News In Brief

Music Conservatory Expands to Seven Days a Week

Music Conservatory of Westchester (MCW) has announced the expansion of its classes to seven days a week, including private lessons on Sundays. The fall semester will have new classes on its fall schedule and, according to MCW Executive Director Jean Newton, the organization’s goal is to include more classes on Sundays as well: “With today’s families living such busy lives…this is a great opportunity to meet the needs of our students.” Voted as Westchester’s “Best Music School” by Westchester Magazine. For more info, visit: musicconservatory.org. Photo: Class at Music Conservatory of Westchester (photo credit: Alye Carlevaro)

Local Theater Companies Join Forces

Two local theaters, White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) and Westchester Sandbox Theater (WST), will enhance their educational programming in a collaborative partnership set to begin this fall. WST will produce numerous Young People’s Theater productions at WPPAC, adding to the Center’s calendar of offerings. The companies will also team up for additional educational opportunities, such as after-school programs, in-school residencies and family programming. Said WPPAC Artistic Director Jeremy Quinn: “With the addition of WST, both theaters can bring theatrical education to a greater number of students and increase the amount of family programming for our loyal audiences.” For more info, visit: WSTshows.com and WPPAC.com.

Artwork by Mental Health Community Showcased in White Plains Gallery

From September 8-14, Westchester County’s Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), Rockland Psychiatric Center and ArtsWestchester will present Visions 2017: Art Odyssey, a collection of works by recipients of mental health services in Westchester County. For more than 30 years, a partnership between ArtsWestchester and DCMH has provided art services and residencies to people with chronic mental illness. The exhibition, which coincides with “Recovery Month,” features 125 works by 60 artists at ArtsWestchester’s gallery in downtown White Plains and demonstrates a capability of engaging in challenging art-making experiences. In turn, these opportunities are meant to instill a sense of confidence, self-worth and pride in participants. A reception will take place on Thursday, September 7. For more info, visit: artsw.org.

Songcatchers Appoints New Executive Director

Songcatchers welcomes a new Executive Director (ED) following the retirement of the organization’s Founder, Sr. Beth Dowd, who led the group for 40 years. Zane Myers has served as ED for Theatre Bristol and Symphony of the Mountains and was Director of Development and Marketing for the New West Symphony in Los Angeles. His skillset blends music and business, as he has sat on several Boards and fundraising committees. Myers has a significant list of prior accomplishments that include teaching, working as a conductor and pianist for Broadway productions and acting as Associate Music Director for the original off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks!. He began working alongside Sr. Beth in May.

Westchester International Children’s Film Festival

Pelham’s The Picture House (TPH) recently announced the 3rd annual Westchester International Children’s Film Festival (WICFF), a 5-day event that brings new films from around the world aimed at children aged 3-18 to Westchester County. Films from Germany, the United States, the Middle East and beyond will be presented, including a sensory-friendly screening (with lights turned up and the sound turned down) of Swim Team, which chronicles the rise of a competitive swim team made up of diverse teens on the autism spectrum. The festival will conclude with “Taste of Education,” a day of hour-long workshops based on TPH’s educational programs. For more info, visit: thepicturehouse.org.

A version of this article first appeared in the September issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.