Usdan Arts Camp Announces '06 Season of Events

By: Jan. 22, 2006
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Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, called by Time Magazine "One of the most unique camps in America," will host many new programs and events for its 2006 season. America's largest summer arts day camp will begin its 39th season June 27 at the Center's 200-acre woodland campus in Huntington, Long Island.

There will be a new a String Seminar, conducted by Vincent Lionti from the Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera. The seminar will slot into the regular orchestral studies program as a 7-day insert, July 17-25 with a performance on the 25th. Included will be specialized intensive study by each string section of the orchestra.

The 2006 season will feature a Vaughan Williams theme, a tribute to the distinguished British composer. For the String Seminar, Vincent Lionti will conduct Williams' Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis, and also his Greensleeves. The Brass Ensemble will perform a Williams fanfare, and the Orchestra and Senior Choruses will perform a movement from his Dona Nobis Pacem, with text by Walt Whitman.

In addition to its regular string program, Usdan Center will introduce both a Quartet and Quintet Residency this year. For this advanced program, the Center is inviting applicants from leading conservatories that have undergraduate or graduate majors in Chamber Music.

Former Usdanites, including Broadway conductors and performers, as well as current theater students, will participate in a special Broadway musical concert, a benefit for the Center. Details will be announced later.

During the 2006 season, on dates to be announced, Usdan Center will dedicate its new Chess Center, the country's first building designed and constructed for educational chess. Usdan will also re-dedicate its Multi-Purpose Building, as the Jerrold Ross Discovery Center. The Chess Center dedication will correspond with the opening of a unique exhibit in its atrium, the first public display of letters, manuscripts, and championship medals of chess champion Emanuel Lasker. Lasker was the longest-reigning chess champion in history (1894-1921.) He was the son of a cantor, the grandson of a rabbi, a friend of Einstein's, and the author of books on mathematics and philosophy. His instructional book, Lasker's Manual of Chess, is still considered the seminal text for students of the game. The exhibited objects will be from the personal collection of a relative of Lasker's.

NYUsdan Center will host the first downstate music technology conference of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) on Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21. Thursday will be spent at Usdan Center, in workshops with clinicians who are Broadway electronic keyboardists, together with other workshops sponsored by Long Island's music industry. There will be receptions hosted by the NYSSMA leadership, and also by Long Island business leaders. In the evening, participants will see one of the productions of Broadway musicals in which Usdan assembly performers appeared earlier in the day.

Since 1968, Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts has introduced the visual and performing arts to more than 40,000 young people ages 6 to 18 from throughout the Tri-State area. With over 40 majors in music, theater, dance, visual arts, chess and computers, the Center has also caused many students to go to professional careers, and alumni include Natalie Portman, Mariah Carey, jazz singer Jane Monheit, and members of major music and dance ensembles. Registration is now ongoing for the 2006 season, and Open Houses will be presented on Wednesday February 23 and Sunday March 13 from 11 AM to 2 PM. For more information, call (212) 772-6060, or (631) 643-7900, or visit online at www.usdan.com.

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