PV with featured composer Sunbin Kim, Young Artist, Allie Steinberg & Godfrey Schroth	PV with Young Artist Award winner, Allie Steinberg

PV with composer, Amanda Harberg	(l-r) Harberg, PV, Guest Artists Julie Schmidt & Bob McGrath

PV with Bob & the "duckies"	relaxing at dinner	(l-r) PV with Bob, Tech Director, Rick Banville & Festival Director, John Miller

June 7
"Everything Five"
PV celebrates 5 years of survival with works related to "five"

We had a marvelous time at our Gala Fifth Birthday Party.  Our patrons enjoyed a special Pre-Concert talk with our featured composer, Matthew Halper and members of PV, perused our Silent Auction before the concert and relished meeting our composers from New American Masters Volume 2 at the party and CD signing following the concert.  We had a great time and were thrilled at the number of composers and artists present in our audience.  We'd like to thank all of our guest artists, volunteers and board members for their wonderful contribution to our celebration!

Here are some photos from the evening!

Our 5 year old guest artist - Catherine Chu	the Silent Auction	Our Featured Composer, Matthew Halper	Trustee and guest artist, John Palatucci
NAM2 Composers Caroline Newman &  Frank Levy sigining CD's	NAM2 composer Gary Eskow	Paul Somers & Matt Halper trying to figure out the significance of  "5" to the Bloch Concertino	Trustee Bob McGrath, guest artist Jason D. Ham and Margaret

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Our Thanks to Wachovia Bank's Volunteer of the Year

Wachovia Bank has selected Palisades Virtuosi volunteer Jayantha (Jay) Fernando as its Northern New Jersey Volunteer of the Year 2008 Award Program. A special ceremony was held on Monday, April 28th   in her honor. Ms. Fernando volunteers not only for Palisades Virtuosi but for six other organizations – The Center, Holy Name Hospital; Spectrum for Living; Volunteer Center of Bergen County; The Dackk’s Group, and Shelter of Our Sisters. Jay was presented with a plaque from Wachovia Bank which she gratefully accepted. Jay spoke about the volunteer work she does for these 7 organizations. Vye Messner was at the reception to represent the Virtuosi and thank Jay for all her hard work.
 

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The Palisades Virtuosi performed a Private Fund Raiser concert in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Ari Dougos in Saddle River NJ on May 4. Guests enjoyed a 1 hour performance by the Virtuosi that included such favorites as the Kummer Concertino and the Webster Carmen Fantasy as well as selections from their commissioned works. After the concert mimosas, hors d'oeuvres, dessert and coffee were served on the patio. We plan to schedule more House Concerts next season and hope to see many of our friends and patrons attending.

left to right - PV Board president Fred Messner, trustee John Palatucci,
Don, Margaret, Ron and PV Board Vice-President, David Messer.

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Photos from our March 8 Concert
"The Women Speak II"

composer Julie Schmidt, mezzo Hanna Lageford-Dollase,  Featured composer Gwyneth Walker, artist Leslie Montana with PV

PV with our featured commissioned composer, Gwyneth Walker

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"GEORGE" WINS BIG!!

The COMPOSERS' GUILD 2007 Annual  Competition announces winners!
Best Instrumental Piece and Grand Prize
John Lampkin's  "George Washington Slept Here!"

The judges gave the work glowing praise: “This piece is extremely well written, and thoroughly delightful. There is a fair amount of mood changing, without the piece losing its continuity or unity. The instrumental writing is idiomatic for all three players. From my experience, to create genuine humor in music is often very difficult to achieve, but [the composer] managed to do a “tongue in cheek” almost all of the way. Congratulations on a first class piece of music!”

This has come on the heels of a rave review in the American Record Guide, which calls George “...joyous, celebratory, and slightly inebriated.”  more here.

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December 17, 2007
We have wonderful news!
We have recieved a substantial grant from the ARGOSY FOUNDATION!
which will assist us in completing our next CD - New American Masters Volume Two!
We're thrilled that our work is being recognized by this prestigious organization.

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Here are photos from our December 1 Concert - "Shall We Dance?"
a collaboration with the Art of Motion Dance company in Ridgewood, NJ.

