Jazz Night and Party—Season Finale
Season Finale - JAZZ ITALIANO — a special concert by the PAUL JOSEPH TRIO
The final night of MRP’s 25th concert season will feature an evening of jazz with special guests. Great music, stories and fun extras with a reception to follow.
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Kaoru Watanabe - BUNPUKU!—A Celebration of Asian American Heritage Month
Acclaimed composer and musician brings the aesthetics and sensibilities of Japanese traditional music through a distinctly contemporary American lens. The music ranges from meditative contemplation to percussive festival music, performed in a way that blurs the lines between in-the-moment improvisations and intricately structured compositions. A singular musician, Watanabe has collaborated with iconic figures such as Wes Anderson, Yo-Yo Ma, Jason Moran, Laurie Anderson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Rhiannon Giddens.
Celebrating Asian American Music and Culture
Learn about the different influences that our beloved Asian cultures here in Queens have gifted to us as we listen to music by Asian composers and artists. Learn about the different instruments and sounds of the East and see how they influenced the music of the West and can become interwoven into something new and beautiful.
Unsung Heroines....Her Story Untold — Celebrating Women's History Month
A quartet of women perform works for piano and strings by a diverse group of female composers to include Florence Price, Amy Beach, Rebecca Clarke, Vitezslava Kaprálová, Teresa Carreño, Maria Theresia von Paradis, Louise Lincoln Kerr, Fanny Mendelssohn and Dora Pejačević.
Wonderful Women
What stories can music tell? Come listen to music for piano and strings and learn about amazing women from all over the world who tell their stories through the music they write.
Exceptional Women and Outrageous Puppets
A concert of works for piano four-hands performed by Forest Hills-based husband and wife team Stephanie Ho and Saar Ahuvia. This award-winning duo will perform works by Fanny Mendelssohn, Haruna Miyake, Clara Schumann, Juri Seo and will end the evening with Stravinsky’s Petrouchka.
Dynamic Duo
What happens when you have four hands on a piano instead of just two hands? What happens when two people share the same seat and the same instrument? Come learn about the time-honored tradition of making music together at the piano.
Postcards from New York
An evening of chamber music for piano and strings featuring original members of MRP’s roster of performers as well as some new friends. The program is about visiting New York and includes works by those who would “come and go” through NY for both work and play. The witty and beautiful Postcards from NY will be performed as well as works by Colin Pip Dixon, Rolando Garza Rodríguez and Dvorak’s Piano Quintet.
Making Music with Friends
How do instruments “talk” to one another? How can we express our personal stories through music? Come hear how this group of friends who make music together communicate without using their words but instead by using the voices of their instruments.
Pitcairn & Podgurski In Concert
Come join us as we kick off our 25th concert season with internationally acclaimed virtuoso violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn who will perform on the famed "Red Mendelssohn" Stradivarius of 1720 - said to have inspired the Academy-award winning film, The Red Violin! She will be joined by Artistic Director Barbara Podgurski.
The concert features traditional works that have been the foundation of MRP from its very beginnings as well as modern gems of the classical repertoire.
Photo: ©Joy Strotz
The Vibrant Violin
Why is the violin such a beloved instrument? Learn about the history of the violin and other stringed instruments. Come hear beautiful music by composers who played the violin and wrote for the versatile and highly valued instrument.
Marimba Extraordinaire Makoto Nakura at 60 — A Retrospective
Makoto started building his distinctive career as a marimbist as soon as he arrived in NYC from Japan 30 years ago. This concert shows his journey through the works which he has commissioned along the way. These works from today’s leading composers showcase the expressive possibilities of the marimba…expressive possibilities that keep expanding under Makoto’s ever-growing collection of mallets! You are sure to have a great time not only hearing extraordinary music, but also meeting this extraordinary artist and human being who always gives his audience an incredible show. Don’t forget to wish him a happy 60th birthday if you attend!
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Making Music With Makoto - Marimba Magic
Back by popular demand….join marimba extraordinaire and Forest Hills resident Makoto Nakura as he shares how he makes music on this beautiful instrument that originated in Africa. There will be an opportunity to play child-size versions of this instrument at the end of the show. Makoto will play a sampling of his evening program and there will be lively demonstrations and Q&A throughout the show.
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Sedalia to Harlem — A Celebration of Black Culture in America
Back by popular demand after performing to a sold-out crowd last season, join MRP founder Maestro David Close as he returns to host and guide you through musical gems of jazz, opera and African American Spirituals, tracing the rich tradition of black music, art and culture in America.
