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Drum Roll Please....

2012-01-17T10:06:00.016-05:00

PAI is proud to announce that Gene Koshinski (Percussion Faculty)

has been named this year's winner of ASCAP's Nissim Prize for his composition Concerto for Marimba and Choir. The contest was in search of the "best new score for large ensemble (conducted)." Below is the official announcement:

http://www.ascap.com/Press/2012/0112-NissimPrize.aspx

Congratulations Gene!

Gene Koshinski 's new CD now available

2011-11-11T11:31:00.000-05:00

Gene Koshinski is proud to announce his new CD, Layers, now available on the Equilibrium site and officially released at PASIC. Layers is a collection of original works for percussion, featuring Gene's brand new Concerto for Marimba and Choir and his large percussion duo And So the Wind Blew...

For more info, you can visit:http://www.equilibri.com/recordings/rec108.php

Bravo Elise Henkleman

2011-10-12T10:42:00.002-04:00

In late October, PAI’s very own Elise Henklemen will appear as a guest soloist with the Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Philharmonic under the baton of Lawrence Loh, one of PAI’s esteemed conductors. Elise will be playing the beautiful cello solos in John Williams’ Memoirs of a Geisha. Other works on the NEPA Philharmonic’s John Williams Tribute Concert features the music from the popular Harry Potter and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Mark it in your calendar to hear Elise perform:
Friday, October 21 at the Scranton Cultural Center @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 22 at the F. M. Kirby Center @ 8:00 PM

Best wishes Elise—you make all of us at PAI very proud!

2011-10-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

Rich Thompson, PAI 2012 jazz band conductor for week 6, will be performing for a week at a famous jazz room called Marian's in Bern, Switzerland w/the Byron Stripling Quartet. Check out Marian's link at http://www.mariansjazzroom.ch/html/home_e.htm and Byron's link @ http://byronstripling.com/

Taisiya Pushkar Performs Milonga del Angel -- Astor Piazzolla

2011-10-07T11:22:00.002-04:00

PAI Alum Taisiya Pushkar, who has a great career in New York, recently recorded Milonga del Angel by Piazzolla and uploaded it onto YouTube. Check out the brilliant recording.

Rachel Ackerman Solos at President's Concert

2011-03-04T13:27:00.003-05:00

Rachel Ackerman had the exciting opportunity to perform and solo at The Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, Md with the Penn State Concert Choir. Each year, the president of Penn State University, Dr. Spanier, and the Alumni Association sponsors a performance for the School of Music at a major performing arts hall on the east coast. On February 25, 2011, the Concert Choir, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Centre Dimensions jazz ensemble performed at the Strathmore, and one of the pieces the Concert Choir sang was a piece that Rachel had a solo in! Rachel said, "It was incredibly exciting to sing in this great venue, and it was a fantastic experience." Congratulations Rachel!

PAI's own Sophie Till to Present in Philadelphia

2011-02-03T08:58:00.007-05:00

Online poster, schedule and registration available at
http://www.golandskyinstitute.org/events/workshop

And The 2011 PAI Production is....

2011-01-27T11:18:00.008-05:00

Enrique is L.A. Bound

2010-12-10T10:55:00.007-05:00

Enrique just got "The Call" from LA...he made the 2011 Grammy Jazz Ensemble...sharing Lead!!!!!!!!

The Sanchez Family and your PAI family are proud of you Enrique!!

The GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program identifies and selects top high school instrumentalists and singers. Students from across the country have the opportunity to audition for the choir, band and combo and receive a free trip to the host city of the GRAMMYs. Selectees are also eligible for more than $2 million in scholarships from College Partners, perform in GRAMMY® Week events, record a CD and attend the GRAMMYs.

Vote Christina Roytz into the YouTube Symphony!

2010-12-10T10:41:00.003-05:00

Vote Christina Roytz into the YouTube Symphony! This is the final round...JUDGED BY YOU!!! The most popular videos get into the Symphony. SHE PLAYS CELLO ON A CAMEL!

Go to: http://www.facebook.com/l/a53a07yn1T3pnSDKtalTaTcbgbA;www.youtube.com/symphony
Click "Vote now!"

Click the "Orchestral Auditions"

Find cello (to the right of the conductor)

Find Christina Roytz's video!! (it's easy to find - look for a girl cellist on a camel!)

2010-11-24T11:14:00.001-05:00

Jessie Hooker (PAI alumni, 2003) was fantastic in her recent appearance in Scranton with the national tour of Legally Blonde. Following the performance, many PAI alumni had the chance to visit with her backstage. She sends her love to everyone and encourages current PAI students to chase their dreams---they really can come true!

Congratulations Yoo-Jin!

2010-11-23T08:17:00.005-05:00

Our favorite horn counselor, Yoo-Jin Choe has just received word that she has officially been accepted into the DMA program at Stony Brook University! She will begin her studies in January and promises to let us know when she will be performing her first recital as a doctoral student.

Jesse Hooker to Perform

2010-11-18T12:03:00.003-05:00

Jessie Hooker, former PAI Alum and Wyoming Seminary graduate is making her National Tour debut with Legally Blonde The Musical! The Tour will be performing at the Scranton Cultural Center from November 19-21. Jessie is a 2010 graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory. It is wonderful to see Jessie working at what she loves right out of college! To learn more about Jessie's National Debut, visit her blog at htt//www.jessiehooker.blogspot.com/ or for a complete listing of cities on the tour visit Jessie's web site at http://www.jessiehooker.com/

A New Addition to the PAI family

2010-11-12T10:39:00.002-05:00

Maureen Hurd Hause announced the arrival of her new little girl, Nora Lucile Hause, born July 6, weighing 9 lbs. and 22 inches long. Maureen reports that Nora is a sweet beauty and Nora and Elena are sweet together. "Nora is always happy and smiling at Elena, and Elena is a sensitive and helpful big sister." Congratulations go out to Maureen and her beautiful family!

Gene Koshinski Presents...

2010-11-11T09:01:00.004-05:00

Gene Koshinski will be presenting a duo program with special guest Ben Toth at 3 locations next week. Please join them for a dynamic program that blends world music traditions.

Performances:
University of Minnesota Duluth: Nov 16, 7:30pm: Weber Hall
University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Nov 19, 7:30pm: Ultan Hall
Concordia College: Nov 21, 7:30pm: Christiansen Hall

Program:
Oriental Tale (2009) Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic (b. 1962)

Daku Daku Deh: The Spider (2006) Ned Smith (b. 1984)

Marimba Spiritual 2 (1984) Minoru Miki (b. 1930)
arr. Safri Duo

Variations (After Viñao) (2007) Gene Koshinski (b. 1980)

And So the Wind Blew… (2009) Gene Koshinski

2010-10-15T13:32:00.005-04:00

PAI Student, Miles Fagley-Orfanella, a senior band member at Wyoming Valley West High School, earned the 2010 Ralph Hughes Memorial Jazz Scholarship. This $1,000 dollar award recognizes the most academically proficient jazz student participating in the 2010 Celebration of the Arts Honors Jazz Band. The COTA Cats are a big band jazz ensemble that highlights the top high school jazz students in the Pocono area and performs every year at the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts (COTA) jazz festival. The Ralph Hughes Scholarship honors the memory of jazz trumpet player Ralph Hughes who was an integral personality in the Pocono Mountains jazz scene. The scholarship is sponsored by Michael and Elvi De Lotto of Antelao Restaurant, Delaware Water Gap, and recognizes the most academically proficient senior COTA Cat based on their grade point average and class rank. Fagley-Orfanella is the first Wyoming Valley West band member to be awarded this prestigious honor.

PAI Alumni Living the Dream!

2010-09-27T08:57:00.005-04:00

Jessie Hooker, former PAI Alum and Wyoming Seminary graduate is making her National Tour debut with Legally Blonde The Musical! The Tour will be performing at the Scranton Cultural Center from November 19-21. Jessie graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2010. It is wonderful to see Jessie working at what she loves right out of college! To learn more about Jessie's National Debut, visit her blog at htt//www.jessiehooker.blogspot.com/ or for a complete listing of cities on the tour visit Jessie's web site at http://www.jessiehooker.com/

The United States Army Field Band Young Artist Competition

2010-09-23T14:15:00.008-04:00

Winner to appear as soloist with The U.S. Army Field Band

Tape submission deadline:January 14, 2011
Finals audition date:February 27, 2011
Fort Meade, MD
Dress rehearsal date:April 1, 2011
Performance date:April 2, 2011
Performance at MENC Eastern Division Conference, Baltimore, Maryland
(ALL travel paid by The U.S. Army Field Band)

Rules, application, and required repertoire list: (Application)

Bravo Adrian!