Paul Somers with Don & Margaret	PV with Art of Motion directors, Lynn Needle & Olivia Galgano

PV with commisioned composer, Randall Faust

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Photos from our concerts on November 17th & 18th:

"South (and North!) of the Border" at the Morristown Abendmusik Series
with Program Director June Van Thoen - November 17

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November 18 - "New American Masters"
New York Flute Club - Yamaha Piano Salon

Onstage at the New York Flute Club concert	Relaxing after the concert!

Click here for the November 2007 issue of the New York Flute Club Newsletter which features the Palisades Virtuosi and their flutist, Margaret Swinchoski.

WE HAVE A NEW   GUESTBOOK    FOR OUR WEBSITE
PLEASE LEAVE US A MESSAGE- WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!!!!

Be sure to catch our next concert!

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OCTOBER 6, 2007 - "Anniversaries" concert

ThePalisades Virtuosi is proud to announce the winner of its inaugural Young Artist Recognition Award.  This award was established to recognize outstanding high school music students in the Bergen County area.  Jiyuh Kim, Palisades Virtuosi's first honoree, is a senior at Pascack Hills High School, where she is first chair clarinet in the band.  She has also held the first chair position in the Northern New Jersey Region and Bergen County bands.  Additionally, she has participated in the Sr. Region Wind Ensemble, the Northern New Jersey Orchestra and the New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band.  Last summer, Jiyuh traveled to Europe under the auspices of American Music Abroad, performing in five countries.  She hopes to pursue her musical interests in college.  Jiyuh was featured as a soloist on the recent Palisades Virtuosi concert, October 6, 2007 at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood where PV holds its Subscription Series concerts.  Ms. Kim was also awarded a plaque by Acting President of the Palisades Virtuosi Board of Trustees, Fred Messner.  The plaque was donated by the Trophy King in Teaneck, NJ.

PV with Jiyuh Kim
 

Here we are with Brian Schober - commissioned composer of "Wind-Space" (a 9-11 commemorative)

(program notes for the concert are finally posted!)

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Here are photos from our concert at the  Fort Lee Community Center - AUGUST 12, 2007

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This past June, we received two fantastic reviews in Fanfare Magazine for our "New American Masters - Volume 1".

"The stylistic and emotional range of this release is as extraordinary as is Palisades Virtuosi’s fine-tuned ensemble work...  In terms of intonation, articulation, and musical insight, Palisades Virtuosi represent the best of our current world-class standards."

"Now for some really good news—this one is a pure winner! ...feelings of relief and delight flooded my soul as each new piece proved its mettle. The sound is terrific and the performances couldn’t be better."

Here are some photos from our Season Finale at Unitarian Society of Ridgewood on June 9.
We had a great time - it was a huge success!

PV with Dick Hyman

with Dick Hyman, Jan Somers, Lou Caimano

Dick Hyman & Bob McGrath

Photos by John V. Bentz (fornesicfoto@yahoo.com)

Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers from Volunteer Ventures, Doreen, Jay & Stuart.
We couldn't have done it without you!  See our program notes page for information on our program!

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PV at Lincoln Center - 5-24 & 5/31/07
Music of "Les Six"

Ron gawks at the manuscripts in the foyer

Paul Somers lectures again after the concert!!

Paul backstage at LCL

Richard Hobson & Katherine Harris with PV	Composer Carlos Franzetti with PV

On May 5 we performed at the Bixby School in Bogota, NJ for their "Arts in the Schools Week"  Afterward we received a stack of thank-yous from the children at the school - here are a few samples of their great artwork.  We enjoyed being at Bixby School and we hope that we will always be able to bring music into the schools and help to inspire the next generation of budding artists and musicians. Thank you Bixby School for allowing us to present the children's artwork on our website!

 

Michael - grade 3

Dakota - grade 2

Kayla - grade 2

Munna - grade 2

PV with Guest Artist ~ Patrizia Conte, Mezzo-Soprano	PV with composer Caroline H. Newman

March 30 & April 1 - " 'Ondine' in Music"
programs at Lincoln Center Library

Read a review of the April 1 concert!

Guest Artist ~ Laura Hamilton, violin	PV with Bob McGrath, Paul M. Somers and Godfrey Schroth, composers

"New American Masters - Volume I"
Here are some shots from inside the recording studio

photos courtesy of Dave Kowalski ("The Wizard")- our guru in the recording booth

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"Palisades Virtuosi in Recital" is available at www.DigitalSoundboard.
Sound clips are now available!!