Luxury raffle winners claim their prize

Beach season won't be upon us until Memorial Day at the earliest, but sun and sand down the shore have been on our minds a lot recently, since the grand prize for Settlement's luxury raffle is a week's stay at a fantastic vacation house in Avalon, NJ. We've rattled off the description to countless people in recent weeks -- 10,000 square feet (seriously), nine bedrooms, 10 baths, etc. -- but we've only had one picture on hand to show off.

The entrance to the grand prize Avalon vacation home - more awaits inside!

 Not anymore! Last year's lucky winners, Mary and Bill Ludford, took the recent Easter holiday as an opportunity to bring their families down to Avalon and claim their prize, and we scooted down to Avalon to capture them in the midst of their relaxing getaway.

Mary and Bill Ludford - they bought their winning ticket at the 2011 Anniversary Gala

Throughout the week, the Ludfords are hosting over a dozen members of their family, including parents, children, nieces and nephews, and they're having their co-workers from PECO/Exelon over at the end of this week. All of their guests will see the light streaming in from outside, soak in the heated swimming pool and oversized tubs, and views of the surrounding bay and lagoons.

Sunset over the bay -- visible from decks on all three floors

This beautiful house, all of the experiences that come with it, and views like the one above could be yours: you can purchase tickets for the luxury raffle through Thursday, April 19. You can purchase them the night of the Gala like the Ludfords did, but why wait? You can buy them online here, and keep an eye on this blog and Settlement's Facebook page for more photos and teasers this week and next.

A busy week across the pond

Settlement piano students Cary Zhang and Serim An and faculty member Sandra Carlock have journeyed to the Finchcocks Musical Museum in England. Their time overseas is coming to an end -- they'll head back to the US tomorrow -- but they've kept up an impressive pace during their stay. Here, we catch up on all their activities over the past week: everything from intensive rehearsals and performances to a trip to London.

4/5/12

On Monday, at our session with Stephen Devine, Director of Education at Finchcocks, we learned a great deal about how the mechanisms of the instruments relate to the way in which the music should be interpreted, and how the tone is produced. We have more to say on this subject, but it was truly a light bulb day!!

Cary, Serim and Sandra working with the Erard (1866)

On Tuesday, we had an all-day practice session (as in, eight hours!). The job at hand was to apply
what we had learned on Monday and to become ever more comfortable with the instruments we will
use in our presentations on Saturday. We were very pleased with the progress we made!

Wednesday was a quick trip to London. We took the round London bus tour and saw all of the famous landmarks such as: Big Ben, the Parliament Buildings, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, and the London Eye. We had lunch in a traditional English pub across from the Tower of London. Serim had steak and kidney pie, and Ms. Carlock and Cary had British beef and ale pie- traditional British fare. The night before, we had been taken to dinner at a pub down the road from Finchcocks by Mr. and Mrs. Burnett where we all had fish and chips.

Today, we all three played a benefit coffee concert at the United Reform Church in Folkestone, England. We played on a modern grand which felt very strange at first, after five days on early pianos! The concert went really well, though. The audience was tremendously responsive- Ms. Carlock has performed in Folkestone numerous times, so she is known to audiences there. Our concert this morning was arranged by Michael Foad, Music Director and Organist at the church.

We will add more tomorrow, which will be another all- day practice session in preparation for our lecture recitals on Saturday morning. We are feeling better and better prepared and are VERY excited!!"

Pianos and pastures

Settlement piano students Cary Zhang and Serim An and faculty member Sandra Carlock have journeyed to the Finchcocks Musical Museum in England. Here, the students offer some reflections on performing as part of receiving a prestigious award and on the countryside surrounding the Museum in the County of Kent.

4/1/12

We are staying in a beautiful, old cottage with a view across the fields. On the second day, we drove up to the museum and saw acres of fields scattered with sheep and little lambs, as this is lambing time in England.

English sheep - none were harmed in the writing of this blog post

Today was the first Open Day of the season at the museum. Open Days are an opportunity for visitors to walk around the house and see all the instruments. They then are able to hear a selection of them played during two hour-long concerts during the afternoon.

As recipients of the Muzio Clementi Award, we were featured on the second of the concerts this afternoon. We, including Ms. Carlock, each performed. After a practice session, we felt excited but very nervous. Throughout the concert, we heard some wonderful performances from all of the professional artists, including our teacher. Our performances went very well -- even better than expected! We now have a much better understanding of how we should approach the production of tone and color on instruments that date back to the time of Mozart.

Detail of the 1795 Broadwood Square Piano - courtesy of www.finchcocks.co.uk

We have been wonderfully supported and look forward to tomorrow's all day session with Steven Devine, Director of Development and Education at Finchcocks.  Steven is also an internationally recognized harpsichordist and conductor.  After dinner with the Burnetts and other friends we went back to our cottage and collapsed!  'Til tomorrow!

Settlement students abroad

Piano students Cary Zhang and Serim An and faculty member Sandra Carlock have journeyed to the Finchcocks Musical Museum in England, home to a famed collection of historic and antique keyboard instruments. Throughout this week, we'll be sharing stories of their playing and overseas adventures.

Cary and Serim at Newark Liberty International Airport before departure

3/31/12

After landing from a long and crowded overnight flight, we made our way to passport control. Because so many flights landed at one time, it took us over an hour!!!

We were all relieved to be on our way to Finchcocks in our rental car after a tiring time at the airport. We arrived and were given a very warm welcome by the Burnetts, with a lovely lunch. We rushed through unpacking because we wanted to meet the pianos ASAP!

We went on a wonderful tour with Mr. Burnett and spent a marvelous hour playing the pianos. We tried out the 1826 Graf, the 1815 Fritz, the 1842 Pleyel, and the 1866 Erard.

They each have a unique and beautiful sound, which we loved. Yet, that and the feel were so different that playing on these pianos for the first time was a bit disorienting. We realized we had a lot of work to do before we could play the pianos very well.

We then had a delicious dinner and finished a long and memorable day, watching a concert with the phonofiddle and the musical saw. The phonofiddle is a mixture of a violin and the bell (i.e. "horn part") of a trumpet. The musical saw is basically a saw any carpenter would use. The bow of a cello or bass is drawn perpendicularly across the non-tooth edge of the saw to create sound. By bending the saw, different pitches are produced. It was the perfect end to a very exciting day!

Widening the Stage: A new city-wide initiative for Settlement

Faculty, board members, the press, the Mayor of Philadelphia and a special celebrity guest were all on hand today at the Mary Louise Curtis branch for the announcement of a major grant and the start of a new, city-wide initiative. 

The Virginia-based Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has awarded $250,000 in funding for a program to enroll children ages 8 to 18 from lower-income families into a comprehensive music preparatory training program. It will also include Settlement's first-ever touring ensemble.

After an introduction by Settlement executive director Helen S. Eaton and Settlement Central Board of Trustees chair Barrie Trimingham, Mayor Michael Nutter delivered the announcement. "Settlement is really an incredible component of what we call in Philadelphia 'the creative economy'," Nutter said, noting that the program will enroll 80 students at Settlement's four Philadelphia-based branches.

Rock-and-roll legend and Settlement alumnus Chubby Checker made a special appearance after the announcement. He did "the Twist" and a few other dance moves, andd even gave a few staff members a sneak preview of a new composition -- listen up for it this summer!

The announcement received a lot of great media coverage by WHYY's Newsworks, Philebrity, and The Philadelphia Inquirer's Peter Dobrin, who covered the announcement on his ArtsWatch blog. He said, "In Philadelphia, where the need is great and resources strained, the news is doubly good when an organization wins an outside grant. The theory is, the award of local money means another local group needing it loses out, whereas money coming from a national source is a net gain into the community."

More information is available in our press room, and there will be more news here as the program gears up.

Food for Thought: Getting excited for the 104th Anniversary Gala

Staffers at Settlement start gearing up for the Gala much earlier than you might think. There are wrap up meetings in May to discuss the event just after it's over, internal Gala planning meetings in September for the following year, and a Gala Committee kickoff meeting in December.

But if any one event lets us know that the Gala is just around the corner (68 days until April 21!), it's the Gala Menu Tasting. Until this point, much of the Gala planning is on paper. Invitations haven't been mailed; program books are another month and half away. But here, with this meeting, we can start to see the Gala take shape. Delicious, delicious shape.

Above: Wild Mushroom Beggar's Purse & Wonton Wrapped Shrimp with Ginger Soy Sauce

Gala Chair Kevin Cunningham, Gala Vice Chairs Susan & the Honorable Vincent Poppiti, and Menu Co-Chairs Greg & Susan Moore and Valerie & Roger Wood came together last week at Loews Philadelphia Hotel to select an array of great food and wine for April's big event.

(left to right) Menu Co-chairs Susan & Greg Moore and Valerie & Roger Wood

There are hors d'oeuvre, salads, entrees and desserts from which to choose. For example, the assembled group tried three salads, before ultimately choosing the first one.

Baby Field Greens with Edible Flowers, Hearts of Palm, Red and Yellow Currant Tomatoes and Champagne Vinaigrette

Bibb Lettuce, Roma Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Watercress White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Butter Lettuce, Red Oak and Mache with Feta Crumbles, Kalamata Olives, Roasted Tomato, Onion and Greek Dressing

And then come entrees and desserts.

 

Our group ultimately chose a Veal Chop with Black Truffle and Baby Spinach Marsala Wine Reduction as the entree.

And a French Apple Tart with Caramel Anglaise as the dessert.

And to all that, you can add wines provided by Moore Bros. Wine Company. It's enough to make you feel stuffed before the event even starts. Color us very excited!

For more info on Settlement's Gala, including how to buy tickets, support the program book or enter our luxury raffle, visit our website (www.smsmusic.org/gala)!

A Holiday Tradition

What better way to ring in the holidays than with a performance of a time-honored classic? Sure, you've been listening to music by Bing, Andy and Karen for a few weeks now, but you can really get yourself into the right spirit by attending one of Settlement's four performances of The Nutcracker.

With beautiful costumes, a heartwarming story, and talented young performers from across the Philadelphia region, it's a great opportunity to see how much fun dance at Settlement can be. Our dance faculty--Olga Blumenkrantz at the Kardon-Northeast Branch and Kaye Fernandez at the Mary Louise Curtis, West Philadelphia and Camden Branches--have done a terrific job of adapting The Nutcracker for our smaller stages and dancers.

Settlement's dance students have put a lot of hard work into this year's performances. One of the best parts about attending The Nutcracker year after year? Watching the dancers move from role to role. Last year's polichinelle could be this year's Marie. A marzipan from a few years ago might now be the Sugar Plum Fairy. These holiday performances really showcase the progression and increasing skill of these young performers.

Dates and times for the performances are as follows:

Saturday, December 17, 11 AM, Kardon-Northeast Branch
Sunday, December 18, 3 PM, Mary Louise Curtis Branch
Monday, December 19, 6 PM, Camden Branch
Wednesday, December 21, 6 PM, West Philadelphia Branch

Many thanks to West Philadelphia Branch board member Sean Kardon for taking these pictures at the Mary Louise Curtis Nutcracker rehearsal last week. You can see more pictures on our Facebook page!

Settlement Visits the National Guild for Community Arts Education Conference

Last week, West Philadelphia Branch Director Carolyn Fitzgerald attended the National Guild for Community Arts Education Annual Conference. Today, we turn the blog over to her for a summary of the event. Take it away, Carolyn!

There is something magical about being in the same place with people who share your passion. Some people may believe that being with like-minded people limits you, but not when you are with the members of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. The Guild hosted its annual conference in Boston from November 10-12, and offered pre-conference workshops the day before. I was fortunate enough to attend both the full conference and a pre-conference Engaging Adolescents Institute.

The view over Boston

This was my first experience with the National Guild conference, and the experience sent me back to the West Philadelphia Branch with a head full of inspiration, new ideas and viewpoints. The Engaging Adolescents Institute was by far my favorite day of the conference. From 9:30 am through 4:30 pm, members of the Guild discussed, debated and examined the Engaging Adolescents Initiative that the organization researched and published in 2010 (which is available free of charge here).