2010-09-21T10:49:00.006-04:00

Adrian Holton, 2010 PAI Counselor will be playing principal of the Philharmonic Orchestra at Indiana University. A second year Master's student, Adrian reports that he is "super excited". Leonard Slatkin will be conducting the first concert (Symphony Fantastique) with future concerts, Bruckner 4, Mahler 4, and Prokofiev 5, being performed throughout the semester. Congratulations Adrian!

PAI Alum Junping (Jeffrey) Qian at Curtis Institute

2010-09-21T10:01:00.006-04:00

We recently heard from Junping (Jeffrey)Qian, who some of you may remember attended PAI in 2007. Junping is now at Curtis Institute of Music, where he is the associate principle violist of the Curtis Orchestra. Also at Curtis is PAI alumni Lifan Zhu. Junping reports that they both have many fond memories of PAI. In his own words, “One of my best memories of PAI is the first conducting class that I ever took. I still feel that I learned so much from that class----the teacher was awesome! We conducted a mixed ensemble of PAI musicians and practiced conducting a legato pattern in the pool. Such great memories for me!”

2010-09-16T14:35:00.003-04:00

The MDA Telethon 2010 has just been completed, and the Jerry Lewis telethon 2010 raised a stunning $58.9 million dollars. That’s an amazing accomplishment in a year where we’re still feeling the effects of the recession, and it gives you some hope for our country: Joining Jerry Lewis on national television was PAI’s very own STEVE FIDYK, who was the drummer for celebrity singer, Maureen McGovern. Steve, we’re all proud of your efforts on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

PAI Guest Artist Heading to Broadway in the Cast of 'The Scottsboro Boys'

2010-09-16T08:50:00.002-04:00

Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon, a frequent guest artist at PAI, will make his Broadway debut as "Mr. Tambo" in the Kander-Ebb musical "The Scottsboro Boys" at the Lyceum Theatre in October. McClendon originated the role and moved in and out of other characters in the production's three-month run at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City. McClendon is one of 10 actors performing in the show's summer run through September 25 at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis who will recreate their performances on Broadway. "The Scottsboro Boys," based on the notorious "Scottsboro" case from the 1930s in which nine African-American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime, opens October 31 with preview performances beginning October 7.

PAI Welcomes Little Zoey Koshinski

2010-09-15T15:51:00.008-04:00

PAI would like to welcome the newest edition to the Koshinski Family. Zoey Marion Koshinski arrived on 9-9-10 at 2:53pm, weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz and was 20" long. Both baby and mom are doing very well! Congratulations Gene and Ann.

Gong Xi Schyler Fung!

2010-09-15T15:14:00.010-04:00

>We are proud to announce that Schyler Fung, PAI’s clarinet teacher extraordinaire, auditioned successfully for the principal clarinet position of the Macao Symphony! Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province to the north and facing the South China Sea in the east and south. Just a ferry ride from Hong Kong, Macao will be home to Schyler by the end of October. Congratulations Schyler! We wish you our very best!

2010-07-29T14:08:00.002-04:00

Grammy Award-winning percussionist Steve Fidyk will christen the 750-seat River Common amphitheater - Wilkes-Barre's newest entertainment venue - with a free concert at 7 p.m. tonight.
Fidyk will play with Wyoming Seminary Performing Arts Institute's Faculty Jazz Ensemble.
Fidyk, who has made more than 30 recordings, is a drummer with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble of Washington, D.C., and has toured and recorded with Maureen McGovern. Joining Fidyk will be veteran musicians Alex Noppe, Pete Johnson, Kyle Vock and friends.
Noppe is an associate instructor in jazz at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he directs the Jazz Ensemble IV. He plays with the Columbus-Indiana Philharmonic, the Terre Haute Symphony, and the David Baker Jazz Ensemble and has performed with the Lansing Symphony, the Jackson Symphony, and the Green Bay Symphony.
The concert will include low brass chamber music ensembles led by Michael Parker.
Parker has been the tuba player with the Monumental Brass Quintet in Washington, D.C., since 2002. As a member of the MBQ, Parker is currently on the artist rosters for Summit Records, Washington Performing Arts Society, Class Acts Arts, Living Arts Pennsylvania, and formerly with Young Audiences of D.C. and Virginia.
The accomplished musicians will perform at the River Common as part of the PAI's International Summer Program, which educates high school students in music, theater, and dance. Taught by prestigious international faculty and conductors, this intensive program prepares students for conservatory auditions by providing academic training and high-level performance experiences.
Joining the faculty performers will be PAI students Josh Fleming, Matt Johnson, and Gregory Townsend will support the concert experience.
Fleming (baritone horn) is currently going into his sophomore year at Sherwood High School in Olney, Md. and has been selected as a member of the Maryland All-State Band.
Johnson (tuba) is a 2010 graduate of St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. He won the Disney World Solo Contest.
Gregory Townsend (tuba) is a 2010 graduate of Marriotts Ridge High School in Maryland and was awarded First Chair Tuba in the Maryland All State Bands 2006-2008, and 2010.
For information about this and future programs, visit www.rivercommon.org or call 823-2101, ext. 128. Find out what it takes to survive in the wilderness with no supplies or equipment at a free program at 7 p.m. tonight at the Nesbitt Park boat launch parking lot, presented by the River Common.

2010-06-01T09:10:00.003-04:00

Corinna Sowers-Adler,
Cabaret Singer
In Appearance at the 2010 PAI Gala Scholarship Competition
Friday, June 4th 7:00 PM
Buckingham Performing Arts Center
Sprague Ave.
Kingston, PA
Students and Seniors: $10
Adults: $20
Appearing with Corinna will be:
Jason and Ellen Sherry, Kyle Segarra, Devon McFadden,
Angela Sperazza & Anthony Adeo
All proceeds will go to the musical theater scholarship fund!
Questions? Call 570-270-2186

PAI Alum - Kyle Segarra

2010-04-29T16:06:00.006-04:00

Kyle Segarra recently performed in the role of Roger in Temple University's production of Rent. Kyle is completing his Freshman year at Temple University. Congratulations Kyle - You were outstanding!

Musical Theater Scholarship Competition Benefit Gala

2010-04-29T15:47:00.004-04:00

MUSICAL THEATER SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION GALA EVENT

Five talented students will compete for scholarships to PAI in front of a Live Audience. In addition, PAI alumni and faculty will perform with our featured guest artist Corinna Sowers Adler.

These Five Finalists Are:

Mary Siobhan Brier
Shannon Harbison
Juan Puppo
Rebecca Roeber
David Vest!

Join us for this gala event!

Date: June 4
Place: Buckingham Performing Arts Center
Time:7pm
Ticket price $10 for students, $20 for adults

All proceeds will go towards PAI's Musical Theater Program. Please support this worthy cause.

Congratulations to these five incredibly talented students!
More information to follow:

Wyoming Seminary Presents "The Sound of the Stradivarius"

2010-04-12T10:08:00.003-04:00

The Wyoming Seminary Music Department is proud to present an extraordinary musical event featuring John Michael Vaida (pictured) and Colin Maki performing on two exquisite 18th-century violins by Antonio Stradivari on Friday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m. in the Great Hall.

The music performed will include The Double Concerto (J.S. Bach), Sonata for Two Violins (Prokofiev), Concert Etudes (Wieniawski), and Cantique de Jean Racine (Gabriel Faure). The Madrigal Singers and select members of the string ensemble will also perform.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students - all proceeds will benefit the Wyoming Seminary Music Department. Call 570-270-2110 for tickets; remaining tickets will be available at the door. Click here for directions to Wyoming Seminary.

Catch up with PAI Alum Brian Krinsky -

2010-03-24T08:04:00.007-04:00

Brian is currently a sophomore at Wagner College in the Theater Program. This past summer Brian worked in a regional production of Fame the Musical at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. In the fall Brian worked in the experimental show "I'm God and You're Not" which ran from September to December making his off-Broadway debut. In addition, Brian has been in numerous productions at Wagner. Brian is now working on two independent films in New York. Brian said' "PAI started this all for me and working with Bill helped fuel my love for theater." Continued success goes out to Brian!

Zane Forshee - Ambassador Extraordinaire

2010-03-15T10:43:00.005-04:00

Recently, The United States Embassy made a video of an outreach concert Zane Forshee gave for students in Madrid,Spain. PAI is mentioned in the video! Click on the link below or the ► to watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_8i12n7qks

PAI's Own Tim Early - Guest Artist with Ballet NE

2010-03-10T11:25:00.005-05:00

Tim Early, Head of PAI’s Dance Program will be a guest artist with Ballet Northeast this coming weekend.

