Piano and Friends Recital November 24, 2011

The Piano and Friends Recital will be Thursday, November 24, at 19:00 in the Ambrit Theater. This annual concert is performed by professional musicians, many of whom teach music at the school. Our program this year promises to be beautiful and entertaining, from Baroque music to 20th Century. Students who are learning to play an instrument will also enjoy this concert, and should attend with their parents.

The program includes: Bach Brandenburg Concerto N. 3, Faure' Elegie for 'Cello and Piano, Bernstein Clarinet Solo, Franck Violin Sonata, and several other short pieces. The duration will be one hour and 15 minutes.

A Music Trip to Cyprus!

Arabic-European Choral Festival

Many of us have taken advantage of the wonderful professional development opportunities offered to teachers at Ambrit. In September I was fortunate to attend the first world Arabic-European Choral Festival in Limassol, Cyprus, which was funded entirely by Europa Cantat and the European Union, and hosted by Epilogi Choral Crossroads. It was an event I will never forget, because I heard world-class, inspiring choirs from Hungary, Estonia, Jordan, Lebannon, Serbia, Egypt and Greece, and our hosts from Cyprus were not only prize-winning singers, but superb hosts. We had very hot weather, but the activities were very cool! Meeting and speaking with the conductors of all these choirs was so interesting. I attended discussions on Arabic music and the challenges of the language and style when related to our European concept of choral singing. I picked up some great new music for my Ambrit choirs and for the MAIS Honor Choir, and shared some music I have with conductors from other countries. I was a panel member for the discussion of women in the world of conducting. Ten choirs sang for a packed house on the first two nights, and we were in heaven listening to the various styles and all the interesting music they had to offer, some of it very different from our own. The final night was a concert in the Kourion Roman amphitheater, where all choirs sang individually, and, jointly, a song called We Are Bridges,  by Steve Dobrogosz, commissioned by the Cyprus Epilog committee. Please see the video link to get a flavor of the event, scrolling down to the song on the composer's website.

This trip not only gave me loads of new music, new friends and colleagues, and a beautiful experience in Cyprus, but it also inspired me and reminded me that trips like this for our own students are such an important educational experience in growing up. I was indeed sorry when the Festival came to an end, and lucky to be one of the participants.

Grade 8 Composition Elective Class

This year, Grade 8 students get the opportunity to choose an elective class for each term. Music Instructor, Ms. Johannson, is offering a composition class, where students learn how to compose, edit, and mix their own musical pieces on the professional program called Logic Express. At the end of each term, students will showcase their musical pieces at a concert. Below is a picture of students' first day working on Logic Express.

Summer Has Come to an End, A New School Year Begins!

Welcome Back! The Music Department has some new and exciting events to come this year. First, we would like to welcome the Music Intern, Ms. Natalie Atzeff, who will be working with the EC and Primary Grades 1-3 students. She will also be instructing two Drama classes during the After School Program. To read her Bio, please refer to the link below.
http://ambrit-rome.com/staff/staffnews.html
natalie.atzeff@ambrit-rome.com
We have started the year off by introducing different ways to use our voice. Students are able to decipher the difference between whispering, shouting, singing, and talking. Here are a few pictures of the Kinder and Grade 2 Music Class.

Honor Choir in Valencia

Great singing, Middle School Honor Choir singers and Carolina Johansson, director of the Ambrit group, at your annual concert with the Mediterranean Association of International Schools Honor Choir Festival. in Valencia, Spain. Singers toured the city and under the direction of Paige Short, sang with students from many nations at a special concert at the American School of Valencia and the Valencia Conservatory Superiore de Musica. Kudos.

Junior Choir and Ambrit Chamber Ensemble Hit Milano

The Ambrit Ensemble and Junior Choir sang a beautiful concert at the St. Louis International School in Milano on May 13. Singers took the Freccia Rossa train to Milano and toured the Duomo, the Brera Museum, La Scala Theater, and had a great day out playing soccer and bowling at the Villa Moratti. Side trips included the multicultural market at Piazza Marcello, the new Inter stadium, the Da Vinci horse at the race track, and students were treated to a fly-by concert by the Bersaglieri and shopping in the Galleria. Congratulations, Junior Choir on your great singing, and Ensemble for your great playing. Thank you, Philip O'Gara and St. Louis for the opportunity to visit you.

Private Lesson Recitals and Choir Concert

The All Choirs Concert will be Monday, May 24 at 17:30 in the Ambrit Theater. Choirs performing will be Treble Choir, Junior Choir, and Middle School Choir.

The Private Lesson Recitals will be the last week of May. Check with your teacher if you are not sure about your recital day. Recitals are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, May 25-27. All recitals begin at 17:30.

The Junior Choir  and Middle School Choirs will be performing at the Fara in Sabina Music Festival Sunday, June 13. The bus will leave Ambrit at 10:30. Students and families are invited to have a picnic lunch in the park with us in Fara in Sabina. We should be singing about 15:30. Many concerts will be happening throughout the day, so stay and listen to others. Bus leaves for Rome at 18:30.

The Treble Choir will have its day trip Friday, June 11. We are going to sing at Britannia International school and have a picnic lunch at Lake Albano. Students leave Ambrit at 9:30 by bus and will return for parent pick-up at 17:00.