The Guild invited youth scholars from Boston’s Hyde Square Task Force to facilitate parts of the discussion and actively advise the professionals in the room about what attracts and keeps teens in programs. Presentations from model programs were given by San Antonio’s SAY Si, Detroit’s Mosaic Youth Theatre, and Brooklyn’s Ifetayo Cultural Arts. Each organization has a different strategy for recruiting and retaining teens in their communities and offered valuable guidance and advice to the institutions gathered.

The formal conference kicked off bright and early Thursday morning with introductions by Guild staff and board. This was the largest conference in the Guild’s history! The keynote speaker was Will Power—actor, playwright, and hip-hop artist—who both performed for the opening breakfast and spoke about engaging today’s teens. His speech set the tone for conference – one of being open to dialogue and change.

I attended two luncheons, one with the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Guild where I met organizations from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Philadelphia was well-represented with members from Settlement (of course!), Temple Music Preparatory, Mural Arts, Fleischer Art Memorial, Walnut Street Theatre, University City Arts League and many more.

Another highlight of the conference was attending Jazz at Lincoln Center’s presentation on Arts for Life: Marrying Skills-Based and Aesthetic Education Practices. As many students at the West Philadelphia Branch know, I am a huge jazzhead and a big fan of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s programming. Joanna Massey, Eli Yamin, and LaFrae Sci created a wonderful, informative and interactive presentation. They demonstrated the teaching methods that the Middle School Jazz Academy has had success in implementing and had all of us singing, improvising and harmonizing Wade in the Water.

Drum Circle at South Shore Conservatory

My final day, Saturday, was spent visiting the South Shore Conservatory and attending the Annual Guild Luncheon. Jane Golden of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program was one of the honorees at the luncheon. Jane gave a powerful speech on the power of arts to enact true, positive change in the community. Her program is a testament to arts education that has changed the landscape of Philadelphia. As a resident of Philadelphia, I am thankful I get to view the gorgeous murals her program creates.

A choir performs at the Annual Guild Luncheon

The Guild demonstrates that learning in the arts can be a life-long process. It provides wonderful learning opportunities for its members by holding this conference and various institutes throughout the year. I can’t wait for, and hope I have the opportunity to attend, next year’s conference in Dallas, Texas.

The Myriad Talents of Settlement Faculty on Display

If you missed the Karin Fuller Capanna Faculty Recital on October 16, then you're in luck, because we've made portions of it available on our YouTube channel.

Among the pieces you can see there are two compositions by Settlement faculty members. Roberto Pace, the Robert Capanna Fundamentals of Music Distinguished Faculty Chair, teaches both piano and theory at Settlement, and composed a piece titled Quartet for Piano and Strings. Originally commissioned for the Benjamin and Carol Auger Contemporary Music Advanced Study Ensemble by the group's namesake, the piece was performed in its entirety for the first time at this concert.

Closing the recital, the School featured a piece by Michael Djupstrom, perhaps not coincidentally also a piano and theory instructor, titled Daydreams and Night Visions.



Keep your eye on our YouTube channel, and mark it as one of your favorites, because we've got plans to add much more content in the coming months. Interested in seeing something specific about our programs? Let us know in comments here or on our Facebook page, where you can also find pictures from the faculty recital.

Marching to the Beat of a Very Big Drum

As a few of you may already know, there's a vibrant community of Taiko drummers in Philadelphia, and Settlement is a big part of it. And if you don't know what we're talking about? Taiko is a traditional Japanese drumming that uses specially designed drums and incorporates stylized movement into each performance.

Need a visual? Check out members of Settlement's Taiko ensemble in action at last year's Philly Fashion Week.



That's Taiko teacher (and new Mary Louise Curtis Branch Director) Kris Rudzinski leading off the performance. If you like what you see, being a part of it has never been easier.

Just this week, we announced a series of 5-week Taiko classes at our West Philadelphia Branch on Wynnefield Avenue. You can see the full offerings here.

These classes start October 3, but there's still time to get involved. If you have any questions, call our West Philadelphia Branch for details at 215-320-2640 or leave a comment below!