Beethoven's Seventh and Other Works
March 13-14, 2010
Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, March 13th
Evening Performance: 7:30 P.M.
Sunday, March 14th
Matinee: 2:00 P.M.

For more information about Ballet Northeast's 2009-10 season, or to order tickets, please call (570) 287-5802

Music Theatre Scholarship Audition Call

2010-03-09T15:15:00.006-05:00

Musical Theater Scholarship Competition - Round One

The Performing Arts Institute
Musical Theater Scholarship Competition

First Round: Sunday, April 11, 2010

Buckingham Performing Arts Center
201 North Sprague Avenue
Kingston, Pennsylvania

Five finalists will advance to the final competition at our Gala Benefit on June 4Th, where three winners will be selected.
Click here to view last year's first place winner, Evan Frace.

First Place:
A full scholarship to attend PAI’s 2010 Musical Theater Program

Second Place:
A $1000 scholarship to attend PAI’s 2010 Musical Theater Program

Third Place:
A $500 scholarship to attend PAI’s 2010 Musical Theater Program

Program dates: June 27 - August 7, 2010

Competition Registration
All competitors must register before 4:00 p.m., April 7, 2010
Online Registration Form

Audition Requirements
An audition is required for scholarship consideration. Finalists must attend and perform at the Gala Benefit (date to be announced).
Auditions will consist of:

1) a two- to three-minute excerpt from a song of the Broadway musical genre, with accompaniment. (Accompanists will be available or you may provide your own.)

2) a one-minute monologue from an American copyrighted play or music theater piece.

Scholarship Details
This scholarship competition is open to new and returning students. Full PAI scholarship includes tuition, room and board. The family is responsible for transportation to and from the Wyoming Seminary campus, medical insurance, private lesson fees and personal spending money.

PAI Application Process
Although not required for participation in the scholarship competition, we encourage all competitors to complete the PAI application process. All application forms are available online.

For More Information visit The Performing Arts Institute at: http://www.wyomingseminary.org/page.cfm?p=282

PAI Violin Teachers are Nationally Recognized

2010-03-02T09:12:00.006-05:00

PAI is proud to announce that the Marywood University String Project, under the direction of Sophie Till, has been awarded the American String Teachers Association's String Project of The Year Award. Sophie traveled to California to receive the award at the String Project Consortium’s National Convention. While there, she saw Dr. Lisa Burrell, who presented two clinics at the conference. Congratulations are in order to PAI’s violin teachers, Sophie and Lisa, for being nationally recognized as master teachers!

2010-02-26T12:20:00.004-05:00

On Friday March 12th at 7:30 PM, violinist John Michael Vaida and pianist Timothy Burns team up for a recital at St. Stephen's Episcopal Chruch in Wilkes-Barre, PA. On the program will be sonatas by Aaron Copland, Alfred Schnittke, and Edvard Grieg. The concert will also feature the world premier of "Three Little Lights" by Rochester composer Baljinder Sekhon. The performance will be recorded and broadcast on WVIA FM as part of their series "Music from St. Stephen's."

Perception

2010-02-11T10:45:00.001-05:00

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Announcing The Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary 2010 Asia Scholarship Competition

2010-02-09T13:22:00.003-05:00

The Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary
2010 Asia Scholarship Competition

Winners will receive full or partial scholarships to attend PAI!
Open to student musicians 14 to 18 years of age.

PAI is an International Summer Program for Serious Music Students Who Seek High Quality Performance Opportunities in Solo, Orchestral and Chamber Music

Program Dates: Three and six-week sessions available:
June 27 - August 7, 2010 (Full six-week program)
June 27 - July 17, 2010 (Session I - three weeks)
July 18 - August 7, 2010 (Session II - three weeks)

Registration:
All students must register online at
http://www.wyomingseminary.org/page.cfm?p=560

Audition Requirements:
A live, CD, DVD or YouTube audition is required for scholarship consideration.
The audition should consist of:
•5 - 10 minutes of musical excerpts that demonstrate both technical and expressive abilities
•A brief live or Skype interview spoken in English
Students will be notified by e-mail of their audition and interview times

Live Video-taped Audition and Interview Dates: Live auditions will be conducted by Mr. David Damico, Director of Admission

Tuesday, March 10 Taipei, Taiwan
Friday, March 12 Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Monday, March 15 Hong Kong
Thursday, March 18 Shanghai, China
Saturday, March 20 Beijing, China
Wednesday, March 24 Seoul, South Korea

DVD and CD Auditions:
Recorded auditions can be delivered in your city. Please email us at onstage@wyomingseminary.org to arrange a time and location to drop off audition materials.

DVD and CD Auditions Can Also Be Mailed To:
Nancy Sanderson, Director
The Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary
201 North Sprague Ave.
Kingston, PA 18704
USA

All DVDs and CDs should be labeled with the date, your name, address, telephone number and email address and include the registration form located at http://www.wyomingseminary.org/page.cfm?p=560.

YouTube Auditions:
Send the URL to onstage@wyomingseminary.org. Please include the date, your name, address, telephone number and email address. Please be sure to fill out an on-line registration form.

*Deadline for the PAI Asia Scholarship Audition is April 1st, 2010*

Scholarship Details
Full PAI scholarship includes tuition, room and board for one three-week session. Scholarship recipients may choose to attend PAI for an additional three-week session for an additional fee. The family is responsible for transportation to and from the Wyoming Seminary campus, medical insurance, private lesson fees and personal spending money.

Questions? Contact us with your questions at onstage@wyomingseminary.org.

The PAI Faculty Present "A Shoenberg Festival"

2010-02-05T10:34:00.019-05:00

Wyoming Seminary Department of Music and
The Scranton Area Foundation present…

A Schoenberg Festival
Celebrating the music of Arnold Schoenberg

Saturday, February 20th 8:00 PM, Great Hall

Featuring Lawrence Loh, Maureen Hurd, Christiane Vaida, Wen-ChiLiu, Sophie Till, Elizabeth Duhr, J. M. Vaida, Chris Vaneman

Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) for piano, violin and cello
Also programmed: short violin and cello works by Schoenberg’s student, Anton Webern

Art work demonstrating the parallel abstract movement in
early 20th Century visual arts will be projected during the performance.

Tuesday, February 23rd 8:00 PM, Great Hall

Pierrot Lunaire for small chamber orchestra and mezzo soprano
Prior to the performance, David McGrew will give a short lecture about the music.

Directed by Lawrence Loh, the musicians will perform Pierrot Lunaire
("Moonstruck Pierrot"), a melodrama set to 21 selected poems from
Otto Hartleben's German translation of Albert Giraud's cycle of poems. The narrator delivers the poems in the Sprechstimme style, which complements the mood of the poems aurally.

Both Performances are
Free and Open to the Public
Great Hall at Wyoming Seminary
(Wyoming Ave., just north of Kingston Corners)

PAI Alum - Keri Height is WVIA Artist of the Week

2010-02-03T08:06:00.004-05:00

¡Hola! from Zane Forshee

2010-02-02T11:01:00.007-05:00

Zane reported that things in Spain are great.

Zane’s doctoral research is focused on the music of Vicente Asencio. He will start writing his final DMA document this next month. Zane is currently working with guitarist, Ignacio Rodes. Rodes knew Asencio and gave Zane information on the scores/manuscripts of these works. Good Luck with the writing Zane!

Zane’s Upcoming Concerts:

Feb. 24th, Conciertos en Palacios: 20:00h, Madrid (this concert is through the U.S. Embassy, the city of Los Angeles, and part of the ARCO Festival

Mar. 17, Alicante, Spain, 20:00h (I don't have the address yet).

Mar. 18, Fulbright Mid-Year Meeting, Santander, Spain (this is not 100% confirmed as of yet)

Mar. 23, Fulbright Summit, Music Gala, Belin, Germany, 20:00

“And the 2010 PAI Musical Theater Production is………”

2010-01-29T10:24:00.019-05:00

The Performing Arts Institute is proud to announce that the 2010 musical theater production will be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I.

Starring in the role of the King of Siam will be distinguished guest artist, Forrest McClendon.

Forrest McClendon’s musical credits include the pre-Broadway workshop of Disney’s AIDA, DREAMGIRLS, BIG RIVER, FINIAN’S RAINBOW,THE FANTASTICKS, THE THREEPENNY OPERA and SHOW BOAT. Most recently, he received the 2009 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for AVENUE X at the 11th Hour Theatre Company. This spring McClendon will appear Off-Broadway in the world premiere of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS,a new musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb directed by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. McClendon is currently an adjunct assistant professor in the Ira Brind School of Theater at the University of the Arts and an artist-in-residence in the Boyer College of Music at Temple University. He has taught at Roger Williams University, DeSales University, Community College of Philadelphia, Choate Rosemary Hall, as well as the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival. His students attend major training programs including the British American Dramatic Academy, New York University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Boston University and Syracuse University, and many are working professionals on Broadway, TV and film, and/or as recording artists. McClendon has conducted master classes at thePerforming Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary for the past three summers.

