 Bassist Brian Torff and violinist Mark O'Connor jamming backstage at Carnegie Hall, December 2, 2003. |
FIDDLEFEST AT CARNEGIE FIDDLEFEST, A 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA BENEFIT CONCERT FOR OPUS 118 HARLEM CENTER FOR STRINGS, DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ISAAC STERN, TO TAKE PLACE AT CARNEGIE HALL, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 7:30 P.M. JOSHUA BELL, JOHN BLAKE, REGINA CARTER, PAQUITO D'RIVERA, AMANDA FORSYTH, DAVE GRUSIN, YO-YO MA, NATALIE MacMASTER, BOBBY McFERRIN, DIANE MONROE, MARK O'CONNOR, ITZHAK PERLMAN, ARNOLD STEINHARDT, DAVE VALENTIN, PINCHAS ZUKERMAN, BRIAN TORFF, ROBERTA GUASPARI AND STUDENTS AND ALUMNI OF OPUS 118 WILL ALL PERFORM; DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER WILL HOST AWARDS DINNER AT CARNEGIE HALL PRECEDING THE CONCERT WILL HONOR BOBBY McFERRIN AND SHEILA JOHNSON; HONORARY CHAIR IS CAROLINE KENNEDY; "MEET THE ARTISTS" RECEPTION TO FOLLOW Fiddlefest, the 10th anniversary gala concert to benefit Opus 118 Harlem Center for Strings that will take place on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, 7:30 p.m., will bring together at Carnegie Hall some of the greatest musical talents of our time in a highly-charged program of varied musical styles and cultures including classical, jazz and country. Dedicated to the memory of Isaac Stern, this event will feature stars of the music world including Joshua Bell, John Blake, Regina Carter, Paquito D'Rivera, Amanda Forsyth, Dave Grusin, Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster, Bobby McFerrin, Diane Monroe, Mark O'Connor, Itzhak Perlman, Arnold Steinhardt, Dave Valentin, Pinchas Zukerman, Roberta Guaspari, Brian Torff, and the students and alumni of Opus 118 Harlem Center for Strings. Jazz singer and radio personality Dee Dee Bridgewater will be the host. There will also be a special short film about Isaac Stern (focusing on him as teacher). The concert is produced by Ettore Stratta and Pat Philips. This special concert will present Bobby McFerrin and Dave Grusin performing together for the first time (McFerrin specially requested to perform with Grusin, an artist he has long admired); Yo-Yo Ma, once again stretching his musical interests, will perform the Latin work, "Cristal," by Brazilian composer Cesar Camargo Mariano, from his latest CD, "Obrigado Brazil," and another by Cuban composer Paquito D'Rivera entitled "Afro," among other works; and Regina Carter will play a piece by Piazzolla from her new CD, "Paganini: After A Dream," which takes this talented violinist to new musical heights. After intermission, Tom Brokaw will present the honorees (Sheila Johnson and Bobby McFerrin) and Rabbi Shira Stern (Isaac Stern's daughter) will introduce a film about Opus 118. Opus 118 is the dynamic Harlem-based music program celebrated in the movie "Music of the Heart" (starring Meryl Streep as Opus 118 violin teacher Roberta Guaspari), and the award-nominated documentary "Small Wonders." In addition to world renowned musicians, the Carnegie Hall concert will feature students and alumni from public schools in Harlem. Proceeds will benefit Opus 118's year-old community music school in East Harlem which specializes in string teaching. The concert is dedicated to the memory of Isaac Stern, one of the foremost concert artists of our time who was also a passionate spokesperson for music education and supporter of Opus 118. Mr. Stern was an inspiring teacher and mentor to many prominent members of the current generation of concert artists. He devoted substantial time to teaching in spite of the demands of his heavily-booked concert schedule. Shortly before his death, Mr. Stern commented about Opus 118's work, "I went and I watched her [Roberta Guaspari] work... Children know when they are being talked at and when they are being spoken with - and there is an enormous difference. It is the chance to make the kids feel that they are somebody, that they can do something... make a sound, look at each other and do it together, and suddenly get out of that little horrible area of not belonging... Each