Below is an extensive list of projects in which I have been engaged during my time in Fredonia. I would like to call your attention to a few:
A solo recital project featuring music by Ravel, Poulenc, and Prokofiev was streamed on February 6th, 2021.
"This was a brilliantly performed recital, creating an adventure in sound, retracing every meticulously examined aspect of the composer’s intentions, and imbuing it with nuance and an interpretive imagination that made the listener forget that the piano was the performance medium. Just pure MUSIC and technical command, inner concentration, and conviction, that are the goals of every performer. An exemplary demonstration of all the values to which the SOM students should strive..."
-Lucille Richardson, Prof. Emeritus, Piano Area
YouTube Channel includes performance videos, educational videos on piano technique and performance issues, and the light-hearted Ezra and Eliran series of conversations on piano-related issues. Future videos to include interviews with composer Avner Dorman, recording producer Ryan Streber, and Dr. Elaine Aron on how to give constructive criticism.
The Merkin Concert: a pilot event designed to help with student recruitment, fund-raising, and publicity for the School of Music. This New York City concert required the contributions of multiple administrators including Mel Unger, June Miller-Spann, and Jennifer Darrell-Sterbak, and faculty members Natasha Farny, Barry Crawford, Jessica Tong, David Rose, and Lynne McMurtry. Prior to the main concert at New York's Merkin Hall, the program was performed on the Fredonia campus as well as at several locations in the surrounding university community. Additionally, the faculty musicians made several recruitment trips to Long Island Schools with the help of Michelle Popal. Prior to coronavirus, we had intended to feature bassist Kieran Hanlon and pianist Nick Weiser in the next event. Hopefully, we will be able to schedule this event for the 2022-23 season.
Ekstasis Duo: A professional performance duo that includes faculty cellist Natasha Farny and me has been a source of profound inspiration and pride. Having dedicated 2020 to working on a program of all-women composers, this project opened my eyes to the inequality and unfairness experienced by female and minority composers. Furthermore, in the process, I fell in love with the music of these wonderful composers. The program was performed several times in different locations, was recorded in Rosch Hall with the help of faculty members Paul Coleman and Bernd Gottinger, and was released in October 2022. Our second album, "From the Shadows", is also a tribute to underrepresented composers George Walker, Henriette Bosmans, Alexander Zemlinsky, and Chen Yi, and will be released in 2023. The duo is now under management with Unbound Artists.
Original Commission from Avner Dorman was presented by the Fredonia Orchestra and conductor Jaman Dunn on October 15, 2022, featuring Natasha Farny and myself. This is an original concerto for cello and piano, written especially for us and our school's orchestra by an internationally acclaimed composer Avner Dorman. This project is not only exciting on an artistic level but will also bring a lot of attention to the university and music school. Alongside the premiere on campus, we presented the work at Sewanee Music Festival with Robert Moody. We are in negotiations to perform this work with several other orchestras and record it as well.
"The Ekstasis Duo presented a breathtaking performance of Avner Dorman's extraordinary new double concerto. Our patrons were mesmerized and our entire festival was elevated by the process and performance. This important new contribution to contemporary music will have a long life in the concert hall. Bravo!"
—John Kilkenny
Executive and Artistic Director, Sewanee Summer Music Festival
"Duo Ekstasis together with Robert Moody and the Sewanee Symphony orchestra created a deeply inspiring premiere of my new concerto. They brought the piece to life with passion and musicality, great virtuosity, and unique personal touch. I could not have hoped for a better premiere."
—Avner Dorman
PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTS
Following are lists of performances, broadcasts, and master classes. (YouTube and program links are hyperlinked)
2023
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo Recording Project, Oktaven Studio, NY, January 9-10, 2023
Friends of Vienna Concert series, New program, May 21, 2023
2022
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Residency at the Del E. Webb Center, Wickenburg, AZ, January 3-10, 2022
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Holland Theatre, OH, February 25-27, 2022
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo. Resonance Concert Series, MD., March 13, 2022
Avner Dorman's Double Concerto for Cello and Piano, Sewanee Music Festival, July 10, 2022
Ekstasis Dup Residency, Steamboat Colorado, CO, July 23, 2022
Chen Yi Residency, Ekstasis Duo, Chautauqua Institute and SUNY Fredonia, NY, September 15-17, 2022
Avner Dorman's Double Concerto for Cello and Piano, SUNY Fredonia, October 15, 2022
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Grand Valley State University, MI, October 29, 2022
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Arts in the Village, Rehoboth, MA, November 12, 2022
2021
Women's Voices Program, Ekstasis Duo, Saugerties, NY, January 24, 2021
Solo Recital, Rosch Recital Hall, February 6, 2021
Faculty concert, Rosch Recital Hall. February 22, 2021
Robert Jordan Piano Festival, Rosch Recital Hall, April 22, 2021
All Campus Meeting, August 18, 2021
Extrinvaganza, September 14, 2021
Ekstasis Duo recording project: Women's Voices
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Fredonia Opera House, September 25, 2021
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Friends of Vienna, Buffalo, NY, September 26, 2021
Kasling Lecture, From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, SUNY Fredonia, October 5, 2021
Selection from From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, Live at Hochstein Radio broadcast, November 17, 2021
From The Shadows, Ekstasis Duo, SUNY Fredonia, December 3, 2021
AT FREDONIA
2019-20
Women's Voices Program, Ekstasis Duo, Rosch Recital Hall, Fredonia, September 20, 2019
Rêves Extatiques: French songs and Vocalises, Rosch Recital Hall, December 5, 2019
Extringvaganza, String Area concert, September 16, 2020
2018-19
Trio concert with Natasha Farny and Yuki Numata Resnick featuring Ravel’s Trio as well as solo piano works, September 15, 2018 (Link to performance)
Celebration of Debussy’s centennial, November 13, 2018
Faculty Recital: Faculty Composers, performance of MicroSonata by Andrew Martin Smith, March 9, 2019 (Link to Performance)
2017-18
Perform on faculty concert with clarinetist Andrew Seigel, September 18, 2017
Perform on the Constellation concert series, April 6, 2018
Perform the Bloch Concerto Grosso with conductor David Rudge and the college chamber orchestra, April 26, 2018
Perform the first concert on the new chamber music series with SHUFFLE, October 28, 2018
2016-17
String Festival performances with Dennis Kim and Steven Doane, October 30, 2016
Constellation concert performance of Schumann Sonata in A minor with Natasha Farny, February 24, 2017
Fantasy, Lyricism, and Romantic Diversion, Recital program with Natasha Farny, Rosch Hall, Fredonia, April 11, 2017
Additional locations:
2018-20
Fantasy, Lyricism, and Romantic Diversion, Recital program with Natasha Farny, Holy Trinity Church, Buffalo, NY, April 9, 2017
Perform cello recital with Natasha Farny in NYC, June 3, 2018
Trio concert with Natasha Farny and Yuki Numata Resnick featuring Ravel’s Trio as well as solo piano works, September 16, 2018
Ekstasis Duo French Program, Fellowships of the Spirit, Cassadaga, March 17, 2019
Ekstasis Duo French Program, Live from Hochstein, March 20, 2019
Women's Voices Program, Ekstasis Duo, Fellowships of the Spirit, Cassadaga, September 12, 2019
Women's Voices Program, Ekstasis Duo, Friends of Vienna, Buffalo, NY, September 15, 2019
Masterclass at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, October 4, 2019
Masterclass at the Hochstein School, Rochester, October 4, 2019
Community Outreach, Ferris Hills Retirement Community, October 4, 2019