PAI Alum - Micha Jackson "Down Under"

2010-01-29T09:53:00.002-05:00

This year I made the big move to live in Australia full time! I am currently living in Darwin, Northern Territory, working for an Indigenous organization called the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). NAILSMA is an organization that supports Aboriginal land and sea management across north Australia, and I work particularly with coastal groups doing marine management. Darwin is a very interesting and exciting place to live, with lots of beautiful and remote places to explore in the vicinity. I spend lots of time 'out bush' chasing and photographing as many of Australia's unique birds and animals as I can. I am also performing with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra in the viola section, drawing as always on my many wonderful years of experience at Summer at Sem's PAI!

Congratulations Nate!

2010-01-29T09:30:00.003-05:00

Our good friend, Nate Taylor,was a recipient of the Potter's Violins Instrument Award, a program that grants promising young stringed instrument players, with instruments. The announcement was made by the American String Teachers Association. Nate won a Heinrich Lutiger cello and was one of three musicians nationwide to receive the award. Nate has participated in PAI for the past three summers. Currently a senior in Waldorf, Md., he received his cello just in time for college auditions. Good Luck Nate!

Someone We Know

2010-01-27T08:46:00.002-05:00

Limonade Tous les Jours

TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 1, 2010!

Written by Charles Mee

Featuring Austin Pendleton and Eleanor Handley

Directed by Diana Basmajian

Produced by

Joie de Théâtrale with The New Voice Project

April 3rd through April 17th

the cell theatre

Love in The Viola Section

2010-01-18T16:08:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Holly Rose Jones and Stephen Schmidt on their recent nuptials. Holly Rose and Stephen are just one of many couples whose relationships began at PAI. Who is next?

Gene Koshinski, Solo Percussion

2010-01-18T16:03:00.002-05:00

Internationally acclaimed percussionist and composer, Gene Koshinski, will present an evening of music for solo percussion. Known for his versatility and virtuosity, Koshinski will present a wide variety of music including two brand new original percussion duos: And So the Wind Blew..., with percussionist Benjamin Toth, and Song and Dance, with percussionist Tim Broscious. The concert will include a third guest percussionist, Michael Dobson, for a performance of Koshinski's Echo Song for multiple percussion solo and assistant percussionist. Additional selections will include music for solo marimba, vibraphone, multiple percussion, hand drums, and theatrical percussion. For more information visit: www.genekoshinski.com

Gene Koshinski has received international acclaim as a percussionist and composer (ASCAP) and is currently director of percussion at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is in constant demand as a performer and most recently completed tours in Germany, Austria, Jordan, Slovenia, Canada, and throughout the US. In 2002, Mr. Koshinski won the National MTNA Collegiate Artist Percussion Competition in Cincinnati, OH and in August 2004 finished 3rd in the prestigious Universal Marimba Duo Competition in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. He is active as a performer and freelance percussionist having worked with numerous performing organizations and artists including NFL Films, Late Show with David Letterman, Mary Wilson (the Supremes), David Samuels, Wycliffe Gordon, Philadelphia Boys Choir, The Lettermen, Lehigh Valley Choral Arts, Minnesota Ballet, and is currently section percussionist for the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and a member a Nebojsa Zivkovic's Jovan Perkussion Projekt. For his work with NFL Films, he can be heard on the Emmy award winning soundtrack A Century of NFL. Performances have also been heard on the CBS, PBS, EPSN television networks as well as NPR (National Public Radio). In addition, his debut CD entitled Klung is carried by the Equilibrium record label. Gene is also a member of the Quey Percussion Duo, a touring group established to generate new works for percussion while also bringing standard repertoire to a broad audience. Mr. Koshinski is director of percussion at the annual 6-week international Performing Arts Institute summer music festival. Recently, he published a new method book entitled The Additive Method of Two-Mallet Study which focuses on keyboard percussion technique and performance. He has also commissioned and premiered works by renowned composers including Stuart Saunders Smith, David Macbride, Dave Hollinden, and Alejandro Viñao. Koshinski is endorsed by Korogi, Sabian Cymbals, Remo, Innovative Percussion, and HoneyRock Publications and his method book and compositions are distributed internationally by The Percussion Source.

Program

Fluctus.......................................................Nebojsa Zivkovic
I'm Your Pal.........................Swallow/arr. Burton/trans. Rackipov
Echo Song......................................................Gene Koshinski
And So the Wind Blew...................................................Gene Koshinski

~intermission~

Songs I-IX.............................................Stuart Saunders Smith
Capriccio for Viola Solo..............Henri Vieuxtemps/trans. Koshinski
Piru Bole.........................................................John Bergamo
Kaskada......................................................Eckhard Kopetzki
Song and Dance..............................................Gene Koshinski
I. Song of the Metals
II. Dance of the Drums

Zane Forshee - Fulbright Scholar

2009-05-08T16:08:00.009-04:00

Guitarist Zane Forshee, a doctoral candidate at The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and faculty member of the Peabody Conservatory and Preparatory, as well as the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and The Performing Arts Institute, has been recently named as a Fulbright Scholar to Spain.

Zane, who has established a growing performance career with concerts taking him across the United States to Asia, will be using the grant to study, perform, and record works written for the guitar by some of the most influential Spanish composers of the 20th century including: Joaquín Turina, Federico Moreno Torroba, Joaquín Rodrigo, and Vicente Ascencio. He will be working closely with Ignacio Rodes, Professor of guitar at the Oscar Esplá Conservatorio in Alicante, Spain. Mr. Forshee chose to work with Professor Rodes due to his artistic relationship with renowned composer, Vicente Ascencio, as well as guitarist José Tomás, long considered to be one of the most influential Spanish guitar pedagogues of the 20th century. Tomás studied under Regino Sainz de la Maza, Alirio Diaz, and Andrés Segovia, the guitarists who commissioned, edited and premiered these works.

Guys and Dolls This Weekend!

2009-03-26T15:55:00.010-04:00

PAI's Celia Hottenstein and Taylor Delvecchio star in Wyoming Valley West's production of "Guys and Dolls." Words and music by Frank Loesser. Make sure you see all of PAI's guys and dolls in the cast: Taylor Delvecchio, Evan Frace, Sarah Galante, Celian Hottenstein, A.J. Klopotoski, Jillian Puhalla and Amanda Shaffern.

Date: April 2, 2009 - April 4, 2009. There will be a free senior citizen performance on April 1, 2009.

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Wyoming Valley West High School, Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651

Let Us Entertain You!

2009-03-17T10:08:00.012-04:00

We are pleased to announce that PAI Musical Theater will stage "Gypsy" during the 2009 summer season. Joining the PAI students will be guest artist Austin Pendleton in the role of "Herbie."

Mr. Pendleton is known as an actor, director, and writer. His third play, Orson's Shadow premiered at Steppenwolf and enjoyed an Off-Broadway run. Pendleton has directed numerous productions including the Boradway production of The Little Foxes with Elizabeth Taylor and the world premier of Say Goodnight Gracie and The Runner Stumbles. Pendleton has also directed at the prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He was the artistic director of The Circle Repertory Theatre in New York. His acting career includes the Broadway original cast productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Hail Scrawdyke, Doubles and the Lincoln Center and off Broadway revivals of Diary of Anne Frank and The Little Foxes, directed by Mike Nichols. Off-Broadway appearances include Educating Rita, Oh Dad, Poor Dad, The Last Sweet Days of Isaac, Sophistry, and the title roles in Hamlet, Richard III and Uncle Vanya. Mr. Pendleton has appeared in over 50 films: Skipping Christmas, Piccadilly Jim, Finding Nemo, A Beautiful Mind, Amistad, Trial and Error, TheFantasticks, Two Days in the Valley, The Mirror Has Two Faces, The Associate, Guarding Tess, My Cousin Vinny, Mr. amd Mr.s Bridge, Short Circuit, Starting Over, The Front Page, What's Up Doc? and Catch 22. Television appearances include: Law and Order SVU, Homicide, OZ, Fraser, American Dreamer, Miami Vice and St. Elsewhere, among others. Pendleton's first published play Booth starred Frank Langella and played at the Long Warf Theatre as well as Off-Broadway. His second play, Uncle Bob, was originally produced at the Mint Theatre in New York. His plays have been produced on three continents.

