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Westchester News in Brief

Film Center Fellows Find Industry Success

A short film by Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC)’s Emerging Artist Fellow Emily Ann Hoffman has been selected for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The famed Film Festival identifies emerging international talent to connect with audiences across the country. Hoffman’s film, Nevada, was created during her tenure in JBFC’s Creative Culture (CC) professional mentoring program, which launched in October 2016. Another CC fellow, Crystal Kayiza, was chosen for one of fifteen fellowships in Sundance Institute’s Sundance Ignite Fellows program out of a pool of more than 800 applicants. Fellow Rahessa Vitorio was also a finalist. The Center’s Creative Culture initiative is designed to support local and visiting filmmakers in the Hudson Valley.

Reduced Admission at Regional Museums

Regional arts museums have partnered with the Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) Art Gallery at Western Connecticut State University for the opening of its new exhibition, Parallel Practices. Through March 4, the following groups will offer a reduced-fee admission to guests who first visit the Parallel Practices exhibition: Aldrich Contemporary Museum (Ridgefield, CT), Bruce Museum (Greenwich, CT), Britain Museum of American Art (New Britain, CT) and Katonah Museum of Art (Katonah, NY). Parallel Practices showcases the works of eleven artists who all work in multiple mediums. The works highlight the cross-pollination of ideas that simultaneously occur in each of the artists’ studios. Visitors at VPAC can ask a docent for a pass that will allow reduced admission at the other establishments. For more info, visit wcsu.edu/art/gallery.

In Memoriam: Paul Lustig Dunkel

Musician, conductor and teacher Paul Lustig Dunkel passed away this past month. Dunkel was Founding Music Director of New Orchestra of Westchester, now Westchester Philharmonic, for twenty-five years. In addition, he was a founding member of Music at Copland House and Co-Founder and Resident Conductor of American Composers Orchestra. He saw many accomplishments during his long career, including the opportunity to perform at world-renowned venues such as the Library of Congress and Carnegie Hall, as well as achieving the role of principal flutist for New York City Ballet. During his time at Westchester Philharmonic, the group earned an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and the Leonard Bernstein Award for educational programs among other recognitions. Among the works commissioned and performed by Dunkel was Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion by Westchester composer Melinda Wagner, which won a 1999 Pulitzer Prize.

Music Conservatory of Westchester Offers Free Bilingual Music Education Classes at Local Libraries

Music Conservatory of Westchester is bringing a sample of First Notes / Primeras Notas, its bilingual (English and Spanish) early childhood music education program, to local public libraries throughout Westchester County this year. The program is designed to use songs, rhythm and movement to get children interested in music and to expand their language capabilities from an early age. Twenty-two classes, organized by age from 4 months through 5 years, will be offered at four libraries through May. The free library lesson series will take place at New Rochelle Public Library, Greenburgh Public Library, Ossining Public Library and White Plains Public Library. For more info, visit musicconservatory.org.

More from As a Matter of Art Blog

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

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