Hochstein News & Press

Hochstein School of Music & Dance is celebrating its 90th year of music education, and for 35 of those years, it has provided a soothing mid-week respite for our downtown neighbors and radio listeners with the “Live from Hochstein” Broadcast and Concert Series. The free concerts continue this fall starting at 12:10 pm on Wednesdays in October with a season opener by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Tyzik. The programs will be a musical banquet of contemporary/light classical to holiday fare in December.

Along with the appearance of crowd favorite RPO, other returning include mezzo-soprano Allyn Van Dusen (Oct. 13) with songs of love in different languages, the Argos Trio (Oct. 20) with new pianist Chiao-Wen Cheng, Antara Winds (Oct. 27) with Hochstein President & Executive Director Margaret Quackenbush on clarinet, cellist Natasha Farny (Nov. 10) and the holiday offerings of the Eastman Horn Choir (Dec. 1), and Madrigalia (Dec. 8). The exciting new addition will be Cristina Ballatori, former Hochstein flute student and faculty member, now teaching at University of Texas-Brownsville, who will perform as a member of Semplice Duo.

The concerts are held in the Hochstein Performance Hall with brown bag lunches encouraged. Radio listeners can tune to WXXI Classical 91.5/ 90.3 FM to hear the live broadcast with host Chris Van Hof.

This fall’s line up of artists is as follows:
Oct. 6: The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Jeff Tyzik, conductor
Danzon No. 2 by Marquez, Tyzik’s Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra featuring Charles Ross, RPO principal timpani
Oct. 13: Allyn VanDusen, mezzo-soprano, Alisa Curlee, pianist
Amour…Amor… Music of Faure and Granados
Oct. 20: Argos Trio, Liana Koteva Kirvan, violin, Lars Kirvan, cello, Chiao-Wen Cheng, piano.
Music TBA
Oct. 27 Antara Winds, Diane Smith, flute, Judith Ricker, oboe, Margaret Quackenbush, clarinet, John Hunt, bassoon, Mary Hunt, horn.
Music of Reicha and Spitzer
Nov. 3: TBA
Nov. 10 Natasha Farny, cello, Kuang-Hao Huang, piano.
A Chopin Birthday Celebration: Music of Debussy, Carter, and Chopin
Nov. 17: Semplice Duo, Cristina Ballatori, flute, Kevin Chance, piano
Music of Gieseking, F. X. Mozart, Del Tredici, and Bartok
(Nov. 25 No concert - Thanksgiving holiday)
Dec. 1 Eastman Horn Choir, Peter Kurau, director.
Holiday music for horns
Dec. 8 A Cup of Good Cheer with Madrigalia, Lee Wright, Music Director
Join us for our annual celebration of the season!

Eighty golfers enjoyed a cool day at Penfield Country Club on Monday, August 23 for Hochstein’s SwingTime Golf Tournament. Katie Worley and violin students serenaded as the registrants purchased mulligans and viewed silent auction items. After warming up on the driving range and stowing goodie bags, boxed lunches were distributed. The shotgun start at 12:30 pm was cloudy and threatened rain, but the course stayed shower-free for each of the 20 foursomes.

The big winners were: Longest Drive for Women: April Lusk
Longest Drive for Men: Ryan Kenney
Closest to the Pin: Paul Derleth

Men’s Foursome: Brad Scott, Taylor Scott, Bill Weikert, Bill Weikert Sr.
Women’s Foursome: Susan Kessler, Jan Silver, Maggie Freeman, Nan Brown
Mixed Foursome: Scott Wizotski, Tom Duffy, Sharon Thornton, Paul Lawatch
Thank you to all the hole sponsors, golfers, contributors, faculty, staff, Board, and PCC staff for a successful event. The tournament raised over $8700. See YOU next year!

We are raffling off a quilt this year in honor of our 90th Anniversary. The designer and creator of the quilt is Mrs. Marjorie Bothne-O'Keefe. The quilt is a sampler and will fit a queen (but will not overhang much). It is completed in maroons and blues. It is quilted throughout the whole quilt. The quilt can be hung on a wall or used on a bed or couch. It took Mrs. O'Keefe over 80 hours to complete this quilt.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at Hochstein Rochester's Front Office. Tickets are $5/piece or $10/3 tickets.

Hochstein School Music Lab a Triumph of Technology

Summer has brought new upgrades to the facility and offerings of Hochstein School of Music & Dance with the construction of a Music Lab. The old library with stacks of sheet music and books has been transformed into a state-of-the-art computer lab for musical inspiration. It has been equipped with eight student workstations, each with a full-size digital keyboard, paving the way for interactive ear-training, keyboard skill-building, and composition classes. Each computer is loaded with software including Sibelius, Finale, and Auralia/Musition The Music Lab also features a large flatbed scanner for music editing.

Ivan Trevino has recently been hired as the new lab Director where he will focus on hands-on curriculum and dynamic instruction. His credentials include degrees from Eastman School (BM in Percussion, BMEd, and MM in Percussion) and a Professional Certificate in Music Business from Berklee College of Music. He is the percussionist in Break of Reality, a cello rock band, and gives performances and clinics across the country. He is also a classical percussionist, composer, songwriter, and teacher.

President and Executive Director Margaret Quackenbush notes that, “Ivan has impressed us not only with his musicianship, but also with his creative and innovative thinking, entrepreneurship, and commitment to sharing his knowledge with students of all ages and levels.”

The Music Lab is nearing completion, and with that Hochstein will hold open demonstrations for the public to enjoy. Thursday, September 2 is Family Fun Night from 6-8 pm, featuring demonstrations in the Music Lab, an Instrument Petting Zoo, and other activities with Hochstein faculty, and registration. An Adult Mixer is Tuesday, September 7 from 6-8 pm with hands-on demonstrations of the new Music Lab, registration for music & dance classes, meeting Hochstein faculty, and enjoying wine and cheese!

Courses will be available starting in mid-October. Call 585-454-4596 to receive updates.