Hartt Community Division Newsletter ~ October 27, 2011

The Musical Club of Hartford has announced the thirty-sixth annual scholarship competition for high school students living or studying music in Connecticut. Cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200 will be awarded to three winners. The competition is open to all pianists and instrumentalists in grades 9-12 and vocalists in grades 11-12.

The application form and $25 fee is due by Saturday, December 10, 2012. You can view the performance requirements by clicking here. Go to the Musical club of Hartford website for complete details.

The Musical Club of Hartford, Inc. is a non-profit Connecticut organization celebrating its 121st anniversary this year. It was founded by a small group of music lovers who met frequently to perform for each other. Over the past century its membership has grown to almost 300 Hartford residents who meet to perform or listen to performances of classical music. Membership is open to performers or to those who simply enjoy classical music, providing a network for musicians and music lovers from the Greater Hartford area.

Stuart Younse named Connecticut Choral Director of the Year

On Saturday, October 22nd, Hartt Community Division faculty member Dr. Stuart Younse was named the Connecticut Choral Director of the Year by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Each year one director is given this award in recognition of his or her contributions to choral music, service to the profession and leadership in the field.

Dr. Younse is the Community Division's Artistic Director for the Connecticut Children's Chorus and he also serves on the Music Education faculty at The Hartt School and as director of choirs at Simsbury High School.

The Suzuki Association of the Americas: The Power of Community

The "Power of Community" is a campaign aimed at raising funds and awareness about the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA). The core of the campaign is not really about the donations but, rather, realizing how far-reaching our own individual impact can be when we all act together as part of a larger community. As part of the campaign the SAA has created a video called "The Power of Community." The video gives a moving message about Shinichi Suzuki's teaching philosophy and how it strives to build community connections and help every child realize their full potential through learning to play a musical instrument.

The Suzuki Association of the Americas is a coalition of teachers, parents, educators and others who are interested in making music education available to all children. The organization provides teacher scholarships, program support, course development, quarterly journals and more. More information is available at www.suzukiassociation.org .

The Community Division Dance Department presents The Nutcracker

The Hartt School Community Division Dance Department will be presenting three full-length performances of The Nutcracker, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Performances feature guest artist Steven Pier, former dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, and former dancers of the Hartford Ballet performing alongside our own Community Division Dance students. We hope you can join us for an evening filled with magic, imagination and a few special surprises!

Tickets will be available at the University of Hartford Box Office on Monday, October 31st.

Performances:

Friday, December 16th at 7:30 pm

Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 pm

Sunday, December 18th at 2:00 pm

Tickets:

$30 General Admission

$20 Seniors and Students with ID

$15 Children 12 & Under

Spotlight on Pilates Class

Pilates is a form of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates that emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength and flexibility. Pilates suits a wide range of people. While it is known to be utilized by athletes and dancers, it is also excellent for women who are rebounding from pregnancy, those at various stages of physical rehabilitation, and seniors. The mat exercises require you to use your own body weight as resistance and those that take Pilates classes regularly become stronger, longer and leaner.

Did you know that the Community Division offers Pilates as part of the Adult Dance Program? The Pilates class is on Saturday mornings from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM at the Handel Performing Arts Center. Drop-ins are welcome and you can try it once for free. Students can purchase a 10-class dance card or sign up for the remainder of the academic year.

Celebrating Alumni: Laura Metcalf & Sybaraite5

On Thursday, October 20th, Sybarite5 won the 2011 Concert Artist Guild Competition, and was awarded the Sylvia Ann Hewlett Adventurous Artist Prize. Sybarite5 is a New York-based string quintet with a repertoire ranging from Radiohead and Led Zeppelin transcriptions to Mozart and Dvorak. Their cellist, Laura Metcalf (second from left in photo), is an alumna of the Hartt School Community Division and studied with Laura Kane from 1992 to 2000.

Ms. Metcalf grew up in West Hartford and went on to earn a bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Boston University and a Master's Degree in cello performance at the Mannes School where she was a student of Timothy Eddy.

As an active chamber musician Ms. Metcalf has performed a wide range of genres and in such venues as the Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium, the Chateau de Fonigainebleau in France and le Poisson Rouge in New York City. She is a member of the Ansonia Trio, Ten O'Clock Classics, Tarab Cello Ensemble, the cello-percussion ensemble Break of Reality, and the Salome Chamber Orchestra. An accomplished soloist, her recital engagements include the Hewlett-Woodmere Gold Series, Shandelee Music Festival, Livingston Music Club, and WMP Strad for Lunch Series. Ms. Metcalf has also performed as a concert soloist with the New York based Ensemble 212 Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfonica Sinaloa in Mexico.

New Office Hours

The Hartt Community Division's main office at the Fuller Center will be changing reception hours, effective Monday, October 30th, 2011. Please note the changes below: