Welcome to the news archive! Click the filters on the right to search for blog posts, photos, videos and audio clips. Results will be displayed below.
What member of the animal kingdom responds to piano music just like humans? What is the most expensive piano made of? Find out the answers to these questions and more! The first piano was invented in 1709 by an Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori. The piano was first called gravicembalo col piano e forte, which roughly translates to “soft and…
Preview the rising artists featured during this season's Tuesday Matinees series! Join us for our next concert featuring pianist Daniel Lebhardt on Tuesday, Nov. 6! Daniel Lebhardt at Merkin Hall's 2016 Young Concert Artists Series Multipiano Ensemble with the "Tel Aviv Soloists" Chamber Orchestra Tremolo Percussion Ensemble Argus Quartet Tessa Lark with…
Get a sneak preview of the 2019-20 What Makes It Great? Season! Rob Kapilow reveals the origin of What Makes It Great? During my freshman year at college, I was fortunate enough to take an inspiring Art History course with a wonderful professor named Robert Herbert. Before taking the class, I had enjoyed going to museums, liked certain paintings, didn’t like others,…
Preview the remarkable lineup of composers and performers at the 2019 Ecstatic Music Festival, which begins on January 7! Get tickets. wild Up with Bjork Zola Jesus performs live at Webster Hall William Britelle with fellow Ecstatic Music Festival performer Wye Oak Deerhoof performs live in Tokyo Tigue performs at National Sawdust…
Kaufman Music Center’s brand new Executive Director Kate Sheeran took the helm in September following the retirement of long-time leader Lydia Kontos. A professional French horn player with serious music education chops – she was formerly Provost and Dean of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Assistant Dean at Mannes School of Music – Kate shares…
You asked, and we listened! Kaufman Music Center is pleased to announce the switch to a new and improved online giving platform. Now it’s easier than ever to support Kaufman Music Center online. From our new, easy-to-use page, you can select the program you’d like to support, and even establish an automatic monthly gift. In addition, donations dedicated in…
Maya Fortune is a Special Music School alumna from the Upper West Side. As a child, Maya loved to play with her aunt’s full-size violin, which inspired her to begin studying the instrument when she was five years old. During her time at SMS, Maya was very involved in school ensembles and music classes as well as Face the Music. She says that SMS inspired…
Deandre Desir is a recent graduate of Special Music School, where he studied the tuba. He says: "Kaufman Music Center has made me the musician that I am today, without a doubt." Though Deandre was first introduced to music through piano lessons when he was younger, it was Special Music School that identified his aptitude as a brass player and suggested he explore…
Margaret Olko is a rising senior at Special Music School, where she is a vocal major and student leader. She lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Her family immigrated to the US from Poland, and she speaks fluent Polish. Though Margaret played piano when she was younger, she became passionate about music when she began singing with her church choir when she was 11. At SMS,…
Rising 11th grader William Belfor's musical journey began when he started piano lessons in kindergarten, but his passion for music truly blossomed in middle school when he discovered the oboe. Through his hard work and consistent practice, he found himself auditioning and being accepted into Special Music School High School, only six months after learning this new…
