Richard D. Russell » John de Clef Pineiro

“Time is Not an Option” featured in NYCC Outreach

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:14:50 +0000

On May 16, 2011, soprano Sofia Dimitrova performed “Time is Not An Option” accompanied by Tamara Cashour–in an outreach program presented by the New York Composers Circle. The venue was Hunter College High School on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side. The hour-long recital was emceed by the Executive Emeritus of the NYCC, John de Clef Pi√±eiro. Ms. Dimitrova performed many 20th (and 21st) Century works, including pieces by Menotti, Paul Moravec, and Aaron Copland.

The concert was attended by about 100 ninth and tenth graders. A question-and-answer session yielded some interesting thoughts: does a singer prepare differently for modern music than for music by (say) Mozart? What is the process of composing all about? How does one go about starting a new composition?

Here are several pictures from the afternoon–click image for a larger view.

Richard D. Russell introduces his piece

Tamara Cashour, Sofia Dimitrova, John de Clef Pi√±eiro

Tamara Cashour, Sofia Dimitrova

Tamara Cashour and Sofia Dimitrova

Sofia Dimitrova

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Sofia Dimitrova to perform Time is Not an Option

Richard D. Russell — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:26:35 +0000

On May 16, 2011, soprano Sofia Dimitrova will perform the song cycle “Time is Not an Option” at Hunter College High School on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, in a concert being presented by the New York Composers Circle’s Outreach program. This is the fourth time a selection of mine has been included in the NYCC’s Outreach program. For more information on the NYCC, click here.

Tamara Cashour is the pianist, and John de Clef Pi√±eiro will host the event.

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“A Poe Fantasia” sung in NYCC’s “Encores Outreach Program”

Richard D. Russell — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:49:00 +0000

On Friday May 7, the New York Composers Circle presented an “Encores” Outreach Program at the JASA West Side Community Center on the upper west side of Manhattan. Soprano Sofia Dimitrova, accompanied by Catherine Miller, performed my “A Poe Fantasia” and works by Paul Moravec, Copland, Menotti, Ives, and Kevin McCarter. The NYCC’s Executive Director, John de Clef Pi√±eiro, emceed the event, providing an educational overview of 20th Century art song.

The only problem with these events is that since I’m taking pictures, I don’t always get a chance to get a picture of me in there! But here are several pics of the day’s event. (Click for larger size.)

Catherine Miller and Sofia Dimitrova relax before the concert

Sofia Dimitrova and Catherine Miller compare notes

NYCC director John de Clef Pineiro addresses the audience

Another view of John de Clef Pineiro

Sofia Dimitrova sings

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