November 30, 2023
Chloé Kiffer, Violin
Justin Bischof, Conductor

On Thursday, November 30th at 6:30 pm, Modus Operandi Orchestra (MOO), under the baton of Maestro Justin Bischof, with Chloé Kiffer, violinist, join MOO for their triumphant return to Merkin Hall in a concert featuring an exceptionally rare performance of Coleridge-Taylor’s sublime Violin Concerto as well as two iconic Romantic masterpieces – Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture & Brahms’ Symphony No. 1.

Taking his rightful place in this concert among romantic era contemporaries Brahms and Mendelssohn is the fine work of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, whose formidable body of work is often overlooked in the musical canon. (Due in part to the prejudices of the day; he was of mixed race.) The composer’s masterful – though rarely performed – work, the Violin Concerto in G minor, with the distinctive influences of African American spirituals, rich orchestrations and harmonies, and inspiring virtuosity, gets long overdue attention in this performance by the Modus Operandi Orchestra.

The performance will take place at Merkin Hall, 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY. Tickets are $39 General Admission, $59 Preferred Seating, $20 Students/Seniors and are available at https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/modus-merkin-three-great-romantics/
. For more information about MOO, please visit moonyc.org.

COMPLETE PROGRAM:

Hebrides Overture F. Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto S. Coleridge-Taylor
Symphony No. 1 J. Brahms

Here’s what makes this concert so special:

• 42-piece orchestra composed of NYC’s best musicians under the baton of Maestro Bischof.
• Coleridge-Taylor’s rarely performed Violin Concerto in G minor gets long overdue attention in this performance by the Modus Operandi Orchestra.
• Manhattan School of Music’s Chloé Kiffer, recently appointed to the violin faculty, makes her Modus Operandi Orchestra debut
• Maestro Justin Bischof and Concertmaster Eiko Kano are distinguished alumni of the Manhattan School of Music.

Chloé Kiffer, Violin
Justin Bischof, Founder, Artistic Director & Conductor
MOO Modus Operandi Orchestra
Eiko Kano, Concertmaster

Chicago – Thursday, November 16, 2023

Haskell Small, Celebrated Composer and Pianist, Turns a Life-Altering Stroke into a “Celebration of Healing”

Pianist Small will perform Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations around the United States in his 2023-24 concert tour.

Pianist Haskell Small (www.haskellsmall.com) will tour nine key cities in the US with his program Celebration of Healing, performing Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. His next official out-of-town stop will be at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago on November 16th. This event is part of their Golden Hour series, a series in the Cafe/Bar that provides additional free live music with food and drink specials. Haskell will perform the Beethoven Diabelli Variations, then – from the sublime to the ridiculous – Haskell will round out the evening with jazz-influenced free improvisations.

Haskell Small’s Celebration of Healing: Epiphany Center for the Arts
Thursday, November 16, 2023, 5-8 pm
Epiphany Center For The Arts: Epiphany Hall
201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations
Jazz-influenced free improvisations

Tickets: Free with RSVP available at https://epiphanychi.com/events/golden-hour-featuring-haskell-small/

Milwaukee – Saturday, November 18, 2023

Following his stop in Chicago,  Haskell will perform at Milwaukee’s Charles Allis Art Museum on November 18th.

Haskell Small’s Celebration of Healing: Charles Allis Art Museum
Saturday, November 18, 2023, 4:30 PM
1801 N. Prospect Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations

Tickets: $25 in person: https://www.charlesallis.org/events/?eid=202
More information available at www.haskellsmall.com

In 2021, Composer and Pianist Haskell Small suffered a debilitating stroke that rendered his left hand and foot paralyzed. At the time, Small feared his accomplished professional career would come to an end. Two years later, he is not only playing piano again but set to embark on a nationwide Celebration of Healing tour launching in his hometown of Washington, DC in September. He will be the subject of a documentary film entitled Small Steps directed by Christopher McGuinness to be released later this fall. The trailer can be viewed here.

