To All who care for the ARTS!

See my e-mail below and the article from the NY Times!

The Keren paid for many of my students and it also paid for my performances in Japan in 2005. Just last week I gave back by also giving them some money. Please tell your friends to donate! It is so important and the only fair and professional competitions that Israel has.

Here is the e-mail of the person in charge of donations. Guy Shaulski guy@aicf.co.il You can ask him any questions. You can also ear-mark it for clarinet scholarships. Please send to anyone who cares about Israel and the Arts! You can mention my name if you would like. If you have been a recipient , now is your turn to give back so that the Keren can help others!

Eva Wasserman-Margolis

Clarinetist

www.leonarda.com

Madoff Loss Hits Art Aid for Young in Israel

By DANIEL J. WAKIN

Published: May 20, 2009

TEL AVIV — For six months Illay Dahan had been putting in several hours a day on his cello, preparing a program of works by Bach, Fauré, Bruch and Paul Ben-Haim, an Israeli composer. Now the pressure was on, and Illay, an outgoing 12-year-old with floppy hair and glasses, was struggling to memorize the pieces.

Enlarge This Image

Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times

Micha Finkelstein, 19, a cellist in the army who lives in Tekoa, a West Bank settlement, is among those applying to the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Enlarge This Image

Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times

Illay Dahan, 12, is one of the promising young applicants for scholarships given by the foundation.

He was preparing for Israel’s annual musical ritual, which began on Sunday, when the first of hundreds of musicians from around the country started descending on the city to audition for scholarships given by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Small and little known outside Israel, the foundation has enormous influence there and in classical music worldwide. Receiving one of its scholarships for lessons, conservatory tuition or study abroad is an essential stamp of approval for Israeli musicians, and the foundation counts renowned musicians like Daniel Barenboim, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Gil Shaham and Yefim Bronfman as recipients when they were students. But this year, disaster looms. The foundation’s endowment of about $14 million was in the hands of Bernard L. Madoff and evaporated in his Ponzi scheme. Like other victims of the fraud the foundation received statements showing false earnings tied to the stock market, said David Homan, the foundation’s New York-based executive director.

The foundation supports dance and the visual arts as well as music, and it expects to give around 350 scholarships next year, down from about 800. The usual dozen or so new foreign scholarships will not be offered. That means fewer Israelis at the Juilliard School and other major international conservatories. The foundation runs a major music competition, which is also threatened.

All told, the foundation, established in 1939 by New York Jews who wanted to foster culture in the land that would become the state of Israel, used to give out about $2 million a year. The scholarship program is unabashedly aimed at casting Israel in a positive light. “A.I.C.F. works to create a broader understanding of Israel by facilitating opportunities to directly experience Israel’s culture,” its newsletter reads.

The foundation was one of many Jewish organizations hit hard by the Madoff scandal. The financial debacle has raised the prospect that it could shut down.

“I just can’t believe it will happen, or that people will let it happen,” said Orit Naor, its executive director in Israel.

So far about $1 million in emergency money has been raised from individuals, corporations and foundations, as well as the national lottery, to ensure that this year’s recipients are given their grants and maintain a slimmed-down program next fall. To save money the foundation dismissed most of its staff in its Tel Aviv and New York offices. A gala fund-raiser is planned for Carnegie Hall in January to celebrate the foundation’s 70th anniversary, and many of the big-name recipients will perform.

“We’re an organization looking to rebuild from a major catastrophe,” Mr. Homan said. “I have every hope that we’re going to survive.”

The loss has already meant hardship for Micha Finkelstein, 19, a cellist in the army who lives in Tekoa, a West Bank settlement. His scholarship, for lessons, was cut in half. His parents made up the difference. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of the scholarships here. They serve as credentials to be admitted to other music programs around the country. Some students choose their teachers based on the number of past scholarship winners they have taught. Some want to audition even knowing that there is no chance of a scholarship.

Mr. Bronfman, a pianist and frequent soloist with the world’s major orchestras, said the foundation’s support changed his life. “I wouldn’t have been able to continue my education,” he said. “It was as simple as that. We came from Russia with no money, no means to survive. It did a world of difference.”

Two-thirds of the players in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra are foundation veterans, Ms. Naor said. Others have received grants to buy their instruments.

