Category Archives for "voice"

Excitement Abounds in May and June

By billalpert | Events , voice

Jason Robert Brown

May promises to be an exciting month for Alpert Studio students. To start, May 10 marks the first cast meeting and rehearsal for the BE production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Also, several students are participating in the Los Osos High School production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including Lindsay Rupp and Sarah Jackson. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3. If possible, please come out and support your fellow students.

Composer/Lyricist Stephen Schwartz of Wicked fame will be performing at Citrus College on Saturday May 3. It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear Schwartz’ famous musical theater tunes as well as his antecdotes from the world of Broadway. Here’s a link for more information and tickets.

Also at Citrus’ Haugh Performing Arts Center on Saturday May 17 is Jason Robert Brown in Concert. From the event website: Jason Robert Brown has been hailed as “one of Broadway’s smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). He won a 1999 Tony® Award for his score to Parade, which also captured the Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for best new musical. His “extraordinary jubilant theatre music” (Chicago Tribune) thus far includes scores for The Last Five Years, Songs For A New World, collaboration onUrban Cowboy: the Musical, and the just-produced world premiere of Thirteen. He is currently at work on the score for the upcoming musical version ofHoneymoon in Vegas. Join us for a special evening with this rising – and Broadway Bright – star! For tickets and infomation click here.

Here is video of Brandon Alpert singing Jason Robert Brown’s Shiksa Goddess. (PG-13)

June is no less exciting; the new musical Pazzazz! by Broadway legends Richard Sherman and Milt Larsen, makes its world premier at Citrus’ Haugh Performing Arts center on June 13-15. The production is co-directed by Alpert Studio family member Barbara Hinrichsen’s husband and Sarah’s dad, Greg Hinrichsen along with choreographer John Vaughan. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Event website.

Last, but not least, studio alumni Brandon Alpert and Taylor Pearson will be appearing at the Ford Amphitheater in the west coast premier of Norman’s Ark, A New Musical. Written by American composer Glen Roven ( here’s an interview regarding the project) and directed by Lion King Tony Award winning produced Peter Schneider, the production is a family-friendly retelling of the ancient bible story in a modern setting. Performances run from May 27-June 8. From the event website: Broadway comes to Los Angeles when Glen Roven and Jerome Kass retell the Noah’s Ark story of hope in the context of a Post-Katrina world. The entire family will thrill to the entrance of 100 children as the animals on the ark. Emotional country ballads and smokin’ rock-a-billy tunes along with the giant gospel choir would raise the roof if the Ford Amphitheatre had one! Tickets and information.

Making Magic

By billalpert | The Kitchen Sink , violin , voice

Fifty-six years ago, a handsome young Edwardo made the long journey to Mexico City with his new bride. It was their honeymoon, and though he had little money in those early days, he wanted to take her to the most elegant restaurant in town. And so he did, and he thus marked the beginning of a lifetime together.

Today, Edwardo and family came together to comfort his wife. Laying in a hospital bed, she was connected to oxygen and faced the end of her life. From their darkened room Edwardo heard strains of violin music floating down the hallway into the open doorway. It so happened he heard me playing selections of music for my mother, as I frequently do when visiting her convalescent home.

And so, a still very handsome 80 year old man appeared at our doorway. He shyly asked if they could listen for a while. Edwardo knew his music, and recognized everything I played, from Bach to Schubert. At one point he recited the Spanish version poem of Schubert’s lovely Serenade, while I played the melody.

It wasn’t long before I found myself down the hall, playing for Edwardo, his wife and company. The request: Monti’s Csardas, the very same piece the young married couple remembered from their honeymoon, more half a century ago. The proprietor of that Mexico City restaurant played it that night for the newly married couple. I had the honor and privilege of recreating that moment, as Edwardo cradled his very weak wife’s head in his arms, as he once again affirmed his love. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, including mine. It was a tender moment I’ll never forget.

Such is the joy and magic of music. It transcends borders and crosses generations unabated. It’s truly a gift of the spirit and the highest expression of humanity.

Alpert Studio Sweeps Solofest and OCHSA

By Melanie Alpert | Events , voice

Pictured from left: Melanie Alpert, Cesar Quintero, Mackenzie Orr, Mercedes Machado, Kaitlin Orr and Michael Sturgis. Photo: Don Orr

Congratulations to Alpert Studio Students Cesar Quintero, Mercedes Machado, and Mackenzie Orr for winning top honors and sweeping the High School, Junior High and Elementary voice divisions of the San Bernardino County Solofest competition. I would also like to recognize Kaitlin Orr and Michael Sturgis for their wonderful performances at the event. I’m sure any judge would have had a difficult time deciding the final outcome. I’m proud of you all!

Competition winners received either cash or a full paid scholarship for two week programs at the Idyllwild Summer Academy for the Arts. Again, congratulations to all participants and a special thank you to Dr. Andrew Crane, Rebecca Tomlinson and the Cal State San Bernardino music faculty for making this such a positive and rewarding experience for young musicians.

Congrats to newly accepted OCHSA freshmen

Every Alpert Studio Student who recently applied to attend the Orange County High School for the Arts was accepted! Kudos to Sarah Hinrichsen, Michael Sturgis, Mercedes Machado and Kaitlin Orr. Again, you have done me proud!