More information available at www.haskellsmall.com

Other stops on the tour will include:
September 30, 2023 – Washington, DC – Columbia Heights (House Concert)
October 7, 2023 – Glen Echo Park, DC – Groupmuse (House Concert)
October 18, 2023 – Chevy Chase, MD – Friendship Heights Community Center
November 4, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – American Philosophical Society’s Benjamin Franklin Hall
April 7, 2024 – Santa Monica, CA – First Presbyterian Church Santa Monica
April 13, 2024 – San Francisco, CA – Sunset Music and Arts
April 14, 2024 – Berkeley, CA – The Berkeley Piano Club
April 16, 2024 – Vina, CA – Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux
April 23, 2024 – Seattle, WA – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
June 5, 2024 – New York City – Weill Recital Hall
More dates to be added

As captured in The Washington Post, Small used his painstaking journey of rehabilitation as a creative muse. Unwilling to stay away from music, he began arranging and performing classical masterworks for his right hand alone, as well as writing and performing a new composition, Diary of a Stroke: The Adventures of Herb and Pete (playful nicknames Small gave to his paralyzed hand and foot). Today, Small’s rehabilitation has further progressed and he has returned to playing with full use of both hands. Small’s Celebration of Healing Tour will not only mark his full recovery, but fulfill his life-long dream of performing Beethoven’s immensely difficult and sublime Diabelli Variations. 

“To go from thinking my career might be over, to touring the country with one of the most demanding and sublime works in the repertoire has become a life-saving journey,” says Small. “I’m hoping that my story can resonate with others who have suffered setbacks and offer inspiration that you should never give up on your dreams. Sometimes what seems like a disaster can in fact be an opportunity to grow and challenge yourself in a whole new way.”

Philadelphia – Saturday, November 4, 2023

Haskell Small, Celebrated Composer and Pianist, Turns a Life-Altering Stroke into a “Celebration of Healing”

Pianist Small will perform Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations around the United States in his 2023-24 concert tour.

Pianist Haskell Small (www.haskellsmall.com) will tour nine key cities in the US with his program Celebration of Healing, performing Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. His first official out-of-town stop will be at the American Philosophical Society’s Benjamin Franklin Hall in Philadelphia on Nov. 4th.
In 2021, Composer and Pianist Haskell Small suffered a debilitating stroke that rendered his left hand and foot paralyzed. At the time, Small feared his accomplished professional career would come to an end. Two years later, he is not only playing piano again but set to embark on a nationwide Celebration of Healing tour launching in his hometown of Washington, DC in September. He will be the subject of a documentary film entitled Small Steps directed by Christopher McGuinness to be released later this fall. The trailer can be viewed here.

Haskell Small’s Celebration of Healing: American Philosophical Society’s Benjamin Franklin Hall

427 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 7PM
Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations
Tickets: Regular: $20 / Students & Seniors: $10 available at https://Haskellphilly.eventbrite.com

Other stops on the tour will include:
September 30, 2023 – Washington, DC – Columbia Heights (House Concert)
October 7, 2023 – Glen Echo Park, DC – Groupmuse (House Concert)
October 18, 2023 – Chevy Chase, MD – Friendship Heights Community Center
November 16, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Epiphany Center for the Arts
November 18, 2023 – Milwaukee, WI – Charles Allis Art Museum
April 7, 2024 – Santa Monica, CA – First Presbyterian Church Santa Monica
April 13, 2024 – San Francisco, CA – Sunset Music and Arts
April 14, 2024 – Berkeley, CA – The Berkeley Piano Club
April 23, 2024 – Seattle, WA – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
June 5, 2024 – New York City – Weill Recital Hall

More dates to be added

As captured in The Washington Post, Small used his painstaking journey of rehabilitation as a creative muse. Unwilling to stay away from music, he began arranging and performing classical masterworks for his right hand alone, as well as writing and performing a new composition, Diary of a Stroke: The Adventures of Herb and Pete (playful nicknames Small gave to his paralyzed hand and foot). Today, Small’s rehabilitation has further progressed and he has returned to playing with full use of both hands. Small’s Celebration of Healing Tour will not only mark his full recovery, but fulfill his life-long dream of performing Beethoven’s immensely difficult and sublime Diabelli Variations.
“To go from thinking my career might be over, to touring the country with one of the most demanding and sublime works in the repertoire has become a life-saving journey,” says Small. “I’m hoping that my story can resonate with others who have suffered setbacks and offer inspiration that you should never give up on your dreams. Sometimes what seems like a disaster can in fact be an opportunity to grow and challenge yourself in a whole new way.”

