Taft Arts News

Benefit Concert

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For her ISP, senior Bailey Outerbridge planned to write five original songs. She performed those pieces on April 30 at Taft. And that was just the beginning.

The Taft concert was not only a part of Bailey’s ISP, it was a fundraiser for Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART). DART is a nonprofit organization founded by Phil and Andrea Marella to fund medical research, education and care for Niemann-Pick Type C disease (NPC). NPC is a genetic metabolic disorder in which harmful quantities of cholesterol and other fatty substances accumulate in the cells of the body including the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow and, most dramatically, the brain. Dana Marella, Phil and Andrea’s daughter, was diagnosed with the disease in 2002 when she was eight years old; her brother was diagnosed two years later.

Bailey first heard about DART through her friend and manager, Janice Roeg.

"After hearing about the charity from Janice, I did some reading to learn more," Bailey said. "I thought it was a great cause and decided to hold a DART benefit at Taft. The idea of a concert fit perfectly with my ISP."

Bailey does not know exactly how much money was raised at Taft, as the funds were donated directly to the Marella family.

"There was a great turnout," Bailey notes. "My classmates were very generous."

On Saturday, May 5, Bailey continued her work for DART by performing one of her ISP pieces at a major fundraiser in Stamford, CT. Hosted by celebrities Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford, the DART Gala Benefit and Concert featured headlining artist and nine-time Grammy winning singer Natalie Cole. Opening for Cole, Bailey debuted her song ‘Smile,” which was dedicated and inspired by Dana’s battle with her disease.

“In writing the song, I talked to Dana’s mom a lot and looked at her pictures and I was really struck by her smile,” Bailey told the press. “Her smile is really one of the only ways she can interact with people, but she has this really rich smile that is really very touching.”

After a decade, DART has raised $2.3 million to fund research and, organizers said, their goal is to raise $375,000 more this year.

To learn more about DART, visit danasangels.org

Click here to read more about the Stamford event.

Visiting Poet Taylor Mali

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

[please note change of location]

Well-known poet and YouTube sensation Taylor Mali brings his art to Taft’s LAUBE DINING ROOM, MOORHEAD WING, on Friday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m.

One of the best-known authors and performers to emerge from the poetry slam movement, Taylor Mali has published two books, The Last Time As We Are and What Learning Leaves; he has also recorded four spoken-word CD’s. His life, words and mission speak of inclusion, not exclusion, which makes him an unexpected force among dissimilar wordsmiths. He claims to be one of the few people in the world to have no other job than that of poet.

Mali is a vocal advocate of teachers and the nobility of teaching, and spent nine years in the classroom teaching everything from English and history to math and SAT preparation. He has performed and lectured for teachers all over the world, and his New Teacher Project is working to attract 1,000 prospective teachers to the education field through his personal “poetry, persuasion and perseverance.”

In 2001, Taylor Mali received a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant to develop Teacher! Teacher! a one-man show about poetry, teaching and math; the show won the jury prize for best solo performance at the 2001 Comedy Arts Festival. Mali is a past-president of Poetry Slam, Inc., a non-profit organization that oversees all poetry slams in North America. He currently makes his living as a spoken-word and voiceover artist, a performer and a workshop leader. He has narrated several books on tape, including The Great Fire, for which he won the Golden Earphones Award for children’s narration.

The one-hour performance is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Mali’s books will be available for purchase after the show.

High Note

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taft musicians went out on a high note at two recent piano competitions. Alicia Wang ’15 tied for first place in the Schubert Club Awards competition, while Natalie Tam ’14 placed second in 2012 Hudson Philharmonic Orchestra Piano Concerto competition.

“I am not surprised with the results; both are excellent students and phenomenal musicians,” said music teacher TJ Thompson. “Alicia is one of my top saxophonists in Jazz Band; she plays great, is extremely attentive, and is both creative and thorough. Natalie was a phenomenal force on the European tour last year when we performed excerpts from Saent Saens' Carnival of the Animals. She too, unsurprisingly, is one of my top students in AP Music Theory.”

Alicia has been playing piano for about 10 years; she has been studying with her current teacher for most of that time. She has also been competing at the Schubert Club Awards for the past few years.

“It's pretty competitive, but it's also more fun than other competitions because it's not that formal,” Alicia explained. “There is an audience near the stage and the judges are way in the back.”

The competition was hosted by the Schubert Club of Fairfield County, based in Stamford, CT. Founded in 1910, the Club sponsors performances, competitions and educational programs.

“There were four award competitions,” said Alicia, “Bach, French Impressionist, Chopin, and a floating award, which was Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. My first place finish was for the floating award in the junior division.”