child will learn how to look, how to feel, how to touch beauty - and that's what makes the difference." Pre-Concert Dinner A pre-concert dinner will be held at Carnegie Hall's Rohatyn Room. The black tie dinner will pay tribute to Bobby McFerrin, acclaimed vocalist, conductor and composer, and Sheila Johnson, President and CEO, Salamander Farm and Salamander Touch L.L.C., for their continued commitment to education and the arts. Dinner Chair is Philip Purcell, Chairman and CEO, Morgan Stanley; Honorary Chair is Caroline Kennedy; Honorary Co-Chairs are Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Kitty Carlisle Hart;; Co-Chairs are Arlene and Alan Alda; Tom and Meredith Brokaw; Frederick Hill, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Communications, J. P. Morgan Chase & Co.; Walter Scheuer, Chairman, Sterling Capital; and Pamela and Michael Miles. A "Meet the Artist" reception, held at Carnegie Hall, will follow the concert. Tickets Benefit tickets for the concert and the "Meet the Artists" Post-Concert Reception are $500 and $1,000, available by calling Arienne Orozco at 212/675-9474. Group sales and all other ticket inquiries should also be directed to 212-675-9474. Tickets for the concert only are priced at $200, $100, $65, $35 and $10, available through the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 212-247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org. How the Proceeds of This Event Will Be Used Opus 118 Harlem Center for Strings changes young people's lives through quality music instruction which should be a vital part of every child's education. Opus 118 is committed to serving students in low-income areas. Working with the New York City public schools throughout Harlem, Opus 118 provides string teaching in elementary and middle schools. Its school-based programs have been replicated in selected cities across the United States. Opus 118 had been working within the public schools when cutbacks eliminated two of their teachers. To reverse this situation, Opus 118 started a community music school in 2002 that now services all of Harlem. Here, children have access to music lessons, and young musicians are trained by Roberta Guaspari in her highly successful teaching methods, preparing them to become string teachers themselves. The December 2 concert will help fund this school. Meryl Streep, star of the motion picture "Music of the Heart," said about Opus 118 students: "...they know that they can attack the toughest things in life and they will find a way through it. And they are disciplined and they are inspired, their lives have been opened up to music that they may not have known about. All of that enhances human beings and [their] potential." Katie Couric, co-host of NBC's The Today Show, said about Opus 118: "The violin has taken these children to whole different worlds, worlds away from the streets of Harlem, where life is rich in musical tradition but often poor in opportunity. It's taken them to Carnegie Hall, to an NBA game at Madison Square Garden, but best of all, to a place where they feel anything is possible." Highlights from the program are as follows: Joshua Bell - "Zigeunerweisen" by Pablo Sarasate Regina Carter - "Oblivion" by Astor Piazzolla Dave Grusin Trio, Amanda Forsyth and Arnold Steinhardt -"Horopa Perigrosa" from "Three Latin American Dances" Bobby McFerrin with Dave Grusin - Improvisations Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin - "Allegro Prestissimo" by Barrière Yo-Yo Ma and Paquito D'Rivera - "Afro" by Paquito D'Rivera Yo-Yo Ma and Alon Yavnai - "Cristal" by Cesar Camargo Mariano Natalie MacMaster and Mark O'Connor - "Cape Breton Medley" Diane Monroe, John Blake, Brian Torff and Mark O'Connor - Jazz Jam Session Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman - Violin duet Roberta Guaspari, Brian Torff and the Students of Opus 118 Harlem Center for Strings - "Palladio" by Jenkins; "Son Montuna" with Dave Grusin and Dave Valentin; and J. S. Bach - Double Concerto, with all artists Short film about Isaac Stern |
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