NPF, Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra to Present THE YOUTH IN MUSIC PROJECT, 10/27

On Saturday, October 27th at 8pm, the Noel Pointer Foundation, in collaboration with the Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra, will bring a unique program to the stage of Merkin Concert Hall titled "The Youth in Music Project." This innovative performance will feature the Foundation's Youth Orchestra and Advanced Guitar Ensemble in a side-by-side collaboration with the Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra (Tarrytown Music Hall's orchestra-in-residence) under the direction of its Music Director Dr. Jesse Henkensiefken. The concert's featured soloist is acclaimed American violinist and composer Mark O'Connor. All proceeds and donations help fund the Noel Pointer Foundation.

The Noel Pointer Foundation has been a revolutionary force in musical education for low-income families within the five boroughs of New York City, since its inception as a non-profit organization in 1995. The only organization of its kind, the Foundation has been working relentlessly with public schools, in addition to creating its own facilities in the heart of Brooklyn that is the Noel Pointer Music School, promoting its mission to "dramatically enrich children's musical, cultural and academic experience, infusing them with a positive sense of who they are and a boundless sense of what they can become."

Recently named Tarrytown's Music Hall's orchestra-in-residence, The Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra is the premiere chamber orchestra of Westchester, and is conducted by its Music Director Dr. Jesse Henkensiefken. Strong advocates of education, the ensemble is dedicated to outreach work and initiated "The Music in Youth Project" as a way to give aspiring students an opportunity to perform with professionals. Its collaboration with the NPF Youth Orchestra will afford the Foundation's music students the rare opportunity to perform at a major New York venue alongside an artist of international stature.

The soloist for the night is the internationally celebrated icon of American music - violinist and composer Mark O'Connor. Grammy-award winner, Mr. O'Connor is renowned for a sound and style that is deeply and uniquely his, as poignantly described by the Los Angeles Times: "[Mark O'Connor has] crossed over so many boundaries, that his style is purely personal." Mr. O'Connor's involvement with the project goes beyond the performance - he will be giving a 2-hour master-class to the NPF's advanced string students the day of the concert at the Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall.

The All-American program will feature the string version of Aaron Copland's Howdown from "Rodeo" and Marc O'Connor's Strings & Threads, American Seasons and Elevations.
Merkin Concert Hall is located at 129 W. 67th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave. on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Admission is $45 for balcony seating and $65 for orchestra seating. Tickets can be purchased through the Merkin Hall Box Office, online at kaufman-center.org/merkin-concert-hall/buy-tickets, by sending an e-mail to tickets@kaufman-center.org, or by calling (212) 501-3330.

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