More information available at www.haskellsmall.com.

October 25, 2023
with Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra
Rafael Solano, Piano
Luis McDougal, Guitar

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 7:30 PM. at Zankel Hall – Carnegie Hall, violinist and conductor Aisha Syed will join the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra to take you through an unforgettable voyage of the Seasons by classical composers Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and Astor Piazzolla (1933-1990). For both composers, their respective “Seasons” mark some of, if not their most, known pieces of work. Piazzolla’s “Estaciones Porteñas” reflect the rich and rhythmical Latin American heritage and sound world through tango in its finest form. The closing portion of the evening will be led by the celebrated Dominican Maestro Rafael Solano (b. 1931) performing his most renowned works including Una Primavera para el Mundo and his iconic Por Amor with Aisha accompanied by guitarist Luis McDougal. 

In a spectacular feat, this concert will feature Dominican violinist Aisha Syed Castro, both conducting and accompanied by the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra. This 90-minute concert will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Hall – Zankel Hall at 881 7th Ave, New York.  A Special VIP Reception for Sponsors at 5 pm. Also, on this memorable night, the influential Dominican Ambassador Award will be presented to Samuel Collado, President of the National Supermarket Association (NSA), and Lilliam A. Perez Vice President of Government & Community Relations Montefiore Health System & Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 

Tickets, $100-200 ($75 for seniors and students with valid ID), in support of the Dominican Heritage and Culture Society, are available at www.carnegiehall.org, the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. 25% off special discount code until October 2, using code ABC43029. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Nathalie Tejada, Development Director, at [email protected] or 646-548-8282.

COMPLETE PROGRAM:

VIVALDI The Four Seasons
PIAZZOLLA Las cuatro estaciones porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires)
RAFAEL SOLANO “Una Primavera Para El Mundo”
RAFAEL SOLANO “Por Amor”

The proceeds of this event will benefit the Dominican Heritage and Culture Society, (www.dhcsfoundation.org) a 501c3 established in the United States of America, whose mission is to cultivate and maintain the roots that nurture the culture, history, and traditions of the Dominican people both in the United States and wherever we may travel across the globe. Through our events, we strive to bring cultural enrichment, entertainment, and educational activities regarding the Dominican Diaspora in New York and to empower our youth and emerging Dominican artists by providing economic support through our scholarship program. The Society considers it paramount that we stay connected and bridge the generational gap with our Dominican youth born and raised in New York. This can be accomplished by providing them with an understanding of their rich culture, vibrant art, incredible literature, and country’s history.

Confirmed Sponsors: Dr. Pedro McDougal, Elefterakis & Elefterakis, & Panek, NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital, National Supermarket Association (NSA), Montefiore Einstein, Michelstein & Ashman PLLC, Cass & Peters Law Firm, Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C., Lynx Medical Management LLC, R.G.V. Adult & Internal Medicine Specialists, P.A., Jesse Barab, Esq., Dr. Jose Peña, Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm, P.C, Krieger, Wilansky & Hupart, Law Office of Michael D. Uysal, Zeremba Brown PLLC, Rica, and Cibao Meat.

The Dominican Heritage and Culture Society (www.dhcsfoundation.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit cultural foundation established in the United States with a mission to cultivate and maintain the roots that nurture the culture, history, and traditions of the Dominican people in the United States and across the globe.

