Richard D. Russell » outreach

“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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“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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Three Elegies selected for NYCC presentation at Bronx Science HS

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:43:00 +0000

My piece, Three Elegies, was chose for performance at the Bronx Science High School on January 6, 2010, and I answered a few questions from the students. Here is the blurb as written by the NYCC executive director, John de Clef Pi√±eiro.

On January 6, 2010, the NYCC gave two back-to-back recitals, each lasting a full school period, to nearly 200 students and their music faculty at the Bronx High School of Science (the NYCC’s first Community Encores recital in a school venue to teenagers). In a survey of art songs spanning the last 100 years, soprano Sofia Dimitrova and pianist Catherine Miller, with introductions and commentary by executive director, John de Clef Pi√±eiro, presented samples of the new music vocal repertoire of Charles Ives, Aaron Copland, Gian Carlo Menotti, as well as music by current and former NYCC member composers. Notably, Composer Member Richard Russell was on hand to introduce and comment on the composition of his Three Elegies, and to answer questions from the audience. Both presentations were very well received and the NYCC was invited back by the faculty to give other future recitals. This first outreach recital of 2010 is part of an expanded series of outreach programs that the NYCC will present during the spring.

Here are some pics; click for larger size.

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