Performers:
David Close, piano and host
Jay Aubrey Jones, vocals
Imani Rousselle, vocals
Alphonso Horne, trumpet
Rossano Sportiello, piano
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Sedalia to Harlem – A Celebration of Black Culture in America
Learn about the musical gems of the jazz, opera and African American Spiritual genres, tracing the rich tradition of black music, art and culture in America. Meet some of the artists who will be performing that evening and learn about how their experiences, particularly as African American musicians growing up in the United States, shaped their lives and careers as adults in the arts and music industry.
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A Baroque Celebration — Vivaldi Four Seasons and Bach D Minor Keyboard Concerto
A mid-winter treat featuring Vivaldi’s beloved Four Seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, as well as the most famous of all Baroque keyboard concertos, Bach’s D Minor Concerto for keyboard and string orchestra. This concert features scoring for string orchestra, harpsichord and piano.
Performers:
Sunyoung Graves, violin
Sarah Pratt Parsamian, violin
Mia Laity, violin
William Hakim, viola
Robert Burkhart, cello
Barbara Podgurski, harpsichord and piano
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The Keyboard Travelling Through Time
Have you ever heard or seen a harpsichord in person? Get to see a harpsichord up close and learn how the piano was created from its earliest keyboard form. Listen to and talk about works for both harpsichord and piano in this interactive event.
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An Evening of Chamber Music
Come join us as we kick off our 24th concert season with an evening of time-honored favorites for piano and strings. Listen to works of Mozart and Dvorak, as well as new Piano Quartets by award-winning Queens-based composers Gilbert Galindo and Beata Moon.
Performers:
Sarah Pratt Parsamian, violin
William Hakim, viola
Robert Burkhart, cello
Barbara Podgurski, piano
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Making Music with Friends
Do you ever make music with your friends? Come find out how artistic director/pianist Barbara Podgurski and her friends, violinist Sarah Pratt Parsamian, violist Will Hakim, and cellist Robert Burkhart play together! Learn about how instruments can communicate together and talk to each other through the people who play them.
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Sari-Sari Storybooks with Music
These magical children's books take the reader on a journey through the Philippines, from Batanes to Cebu, Leyte to Zamboanga City. "Melo the Umang-Boy: an Ivatan Tale" tells the story of a painfully shy little boy living with his grandmother and uncle. One day he visits a magical, busy city on the bottom of the ocean, filled with talking sea creatures. Disaster strikes the city, and he must overcome his shyness to help the sea creatures rebuild. "Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik: a Cebuano Tale" shows us how friendship can overcome differences and create happiness for everyone. Daydreaming comes easily to Kalipay, but she doesn’t know how to make bullies leave her alone. One day, she makes an unusual new friend in Gamay, who tells the school bully, Juan, to stop teasing Kalipay. Other children are afraid of Gamay—her strange tongue, split body, and bat wings—but Kalipay is fascinated by the things that make her new friend different. "Amina and the City of Flowers: a Chavacano Tale" Tells the tale of Amina, a young Yakan weaver, who is homesick for Basilan; but she finds inspiration for her loom in the diversity and color of her new home, Zamboanga City.
Signed books will be available for purchase at the event through Kew & Willow.
Sari-Sari Storybooks with Music
These magical children's books take the reader on a journey through the Philippines, from Batanes to Cebu, Leyte to Zamboanga City. "Melo the Umang-Boy: an Ivatan Tale" tells the story of a painfully shy little boy living with his grandmother and uncle. One day he visits a magical, busy city on the bottom of the ocean, filled with talking sea creatures. Disaster strikes the city, and he must overcome his shyness to help the sea creatures rebuild. "Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik: a Cebuano Tale" shows us how friendship can overcome differences and create happiness for everyone. Daydreaming comes easily to Kalipay, but she doesn’t know how to make bullies leave her alone. One day, she makes an unusual new friend in Gamay, who tells the school bully, Juan, to stop teasing Kalipay. Other children are afraid of Gamay—her strange tongue, split body, and bat wings—but Kalipay is fascinated by the things that make her new friend different. "Amina and the City of Flowers: a Chavacano Tale" Tells the tale of Amina, a young Yakan weaver, who is homesick for Basilan; but she finds inspiration for her loom in the diversity and color of her new home, Zamboanga City.
Signed books will be available for purchase at the event through Kew & Willow.
Tickets
Dalí Quartet
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The acclaimed Dalí String Quartet brings Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing beside works of the Classical and Romantic eras. Join them for an unforgettable evening of passionate music making.
