Concert Discussion - Featured composer Jean-Frederic Neuberger in discussion with Amanda Cook
6PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONCERT: New Music Evening featuring French composer Jean-Frédéric Neuburger
Alissa Margulis, Eric Silberger - violin; Andrew Gonzalez - viola; Alexander Buzlov, Borislav Strulev - cello; Klara Min, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger - piano; Alex Lipowski, Bill Solomon - percussion
7:30PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Program: Sinfonia for two pianos + drums (Neuburger); String Quartet (Neuburger); Cello Suite No.1 in G major [Choreographed with a dancer] (Bach); World-Premiere of a commissioned Electronic Music piece (Neuburger)


THURSDAY, AUGUST 9

ACADEMY: Studio lessons with Alexander Buzlov, cello; Phillip Kawin, piano; Alissa Margulis, violin; Yong Hi Moon, piano; Gábor Takács-Nagy, ensemble; Eduard Zilberkant, piano
9AM - 3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Master Class with Phillip Kawin, piano
12PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: One-on-One Career Advice Sessions with Bettina Mehne (by appointment)
12PM - 3PM at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: Group Discussion - Networking/connection building
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
David Homan and Bettina Mehne lead a roundtable discussion on the subject of perhaps the most important aspect of any artist's career, beyond the craft.

CONFERENCE: Pre-Concert Interview - Best of All Possible Worlds: Celebrating Bernstein at 100
6PM Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Some of the world's leading experts on one of America's most original voices and what Bernstein's legacy means 100 years on, and all of the celebratory projects of the Bernstein year. Panelists: Eliott Forrest, Lara Downes, Daniel Felsenfeld, John Mauceri

FINAL CONCERT: Celebrating Bernstein at 100
NYCA Symphony Orchestra
Gábor Takács-Nagy, conductor
7:30PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
Program: Selections from Pulcinella Suite (Stravinsky); Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin); On the Town - Three Dance Episode (Bernstein), Appalachian Spring (Copland)

POST-CONCERT VIP COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Private event for participating artists, VIP ticket holders, NYCA and festival sponsors


FRIDAY, AUGUST 10

ACADEMY: Studio lessons with Alexander Buzlov, cello; Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet; Phillip Kawin, piano; Alissa Margulis, violin; Yong Hi Moon, piano; Gábor Takács-Nagy, ensemble
9AM - 3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

ACADEMY: Master Class with Gábor Takács-Nagy, ensemble
12PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: One-on-One Career Advice Sessions with Bettina Mehne (by appointment)
12PM - 3PM atKaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street

CONFERENCE: Group Discussion - Public relations for classical artists
3PM at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street
A lively discussion with the leaders in classical music PR and promotion on how best to define your brand, to reach the widest possible audience using all of the available tools. Public relations strategies - How do you wish to define your brand? How do you wish to be perceived? And how can your message and artistry meaningfully translate into media attention? Panelists: Keith Sherman, Christina Jensen, Bettina Mehne

CONCERT: Steinway Hall Concerts By Young Musicians
Program TBA on August 8
4PM at Steinway Hall,1133 Avenue of the Americas
Tickets are free. Reservations are encouraged.

CONCERT: Steinway Hall Concerts By Young Musicians
Program TBA on August 8
7PM at Steinway Hall,1133 Avenue of the Americas
Tickets are free. Reservations are encouraged.


TICKET INFORMATION:

Visit ClassicalBridge.org for tickets and information. Individual tickets for all concerts at Symphony Space and Merkin Hall are $30 - $50. Students and Seniors: $20. The following Festival Passes are available to those who wish to attend multiple events:

Festival All-In-One Pass
$500 pass includes all Concerts, Panel Discussions,
Pre-Concert Talks and Academy Master Classes

Festival Concert Pass - VIP
$250 pass for VIP seating
for all six evening concerts

Festival Concert Pass - Regular
$150 pass offers a discount
for all six evening concerts

Bridge & Master Class Pass
$300 pass includes access to all
Panel Discussions, Pre-Concert Talks,
and Academy Master Classes

VIP Party Pass
$250 VIP Party Pass for Classical Bridge VIP Reception, August 9 at 10PM

ACADEMY REGISTRATION & TUITION INFORMATION:
To apply for enrollment in the Classical Bridge Academy, visit info@classicalbridge.org. The deadline for enrollment is May 30, 2018. Applicants must provide a biography; works for lessons and master classes; and performance links. The application fee is $130 for individual artists, $250 for ensembles. Tuition, $1100 for individual artists and $1500 for ensembles, includes:
Three studio session with desired instructors
Access to all Master Classes
Introduction to participating panelists
Performance at Steinway Hall
Access to all concerts and festival events
Access to one-on-one career advice from participating artists and panelists
Free access to Museum of Modern Art

Partial or full scholarships may be available to applicants based on submitted materials.



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