Natalie traveled to New York last month for the 2012 Hudson Philharmonic Orchestra Piano Concerto competition.

“I have participated in many piano competitions in Hong Kong,” Natalie said. “Now that I have been in the United States for about a year, I decided to continue my competing experience. This competition is only my first competition, and I still have at least five more to go.”

Natalie earned a second place finish for her performance of the first movement of Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1 in C Major and Chopin Polanaise Op26. She has been playing piano for the past 11 years, and currently travels to Yale University twice each month to study under Professor Wei-Yi Yang.

“I attended the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts since I was 6 with other very competitive young pianists. I met a lot of talented musicians in this event and have made many musicians friends,” Natalie concluded.

As young students, teacher TJ Thompson knows there is much more ahead for both girls.

“I am proud and happy for both of them, thrilled to get to teach them, and can't wait to hear more,” said Thompson.

Potter Gallery

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The art of two members of the class of 1962 is featured in the Mark W. Potter '48 Gallery this month. John Foltz and Chris Youngs, both members of the 50th reunion class, contributed their work to the show.

John Foltz has been an avid photographer since his days at Taft. Now a retired DuPont plastics engineer, John has turned his focus to digital photography—his "dry darkroom."

"No more time needed to be spent in the basement of the Cruickshank residence," John wrote.

He has taken several courses at the Delaware Art Museum and, "now not a week goes past that I do not take some pictures, and hardly a day goes past without some time spent on the computer working on those images."

A life-long artist, Chris Youngs attended the San Francisco Art Institute, founded the first artists-run space in Canada, was a gallery director at Mount Allison University in New Brusnwick, taught art history, and was director of the Canada Council Art Bank, the Oklahoma City Art Museum and the Freedman Gallery at Albright College in Reading, PA—among the many other varied and interesting things that have filled the past 50 years.

Chris holds a masters in Art History and Criticism. "I have published a multitude of words about art and life..." he notes.

The show runs May 1 through May 26, with opening events from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on both May 1 and May 19. Pieces by Taft photography teacher Yee-Fun Yin and Mark W. Potter '48 round out the show.

"Roomies" on Stage

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Roomies: One Year at a Time is an original play written and directed by Taft theater and film teacher Rick Doyle. Roomies opens in the Black Box Thursday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances Friday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 28, at 8 p.m.

Roomies explores dorm life at a fictional boarding school through a series of topical vignettes; all incidents portrayed in the production are based on real events. Roomies looks into the lives of gay and lesbian students and deals with the issues that we can all relate to, both individually and as a community. The play captures the humor and drama that play out for the featured characters during the opening month of a new school year.

Roomies promises to be a hit; arrive at the Black Box early for the best seating.

Though not overly used, the language in the show may not be appropriate for younger children.

CAST

Tristan Smith- Eli Mortimor
Simmons Gaines
Carlande Nicolas
Sam Westmoreland- Renee
Rebecca Karabus- Alice
Kasey Pietro
Vienna Kaylan- Megan
Chris Browner - Hoover
Emily Nelson- Chelsea
Tommy Robertshaw- Mays
Chris Hylwa - Julian
Chrissy Fattore
Tommy Rowe - Teddy
Jillian Wipfler- Becky
Linda Saarnijoki- Ms. Opperman
Sam Stamas - Carl
Kaley McNeill- Darla
Natasha Batten

Assistant Director/Stage Manager:
Kash Griffith

Crew:
Emmanuel Mennesson
Blake Joblin

St John the Divine

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Collegium Musicum continues their tradition of travel as they perform at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, St. James Chapel, New York City on Sunday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m.

Collegium Musicum is a group of talented vocalists whose repertoire reflects the works of every major period in music history. They have also sung new music and commissioned several compositions. The group has toured Australia, Canada, China, Great Britain, Italy, France and Spain, and will return to Italy this summer.

Collegium director Bruce Fifer spent 20 years with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York before coming to Taft; the group performs at the Cathedral every spring. This year's concert marks the premiere of the Living the Arts in Italy concert series. Grammy-winning composer, conductor and performer Paul Halley will accompany Collegium on keyboard during the performance. Collegium alumni are invited to join in singing Halley's Freedom Trilogy at the close of the program. A reception featuring a taste of Italy, prepared by Taft's Chef Reveron, follows the concert.

Collegium Musicum invites those interested in travelling in Faicchio and Rome for the Living the Arts in Italy concert series from June 7-21 to contact Bruce Fifer at brucefifer@taftschool.org/860.945.7773.

Collegium Musicum in concert

Boston Bound

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Taft School Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band will perform in Boston’s historic First Church on Sunday, April 22, at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Located in Boston's Back Bay and founded in1630, First Church is an ideal performance venue for Taft’s two instrumental music groups.

