The Maestro’s Blog

Celebrating 40 years Excellence in Music Education

Happy 40th Anniversary NJYS!

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend in Newark at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Prudential Hall. The truth is…NJYS has been celebrating all…

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The Emotional Space. . .That Music Can Provide

“. . .We have never needed more urgently the emotional space that music – and classical music in particular – can provide.” So wrote Clemency Burton-Hill in a January 2018…

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Intentional Acts of Kindness – 2nd Encore

Reflections on Jean Burgdorff’s Legacy. Memorial gatherings are always special occasions. When someone dear to us dies we often find ourselves unable to express everything we need to at the…

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Turned Off or Turned On?

In his article for Music Australia entitled: What’s Turning Young People Off Classical Music Concerts? Graham Strahle poses the question “. . .what are the barriers that seem to be…

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Inside Music

Are you a radio listener? And, if you are, where are you when you are doing this? For many people the answer is: “Yes” to the first question and “in…

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Thankful

Being Thankful – Encore 2018

I know: ” You’re making a habit of this!” No, I will not. But in reading this ‘Thanksgiving Blog’ from 2012 I found some thoughts that I believe still have…

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I cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful afternoon. We LOVED the concert/presentation. It was exceptional and meaningful for both of us. I especially loved the piano. I had no idea it was piano that I heard when listening to the piece. I always thought it was a harp for some reason. It reminded me of water…..I cried just a little hearing that beautiful music. Thank you for giving us some culture and life after Covid!

— Attendees of the taping of Discover Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony