Prelude Benefit 2016: Notes from 108th Street

Bloomingdale School of Music invites you to join us for    Monday, May 9, 2016 6:00 pm Champagne Reception with Light Appetizers and Silent Auction 7:00 pm Performances 8:15 pm Dessert and Silent Auction   Broadway Presbyterian Church 612 West 114th Street & Broadway   Honoring Joan Griffith-Lee, Director Jean E. McCurry, Board Member Columbia Community Service           at Columbia University   Hosted by Bill Ritter, WABC Anchor   A celebratory evening of music and stories to benefit BSM’s Student Scholarship Fund, with students, faculty, and special guests Cocktail Attire For more information, contact Event Coordinator Sarah Benvenuti at sbenvenuti@bsmny.org

The evening will feature the world premiere of a new concerto written for BSM’s own Resident Teaching Violinist, Naho Parrini, by composer Richard Pearson Thomas. This piece written for 1930s cabaret ensemble and will round out a musical celebration by BSM students and faculty! With an art deco theme and personal stories of the power of music in our lives, it is sure to be a lively and inspirational evening of music and community.

Bloomingdale School of Music

Founded in 1964, Bloomingdale School of Music (BSM) provides open access to anyone seeking high quality music education. Over the past 50 years, BSM has served more than 100,000 children and adults through group classes, private instruction, and performance opportunities in classical, jazz and rock music. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, each week over 600 students of all ages participate in a wide range of music-making, including early childhood classes, free community concerts, and internet-based music programs. More than 20% of the Bloomingdale student body receives financial aid scholarships annually. This means more than 14% of BSM’s annual budget goes directly towards student scholarship - an industry high. BSM alumni have gone on to careers as music teachers, performers, and life-long music lovers. www.bsmny.org

Columbia Community Service at Columbia University

Columbia Community Service (CCS) is one of the oldest organizations on the Columbia University campus. Since its inception in 1946, CCS has helped countless people in the Columbia area by giving substantial grants and providing valuable resources to local community organizations. Its yearly campaign is a means for Columbia University faculty and staff to support soup kitchens, after-school programs, and more critical services, through direct financial contributions.

For more than 30 years CCS has given grants to Bloomingdale School of Music to provide financial aid to students who live in the Columbia area. Over that time, CCS has contributed more than $100,000 providing more than 400 students access to quality music education.

Benefit Committee

Musical Program to include:

• A performance of Counting Stars, an original composition by BSM student, Suvani Weerakkody, which premiered at our A4TY concert in March!
  
  
• Performances by BSM ensembles: MAP Jazz Combo with guest trumpeter Nabate Isles, BSM Percussion Ensemble
  
  
• Performing students include Amber Colquhoun, Roman Pinto, Ben Wade, Aasif Perry, Tarrel Nedderman, Sophia Kshwendt, Lucy Mueller, Tasashi Lewis, Josh Weinfeld, Salvatore Di Leone, Miguel Diaz, Joanna Kuang, and Richard He.
  
  
• The world premiere of Violin Concerto with Cabaret Band: Dirty Music by Richard Pearson Thomas, performed by Naho Parrini*, Kristina Teuschler, James McCain*, Brandon Vazquez*, Nick Finzer*, Richard Pearson Thomas, Matt Buttermann*, Kevin Farrell*, and Jeremy Noller*.

* BSM faculty and staff