Solofest and Recital Update

By Melanie Alpert | Events , violin , voice

Congratulations to all Alpert Studio students who participated in this year’s San Bernardino County Solofest; each one of you performed beautifully. I have seen such growth in each and every one of you; it’s makes me so proud!
Special congrats go out to those students who advanced to the finals: Mackenzie Orr, Elementary division, Kaitlin Orr, Michael Sturgis and Mercedes Machado, Junior High division (we swept this category!) and Cesar Quintero, High School division.
Our finalists will be competing this 10:00 a.m. Saturday, at the Cal State San Bernardino theater. Please come out and support your fellow students!

Also a quick note to studio voice and violin students: The date for our Spring Recital has been set. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 7, 4:00 p.m. at the studio recital hall.

Exciting News!

By Melanie Alpert | Events , The Kitchen Sink , voice

There have been many exciting developments in the Alpert Studio family recently. First of all, let us all congratulate several Studio students for their notable accomplishments.

Michael Sturgis and Cesar Quintero were selected as semi-finalists in the SCVA Vocal Solo Competition and advanced to the next round which will be held this Saturday. Good luck to you both! Cesar was also a semi-finalist in the non-classical division of the LA Music Center Spotlight Awards. Way to go Cesar!

Kathryn McGuire will be spending most of her summer in Graz Austria after being accepted to the prestigious American Institute of Musical Studies.

Also several studio students are on stage this month, please support them by attending their performances:
Kari Kennedy is in the Grove’s production of Pochantas and Mackenzie Orr stars as Mary in the City of Rancho Cucamonga’s Community Theater production of The Secret Garden. I’m really proud of all of you and all the hard work you’ve done.

Finally: news of this Summer’s musical production. I’m thrilled to be music director of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, in conjunction with Broadway Experience and the Los Osos High School Theater Department. Performances are slated for July. For audition and additional information visit the Broadway Experience Website.

Studio 2008 Updates

By billalpert | violin , voice

Voice and Violin lessons will resume this week! Your lesson will be at your regular scheduled time, unless otherwise discussed. If you are unsure about your lesson time, please call or e-mail as soon as possible.

Note from Melanie Alpert to Voice Students:
Please try to be flexible during the month of January. Because of my rehearsal schedule, some lesson times may need to be rearranged. I’ll do my best to find a convenient time for everyone.

SCVA Participants Reminder:
This year’s competition will be held on Saturday, January 12 at 9:00 a.m. Location: at the recital hall at 10722 Arrow Rte., Suite 104, Rancho Cucamonga

Note to Violin Students from Bill Alpert:
The violin studio is going to a flat monthly tuition rate. The monthly tuition will include approx. 45 lessons per year and all recital fees. Note that the tuition rate for each month will remain the same whether there are 4 or 5 weeks in the month. For continuing students, the monthly rate will be equivalent to the cost of 4 regular lessons. Please read my complete studio policies which includes information about cancellations, studio requirements and more.

Let’s all plan and enjoy and musically exciting and rewarding 2008. See you soon!

Way cool news… again!

By Melanie Alpert | Events , voice

Sarah Jackson

A huge round of congratulations to Alpert Studio student Sarah Jackson upon being selected to participate in the semi-final round in the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Competition. Sarah was selected as one of fifteen from a field of almost 200 participants in the competition’s classical category. Spotlight is considered one of the most prestigious competitions for high school students in the country. Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious, Sarah!

Sarah’s participation marks the fifth consecutive year that an Alpert Studio student has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Spotlight Awards. Let’s all give Sarah our support as she returns to the final rounds early in 2008!

Melanie Alpert cast in King and I

By billalpert | Events , voice

Original Broadway production poster

I’m proud to announce that Melanie Alpert was recently cast in the role of Lady Thiang in an upcoming professional production of King and I at Performance Riverside. Performances run from Feb. 1 – 10. The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic will be directed by John Vaughn, and will also feature Barbara Hinrichesen in the role of Anna and studio student Michael Stugis as Louis.

Based on the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, the musical has been a favorite of audiences since its original 1951 Broadway production.

From Wikipedia: The musical opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 29, 1951 and starred Gertrude Lawrence as Anna, and a then mostly unknown Yul Brynner as the King. The production was directed by John Van Druten, choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with scenic and lighting design by Jo Mielziner, and costumes designed by Irene Sharaff. Of course Brynner appeared in the 1956 film version, opposite Deborah Kerr.

I hope the our entire studio family will come out and support Barbara and Melanie in what is shaping up to be a wonderful and enjoyable production. For information visit Performance Riverside’s Website

Holiday Greetings from the mountains of Florida!

By billalpert | The Kitchen Sink , violin , voice

Intrepid Expedition Everest Explorers wish you a Happy Holiday!

We’d like to extend the best of the season to our entire studio family. We’re back from our road trip and looking forward to seeing all of you soon, starting the week of January 7.

Happy Holidays to one and all, and a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

This just in: congratulations to studio student Kathryn McGuire for her successful audition for The Intimate Opera Company’s upcoming productions of La Traviata and The Mikado. Awesome!

Holiday Wishes and January Events

By Melanie Alpert | Events , The Kitchen Sink , violin , voice

To those who participated in our Winter recital, and to those who could not be there, to the entire studio family: we’d like to extend our best wishes for a joyous and safe holiday season. Kudos to each of our recital participants. We’re proud of your progress, and we look forward seeing your continued growth.

Reminders:
Voice and Violin Lessons will resume the week of January 7, 2008
SCVA PARTICIPANTS: Your applications must be sent in by Dec. 8. The competition is Saturday, Jan. 12 at 9:00 a.m. at the studio recital hall.

Dec. 07 Recital Participants