Artists:
Ari Isaacman-Beck, 1st violin
Carlos Rubio, 2nd violin
Adriana Linares, viola
Jesus Morales, cello
Barbara Podgurski, piano
Dual Keyboards - Featuring Internationally Acclaimed Marimbist Makoto
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Forest Hills resident and international superstar of the marimba, Makoto Nakura, joins pianist Barbara Podgurski for an evening of commissioned works for the duo including new music by David Conte and Philip Lasser along with transcriptions of beloved classical works.
Artists:
Makoto Nakura, marimba
Barbara Podgurski, piano
Metropolitan Piano Stories
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MRP’s second annual program of piano music by living women composers from the NYC metropolitan area with each piece having a special story behind its creation. Performed by Barbara Podgurski and Beata Moon, joined by guest composers who will introduce or perform their own works.
Artists:
Beata Moon, piano/composer
Barbara Podgurski, piano
Niloufar Nourbakhsh, piano/composer
Guest composers:
Victoria Bond
Nia Imani Franklin
Tania León
Beata Moon
Meredith Monk
Niloufar Nourbakhsh
Dalit Warshaw
Sedalia to Harlem—A Celebration of Black History
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Join MRP founder Maestro David Close as he returns to host and guide you through musical gems of the jazz, opera and African American Spiritual genres, tracing the rich tradition of black music, art and culture in America.
Artists:
Jay Aubrey Jones, Baritone
Geraldine McMillian, Soprano
Byron Singleton, Tenor
Barbara Podgurski, Pianist
Maestro David Close, Host and Pianist
Young Artists
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A showcase of young college students studying at NYC’s top conservatories. Featured artists include Evan Katsefes (tenor), Jennifer Robinson (soprano), and Nick Fanara (piano). Works of Liszt, Beethoven, Mozart and others TBA. Hosted by MRP Artistic Director Barbara Podgurski.
Artists:
Nick Fanara, piano
Evan Katsefes, tenor
Jennifer Robinson, soprano
Barbara Podgurski, collaborative pianist
An Evening of Chamber Music
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Join MRP director Barbara Podgurski (piano) as she is joined by friends Robert Burkhart (cello) and Sarah Pratt Parsamian (violin) performing works by Fauré, Ravel and Brahms.
Artists:
Sarah Pratt Parsamian, violin
Robert Burkhart, cello
Barbara Podgurski, piano
Program:
Maurice Ravel: Sonata #2 for Violin and Piano in G Major
Gabriel Fauré: Sonata #2 for Cello and Piano in G Minor
Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio in B Major, op. 8
Cow Goes to the Opera
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The world-premiere of an opera by Sunny Knable for children and families about a curious cow who goes to the Marché at the Opera Festival in southern France and falls in love with the lights and sounds of the concert stage.
Musica Reginae Productions presents a World-premiere full production of Cow Goes to the Opera, an opera for young audiences by composer and music director Sunny Knable. Cow is given a time-out and sent to his room by Farmer Brown as punishment for something he did not do. While there, he is visited by several infamous characters from the world’s most beloved Operas. Filled with excerpts and reinterpretations of the best-known arias in the operatic tradition, Cow Goes to the Opera is fun and educational for the whole family!
Michael Wills, director/librettist
Sunny Knable, composer/pianist
Darren Anderson, tenor
Stefanie Izzo, soprano
Claire Myers-McCormick, soprano
Tony Ramos, baritone
Melinda Faylor, pianist
Based on a children's book by Amber L. Spradlin
Cow Goes to the Opera
Tickets
The world-premiere of an opera by Sunny Knable for children and families about a curious cow who goes to the Marché at the Opera Festival in southern France and falls in love with the lights and sounds of the concert stage.
Musica Reginae Productions presents a World-premiere full production of Cow Goes to the Opera, an opera for young audiences by composer and music director Sunny Knable. Cow is given a time-out and sent to his room by Farmer Brown as punishment for something he did not do. While there, he is visited by several infamous characters from the world’s most beloved Operas. Filled with excerpts and reinterpretations of the best-known arias in the operatic tradition, Cow Goes to the Opera is fun and educational for the whole family!
Michael Wills, director/librettist
Sunny Knable, composer
Darren Anderson, tenor
Stefanie Izzo, soprano
Claire Myers-McCormick, soprano
Tony Ramos, baritone
Melinda Faylor, pianist
Based on a children's book by Amber L. Spradlin
Queens to Bali
LIVE at Flushing Town Hall. Queens College (CUNY)-based gamelan group, Gamelan Yowana Sari, led by director Frederick Trumpy, presents a program of Balinese music featuring a diverse repertoire, joined by traditional Balinese dancers. Presented as part of the Queens Rising celebration. There will be a Q&A and an opportunity to meet the artists following the event.