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N A T I O N A L L Y  A C C R E D I T E D  C O M M U N I T Y  M U S I C  S C H O O L 
Violin and Clarinet
Happy Holidays 
 
Greetings!
 
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and board of the Washington Conservatory, I send best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season!
 
In the New Year, I encourage you to consider the gift of music for yourself, your friends, and family -- by attending concerts, learning or re-learning your favorite musical instrument, or taking a music class.
 
I'm happy to announce a new monthly lecture-demonstration series: The Musical Detective, starting Friday, January 9 at 7 PM. The series is presented by award-winning pianist Bradford Gowen.
 
On Monday, January 26, we are thrilled to present pianist John O'Conor and The Royal Irish Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. Special thanks to Cultural Ireland for helping to make this concert possible.
 
I look forward to seeing you at our new lecture series, your music lessons, and our great concerts in the New Year!

With all best wishes,
 
Kathy Judd
Executive and Artistic Director
 
One Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, Maryland 20816
detectiveThe Musical Detective: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Bradford Gowen, pianistUsing the best techniques of a great detective, pianist Bradford Gowen helps uncover the mysteries of the great piano literature. With live and recorded examples, he helps the audience to become musical sleuths by offering fascinating clues about the composers and their distinctive musical fingerprints. For pianists, music lovers, seasoned and non seasoned concert-goers of all ages.
 
Fridays at 7 PM - Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 27, April 24.
 
4 one-hour classes: $80  Single class: $25

Class location:
Westmoreland Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, MD.

Advanced class reservation required:
To reserve class space - call 301-320-2770 or email info@washingtonconservatory.org  
Payment by check, credit card, or online.

oconorMark Your Calendar:
John O'Conor, piano
Royal Irish Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra
 
Monday, January 26 at 7:30 PM
directions | info: 301-320-2770
 
Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church
1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, MD
301-320-2770 | www.washingtonconservatory.org
No tickets; Pay-as-you-can
 
Program
TC Kelly: Three Pieces for Strings
Beethoven: Concerto No 3 for Piano and Orchestra, op. 37
Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite
 
John O'Conor, pianoJohn O'Conor, hailed as "the world's premier Beethoven interpreter," has made more than 20 recordings, including the complete Beethoven Bagatelles -- cited by the New York Times as the best recordings of these works -- the complete Beethoven Concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra under Andreas Delfs in 2007-08, and Mozart Concertos with Sir Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He has also recorded the complete Nocturnes, Sonatas and Concertos of the Irish Composer John Field. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras including the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, l'Orchestre National de France, the NHK Orchestra in Japan and the Cleveland, San Francisco, Dallas, Montreal and Detroit Symphonies in North America.
 
O'Conor has given concerts in many of the world's most famous halls including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Wigmore Hall and South Bank Centre in London, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Dvorak Hall in Prague and the Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo.
 
John O'Conor is now regarded as one of the most important piano teachers in the world today. He is currently Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. For his services to music he has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the National University of Ireland and by Trinity College Dublin, the title "Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" by the French Government and the "Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst" by the Austrian Government.
 
The Royal Irish Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Cavanagh, is comprised of Academy's finest musicians from all over Ireland. The group performs regularly in concert in Dublin and around the country. In the week prior to their performance for the Washington Conservatory they will appear at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall in New York.
 
Parking is on-street on Massachusetts and Western Avenues and in the parking lot of Westmoreland Congregational UCC church. 

Thanks for Your Support 
The Washington Conservatory is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing our community with outstanding opportunities for learning, playing, and listening to music. Tuition revenue covers only a portion of the costs of operating the Conservatory. Contributions at our free concerts cover only a portion of the concert costs. So, at this time of giving, we ask you to consider a special tax-deductible gift to the Washington Conservatory. All gifts, large and small, are appreciated.
 

concertsCalendar: Upcoming Washington Conservatory Concerts 
Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church
1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, MD
301-320-2770 | www.washingtonconservatory.org
No tickets; Pay-as-you-can
 
John O'Conor, pianoMonday, January 26, 7:30 PM
Royal Irish Academy of Music
Symphony Orchestra
featuring John O'Conor, piano
 
under the baton of James Cavanagh
music of T.C. Kelly, Beethoven, Wagner, Stravinsky
 
 
WCM TrioSaturday, February 7, 8 PM
WCM Faculty Piano Trio
Scholarship Benefit Concert
 
Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano, Benjamin Wensel, cello, Kathy Judd, violin
A send-off concert on the eve of their first concert tour to Guadalajara, Mexico. Concert to benefit student scholarship fund. 
 
 
Alejandro Hernandez ValdezFriday, February 27, 7:30 PM
Alexander Paley, piano
 
An all-Schumann concert
"exhilarating...superlative artistry" Washington Post
 
 
Alejandro Hernandez ValdezFriday, March 6, 7:30 PM
WCM Faculty Concert
Gowen Piano Duo
 
Bradford Gowen and Maribeth Gowen have performed as a duo, soloists and chamber musicians in the US and Europe.
"The Gowens are as finely balanced and attuned a team as one is likely to encounter." Washington Post
 
 
Alejandro Hernandez ValdezFriday, March 13, 7:30 PM
WCM Faculty Concert
Michael Adcock, piano
 
Music of Schubert, Schumann and Bach
"unusually fresh and arresting approach to the piano" Washington Post
 
 
Alejandro Hernandez ValdezSunday, March 22, 3 PM
Three Generations Celebrate Martinu
Julia Bogorad, flute
Benjamin Ullery, viola
Margo Garrett, piano
Hope Bogorad, commentary 
 
Featuring the principal flutist of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, her son, violist Benjamin Ullery, and a performance of "Merry Christmas 1941 to Hope Castagnola" - a gift from Martinu to her mother, Hope Bogorad.
 
 
Alejandro Hernandez ValdezSaturday, April 18, 8 PM Shenandoah Conservatory Concert
Audubon String Quartet
with John O'Conor, piano
 
Schumann Piano Quartet and more
About John O'Conor:
"Impeccable technique and musicality ... it would be hard to imagine better performances." Sunday Times (London) 
 

Alejandro Hernandez ValdezSaturday, May 16, 8 PM
WCM Faculty Concert
Haskell Small, piano
 
Music of Copland, Small, Crumb and Brahms 
"dazzlingly prodigious technique"
The Musical Times
 
 
Shenandoah Conservatory Concert Professional concerts by Shenandoah Conservatory faculty and distinguished visiting artists.
 
ALL CONCERTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Additional concerts to be announced. 
Who We Are
The Washington Conservatory of Music is a nationally accredited community music school serving students of all ages and levels. 
 
piano black and white

2008/09 ISSUE 7

In This Issue
Seminar: Musical Detective
Concert: RIAMSO & O'Conor
Concert Calendar
Who We Are
Join Our Mailing List
Washington Conservatory of Music
One Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, Maryland 20816