the new school's mannes school of music announces new partnership with neighborhood classics

Concerts Scheduled for May 14 at PS/IS 276 and May 16 at PS 51

The New School’s Mannes School of Music ​is pleased to announce a new partnership with Neighborhood Classics, ​a classical music concert series founded by Simone Dinnerstein​. In these hour­-long family ­friendly concerts, Mannes students join world­ renowned pianist and artistic director of Neighborhood Classics, ​Simone Dinnerstein, on her journey to bring classical music to non­-traditional audiences and venues, in the service of nurturing and building communities and maintaining the vitality of classical music in the 21st century.

True to the mission of Neighborhood Classics, performers will contribute their talent as funds raised from each concert are given back to the schools at which the concerts are hosted. Classical Mix 276 is scheduled for 7PM on Saturday, May 14 in the PS/IS 276 auditorium of the Battery Park School (55 Battery Place, New York, New York.) ​Classical Fun at 51 is scheduled for 7PM on Monday, May 16 at PS 51 (The Elias Howe School, 525 West 44th Street, New York, New York.) ​Tickets for each event can be purchased at www.neighborhoodclassics.com or at the door.

“The future of classical music depends on young musicians getting involved with their local communities,” says Dinnerstein. “The students at Mannes are doing just that; their concerts are the result of several visits, building relationships with the children and helping the teachers and school families make classical music a vibrant part of their school life.”

These two concerts mark the culmination of "Producing a Classics Concert", a class taught by Dinnerstein at Mannes. In this course, students learn to self­-produce their own community concerts, managing all aspects of the event ­both artistic and administrative. Using the Neighborhood Classics model established by Dinnerstein, students plan accessible events and programs that engage and ultimately benefit the school and community, while developing critical skills necessary for a successful performing arts career in the 21st century. Classical Mix at 276 performances will include Poulenc’s ebullient sextet for piano and winds; famous opera arias from La Boheme and Carmen; a set of piano preludes composed and performed by Mannes student Matthew Griswold; and popular American songs. Classical Fun at 51 will include works by the composers studied by PS 51 students this year, including Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. PS 51 students will join in to perform Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

Founded in 1916, Mannes School of Music at The New School seeks to develop citizen artists who engage with the world around them in and through music, in traditional, new, and emergent forms of practice. Our eminent faculty of artists, scholars, and educators of international stature, including active professionals from all areas of the music world foster close, constructive relationships with students and are committed to advancing the creative role of music throughout all aspects of our rapidly changing society. Notable faculty include Jeremy Denk, multi-award winning and MacArthur Fellow pianist; Dave Douglas, multi-award winning and MacArthur Fellow trumpeter; Cynthia Phelps, principal violist of The New York Philharmonic; David Chan, Concertmaster of The Metropolitian Opera; Joan La Barbara, vocalist and pioneer in contemporary vocal music; William Burden, renowned operatic tenor; David T Little, composer; Missy Mazzoli, composer; Paul Moravec, composer; and many more.

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein founded the Neighborhood Classics series in 2009 at P.S. 321, the school that her son attended and where her husband teaches. Neighborhood Classics builds relationships at a local level between neighborhoods and musicians. These one-­hour, family­ friendly performances, which are hosted by Simone and feature musicians she has admired and collaborated with during her career, are open to the public and raise funds for the school. The musicians performing donate their time and talent to the program, and the concerts are organized and administered by parent volunteers and faculty members. In addition to evening concerts, Neighborhood Classics stages all­-school happenings – including a "Bach Invasion" and a "Renaissance Revolution" – which immerse the school in music, with dozens of musicians performing in all of the school’s classrooms throughout the day.

American pianist Simone Dinnerstein is a searching and inventive artist who is motivated by a desire to find the musical core of every work she approaches. The New York-­based pianist gained an international following because of the remarkable success of her recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which she raised the funds to record. Released in 2007 on Telarc, it ranked No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Classical Chart in its first week of sales and was named to many “Best of 2007” lists including those of The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The New Yorker.

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Media Contacts:

Will Wilbur,
The New School
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