PAI Percussion Duo in Concert on March 17th

2009-03-14T10:12:00.004-04:00

Gene Koshinski and Mike Correa will be performing in Clarks Summit on March 17th. They are doing 6 shows in 6 days, all percussion duo works including the premiere of Gene's newest original work entitled "And So the Wind Blew...".

"Soundings"

March 17, 7:30 pm
1st Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit,
300 School St
Clarks Summit, PA 18411

Admission: FREE

More information available at http://www.genekoshinski.com/.

Wyoming Seminary presents A Schubert Festival - This Weekend!

2009-02-20T13:51:00.003-05:00

A weekend of free concerts featuring Sophie Till – Violin, Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida – Cello, Ron Stabinsky and Cathy Liu – Piano, Kevin Grace – Baritone, and the Wyoming Seminary Madrigal Singers with John Vaida

Friday, February 20, 2009
8:00 p.m.
Piano Trios Op 99
and Op 100

Saturday, February 21
8:00 p.m.
A Major Duo D 574
“Fantaisie” D 934 for Violin and Piano
“Arpeggione” Sonata D 821
for Cello and Piano

Sunday, February 22
4:00 p.m.
Excerpts from
“Schwanengesang”
Tenor and Piano
Wyoming Seminary Madrigal Singers

This festival is supported by the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts and Wyoming Seminary.
All performances are held on Wyoming Seminary’s Upper School campus,
in the Great Hall, 228 Wyoming Avenue, just north of Kingston Corners.

Concerts are Free and Open to the Public.

The Shanghai String Quartet Returns July 6, 2009

2009-02-17T09:48:00.009-05:00

We are pleased to announce that the world renowned Shanghai String Quartet will join us this summer on July 6th for a day of masterclasses and an evening performance. We consider the quartet to be very good friends of PAI and we are fortunate that they are so generous with their time and talents.

The Quartet regularly tours the great music centers of North and South America, Asia, and Europe. They have appeared frequently at New York's Carnegie Hall, and their travels have taken them from London, Vienna and Prague, to Australia's Sydney Opera House. Strad magazine recently praised the group saying, “Exquisite taste... stunningly beautiful... their playing of the entire work was one of the most distinguished accounts of a Mozart quartet I have ever heard in concert” -The Strad

More information about the Shanghai Quartet at http://www.shanghaiquartet.com/main.php.

Arrive Early and attend Tim's Dance Masterclass!

2009-02-11T10:19:00.011-05:00

PAI Dance faculty member Tim Early will return to the area and join Ballet Northeast from March 6 - 8, as they present "Swan Lake Act II & Other Works." He will be dancing the role of Prince Siegfried and PAI's Julie Degnan will dance the role of Odette.

Tim also will present a masterclass on Saturday afternoon, March 7th for intermediate and advanced dancers, which is included in the price of the student ticket - a mere $7.50!

Like all the best tales of enchantment, "Swan Lake" involves a beautiful princess, a passionate prince, and a really major obstacle to their happiness. Set to Tchaikovsky’s enduring score, this production features the beautiful prelude and second act of this popular ballet.Other Works include "Joplin", original choreography by Artistic Director, Kristin Degnan and her late husband Peter Degnan, set to a Scott Joplin ragtime composition, as well as selected works from Ballet Northeast’s Emerging Choreographers’ Workshop.

Tickets and more information is available at balletnortheast.org,
by phone at 570-287-5802,
or at the box office prior to the performance.

Musical Theater Scholarship Competition - Round One

2009-02-06T16:26:00.002-05:00

The Performing Arts Institute Musical Theater Scholarship Competition
First Round: Sunday, April 5, 2009
Buckingham Performing Arts Center

201 North Sprague Avenue

Kingston, Pennsylvania

Five finalists will advance to the final competition at our Gala Benefit (date to be announced) where three winners will be selected.

First Place:
A full scholarship to attend PAI’s 2009 Musical Theater Program

Second Place:
A $1000 scholarship to attend PAI’s 2009 Musical Theater Program

Third Place:
A $500 scholarship to attend PAI’s 2009 Musical Theater Program

More information at: http://www.wyomingseminary.org/pai/mtaudition.htm

Join us on Facebook!

2009-01-30T10:35:00.006-05:00

Share photos and videos. Catch up with PAI alumni, counselors and faculty. See what PAI is up to!

http://www.facebook.com/

Group Name: The Performing Arts Institute (PAI)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - On the Importance of Jazz

2009-01-19T13:51:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Tom Tallitsch for sending this to us!

Opening Address to the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival

God has wrought many things out of oppression. He has endowed his creatures with the capacity to create-and from this capacity has flowed the sweet songs of sorrow and joy that have allowed man to cope with his environment and many different situations. Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music. Modern jazz has continued in this tradition, singing the songs of a more complicated urban existence. When life itself offers no order and meaning, the musician creates an order and meaning from the sounds of the earth which flow through his instrument. It is no wonder that so much of the search for identity among American Negroes was championed by Jazz musicians. Long before the modern essayists and scholars wrote of racial identity as a problem for a multiracial world, musicians were returning to their roots to affirm that which was stirring within their souls. Much of the power of our Freedom Movement in the United States has come from this music. It has strengthened us with its sweet rhythms when courage began to fail. It has calmed us with its rich harmonies when spirits were down. And now, Jazz is exported to the world. For in the particular struggle of the Negro in America there is something akin to the universal struggle of modern man. Everybody has the Blues. Everybody longs for meaning. Everybody needs to love and be loved. Everybody needs to clap hands and be happy. Everybody longs for faith. In music, especially this broad category called Jazz, there is a stepping stone towards all of these.
WPFW News (Washington), [23 August 2002]

www.tomtallitsch.com
www.tomtallitschblog.com

Auditions in Asia

2009-01-16T09:05:00.006-05:00

Nancy Sanderson will travel to Asia to host auditions and catch up with PAI alumni. She will visit Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. For more information and to schedule an audition, please visit http://www.wyomingseminary.org/pai/PAI2007AsiaScholarship.htm.

Sem's Music Department Hosts Edna Golandsky

2008-12-17T14:34:00.004-05:00

A Day of String Masterclasses
The Taubman Technique applied to String Players

Saturday January 31st
11am- 1pm
2pm-5:30pm

Ms. Golandsky is the foremost proponent of the Taubman Approach to Piano Playing. She is head of the Golandsky Institute in New York, which, through educational and professional collaborations, research and multi-media presentations on the Taubman Technique, shows performers and teachers how to overcome technical and musical limitations, as well as how to cure and prevent injuries.

morning session 11-1
afternoon session 2-5.30

The Chorale Room, Buckingham Performing Arts Center
Wyoming Seminary
201 North Sprague Avenue
Kingston, PA 18704

Entrance fee for the day $20
Family Rate $20 Per Family

Questions? Please phone Sophie Till (570) 592 8237

Ballet Northeast presents The Nutcracker December 12-14

2008-12-08T13:35:00.006-05:00

Dance on over to the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA and support the many PAI dance students who will be a part of Ballet Northeast's production of The Nutcracker. It is an excellent way to get into the holiday spirit and support fellow PAI performing artists.

Ballet Northeast schedule and information:
http://www.balletnortheast.org/

Cast list:
The Nutcracker

An Invitation to Join Mark Hardy at Carnegie Hall

2008-12-08T12:30:00.006-05:00

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Mark Hardy will be conducting Vaughan Williams’ "Dona Nobis Pacem" at Carnegie Hall on February 28, 2010. If you or your high school choir would like to join him, please contact the concert sponsor, MidAmerica. They will be delighted to send you information along with a concert package. In the meantime, if you have questions, please feel free to contact Andrea Rose Rousseaux from MidAmerica.

Her contact information is as follows:

Andrea Rose Rousseaux
MidAmerica Productions, Inc.
"25th Anniversary Season"
132 West 36th Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10018-6903
Tel: (212) 239-0205
Fax: (212) 563-5587

www.arousseaux@midamerica-music.com
www.midamerica-music.com
www.carnegiehall.com

We encourage you to inform your choral conductor about this valuable opportunity!

Klung!

2008-12-08T08:57:00.005-05:00

PAI Percussion Director Gene Koshinski's debut CD features a diverse collection of contemporary music, highlighting new music for percussion. Carried by Equilibrium Records, it is available now at www.equilibri.com; through iTunes where you can download one piece or the entire album; and soon from Amazon.