Morning Chamber Music, Women's Voices program, Ekstasis Duo, Eastman School of Music, October 5, 2019
A Musical Feast, Montante Cultural Center, November 8, 2019
Rêves Extatiques: French songs and Vocalises, Holy Trinity Church, Buffalo, November 17, 2019
Rêves Extatiques: French songs and Vocalises, Fellowships of the Spirit, Cassadaga, December 3, 2019
SUNY Fredonia Plays Merkin Hall, Merkin Hall, January 11, 2020
Masterclass for Long Island piano students, February 16, 2020
The Fredonia Piano Quartet, South Huntington Public Library, February 16, 2020
Saugerties ProMusica, Saugerties, NY, Ekstasis Duo plays "Women's Voices", January 24, 2021
From The Shadows program, Ekstasis Duo, Lily Dale, NY, July 23, 2021
Selected SHUFFLE Concert performances (2017-18):
April-May, Fifth Tour to Israel
July 24, Artown, Reno, NV
July 26, Oyster Bay Music Festival, Long Island, NY
September 26, Showcase, South Arts, Atlanta, GA
October 21, SHUFFLE’s Gala performance, New York, NY
October 22-25, Residency part 1, String Music Festival, Steamboat, CO
October 27, Stocker Arts Center, Lorain County Community College, Elyria, OH
October 28, Residency at State University of Fredonia, Fredonia, NY
October 29, St. Catherines, Ontario, CA
October 30, Outreach performance at the Westfield Central Academy
January 10, Celebrity Concert Series, Cox Performing Arts Center, St. George, UT
January 13, Arizona State University, Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale, AZ
January 17, Gila Valley Arts Council, Safford Center for the Arts, Safford, AZ
January 19, Gold Canyon Arts Council, Gold Canyon, AZ
January 20, Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, Queen Creek, AZ
January 28, Residency and premier of “1933”, Del E. Webb Center, Wickenburg, AZ
March 3, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO
March 5, The Lincoln Center, Griffin Concert Hall, Fort Collins, CO
March 8, Residency part 2, String Music Festival, Steamboat, CO
March 10, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
March 15, Orange Performing Arts Center, NJ
COMMISSIONS/ARRANGEMENTS
2021-22
Avner Dorman's Double Concerto for Cello and Piano
2019-20
Hommage a Nina Simone arr. Dan Kaufman
Piano arrangement of Sweeney Todd by Steven Sondheim
2018-19
R. Dyens / “Filmaginaire” arr. Avni
2017-18 (Click here to view the 1933 video featuring these arrangements)
Overture to the Silbersee / K. Weill arr. J. Keren
Prologue to the Seven Deadly Sins / K. Weill arr. Avni
Hey! Young Fella / Fields & McHugh arr. D. Kaufman
Sophisticated Lady/ D. Ellington arr. D. Kaufman
Preludes Op. 34 / D. Shostakovich arr. U. Vachenstein
Tango: "Mia" / A. Vardaro arr. J. Keren
French Chanson: "La Femme est Faite pour l'Homme" / C. Oberfeld arr. J. Keren
Lulu's Aria / A. Berg arr. J. Keren
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / Kern & Harbach arr. Dan Kaufman
Five pieces from Mikrokosmos / B. Bartok arr. J. Keren
Commissioned Work: "Lullabye" from Lorca’s "Blood Wedding" / D. Bruce
Cabaret / Kander & Ebb arr. J. Keren
GRANTS/FUNDRAISING
Nash Foundation Travel Grant ($5,000)
Indiegogo Campaign for 1933 production ($10,000)
A new grand piano for Fellowships of the Spirit ($3,800)
Ekstasis Duo's Album Women's Voices:
EKSTASIS DUO was awarded summer funding from the Fredonia Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Committee for their CD project “Ekstasis Duo’s Debut CD: “Women’s Voices.” May, 2020
NYS/UUP Individual Development Awards for CD project “Ekstasis Duo’s Debut CD: “Women’s Voices.” April 9, 2020
Ekstasis Duo Album From the Shadows ($6,000)
ADJUDICATION:
The Chopin Competition in Latham, NY
The Chautauqua Institute Concerto Competition
The Claudette Sorel Competition, Director
The Annual Concerto Competition at SOM, Fredonia
Thousand Islands International Piano Competition, Jury member 2021
Co-VP for NYSMTA 2023 Symposium and 2024 Conference and Competition
RECORDINGS/BROADCASTS
Several live recital broadcasts from Hochstein Hall have received re-broadcasting and Ekstasis Duo will return to their stage in November to present our From The Shadows program.
EKSTASIS DUO
Article in the Observer 2.21.2019