In Israel, an A.I.C.F. scholarship is commonly referred to as a keren, Hebrew for foundation. Young players use the term as in, When is your keren? Did you get a keren? How much is your keren?

Not winning a foundation scholarship can be devastating to some young musicians, said Ms. Naor, a former professional flutist and recipient. “When you don’t give a scholarship, it can cause them to stop,” she added.

The foundation also lends valuable violins and cellos. Guy Braunstein, a principal violinist of the Berlin Philharmonic and keren recipient, played his audition for the orchestra on a foundation Guadagnini.

Illay received his first keren two years ago, and it paid half of his precollege tuition at the Israel Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv. Payments were stopped in the spring, said his mother, Ruth Ronen-Dahan, and the family was not even sure there would be auditions this year.

But on Monday, Illay went off to play for the jury. “It went real good,” he said by telephone. “I played with no mistakes, and it was really good.” The foundation did not say exactly when he would learn the results.

When asked, during a visit to his home here last month, what rejection would mean, he put on a brave face. “It will not break me,” he said.

Ms. Ronen-Dahan, a philosophy professor at Tel Aviv University, knew exactly the keren’s importance.

“It marks the fact that he’s entered the world of music officially,” she said. “It also creates an atmosphere that you are in the international game.”

Native West Virginian Larry Combs on Tour with WVSO

Clarinetist and WV native Larry Combs is the featured guest artist on tour with the WVSO this week. Combs is recently retired from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He began his career as a 16-year old with the Charleston Symphony.

While in Charleston on Saturday afternoon, Combs will present a master class at West Virginia State University in the Davis Fine Arts Building at the Institute, WV campus. Young clarinetists are encouraged to attend; the public is invited as well. Class will run from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and will feature clarinet students from around WV and KY.

For more information about Larry Combs, read his biography here.

Repertoire for the tour:
Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppe;

Clarinet Concerto No. 1 Op 73 by von Weber;

Symphony No. 8 by Antonin Dvorak

Tour Appearances (please see Related Links for specific venue and ticket info):

Thursday, April 2, 7:30 p.m. in Elkins, WV at Davis and Elkins College
Friday, April 3, 7:30 p.m. in Princeton, WV at the Chuck Mathena Center
Saturday, April 4, 7:30 p.m. in Charleston, WV at Bible Center Church (new campus)
Sunday, April 5, 3:00 p.m. in Lewisburg, WV

Sponsored by the WV Symphony Orchestra and hosted by West Virginia State University, this master class is offered at no charge to the performers or observers, and is open to the public.   Attached is the form for Master Class registration.

WHAT: Clarinet Master Class by Larry Combs (recently retired from the Chicago Symphony)

WHEN: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

WHERE: West Virginia State University, Davis Fine Arts Theater, Institute, WV

HOW: Register online at www.wvsymphony.org. Performers will be notified of their acceptance on or before March 27.

Observers are encouraged, but not required to register. Applications are currently being accepted for performers.

TICKETS: Each master class performer will receive two complimentary tickets to the Saturday evening Spring Tour concert featuring Larry Combs and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra at Bible Center Church, Charleston, WV. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS: All tickets are General Admission at $10 per ticket and are available either at the Oakhurst or Southridge campuses of Bible Center Church or by calling at (304)346-0431; tickets can be reserved for pick up the evening of the concert.

LARRY COMBS - Solo Clarinetist Emeritus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

LARRY COMBS joined the clarinet section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1974 and was appointed its Principal Clarinet by Sir Georg Solti in 1978. Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Combs began clarinet study at the age of ten and by age thirteen was performing regularly with the Charleston Symphony, becoming that orchestra's first clarinetist at age sixteen. His teenage years provided a variety of performing opportunities; circus bands, county fairs, area dance bands, numerous jazz sessions, and even an appearance on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour on network television with his high school clarinet quintet. (The group was runner-up to a one-legged tap dancer!)

          Summers at the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, convinced Combs to consider music as a career, and in the fall of 1957, he entered the Eastman School of Music becoming a pupil of Stanley Hasty. Eastman provided a wealth of experiences not the least of which was studies with Hasty and the opportunity to hear him perform the great orchestral works each week in the Rochester Philharmonic.