Fundación Madre y Maestra (https://egresados.pucmm.edu.do) is a non-profit entity founded in 1982 whose objective is to obtain resources to be used exclusively for the maintenance and development of activities of academic excellence, research, and extension carried out by the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)

Learn more about the artists…
Aisha Syed  (aishasyedcastro.com)
Maestro Rafael Solano (https://www.facebook.com/rafaelsolano.s/)
Luis McDougal (https://www.luismcdougalmusic.com)

Free Events to Be Held September 14-16, 2023 at the Hamilton Park and Cultural Center

SHOWCASES EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

Featuring Sean Jones, Joel Ross, Jeff Parker, Isaiah Collier, Marques Carroll, Alexis Lombre, Frank Russell, Ernest Dawkins, and many more, this event highlights the many young musicians who have been nurtured over these past 24 years.

___

Long an annual tradition, Live the Spirit Residency presents the free 24th Englewood Jazz Festival on September 14, 15, and 16, 2023 at Hamilton Park and Cultural Center at 513 W 72nd St. This year the 3-day festival illuminates emerging and established homegrown artists that demonstrate Live the Spirit Residency’s deep commitment to educating and mentoring the next generation of jazz. Featured artists include pianist Alexis Lombre (performing the World Premiere of her new work Synesthesia, Pt. 1), vibraphonist Joel Ross, recent winner of Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll vibraphone category, and saxophonist and Festival Resident Artist Isaiah Collier. These artists have all achieved national and international recognition, thanks to Live the Spirit Residency and its leader Ernest Dawkins’ long-term dedication to music education, mentoring, and inter-generational knowledge exchange.  

The festival will open on Thursday, September 14 with a reprise of Dawkins’ Memory in the Center, an Afro Jazz Opera, originally commissioned and performed for the City’s Made in Chicago series in Millennium Park in 2014. This project reflects the determination and spirit that energized the South African freedom movement led by Nelson Mandela by foregrounding the influential women in Mandela’s life – Winnie Mandela and Graça Machel – through the powerful voice of Chicago’s own Kopano. It will be performed by the Live the Spirit Residency Big Band. “I’m revisiting this work because its message of self-determination as an engine of progress has become even more important for people to hear at this moment,” said Dawkins. This work will also be performed soon at Poetry Africa, in honor of the tenth anniversary of Mandela’s passing.

The Festival Residency has given saxophonist Isaiah Collier’s Chosen Few Ensemble the space and support to advance new musical ideas. Collier says “The experience of being raised in an environment like Chicago where there have been so many opportunities to develop my vision has been pivotal to my success.”

The Young Masters will get a chance to strut while established Chicago artists including bassist Frank Russell, New Horizons with special guest guitarist Jeff Parker, and trumpeter Marques Carroll, who will summit with NY trumpeter Sean Jones, round out this community-centered celebration. 

The festival takes place rain or shine, moving indoors in case of inclement weather. Some seating is provided, but attendees are advised to bring their own chairs, blankets, picnics, and an appetite for the kind of music that uplifts and transforms the human spirit! Further information is available at englewoodjazzfest.org.

Additionally, as part of this event, to honor those whose work has helped shape and strengthen the foundation of jazz in Chicago, the annual Spirit of Jazz Awards will be presented to:

• Wayne Segal, Owner of Jazz Showcase 
• Mashaune Hardy, Associate Director of Partnerships & Strategy, Logan Center
• Pharez Whitted, Director of Jazz Studies, NIU

Sponsors of the Englewood Jazz Festival include WDCB Radio and The Chicago Park District.

Complete schedule: 24th Englewood Jazz Festival @ 513 W 72nd St

• Thursday, September 14, 2023, 6:00 PM
  Ernest Dawkins Live The Spirit Residency Big Band– Memory in the Center, an Afro-opera

• Friday, September 15, 2023, 6:00 PM
  Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few

• Saturday, September 16, 2023, 11:30 AM-6:00 PM
  11:30 Live the Spirt Residency presents Young Masters. Directed by Ernest Dawkins
  12:30 Alexis Lombre
  1:30 Frank Russell Band
  2:30 New Horizons Ensemble Delmark Allstars w Jeff Parker
  3:35 Spirit of Jazz Awards
  4:00 Joel Ross
  5:00 Trumpet Summit: Marques Carroll / Sean Jones