The concerts are about 45 minutes in length, and are performed on Saturday afternoons at the Howland Center.

More About Classics for Kids:

Opportunities for children to hear fine classical music in an inviting setting are limited in this area. To help meet this need the Howland Center, with assistance from the Howland Chamber Music Circle, is presenting its family concerts entitled “Classics for Kids” for the fifteenth season. These highly acclaimed concerts feature world class professional musicians in informal programs designed to appeal to young children.

Our goal is to promote experiencing music as a family activity. To encourage family attendance, the concerts are free to children, who must be accompanied by an adult. A donation of $10 per adult is suggested to help defray expenses.

The concerts, aimed particularly for elementary school children, are about 45 minutes in length, and are performed on Saturday afternoons at the Howland Center. Besides introducing children to classical music and its instruments, one of our aims is to introduce them also to the concert-going experience and proper concert etiquette. Thus, while we welcome younger children if they can be well-behaved, we ask that parents exercise good judgement in bringing their younger ones.

To enhance the opportunities for more advanced local music students to be recognized and to polish their playing, a few years ago we added Master Classes to some of the concerts. This year, these will follow every concert, enabling students of cello, trumpet, clarinet and piano to play before outstanding performers, receiving their suggestions and critique. Other students at the master class observe this process. It is hoped that this experience will provide incentive and guide them to develop good technique and performance skills.

This year, the participants in each master class will be selected by a leading area teacher of that instrument, with emphasis on high-school aged students.

For further information about the master classes, including possible participation, call Gwen Stevens at 845-297-9243.

The master classes are supported by a grant from
The Howland Chamber Music Circle.

Classics for Kids ................ 2010 - 2011 Season:

Narek Hakhnazaryan, cellist

October 23, 2010, 3:00 PM

This young Armenian cellist was a winner in the Young Concert Artists auditions in 2008 and is currently pursuing an advanced degree at New England Conservatory. He is performing with leading orchestras and in prominent recital halls throughout the country and will be presenting a solo recital in the Howland Chamber Music series the next day. His program will include a variety of pieces for solo cello. Nanette Koch is arranging the master class for young cellists.

Louis Hanzlik, trumpeter

November 13, 2010, 3:00 PM

Louis Hanzlik is a member of the Atlantic Brass Quintet and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and appears regularly with other leading orchestras and ensembles. A native of Iowa and graduate of the Juilliard School, he is also on the faculty of the University of Connecticut. His program will show the trumpet’s capabilities in both classical and more popular styles and is sure to be an exciting event. The master class for young trumpet students following the concert is being coordinated by Michael Siless.

Jose Franch-Ballester, clarinetist

April 9, 2011, 3:00 PM

Winner in the Young Concert Artists auditions and recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, Mr. Franch-Ballester performs frequently with Lincoln Center Chamber Music II. A native of Spain and graduate of Curtis Institute, he has a busy career here and in Europe. At the Howland Center he will show the clarinet’s versatility in a variety of styles and be joining the Jupiter String Quartet the next day in a Mozart Quintet. Gwen Stevens will arrange his master class.

Andrius Zlabys, pianist

May 14, 2011, 3:00 PM

Lithuanian pianist Andrius Zlabys is a graduate of Curtis Institute and Yale School of Music. A prizewinner in various international competitions, he has performed as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has performed at the Howland Center in the past and comes to us with a reputation for outstanding children’s programs. This is sure to be a highlight of the season. The piano master class is being coordinated by Florence Grenis.

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