Sound samples and additional information is available at Gene's Web site: http://www.genekoshinski.com/live/

The Suzuki School for Strings Holiday Show and Fiddlers' Clinic

2008-11-19T08:38:00.004-05:00

The Suzuki School for Strings is having a fundraising event at the Wyoming Seminary Lower School on Dec. 12th at 8pm. The Holiday Show will feature the Hunt Family Fiddlers, a family of award-winning Celtic dancers and fiddlers. Please see www.huntfamilyfiddlers.com for more info. Tickets for the Holiday Show cost $25 Adults; $15 children under 18. There will also be a raffle and auction.

There will also be a Fiddlers' Clinic held at the Lower School's Amato Auditorium at 4pm on Dec. 12th. Advanced violinists from both the Upper and Lower Schools are invited to attend and participate; there is music available and practice sessions will be held before the event. Interested musicians must contact Mr. Kubasek or the Suzuki School for Strings at 287-6671. The clinic is open to anyone who would like to observe.

Little Shop of Horrors!

2008-10-28T14:21:00.003-04:00

November 7, 8 and 9

PAI and Wyoming Seminary student, Kyle Segarra, is Seymour, a down-and-out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for blood. Soon the plant, “Audrey II”, grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, Rhythm & Blues singing carnivore with an ever growing need to be fed, and Seymour is in deep trouble with all who are important in his life.

One of the longest running off-Broadway shows of all time, this hilarious spoof of the 1950’s sci-fi movies is an outrageously entertaining show that never fails to catch the audience off guard.

Don't miss the Wyoming Seminary Players as they present "Little Shop of Horrors" on Friday, Nov. 7th at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8th at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 9th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $3.00 in advance and $4.00 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in the Activities Office or from any cast member.

Rutgers Woodwind Day

2008-09-24T12:11:00.005-04:00

On Sunday, November 9, 2008 from 11 am to 5 pm.

Maureen Hurd, PAI clarinet faculty member, says, "We have a great day planned featuring faculty and students of the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, as well as a guest master repairperson and many instrument and accessory vendors. You will hear performances, master classes, a session on successful auditioning, and presentations on instrument design and care, reeds, and music business. You'll have the chance to try instruments and accessories. Don't miss this informative day!

We hope to see you on Nov. 9. Please let me know if you have questions, and
feel free to share this (information). (flyer)

Best wishes,
Maureen Hurd
Chair of Woodwinds and Asst. Prof. of Clarinet
Department of Music
Mason Gross School of the Arts
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
81 George St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 932-8862
mlhurd@rci.rutgers.edu"

Sophie Till's Performances Broadcast on WVIA-FM!

2008-09-19T17:46:00.002-04:00

Sophie Till, renowned violinist, PAI string faculty member and artist in residence at Sem, recently recorded all 10 of Beethoven's violin and piano sonatas with her accompanist, pianist Ron Stabinski.WVIA-FM made the recordings, and you'll have an opportunity to hear those recordings on two Sundays this month:Sunday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 28, both at 2 p.m. on WVIA-FM, 89.9. Each two-hour program is introduced by Sem parent and WVIA-FM Program Manager Larry Vojtko and includes discussion and interviews with Sophie and Ron.

If you aren't in the local listening area, you may listen live at http://wvia.org/.

Tim Broscious says "Hello" from Amman, Jordan!

2008-09-17T15:20:00.009-04:00

PAI percussion faculty member Tim Broscious reports that his new position as Professor of Western Percussion at the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan is going great. He is also Principal Percussion for the Amman Symphony Orchestra. He sent us this image of the view he sees each day from his apartment window.

Beth is also on Campus Duhr-ing the School Year!

2008-09-17T15:10:00.010-04:00

We enjoy having PAI faculty member Beth Duhr on campus during the regular school year to teach voice lessons one day a week. If you are in the area, please plan to stop in and see her. If that isn't possible, be sure to visit her Web site: http://www.elizabethduhr.com/.

Viola Duet Anyone?

2008-09-16T13:07:00.004-04:00

We send our heartfelt congratulations to Holly Rose Jones and Steven Schmidt on the announcement of their engagement.

Lafayette College Presents: A Theater Workshop

2008-09-16T12:35:00.003-04:00

On Thursday, October 30, Lafayette College will present "A Theater Workshop."

Starting at 9:45 am, the day will include a campus tour, theater workshops, lunchtime theater, and a question and answer session with Michael O'Neill, Director of Theater. There is no charge for this event.

For more information, please visit the Lafayette College Web site http://www.lafayette.edu/admissions/ , e-mail lichtenj@lafayette.edu or call 610-330-5106 by October 15th.

The Demon Barber appears on Hughes Street

2008-09-16T10:34:00.003-04:00

The Music Box Dinner Playhouse presents Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street September 18 - 21 and 25 - 28. PAI musical theater students Kyle Seggara, Amanda Shaffern and Mitch Burke are all involved in this fine production.

Music Box is offering the "Close Shave Special" for students - present your student ID and receive a "show only" ticket for $12.50.

For ticket information, dinner and show times, please visit the Music Box Web site: http://www.musicbox.org/

The Music Box Dinner Playhouse
196 Hughes Street
Swoyersville, PA 18704

Ballet Northeast Announces Open Company Auditions

2008-09-16T10:13:00.002-04:00

When: Saturday, September 20, 2008

Where: Degnan Ballet Center
239 Schuyler Avenue, 3rd Floor, Kingston, PA 18704

Master Instructor: Karla Kovatch, formerly of Boston Ballet and Ballet Northeast alumnus

Who:
Audition for Company I and Company II Members
Dancers ages 13 and older From: 12:00 - 1:30

Audition for Company Apprentices
Dancers ages 11 and 12 From: 2:00 - 3:30

Attire: Dancers should wear black leotards, pink tights, black or pink ballet shoes and bring pointe shoes.

Costs: No fees are due at the time of the audition class.
Dancers who are invited to become Company Members will be charged annual company dues of $175, which will cover all costs of auditions, rehearsals and costumes.

Parents' Meeting: Members of Ballet Northeast's Board of Directors will be available to discuss events and plans for the upcoming season and answer any questions.

Dancers who are interested in becoming a member, but are unable to attend the audition should contact Ballet Northeast at 570-287-5802 or BNE@ballet northeast.org.

Natalie Weiss Performance at Gala Benefit 68th top viewed video on YouTube

2008-06-05T11:39:00.003-04:00

Sunday, June 3 brought Natalie Weiss to the Buckingham Performing Arts Center as featured artist during the Musical Theater Gala Fundraiser. A video of her perfomance singing "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles at the event was posted on YouTube and is currently number 68 on the most viewed list.

Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx3k62NZz4o

More information about Natalie: http://www.natalieweiss.net/

Percussionist Gene Koshinski Tours with his Musical Inspiration

2008-05-07T12:59:00.010-04:00

Gene Koshinski

Gene Koshinski, PAI percussion faculty member, is set to tour Slovenia and Germany with renowned percussionist/composer Nebjosa Jovan Zivkovic from May 17 to June 4, 2008.

Gene grew up with Zivkovic's music, one of the major inspirations that pushed him to pursue a solo/chamber music career. Gene says, "That's what makes this tour so special."

Gene first met Nebojsa Zivkovic at Rowan University when he played one of the composor's pieces for him in a masterclass. For a sophomore at West Chester University, it was a surreal experience. Gene went on to grad school at the Hartt School of Music where his percussion teacher often toured with Zivkovic.

Zivkovic refers to Gene as a "Strong musician, fast and accurate hands, it is always a pleasure to listen to his playing." Gene's role on tour will be as a member of Zivkovic's Jovan Percussion Group, a 3 member group designed to perform Zivkovic's's chamber music along with the conductor).

Nebjosa Jovan Zivkovic

The German-based percussionist and composer Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic has developed a searingly intense, forcefully masculine percussion world.... his grand gestures are characterised by an astonishing intensity and often fierceness..... the range and combinations of sounds he creates are startling, and all is delivered in hugely virtuosic performances which can't help but impress the listener. BBC-Music Magazine, Nov. 2000

For more information, including concert dates and audio samples, please visit the following Web sites:
http://www.genekoshinski.com/

http://www.zivkovic.de/

Zane Forshee to Tour Taiwan in June

2008-05-06T09:28:00.007-04:00

June 2008 will find Zane Forshee touring Taiwan for recording sessions, solo recitals and performances. Counter tenor, Peter Lee will join Zane for two concerts. On June 22 he will perform at the National Concert Hall.

If you attend one of his concerts in Taiwan, please be sure to say "Hello!"

For more information, please visit www.zaneforshee.com.

Joe Boga and Nate Larsen play for a Candidate

2008-04-21T19:01:00.007-04:00

The day before the Pennsylvania primary, PAI's Joseph Boga and Nate "Mookie" Larsen had an audience. A special audience.

