Shaping the Sound of Tomorrow: Hoff-Barthelson Music School Hosts Music of Our Time Festival, May 16–18

ByHoff-Barthelson Music School

Hoff-Barthelson Music School’s acclaimed Music of Our Time Festival returns May 16–18, 2025, with a vibrant lineup of student and faculty performances, world premieres, and a deep commitment to the music of the present moment. Under the artistic direction of renowned cellist and HBMS faculty member Peter Seidenberg, the festival celebrates works composed from 1975 to the present and underscores the school’s ongoing dedication to fostering creative expression and innovation in music education.

A centerpiece of this year’s festival is the world premiere of All the Sounds Around Her by acclaimed composer Kian Ravaei, commissioned by Hoff-Barthelson through its Wilma Machover Residency and Commission Program. Inspired by the life and legacy of beloved children’s musician Ella Jenkins, the piece incorporates call-and-response singing, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and Jenkins’s signature multilingual counting games. It will be performed by the HBMS Vocal Ensembles, the Westchester Children’s Choir, and the HBMS Festival Orchestra under the baton of Leandro Gazineo at the Large Ensembles Concert on Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 pm, to be held at the Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation in White Plains.

Another festival highlight is the debut of the Micro-Commissions Project, an innovative collaboration between HBMS and the Manhattan School of Music. Co-directed by Peter Seidenberg and Reiko Fueting, MSM Chair of Composition, the initiative pairs ten HBMS students with ten MSM undergraduate composers, resulting in brand-new works written specifically for each student’s instrument and level. These world premieres will be presented at a special recital on Saturday, May 17, at 8:00 PM.

“The Micro-Commissions project has been a truly music-of-our-time experience,” says Peter Seidenberg. “It’s been inspiring to see how much the students have learned from one another through the collaborative process of bringing these new works to life.”

A full schedule of recitals rounds out the festival, all taking place at Hoff-Barthelson Music School, located at 25 School Lane in Scarsdale:

  • Friday, May 16 at 6:30 pm – Contemporary Works (1975–Present)
  • Friday, May 16 at 8:00 pm – Women Composers at the Millennium
  • Saturday, May 17 at 1:00 pm – Young Composers Recital, featuring works created in HBMS composition classes under the direction of Dr. Derek Cooper
  • Saturday, May 17 at 2:00 pm – Contemporary Works (1975–Present)
  • Saturday, May 17 at 4:00 pm – Our Mentors in Modernism (featuring works by Schoenberg, Ives, Stravinsky, Bartók, and Britten)
  • Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 pm – Micro-Commissions Project

In addition to the world premiere by Kian Ravaei​, the festival finale on May 18 will include performances by the HBMS Flute Club Ensemble (directed by Donna Elaine), the Chamber Orchestra (directed by Robert Schwartz), and individual student performers. The event will also feature the announcement of the 2025 recipient of the Wilma Machover Creative Development Fund, which supports emerging composers in their artistic development.

“The Music of Our Time Festival represents the forward-thinking spirit that has always defined Hoff-Barthelson,” says Executive Director Gabriella Sanna. “Through these concerts, commissions, and collaborations, our students become active participants in shaping the future of music while honoring Wilma Machover’s visionary legacy.”

All recitals at the School are free of charge. The Large Ensembles Concert on May 18 requests a suggested donation of $20, with free admission for HBMS students.

For more information, visit www.hbms.org, email [email protected], or call 914-723-1169.

About Hoff-Barthelson Music School

Hoff-Barthelson Music School is nationally recognized for its leadership in music education, performance, and community engagement. With a distinguished faculty and a nurturing learning environment, the School is a beloved cultural institution in Westchester County, inspiring students of all ages to achieve their musical potential.

About Hoff-Barthelson Music School

Virginia Hoff and Joyce Barthelson believed that the joy of music and the skills to perform it should be available to everyone. When these two gifted musicians founded Hoff-Barthelson Music School in 1944, they built a legacy that has touched the lives of thousands: a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of education, performance, and community service. Today, a commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community permeates the School. Students of all ages, aptitudes, and levels of interest—from casual learners to students preparing to pursue careers in music, from 9-month-olds in our Early Childhood Program to recent retirees returning to music making after decades devoted to pursuing careers and raising children—all enjoy these benefits: A supportive, joyful learning environment. We inspire students to develop their full creative potential by pursuing their love of music with peers, friends, family members, and teachers. A focus on the whole person. Developing musical skill, understanding, and appreciation goes hand in hand with nurturing valuable learning and life skills. Problem-solving abilities, fine and gross motor skills, self-confidence, peer relationships, focus and organization, teamwork, and more are strengthened through high-quality music education. Exceptional teaching. Our faculty—drawn from the region’s most talented teachers and performers—excel at meeting individual needs, developing artistic and human potential, and inspiring achievement for students of all levels of ability. A multifaceted curriculum. Our comprehensive approach deepens and accelerates musical development through individualized private instruction; classroom instruction in music theory, sight-singing, and music history; frequent performance opportunities, including workshops, master classes with visiting artists, recitals, and festivals; and ongoing assessment of student progress. The Hoff-Barthelson Music School has achieved national recognition as a premier community music school for its unsurpassed leadership in education, performance and outreach. Since its establishment in 1944, the School has become one of Westchester County’s most cherished and active cultural resources.