Master Class Series At Hoff-Barthelson Begins March 2

The 2018-2019 Hoff-Barthelson Music School Master Class Series commences this March with world-renowned musicians pianist Jerome Lowenthal, Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 2:00 pm; cellist Natasha Brofsky, Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 7:30 pm; and violinist Daniel Phillips, Saturday, March 23, 2:00 pm. The classes, open to the public to observe free of charge, are held at Hoff-Barthelson Music School, 25 School Lane, Scarsdale. Space is limited, reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by e-mailing hb@hbms.org

Master class coaching by guest artists has been part of Hoff-Barthelson's curriculum since the School's founding in 1944. This distinguished tradition continues this season with a roster of world-class musicians and educators including pianist Jerome Lowenthal, cellist Natasha Brofsky, violinist Daniel Phillips, flutist Robert Stallman (Saturday, April 27, at 2 pm) , violist Michelle LaCourse (Saturday, May 11, at 12 noon) and members of the New York Philharmonic (Monday, April 8, 3:30 pm).

Master classes are an enlightening experience for students and audiences alike. After months of careful preparation, students perform for, and then receive feedback and guidance from a master teacher who challenges the student to think in new and critical ways about the piece they've prepared. The results are inspiring and enlightening and serve as a catalyst for students to reach new heights in their own musical explorations. Yet the learning isn't limited just to the students who perform. In point of fact, any student-regardless of their level of development or whether or not they even play the same instrument-can learn a great deal.

American pianist Jerome Lowenthal played the New York premiere of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the New York Philharmonic. He is a recipient of prizes in many international competitions and has appeared with major orchestras in the US, including Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cleveland, and Minnesota. He premiered contemporary works by Rochberg, Capanna, Reise, and Rorem, and performed in duo recitals with Denis Brott, Itzhak Perlman, Ronit Amir, and Ursula Oppens.

Lowenthal is a regular participant in international chamber music festivals and has made numerous recordings of concerto and chamber music repertoire. He is a Juilliard School faculty member.

Natasha Brofsky, a member of the New England Conservatory cello faculty since 2004, has enjoyed an international career. As the Peabody Trio cellist she has performed on important chamber music series throughout the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom, The trio has been heard on numerous radio broadcasts, including CBC, Radio Canada, and WGBH. She has also performed as guest artist with numerous ensembles, including the Takács, Prazak, Cassatt, Norwegian, Jupiter, Ying, and Borromeo quartets.

Brofsky has given master classes at schools such as San Francisco Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, Boston University, and El Sistema in Venezuela. Her students enjoy careers as performers and teachers all over the world.

Violinist Daniel Phillips is a founding member of the 30-year-old Orion String Quartet, which is in residence at Mannes College of Music and performs regularly at the Chamber Music Society. A winner of the 1976 Young Concert Artists Competition, he has performed as a soloist with many American orchestras and appears regularly at the Spoleto USA, Santa Fe, Chamber Music Northwest, Chesapeake, and Music from Angel Fire Festivals, as well as the International Musicians Seminar in Cornwall, England.

He is a Queens College professor and on faculty at Mannes College of Music, Bard College Conservatory, and The Juilliard School; he judged the 2018 Seoul International Violin Competition.

Hoff-Barthelson Music School has achieved national recognition as a premier community music school for its unsurpassed leadership in education, performance and community service. With a faculty drawn from the region's most talented teachers and performers, the School has long been one of Westchester County's most cherished cultural resources. Whatever a student's age or level of musical interest, Hoff-Barthelson's diverse offerings provide the highest quality musical education, personally tailored to his or her specific passions and goals in a supportive and vibrant community.

The Master Class Series is made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester with support from Westchester County Government, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

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