         After graduation, Combs joined the New Orleans Philharmonic as Bass Clarinet and soon after received a draft notice for military service. Three years of military duty were spent with the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, which was situated near enough to New York to allow for bi-weekly study with Leon Russianoff. After leaving the Army, Combs rejoined the New Orleans Philharmonic as Solo Clarinet and in 1968, became Principal of the Montreal Symphony.

         In his years as a members of the Chicago Symphony, Combs has made numerous solo appearances with the orchestra in works of Copland, Mozart, Brahms-Berio, Debussy, and Corigliano and has performed under the direction of Solti, Barenboim, Abbado, Giulini, Boulez, Levine, Bernstein, Leinsdorf and many others. He also has been featured many times on CSO tour concerts performing Morton Gould's arrangement of "Chicago" for clarinet and orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Combs is a founding member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and he has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Smithsonian Chamber Ensemble. His notable chamber music experiences include joining then CSO Music Director Daniel Barenboim and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in Brahms' Trio in A Minor at Orchestra Hall in 1996 and performances at the Ravinia Festival with former Music Director Christoph Eschenbach.

          In 2002, he received his second Grammy Award for his recording of Richard Strauss' Duett-Concertino with CSO Principal Bassoon David McGill and Daniel Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His recent recording of music for winds and strings by Mozart with the Chicago Chamber Musicians was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award. Combs has also recorded as soloist and chamber musician on the Erato, Sony, Cedille, Crystal and Summit labels.

          In June 2008, Combs retired from the orchestra, receiving the CSO’s prestigious Theodore Thomas Medallion for Distinguished Service. This award was named after the founder and first music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and is awarded to all retiring members of the Orchestra.

          Combs is currently Professor Clarinet at the De Paul University School of Music, and is married to Gail Williams, Professor of Horn at Northwestern University School of Music. Combs’ schedule in 2009 includes appearances in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Tokyo, Helsinki, Kracow, and Stockholm. Combs will perform as soloist with the West Virginia Symphony in April 2009 on the orchestra’s spring tour. In the Charleston area, he will conduct a master class at West Virginia State University’s Davis Hall at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

April 4, 2009

Karl Leister and Greg Barrett performing in Clarinet Cornucopia 2005

Karl Leister and Greg Barrett in Concert

Dr Gregory Barrett, Director

April 4, 2009

Clarinet Cornucopia is a festival for clarinetists who enjoy playing and learning about their favorite instrument and its extended world. Founded in 2001, Clarinet Cornucopia focuses on a different theme each year. All events take place in the Music Building on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. This year, we explore “Clarinets in Motion.”

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE DAY

Clarinet Cornucopia Choir: All participants are invited to join the Clarinet Cornucopia Choir, which has become a popular tradition. Directed in 2009 by Patrick Sheehan, the group rehearses twice during the day and is featured in performance at the 8 p.m. concert. All participants should bring a B-flat soprano clarinet if they have one, as some pieces may only have parts for this instrument. In addition, the ensemble needs alto, bass, E-flat contra, and B-flat contra clarinets. Note your instrument/s on the registration form. We will mail music to those who register by March 1.

Clarinet Trios and Quartets – A COMPETITION! Clarinet trios and quartets are invited to compete and perform. Any combination of clarinet family instruments is welcome to play for a maximum of 10 minutes. Groups may enter in one of two categories, High School Age and Open (college-age and adult). There is an entry fee of $5 for each trio or quartet member. Winners receive a trophy and/or prize.

Master Classes: Gain new insights into the art of the clarinet and physical movement at master classes with Steve Cohen, Northwestern University, and T. Daniel and Laurie Willets, physical theatre artists.

Lunch: Box lunches with a choice of turkey or cheese sandwich, piece of fruit, cookie, chips, and bottle of water will be available for $8. Indicate your sandwich preference and the number of lunches you want to order on the registration form.

A list of restaurants will be available at the registration table for those who prefer to make other plans.

PERFORMANCES

Recital: At 1 p.m., Steve Cohen performs a recital of clarinet music that is related to dance and motion. Joining him are physical theater artists T. Daniel and Laurie Willets and clarinetist Greg Barrett, associate professor at NIU.

Concerts: At 7 p.m., Ensemble Performances. This includes the ensembles competing in the Clarinet Trio and Quartet competition. Winners will be announced at the 8 p.m. concert. Note: If your clarinet ensemble would like to perform for this concert, contact Dr. Barrett by February 1.

At 8 p.m., Clarinet Cornucopia Choir Performance.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Hotel: A block of rooms has been reserved for the nights of April 3 and 4 for participants at the Holmes Student Center Guest Rooms on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The rooms cost about $60 (not including tax) for a single or double and may be reserved by calling (815) 753-1444 by March 30. Mention the name of the event to the desk clerk for this rate. For a list of other DeKalb and area hotels, call (815) 753-1450.

Registration: Print and complete the registration form and mail with your payment to: Office of External Programs, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115. Your form must be accompanied by your payment. You may pay by check (payable to Northern Illinois University) or credit card. A campus map is available on our website.

Questions? Call (815) 753-1450 or e-mail rpage@niu.edu.

FEES

Early Bird Fees (must be postmarked by March 13)
$53 per person
$43 per person for groups of five or more who register at the same time (each person must complete a registration form)

After March 13
$63 per person
$53 per person for groups of five or more who register at the same time (each person must complete a registration form)

Optional extras
$8 per box lunch
$5 per person competing in the Competition

Note to people registering as a group: We need a completed registration form for each participant. Photocopy the form as needed for each person.

Note to trios and quartets registering for the Competition: Each individual is expected to register for the day and list the name of the trio, quartet or the other members on the form. Be sure to add an additional $5 to the registration fee when you are registering as a member of a competing ensemble.

DeKalb, Illinois 60115 | Contact Information | Web Site Privacy Policy

For Immediate Release

March 2009

Contact:info@tdanielcreations.com

Tel: +773.743.0277

World Premiere

New Classical Music

for

Duo Clarinet and Movement

A Commission for two Arts by Northern Illinois University: Piotr Behr composed the Music while T. Daniel and Laurie Willets created the Mime Scenario and Visuals.

Duo Clarinet will be performed by Steve Cohen and Gregory Barrett.

This World Premiere is part of Northern Illinois University’s annual Clarinet Cornucopia, a festival devoted to the clarinet. To honor this Premiere, the focus for 2009 is on “Clarinets In Motion”. Scheduled this year on April 4th Saturday, this NIU event has been held annually since 2001.

Guest Clarinetist is Steve Cohen, a quite active clarinet performer (CSO, etc.) and Professor of Clarinet at Northwestern University. Gregory Barrett also a very active performer is Professor of Clarinet at Northern Illinois University. He is the founder of the Clarinet Cornucopia and organizes the annual festival.

Piotr Behr is a young composer and a graduate of the University of Chicago. He is now residing and working in Europe.

T. Daniel and Laurie Willets are internationally-acclaimed Mime Theatre artists and performers with a long career of creating to and working with Classical Music with orchestras and chamber ensembles. They will perform several works with clarinet accompaniment that include J. S. Bach, Libby Larsen and this World Premiere piece.

The concert performance is at 1pm in the Boutell Concert Hall, The Music Building, NIU DeKalb campus. Clarinet Cornucopia is sponsored by the NIU School of Music, the Illinois Arts Council, Buffet Clarinets and Vandoren Woodwind Products.

Festival events take place in The Music Building on the NIU campus in DeKalb, IL. Parking is immediately across the street. NIU is one hour from Chicago off of I-88.

***

"MIME WITH MUSIC...SIMPLY MARVELOUS!"

To learn more about Mime and Music, visit:

www.tdanielcreations.com/music

***

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Info & booking: info@thelematrio.com

Thelema Trio ~ second CD

We are proud to announce that our new CD 'Neither From Nor Towards . . .' will be released on the prestigious American label Innova Records.

The international release is planned for this summer. We'll keep you posted!

Marco Antonio Mazzini ~ from Carnegie Hall, New York back to Belgium

The YouTube Symphony Orchestra made its historical debut at Carnegie Hall on April 15 2009.
Clarinetist Marco Antonio Mazzini shares his experience, interviews (BBC London and New York Times) and videos in this page.