Each year, these groups perform in a culminating concert; in recent years, Chamber Orchestra went to Yale to perform for Yale Symphony Orchestra. The Jazz Band has traveled to New Orleans twice in the past four years to perform at Donna's Bar and Grill on the French Quarter and to Boston to perform at Wally's Jazz Cafe and The Berklee College of Music.

Last year, both groups completed a 10-day tour of Central Europe, followed by an awe-inspiring performance at New York's Lincoln Center. The tour featured a joint recording with a Czech orchestra and a concert that drew about four hundred attendees at the church of Simon and Jude in Prague, which is one of the city’s premier concert halls. The orchestras also performed concerts in Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg.

This year’s Back Bay program will include selections by George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Ray Charles. A reception follows the performance.

The First Church is located at 66 Marlborough Street, Boston. For directions, visit www.firstchurchboston.org

Orchestra Concertmaster

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Taft senior and violinist Tae Young Woo traveled to Irvine, California during March break to perform with the Irvine Young Concert Artists (IYCA). He came home with an invitation to serve as the group’s concertmaster this week, as they record the soundtrack for a Hollywood film.

Established in 2005 by executive director Albert Wu, IYCA is a training orchestra dedicated to the artistic, personal and professional development of outstanding instrumentalists. Tae Young has studied under Albert Wu for the past six years.

“I had six years to teach Tae Young what I know in the world of music,” said Wu. “I am grateful that Taft nurtured him with even more opportunities. He speaks passionately about the first-rate faculty, the engaging academic programs and the stimulating environment.”

Tae Young gave a riveting rendition of Sarasate’s Ziguenerweisen while performing with IYCA in Irvine last month.

“Members of the orchestra, including professionals, were all touched by this young man’s artistry,” Wu said. “And he gave a speech that drew tears from the audience and orchestra musicians.”

Hundreds filled the concert hall, including faculty and alumni from the University of Southern California and UC Irvine, as well as Hollywood film directors, composers and producers. Tae Young’s performance so moved the audience that he was invited to lead the orchestra in the studio recording session of the Hollywood film Bailout this week; Tae Young will serve as concertmaster for the session.

Noting that it has long been a dream of Tae Young’s to record in Hollywood, Wu adds: “How many high school students are talented enough to work in Hollywood recording studios?"

Tae Young will be working with professional musicians, directors and producers during the recording session. It will be hard work – an intense three-hour session with the goal of a flawless recording.

“It’ll be take after take, with no room for errors,” Wu notes. “But Tae Young is accustomed to this level of perfection, violin in hand. He is a shining star with a huge heart.”

Bailout officially screens April 31^st. Wu has invited both Tae Young and Headmaster Willy MacMullen to attend the event; his invitation includes kind words for Tae Young and for Taft:

“I have not seen many students with Tae Young’s initiative, passion and inner tenacity. He truly knows how to get the job done and open doors for others around him. He is truly selfless. Bravo to you, your staff, and the faculty at Taft for nurturing him.”

In the Gallery

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The extraordinary talents of Taft’s visual arts faculty will welcome students back to campus after March break. A reception to celebrate the opening will be held Friday, March 30 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture and ceramics will bring vibrant energy to Potter Gallery. Of particular interest: The featured photography is a dialogue created by Yee-Fun Yin with four original paintings by Mark W. Potter ’48. The dialogue reflects Yin’s photographic "response" to each of the Potter works.

“We thought it would be fun to have Potter in the gallery with us,” said art teacher Loueta Chickadaunce, whose paintings will also be featured in the show, with additional works by Claudia Black, Rick Doyle and Jo-Ann Schieffelin.

The show continues through April 27.

Mozart's Solemn Vespers

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

MUSIC FOR A WHILE PRESENTS
MOZART'S VESPERAE SOLENNES DE CONFESSORE K.339
MARCH 4, 2012 - 5:00PM - WOODWARD CHAPEL

Please join Camerata Singers, Cantus Excelsus and orchestra in the Solemn Vespers by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Mozart's years in Salzburg produced some of his most memorable works. Even at age 15, this remarkable composer was creating works of genius far beyond that of any of his peers—works which today still astonish us for their precociousness, ingenuity and almost impertinent mastery. This is music of a manic intensity—so highly charged that the famed British conductor Colin Davis once referred to it as having "appalling adolescent energy." Come and witness a not often heard masterpiece composed by one of the giants of classical music!

THIS ONE HOUR CONCERT VESPERS IS THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE
2011-12 MUSIC FOR A WHILE SEASON.
ALL ARE WELCOME!