The Music Conservatory of Westchester Launches New “Musical Masters” Lecture Series
Beginning in March and taking place over four Sundays this spring, a new “Musical Masters” series by the Music Conservatory of Westchester will lead audience members through comprehensive explorations of chamber music, Brazilian jazz, musical storytelling and film music. Similar to compelling college classes or TED talks, the programs will combine expert lectures with live and recorded performances. “The Conservatory is thrilled to offer a different kind of musical opportunity,” says Executive Director Jean Newton. The first presentation, “The World of Chamber Music: Rational (and Irrational) Conversations,” debuts on March 3 and will feature the artistic and executive director of Copland House, Michael Boriskin. A chamber music authority, he will share his perspective on moving works written for small instrument ensembles and delve into classics, lesser-known masterworks, intriguing unknowns and contemporary pieces. The lecture will explore 250 years of compositions from Haydn, Beethoven, Dvořák and Copland, among others. On March 31, the artistic director of Tarrytown’s Jazz Forum Arts, Mark Morganelli, presents “Brazilian Jazz: From Samba to American Standards.” Compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Marcos Valle, among others, will be woven into a lively discussion about the cross-fertilization between Brazilian music and American jazz. Morganelli’s latest recorded work Brasil! will also be featured. “Musical Storytelling: The Poetry behind Piano Masterpieces” by pianist Andrew Armstrong and “Film Music: Groundbreaking Director/Composer Collaborations” with WQXR radio host Elliott Forrest round out the series in April and May. For more info, visit musicconservatory.org.
A version of this article first appeared in the March issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