Peter Verdonck ~ Saxonly Festival

From 15 till 18 April Peter has given concerts, workshops and organistary contribution to the first edition of the prestigious SaxOnly festival in DeSingel in Antwerp, Belgium.
There he worked together with the Belgian composer Stefan Prins and teacher of saxophone of the Antwerp Conservatory and international soliost Hans de Jong.

Hope to see you soon?

Thelema Trio

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Northeastern Illinois University

RICARDO MORALES Master Class

Sat., May 16, 2009

2:15PM

Northeastern Illinois University

Rehearsal Room
Fine Arts Building

Tickets: $10 at the door
first-come-first-serve basis
Limited availability

To reserve a space, please call Rose Sperrazza at
773-442-5902

Opportunity to try Leblanc clarinets immediately following master class!

Northeastern Illinois University-Fine Arts Building, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago 60625

click image below to watch

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Chicago Clarinet Ensemble

conducted by John Bruce Yeh

Associate Solo Clarinetist / Eb Clarinetist in Chicago Symphony

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium
3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Free Parking in Lot F

FEATURED SOLOISTS

Steve Cohen, clarinet - Professor at Northwestern University
John Hagstrom, trumpet

Program

Stolzel Concerto in D for Trumpet
John Hagstrom with the CCE

Trumpeter's Lullaby by Leroy Anderson
John Hagstrom with the CCE

Debussy String Quartet
for Clarinet Sextet

Rigoletto Fantasy for Clarinet by Verdi/Bassi
Steve Cohen with the CCE

So It Goes with Rose by Leo Schwartz
Clarinet Septet

Tickets: $10 general, $5 students
773-442-4636

May 20 - June 13, 2009

4th Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition

The Next Clarinet Competition will be held in Odense, Denmark May 30 - June 9, 2009.

Information about this competition is available from this website.

Rules for the Competition

Programme

Application procedure

Tips for applicants

Online registration

Please note that no printed brochure or application form will appear in connection with this competition.

ODENSE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Modified on October 23, 2008

Claus Bergs Gade 9
DK-5000 Odense C
Denmark
Tel.: +45 66 12 00 57
Fax: +45 65 91 00 47
carlnielsencompetition@odensesymfoni.dk

Madoff Loss Hits Art Aid for Young in Israel

Newsflash - Larry Combs on Solo tour with the West Virginia Symphony - 2 - 5 April 2009

Native West Virginian Larry Combs on Tour with WVSO

In association with Clarinet, Saxophone and Brass Classics
The Wind, Brass and Percussion Departmentof the Guildhall School of Music & Drama
present
The Selmer Clarinet, Saxophone and Brass Day

April 4, 2009

April 4, 2009

A to Z Index

April 24 & 25, 2009
Missoula, Montana

Featured Guests

ARTISTS

Buddy DeFranco

Benny Golson

David Samuels

Steve Smith

Randy Sandke

CLINICIANS

Andrew Goodrich

Fred Hamilton

Chuck Florence

David Morgenroth

Clipper Anderson

Festival Format

Download application

Places to Stay in Missoula

Schedule

FRIDAY, April 24

SATURDAY, April 25

UM Homepage | UM Department of Music | UM School of Fine Arts

Chicago Clarinet Ensemble

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium
3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Free Parking in Lot F

4th Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition

Madoff Loss Hits Art Aid for Young in Israel

Newsflash - Larry Combs on Solo tour with the West Virginia Symphony - 2 - 5 April 2009

Native West Virginian Larry Combs on Tour with WVSO

In association with Clarinet, Saxophone and Brass Classics The Wind, Brass and Percussion Departmentof the Guildhall School of Music & Drama present The Selmer Clarinet, Saxophone and Brass Day

April 4, 2009

April 4, 2009

April 24 & 25, 2009 Missoula, Montana

Featured Guests

ARTISTS

CLINICIANS

Chuck Florence

Schedule

FRIDAY, April 24

SATURDAY, April 25

UM Homepage | UM Department of Music | UM School of Fine Arts

Chicago Clarinet Ensemble

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Free Parking in Lot F

4th Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition

In association with Clarinet, Saxophone and Brass Classics
The Wind, Brass and Percussion Departmentof the Guildhall School of Music & Drama
present
The Selmer Clarinet, Saxophone and Brass Day

April 24 & 25, 2009
Missoula, Montana

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium
3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Free Parking in Lot F