Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Some interesting info about Cunningham Piano...

The Strings International Music Festival has a standing relationship with the famous Cunningham Piano Company out of Philadelphia. The following are some fun facts about Cunningham Piano:

1. Voted 1st Place Winner for the 2007 and 2008 Best Musical Instruments on MyFoxPhilly.com.

2. You can tour the factory and see firsthand their musical crafting.

3. Cunningham Piano came to the rescue of a prodigy - watch below.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video.



4. Awesome!! As stated in the YouTube description for the below video: "The PianoDisc iQ Intelligent Player System can connect an iPod to a PianoDisc reproducing piano, allowing for audio output to speakers inside the piano case, video from the iPod, and MIDI signals embedded in the music track to actually play the physical piano in sync with the video. This demonstration was shot at the Cunningham Piano Company in Philadelphia (http://www.cunninghampiano.com/), with the audio directly recorded from the iQ playing through an acoustic Cunningham piano. Featured song "100 Years" by Five for Fighting. Video and audio engineering by pianist/videographer Hugh Sung (http://hughsung.com)."

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Ranaan Meyer...

Strings International Music Festival's faculty member, and accomplished musician, Ranaan Meyer, has made yet another accomplishment in his musical career. Ranaan has been known at the Strings International Music Festival for quite a few summers now, first teaching alongside Hal Robinson, Principal Bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and then heading the double bass program at Strings. Ranaan is also well known for his fabulous, and famous string trio, Time for Three, for which he is the bassist and composer.

Ranaan Meyer has now started a summer workshop called Classical Jam Band. The program with Classical Jam Band is from August 10-15th, and is a residency program held at North Central Michigan College on the campus of the Bay View Music Festival.

The program at Classical Jam Band is a week-long music experience of collaboration and creativity in which students will form their own musical ensembles. All musicians attending will be taught improvisation, arranging and composing as an ensemble, as a “jam band,” by Ranaan Meyer. Groups will create original music and new arrangements. They will practice these skills within the framework of their prior musical experience and learn to apply them to their classical playing. They will perform for their colleagues as well as in open performances for the Bay View audiences.

So...

Step 1: study alongside members of The Phildelphia Orchestra at the Strings International Music Festival in order to practice and improve upon your technique and classical styling. The Strings International Music Festival's 2009 dates are June 13-26.. Limited spaces are still available, and when requesting information, be sure to inquire about the available scholarships.

Step 2: study alongside Ranaan Meyer at Classical Jam Band, and take your improved skills and styling and further them yet again, learning improvisation and composing.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Event of Interest...

The Children's Orchestra Society, presents...

Discovery Gala Concert

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 7:30 PM
COS Young Symphonic Ensemble
Michael Dadap, Conductor
2009 Discovery Winner:
Sheena Tsai, Violin
Guest Artists:
Soovin Kim, Violin
Eric Jacobsen, Cello
Orli Shaham, Piano

Carnegie Hall
57th Street & 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Tickets: $20, $30, $50

COS celebrates its 40th anniversary at Carnegie Hall! Join us for this momentous occasion as we present our 15th annual Discovery Gala concert, featuring the YSE, the 2009 Senior Discovery Competition winner, Sheena Tsai, performing the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 3 and special guest artists, Soonvin Kim, Eric Jacobsen, and Orli Shaham performing the Beethoven Triple Concerto. The program also include Rossini's Barber of Seville Overture and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

So here she is...

So we recently informed everyone about Strings International Music Festival alumni, Elli Choi's appearance on the Bonnie Hunt Show, well here she is... Elli will also be returning to the Strings International Music Festival's summer program this year, which runs from June 13-26. There are still some spots left, so check out Elli's interview and magnificent performance and register for our summer program online.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Check it out...

Violin virtuoso and Strings International Music Festival alumni Elli Choi
is scheduled to appear on the Bonnie Hunt Show on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.

Elli Choi is a music sensation, introduced to public media at the age of 4. She is now a mere 7 years of age, and is a master of the violin, having performed with world famous symphonies and orchestras. Check our out at age 5 below and in our April 13th blog posting of Elli at the 2008 Strings International Music Festival.