View Photo

Second Sunday Classical Guitar Concert Series presents Zane Forshee

2008-04-08T20:43:00.004-04:00

Zane Forshee, PAI faculty member, is scheduled to perform in the elegant and intimate penthouse at the Roger Smith Hotel on Lexington Avenue at East 47th Street in New York City

The afternoon concert will feature works by Albeniz, Brouwer, Bach, Domeniconi, and Scarlatti

Co-sponsored by the New York City Classical Guitar Society

Frank Wallace and John Olson, co-curators

Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Tickets $15

For reservations, please e-mail rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call 212.755.1400.

Learn more about Zane

Sundays at Three Presents

2008-04-08T20:29:00.006-04:00

RELEASE

NEW WORKS BY ARTISTS FROM THE GRAHAM TRADITION

SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 3PM, $10

Erica Dankmeyer
Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch
Whitney V. Hunter
Virginie Mécène

Gathered together by Erica Dankmeyer, four former and present Graham Company dancers will present an exciting afternoon of new, individual choreography along with a special presentation of Graham’s Satyric Festival Song. The performance will be followed by a discussion of the Graham Legacy and philosophy with the contributing choreographers Erica Dankmeyer, Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch, Whitney V. Hunter and Virginie Mécène.

SUNDAYS AT THREE, established in 1988, features new and reconstructed works by emerging and established choreographers once a month.

This afternoon performance includes a post-performance discussion with the dance artists.

Call or logon for tickets.

92nd Street Y ♦ School of the Arts ♦ Harkness Dance Center

1395 Lexington Ave at 92nd Street ♦ NY, NY 10128

www.92Y.org/harkness ♦ (P) 212.415.5552 ♦ (F) 212.415.5549

An agency of UJA-Federation ♦ The 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center receives major support from the Harkness Foundation for Dance and The Arnhold Foundation

PAI alum Nellie McKay

2008-03-25T17:51:00.003-04:00

With the new album "Obligatory Villagers" and "P.S. I Love You" track on the 2007 movie soundtrack of the same name, Nellie McKay continues to make a name for herself.

She has a busy tour schedule, including appearances on the live broadcast of Prairie Home Companion this weekend (April 12, 2008).

For more information about her recordings and tour dates visit http://nelliemckay.com/

Read more about this PAI alum at http://www.welkmg.com/streetteam/artist/nelliemckay.asp

New Canaan High School Madrigals Tour South Africa

2008-02-19T11:06:00.013-05:00

The New Canaan High School Madrigal Ensemble, under the direction of PAI choral conductor Arthur Sjögren, is currently on tour in South Africa. No strangers to travel, this talented group has toured internationally 15 times in the past 26 years. Joining them on this tour is PAI voice faculty member Alyss Haecker.

For more information, visit the Madrigal Ensemble Web site at http://nchsmadrigals.org/index.html.

An Old Friend from South Africa

2008-02-19T10:39:00.005-05:00

PAI choral conductor, Dr. Johann van der Standt, was on campus earlier this month for a week-long residency. While here, Johann worked with both the Wyoming Seminary Chorale and Madrigal Singers, focusing on the traditions of South African choral singing.

Johann is currently a professor in Choral Conducting at the University of Pretoria, and the official choral conductor of the University where he implemented a unique model for choral singing on South African University campuses.

(click for rehearsal video)

Buen Viaje a Cornell Winds!

2008-01-09T15:01:00.000-05:00

1 Cornell Wind Ensemble
+ 70 Refurbished Instruments to donate
+ 3 Costa Rican schools
+ 1 Santa Cruz Cultural Festival
= A trip worth taking twice!

Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner, PAI Wind Ensemble conductor, and Matthew Marsit, PAI staff conductor, are off to Costa Rica January 9, 2008 with the Cornell University Wind Ensemble.

While there, the ensemble will deliver donated refurbished instruments to two schools and catch up with a third they visited in 2006.

"The 2006 tour was transformative for all parties involved. One of the things that we learned is that we got just as much, if not more, out of the giving than the students and communities to whom we gave," said Cynthia Johnston Turner, director of wind ensembles in the Department of Music. "CU Winds believes in service and trying to make the world a bit better. We also believe that giving the opportunity to make music to a young person can change their life for the better. This year, we've doubled our efforts."

Read the entire article at the Cornell University Chronicle Online site: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec07/CostaRica.return.da.html

More about Cornell University Wind Ensemble http://www.cuwinds.com/

Cornell University Music http://www.arts.cornell.edu/music/index.html

In Memoriam

2008-01-08T12:06:00.001-05:00

Over the past eighteen months, PAI’s dear friend, Denise Taylor, courageously fought a battle with lymphoma. Last summer, her devoted husband (PAI’s musical theater director) tirelessly provided her with love and support at the same time he directed Oliver.

We are deeply sorry to announce that Denise passed away on December 29th.

For several years, Denise came to PAI with her husband, Bill Roudebush. While she was here, she generously shared her vast knowledge of the acting profession with PAI students, who quickly developed strong bonds of friendship with her. At PAI, Denise will always be remembered for the way her smile could light up a room and for her sincerity in every interaction.

Your thoughts, prayers and expressions of concern will be of great comfort to Bill. If you would like to send him a note, please contact the PAI office for his mailing address.

Details about Denise’s memorial service are as follows.

Wednesday, January 16th, 11:00 AM
Saint Denis Cathedral
2401 Saint Denis Lane
Havertown, PA 19083

Zane Forshee and Sara Casey will participate in the service.

We plan to take two vans to Philadelphia, leaving the upper school campus promptly at 8:00 AM. If you would like to have a seat reserved, please contact us by Friday, January 11th at onstage@wyomingseminary.org or 570-270-2177.

Because Denise loved animals so much, memorial donations can be made in her honor to the humane society’s Kindred Spirits Memorial Fund. For your convenience, here is a link to their website: https://secure.hsus.org/01/kindredspirits?qp_source=gabahw.

Bakehouse, Glorious Bakehouse!

2008-01-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

Oliver cast members catch up with Mark Kratz at the Bakehouse in Kingston.

New Maya Release Available Now!

2007-12-17T13:54:00.000-05:00

Perspectives Recordings proudly presents the debut CD of MAYA, In The Spirit, in its deluxe first edition.

Uniquely compelling and rhythmically driven, MAYA, a trio of harp (PAI's Jacqueline Kerrod), flute (Sato Moughalian) and percussion (John Hadfield) was founded in 2005. The group draws on a spectacular collection of percussion instruments from around the world.

Central to MAYA’s vision is the nurturance of relationships with the next generation’s most gifted composers. In The Spirit features classic Christmas favorites in an earthy new style as well as original CD commissions by Ricardo Romaneiro, a 28 year old Brazilian composer who has created a new work inspired by the chants of the Krenak, a tribe from the Northeast of Brazil. The stellar young composer Alexandra du Bois has breathed new life into the plaintive Appalachian classic song, I Wonder as I Wander. Trendsetting New York cellist-composer Erik Friedlander has crafted an improvisatory and virtuosic dance based on a 15th century Sephardic song. Hear Tchaikovsky’s Arabian Dance from his beloved Nutcracker played on the Turkish darbuka. Composer and bassist-leader Gregg August adds a cool note of jazz to Greensleeves. MAYA’s own percussionist John Hadfield offers an homage to the sights and sounds of Istanbul in American Dervish.

In The Spirit is luxuriously presented in a six-panel digipak and slipcase covered with luminous images of timeless ceramic art in an ancient tradition. The music is an evocation, a personal voyage in sound to far-flung times and places. Brilliantly produced and engineered by Grammy Award winning Steven Epstein, In The Sprit is both traditional and innovative, a lush and inviting cultural journey. Experience it for yourself!

Please visit Maya's Web site for more information and to purchase a copy of the CD: http://www.mayatrio.com/.

Prepare Ye the Way to Ephrata!

2007-11-14T09:20:00.000-05:00

Chris Cannon would like to share some great news with his friends from PAI! Chris is currently appearing as John the Baptist/Judas in "Godspell" at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center (EPAC), one of the community theaters in the Lancaster, PA area. The show opened on November 8th and closes on November 25th, with a total of 15 performances. Chris is excited to be part of this amazing show which has received wonderful reviews in our local newspapers.

Read the review: http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/212211

You still have time to catch this show! More information, including directions and ticket sales at http://www.ephrataplayhouseinthepark.org/.

Martha Graham Dance Company in Selinsgrove, PA

2007-10-29T14:07:00.000-04:00

On October 30, 2007 the Martha Graham Dance Company, which includes PAI dance faculty member Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch, will appear at the Degenstein Center Theater in Selinsgrove, PA.

