All Posts by billalpert

Studio Winter/Spring Schedule

By billalpert | Studio News , violin , voice

Happy New Year and Welcome Back! We hope you had a wonderful holiday.

Studio Reminders (please mark your calendar)

VOICE STUDENTS
Voice lessons resume on Monday, January 4 at your regularly scheduled time.
Very important: As always, please contact me as soon as possible, if you are unable to attend your regularly scheduled lesson, so I may adjust my schedule accordingly.
There will be no voice lessons on Tuesday, January 26, my birthday 🙂
Spring break will be from March 22-March 26; no lessons will be given during that week.

VIOLIN STUDENTS
Violin lessons resume on Monday, January 4 at your regularly scheduled time.
Spring break will be from March 22-March 26; no lessons will be given during that week.
Lesson for the week of Feb 15-Feb 19 will be rescheduled, as I am attending the American String Teachers Conference.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

–Melanie and Bill Alpert

Winter Recital

By billalpert | Events , Student News , violin , voice

Alpert Studio recital participants (photo: Deb Tracey Photography)

Colds, flu and busy performance schedules notwithstanding, it was standing room only at the Alpert Studio Winter Recital, held on December 5.

Bill and Melanie wish to congratulate each and every performer on a job well done. Also, a heartfelt thanks our extended studio family for all the support and the incredible turnout. This recital witnessed tremendous musical and personal growth throughout the studio!

Best wishes to all for a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Giving it Your All

By billalpert | violin , voice

Brandon Alpert performs If I Didn’t Believe in You from The Last Five Years, by Jason Robert Brown

All of the countless hours of dedication and solitary devotion to our instruments bring us personal growth, enjoyment and fulfillment. Still, we bring the greatest value to the world only by sharing our gifts.

I once read that performing is the hardest job that there is. It’s a statement that rings true for many of us. Sometimes it brings us pure elation, yet at other times it can be utter terror. It humbles us, and makes us appreciate what great performers do.

Most recently, I was privileged to attend a live performance of Jason Robert Brown’s groundbreaking musical Parade at the Mark Taper Forum. Beyond the heartbreaking story, I felt great appreciation for what each and every one of the performers (as well as the creators) shared so generously. It was an unforgettable experience.

Last summer a large part of our studio family devoted months of rehearsal to a weekend of live performance of Jason Robert Brown’s music. While it was my joy to perform this incredible music with students, friends and family, it was also my honor to be able to share it with all who attended.

When our work as performers reaches beyond our own aspirations and touches the hearts and minds of those around us, we’re each creating a more beautiful world. What greater gift of love could you give?

Recital Date and Student News

By billalpert | Events , Student News , Studio News

The Alpert Studio recital will be held on Saturday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m.

Studio Recital:
Saturday, December 5 • 4:00 p.m.
Studio Performance Facility

Rehearsal with pianist will be held at the same site on Friday, December 4 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Students will be assigned an individual rehearsal slot in advance.

All students are expected to participate in the recital, and support fellow students by remaining present during the entire event.

Amanda Workman performs in The Magic Flute

Studio alum Amanda Workman is performing in the role of Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Riverside Lyric Opera. Tickets and information here. Support Amanda and live opera close to home by attending this event.

Making Friends Everywhere

By billalpert | Events , The Kitchen Sink

Friends of the Studio The Pacific Trio perform in Rybnik, Poland

Our dear friends John Walz, Edie Orloff and Roger Wilke write:

Greetings from Europe. We are having a wonderful tour with the Pacific Trio. We have done concerts in Poland and Germany so far, tomorrow we are in France, then back to Germany. We finish up in Munich, playing at the Gasteig, which is the release concert for our new CD of American works.

This, the latest of many European tours by The Pacific Trio, brings home to us the universal nature of music. A great performance of live music will capture the imagination of people across any culture, social class, political or religious belief. Our performing artists have done much to promote understanding and cooperation across the far corners of the Earth.

Frequently we see the world in a distorted view of controversy, conflict and turmoil on TV and in newspapers. Yet as a race, humans share much more that connects us than separates us. Follow our intrepid three friends across the planet and you’ll find living rooms and auditoriums full of diverse audiences that celebrate the universality of great music.

In what city, country or continent could Gershwin’s Second Piano Prelude (arranged for trio) not melt your heart?

Take the Listening Challenge

By billalpert | The Kitchen Sink , violin

Yehudi Menuhin plays Bach Chaconne

Studio students Jessica and Mike Ciao recently took the challenge and contributed their selected recordings. Will you take the challenge too?

