We have used the summer months to do a lot of planning and spreading "the word", especially since the woman who dedicated her life to this artform has left us her legacy - the Dranoff foundation - to carry on. So, let me summarize  the works in progress:

Duo Stephanie and Saar  were invited back by the New World Symphony after last year's crazy quilt performance of Boucourechliev's Archipelago.  On October 21 they will play Petrouchka, again together with the Percussion Consort, under the direction of Michael Linville.   

Festival Miami offers a wide variety of musical performances. Dean Shelly Berg and Chair of Keyboard Performance Department Santiago Rodriguez (who is on our Artistic Advisory Board), have chosen to present on October 23 an all Gershwin program for two pianos. 

On October 24 the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor Bureau will hold its annual convention at the New World Symphony Hall.  The entertainment is provided by  Duo Stephanie and Saar and Nestor Torres.    

The Friends of Chamber Music November 13 concert will feature a Liszt  and Chopin Program with pianist Nikolai Lugansky; in the second half  he will play together with his friend Yakov Kasman a two piano performance  of Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances in memory of Loretta Dranoff.   Thank you, Julian Kreeger!  

During the week of November 14, Classical South Florida  radio is presenting a 5 segment series on Loretta's life and vision.  There will be interviews, and lots of wonderful music.  We will keep you posted on the progress of this project.  

On December 14, we are presenting a memorial concert and fundraiser at the new Dr. Ruth Greenfield Auditorium at  Miami College at the Wolfson Campus. Dr. Greenfield was one of the founding members of the foundation, and, like Loretta,  an early proponent of bringing performing arts to everyone.  Duo Turgeon will play some of Loretta's favorite repertoire. We hope that  Duo Seo and Kato can come from Japan.  We are planning some wonderful and intimate events around this.  Look for updates in the next newsletters.   

December 17 will see the premiere of a composition for two pianos of the story of Mary and St. Martha by Shelly Berg. It was  commissioned  by  St. Martha's Church.    

On January 20, there will be very jazzy  Salon Concert at one of our Foundation board members' home: Martin Bejerano and Brian Murphy playing and improvising on two pianos. Details to shared in the next newsletter.  Dranoff 100's, are you ready? 

Piano Duo I'M, Irina Silivanova and Maxim Puryzhinkskiy from Russia, will play on February 15, 2012  at the Coral Gables Gusmann Hall.  Another Salon concert is planned for this time. 

In April, we begin Piano Slam 4.  Duo Chipak & Kushnir are invited to come to Miami for the live school concerts, and to do a Salon Concert at The Betsy Hotel.  Final dates are not available yet.  

May  - Piano Slam 4 on the stage of the Adrienne Arsht Center, with Duo Van Veen, DJ Brimstone, dancers from the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, and, most importantly, the poetry winners of the Miami-Dade County public schools.  

                                        Gabriele Fiorentino  

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