For more information, please visit the following Web sites.

Degenstein Center Theater

Martha Graham Dance Company

Kudos to Sophie Till!

2007-09-27T13:51:00.000-04:00

We are proud to announce that Sophie Till has been awarded a grant through the Pennsylvania Council on the Art’s unique program, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts. The grant will fund a televised recital of Sophie performing violin show pieces. Accompanying her will be pianist, Ronald Stabinsky. The recital will be filmed on January 20th, 2008 at WVIA's state-of-the-art high-definition television studio. Anyone wishing to attend the recital should contact WVIA at 1-800-326-9842. Admission is free of charge.

Sophie holds an advanced music degree from the Royal College of Music in London and a master of music degree from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) where she studied under Charles Treger. She is persuing a PhD on the Beethoven Violin Sonatas at The University of Leeds (UK).

An active free-lance violinist throughout Europe and Eastern United States, she formerly taught at both Eton College and the Royal College of Music, Junior Department. She was recently named the recipient of the F. Lammot Belin Arts Award and is currently recording the complete Beethoven violin and piano sonatas. She serves on the music faculty of Marywood University, where she is the director of the string division, and is an Artist in Residence at Wyoming Seminary.

At PAI, Sophie taught violin lessons, coached chamber music, presented masterclasses and performed with the resident string quartet.

Rock Doves

2007-09-19T16:10:00.000-04:00

Jamie Kurtz, PAI set and lighting director, says it took Renaissance Entertainment Technologies just four days to build their first set headed to New York City. Like the set for PAI's production of Oliver, it was built and painted in their studio then loaded into the theater, which in this case was the Irish Arts Center in New York City.

Charlie Corcoran, set designer for "The Molly Maguires" at the F.M. Kirby Center in April, designed this set for the play “Rock Doves,” by the Northern Irish playwright Marie Jones.

A photo can be seen in the New York Times review of the play.

Opera Hause

2007-09-19T15:27:00.000-04:00

Mind control, torture, biological weapons, LSD, and defenestration are ingredients for a new opera that could only be about "Man." Evan Hause's final Defenestration opera, "Man: Biology of a Fall," about the infamous 1953 CIA cold-cocking of army bio-weapons researcher Frank Olson, runs for four nights only: October 4, 5, 6, and 7 (matinee). Libretto is by Gary Heidt.

San-ky Kim, PAI voice faculty, sings the part of Gottlieb.

Tickets ($15-35) and Directions available from the Kumble Theater box office: http://www.kumbletheater.org/; (718) 488-1624. Showtimes: October 4, 5, 6 (Th-Sat) at 7:30 PM; October 7 (Sun) at 3:00 PM.

More information: http://www.manbiologyofafall.com/

Don't Miss Carrie and Martha!

2007-09-19T15:07:00.000-04:00

Make sure you don't miss Carrie Ellmore Tallitsch with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Carrie is on the dance faculty at PAI, and is a full time member of the Martha Graham Dance Company.

The New York Season at the Joyce Theater will end on September 23, but the company travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad.

Please follow the links for performance information:

http://www.carrieellmore.com/

http://www.marthagrahamdance.org/

http://www.joyce.org/

Victor Liva to Conduct the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra

2007-08-20T15:42:00.000-04:00

Victor Liva, PAI orchestra conductor, was recently named music director and conductor of the Cleveland Philharmonic starting with the 2007-2008 season. The first concert of the season is scheduled on October 14, 2007 and includes Rossini's Overture to "The Barber of Seville”, Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, and Sibelius' Symphony No. 2. For more information about the Cleveland Philharmonic, please visit their website : http://www.clevephil.org/.

Victor also serves as Orchestra Conductor and Director of String Studies at Cleveland State University.

Wishing You PAI Blessings!

2007-08-05T16:03:00.000-04:00

Many of you have requested a copy of the blessing from the Grand Finale banquet. Here it is!

In this final gathering, we give thanks
for time spent together;
for friendships new, and old ones strengthened;
for the food that nourishes our bodies, allowing us to work;
for the music we've created,
lessons we've learned,
and the isnpiration that continues to fuel our creative spirits.

Bless us tonight in our final performances, and give us strength, compassion and love to accompany us into our future journeys.

BethDuhr

Barbara Weisberger Visits the PAI Dance Company

2007-07-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

Barbara Weisberger, founder of the Pennsylvania Ballet,

and student of George Balanchine,

shared her experience and expertise with the PAI Dance Company

and raised the bar.

Thank you!

Shanghai Quartet Masterclass and Concert

2007-07-03T17:06:00.000-04:00

Masterclass

in the afternoon

for PAI participants

was followed by a concert of Mozart, Long and Schubert

for a full house of appreciative concert goers.

BRAVO!

Warm greetings to family and friends of the PAI community!

2007-06-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

At Day 3, it is safe to say that the PAI 2007 Season is off to a great start! Large and small ensembles sound excellent---we are all pleased with the high level of music so early in the season. Reports from the dance studio are also very positive, as are the reports from our musical theater director, Bill Roudebush. The counselor recital on Monday night was tremendous and we are eagerly anticipating the student recital tomorrow evening.

On behalf of all of the students, I invite you to join us for a weekend of great music! Please click on this link to our performance schedule for detailed information about the weekend. http://www.wyomingseminary.org/pai/perform.htm.

For those of you who can not attend the concerts, I hope that you enjoy these photos of PAI in action!

Best regards,

Nancy Sanderson, Director

PAI Counselors

Walk this way! PAI students on game night.

Just Chillin'!

Musical Theater students reach for the stars with the help of dialect coach, David Howie.

Music Makers making music

PAI Alums Attend Gala Benefit

2007-06-04T12:59:00.001-04:00

A chance to reconnect with PAI friends, a chance to witness great PAI performances from past, present and future PAI students, and most importantly, a chance to support the PAI Musical Theater program. Thanks for being there!

Did you attend PAI? Do we know where you are and what you are doing? Click here and turn yourself in!

MAYA: Uniquely Compelling

2007-05-29T12:45:00.000-04:00

In the summer of 2005 Jacqueline Kerrod, PAI harp faculty member along with Sato Moughalian, flute and John Hadfield, percussion, formed the trio MAYA. MAYA offers the uniquely compelling and rhythmically driven combination of flute, harp and percussion, performing classical music, ethnic music, and incorporating improvisations into its performances.

The ensemble has embarked on a major commissioning program, with a number of new pieces currently in progress and recently completed, from established and emerging young composers and well-known artists in the field of world music. MAYA is also creating multi-media works, reflecting the artistic visions of its members who seek to create a repertoire which mirrors their expanding ideals of beauty in an increasingly connected world.

The term maya has deep roots and diverse meanings around the world. In Hindu philosophy maya is the divine power which has created the cosmos. In Buddhism, maya is the veil of illusion, the transitory appearance of the physical world, and a metaphoric challenge for spiritual aspirants. In the Americas, the Mayan people formed a highly developed culture whose singular achievements included monumental architecture, agriculture, astronomy, mathematics and a distinct calendrical system. Maya is a term found in the Upanishads, in Vedic and Sanskrit writings--a richly evocative image in cultures and literatures throughout the East.

The members of MAYA hail from South Africa, Asia Minor, and North America.

PAI loaned the use of a harp to assist in the rehearsing and recording process of MAYA’s debut CD entitled "In the Spirit", a collection of pieces that have been transcribed by and composed for MAYA. "In the Spirit" will be released in July 2007.

For more information about MAYA, visit www.mayatrio.com.

PAI Voice Teacher or Frosty Alaskan Beast?

2007-05-28T11:36:00.000-04:00

Mark Kratz spent much of his time in Alaska this past winter. His first production was playing Tamino in The Magic Flute with Opera to Go! based out of Juneau, Alaska. They toured in Anchorage, Nome, and even north of the arctic circle in the village of Kotzebue.

He then played the beast in the Disney musical Beauty and the Beast with the Juneau Lyric Opera. The production took place in the middle of March.

In May he warmed up a little as he returned to sing Beethoven's 9th with the Northeast Philharmonic and he should be fully defrosted by June when he returns to PAI.

Welcome Gabriel Larsen!

2007-05-28T11:32:00.000-04:00

Gabriel Larsen was born January 23 at 4:27 a.m. He weighed
6 lbs, 4 oz, and was 21 inches long. Jens and Laurel, he's beautiful!

Concert This Week: Quey Percussion at Marywood

2007-03-26T12:16:00.000-04:00

Quey Percussion Duo will perform at Marywood University at 4:00 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2007.

Need more information? Contact the PAI office at 570-270-2186.