Listening Challenge Selections:
Can you name a famous violinist that performed in each of the following time periods?
1900-1935
1936-1950
1951-1979

and one more for posterity, Alison Krauss, 2007 recording

Now Playing!

By billalpert | Events , Studio News

Darrah Carattini-Garcia and Brandon Alpert featured as Rosie and Albert in Bye Bye Birdie (photo: Deborah Tracey Photography)

Bye Bye Birdie opens July 24 – Design: Carlos Musquez

Bye Bye Birdie is a favorite of the Broadway musical theater stage with book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse.

Originally titled Let’s Go Steady, this satire on American society is set in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the army in 1957. The rock star character’s name, “Conrad Birdie,” is word play on the name of Conway Twitty, who is remembered today mainly as a country music star but was one of Presley’s rock ‘n’ roll rivals in the late 1950s. The original Broadway production was a Tony Award-winning success. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions. (courtesy Wikipedia)

Come support your Alpert Studio students and alums, many of whom are participating in this family friendly production of a true Broadway classic!

Performances are Friday, July 24th, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25th, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, July 26th 2:30 p.m., Friday, July 31st, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 1st, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 2nd at 2:30 p.m. at Los Osos High School, 6001 Milliken Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Ticket Order form

A Truly “Wicked” Master Class

By billalpert | Events

Be it an opera of Mozart or a scene from any current Broadway hit, a great score, polished singing and thoughtful acting are all integral to a convincing performance. So found a contingent of young Alpert studio students and alumni who participated in a recent master class presented by Eden Espinosa in conjunction with Broadway Experience.

Kudos to all of our students who attended and/or performed at the event. It was a great opportunity to learn from a well known performer at the top of her game. Ms. Espinosa’s insights received rave reviews from all in attendance. We’re all indebted to her as well as Sergio Mejia who led a dance workshop.

Thanks to Broadway Experience for hosting the event and to Debbie Jackson for providing the photos in this slide show.

Eden Espinosa Master Class

By billalpert | The Kitchen Sink

Eden Espinosa from the cast of Wicked

Alpert Studio Students are invited to participate in a musical theater master class for dance and vocal performance, presented by noted Broadway star Eden Espinosa and choreographer Sergio Mejia.

Eden Espinosa began singing at the age of three and performing at age five.¹ After graduating from Canyon High School, she worked at local theme parks prior to being discovered by the BKLYN casting director. Espinosa worked on creating the title role of the musical at the Denver Civic Theatre for nearly two years. Prior to BKLYN’s Broadway run at the Plymouth Theatre, Eden made her Broadway debut in the original company of Stephen Schwartz‘s musical Wicked, where she understudied Idina Menzel’s Elphaba. Espinosa departed Wicked in August, 2004. BKLYN began its Broadway run on October 24, 2004 and closed on June 26, 2005. (extracted from Wikipedia)

Presented by Broadway Experience
Adult class (14 & up) Sunday, June 28th at 3:00pm
Youth class (7 thru 13) Monday, June 29th at 10:00am
Participant Fee: $65.00

The Studio Theater • 1400 N. Benson Ave., Upland CA

For information call (909) 982-5736 • http://broadwayexperience.org

By reservation only. Sign up early for this very special event, as class sizes are strictly limited

Summer News for Violin Students

By billalpert | Events , violin

High Energy Eclectic Fiddle Fest: Barrage (see Concerts, below)

Just a few quick reminders for violin students of the Alpert Studio:

Summer Schedule:

Violin lessons are scheduled all summer long, with the exception of August 3 – August 14. Additionally, some lessons between August 17-19 may be impacted, however I plan to reschedule those lessons later that week, or during a mutually convenient time. As always, your regular monthly tuition will apply during the summer, as it is based on a total of 40-45 lessons during the year, payable in 12 installments.

If you plan to travel during summer months, please let me know at your earliest convenience, so that I can help you schedule make-up lesson time.

A Musical Summer

Summer often affords students more time to focus on musical activities. I’ll be talking to you about some possible summer projects, if you’d like to put some extra energy into your violin. Let’s talk!

Listening Challenge:

Can you name a famous violinist that performed in each of the following time periods?

1900-1935
1936-1950
1951-1979

Extra Credit: Share an audio/video link to a performance by each of these violinists. I’ll post your selections on the studio website!

Free Outdoor Concerts

Come see the fabulous fiddle group Barrage perform at the Redlands Bowl on Tuesday, July 14. Cody Bryant and the Riders of the Purple Sage perform on Friday, July 10. And I’ll be performing with the Redlands Symphony on Tuesday, July 28. Info: http://www.redlandsbowl.org/programs.htm

Have a wonderful, safe and musical summer!

Bill Alpert