Cartoonist Walt Handelsman, Violist Vincent Lionti, Playwright Michele Lowe & More to Lead Usdan Center Master Classes, Summer 2013

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the nationally renowned summer arts day camp, will feature several acclaimed artists teaching master classes and guest-teaching at classes for the 2013 season.

Walt Handelsman, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, whose work is nationally syndicated to more than 200 newspapers around the world, returns to lecture at Usdan's cartooning classes on July 1; MET orchestra violist Vincent Lionti once again teaches Usdan string students; playwright Michele Lowe, whose Smell of the Kill was produced on Broadway and who is co-developing a new musical for the Signature Theatre, will teach in the Creative Writing program; Richard La Marita, the organic chef who has taught at the National Gourmet Institute for 18 years, returns to demonstrate simple recipes from produce grown at Usdan's Organic Gardening and Simple Food program on July 26; classical and folk guitarists Rene Izquierdo ("Sublime musicianship" - Classical Guitar Magazine) and Elina Chekan work with music students as Visiting Guest Artists.

A special project will be pianist/composer Jeffrey Biegel, acclaimed for his "Dazzling technique, superb musicianship" - Los Angeles Times), teaching on August 7, 8 and 9, capped by an August 9 performance of his women's chorus work Hey Ho, the Wind and the Rain.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com), is now entering its 46th season. Alumni include actors Natalie Portman, Olivia Thirlby and Jackie Hoffman, and singers Jane Monheit and Mariah Carey, has introduced the arts to more than 60,000 Tri-State Area children since its founding in 1968. The Center is open to all young people from age 6 to 18. No audition is needed for most programs - rather, admission is based on an expression of interest in the arts. Each summer, 1,600 students are transported to the Center in air-conditioned buses each day. One-third of Usdan's students attend on scholarship. Although the mission of the Center is for every child to establish a relationship with the arts, the unique stimulation of the Center has caused many to go on to arts careers. Alumni include members of Broadway shows and major music, theater, and dance ensembles such as the Boston Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition to its regular programs, Usdan offers special opportunities for advanced high school- age performing artists in music and dance. Usdan Center is an agency of the UJA-Federation of New York. For more information, write to info@usdan.com. Call (212) 772-6060 or (631) 643-7900, or visit www.usdan.com.