Newsletters
Fall 2026 Newsletter
Dear Parents & Students,
I hope you have had a wonderful summer and are refreshed and eager to jump back into our musical adventures.
Our Fall Semester is chock full of performing opportunities, concerts to attend and music to explore. Immersing students in live performances and introducing them to music beyond their own genre brings their artistic training to life in a deeply meaningful way. It allows them to connect with fellow artists, share in the joy of creating together, and experience music not just as something to study, but as something living, human, and profoundly communal. The goal is to both inspire and develop well-rounded musicians.
1. Our first musicianship class will take place on Sunday, August 30th at 10:00am. We will explore Sergei Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34. This piano sextet is a fascinating and unusual composition that allows us to explore Klezmer music traits within a classical chamber setting. We will listen for the iconic, weeping cluck of the clarinet and the infectious, syncopated rhythms of traditional Jewish dance. Above all, it lets us hear first-hand how folk traditions can completely alter the texture and mood of classical arrangements
2. Our second musicianship class will take place on Sunday, October 25th, at 3:00pm, will feature our “Folk Music & Show Tunes” concert at Rosette Senior Living. This concert not only acts as a powerful therapeutic tool that enhances the mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being of the residents at Rosette, but the performers themselves get tremendous satisfaction by providing a meaningful service and bringing joy to people who otherwise would not have an opportunity to hear live music.
3. There will be a wonderful concert on Sunday, November 8th at 2:00pm at the Gratz College Bala Campus, 382 Bala Ave, Bala Cynwyd, as part of the Bala Library Concert Series that will feature a terrific folk ensemble called “Simple Gifts”. We will hear swing fiddle, Romanian dances, Irish reels, and many other folk musical styles. The three women musicians play an amazing array of instruments; switching among violins, concertina, mandolin, banjolin, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, piano, and percussion. Did you know you could play music with spoons?? If you want to find out how – be sure to come. All families are invited.
4. The Dress Rehearsal for our Winter Concert will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6th. Time: TBD but will be announced shortly.
5. Our Winter Concert will be held on Sunday, December 20th at 6:15pm. PLEASE NOTE the change in recital time. Students will be asked to arrive at 5:30pm for a short warm up. This recital timing is an exception to our usual time. We will plan to return to our normal morning recital time for the Spring Recital. Thank you for being flexible about this one-time change.
I am looking forward to a exciting and inspiring semester chock full with a variety of musical experiences!!
All the best,
Gilya