A touch of heaven

World-class International Artists of Shandelee Music Festival serenade patients at CRMC

By RICHARD A. ROSS

HARRIS, NY — The sonorous sounds of some of the world’s most talented pianists enlivened the day for patients at Catskill Regional Medical Center’s (CRMC’s) Skilled Nursing Unit on August 6.

For the past five years, the International Artists of the Shandelee Music Festival have made their stunning talent available to people who would never otherwise get to hear them. This is the 15th year of the Shandelee Music Festival and, as in recent years, the festival’s public relations director, Barbara Konvalin, and CRMC Director of Community Services Jodi Goodman arranged for some of this year’s budding world-class artists to visit the skilled nursing unit to perform.

This year, five immensely talented young artists spoke to the patients and shared some information about their backgrounds and the music they would be playing.

The group included two who had been part of last year’s festival. Anna Fedorova, who was born in Kiev (Ukraine), and Rodion Efremov, whose family emigrated to the United States when he was six years old, both described last year’s experience as remarkable and life-altering. They were delighted to have the opportunity to return for the 2008 festival.

Fedorova is a student at the Lysenko’s Kiev Special Music School. Efremov just completed his freshman year at Peabody Conservatory.

They were joined by Akido Ando, who was born in Tokyo. Ando is

currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Southern California. Ando began the program with the Sonata in E. Major, K. 380, L. 23 and the Sonata in D Minor, K.9, L.413 Allegro by Domenico Scarlatti. Carolyn Grossman has performed as a soloist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Chamber Orchestra and the Biola Chamber Orchestra. Grossman performed Reflets, dans l’eau (Reflections on the water) by Claude Debussy.

Jessica Roderer has performed with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, among many other notable venues. This fall she will be attending the University of Southern California to pursue her Master’s Degree in piano performance. Roderer performed the Ballade No. 2 by Franz Liszt.

Efremov serenaded the patients with Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Book I, Op. 35. Fedorova delighted her audience with Erikönig by Schubert/Liszt, the Turkish March by Mozart/Arkady Volodos and the Italian Polka by Sergie Rachmaninoff/Arkady Volodos.

The program came to delightful conclusion as Grossman, Efremov and Fedorova perfomed Künstierleben by Johan Strauss.

Visit www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=tr12764&p=paid&AID=5458195 for an album of photos from the Shandelee Outreach Concert.

Young pianists, including four local standouts, to showcase their talent on August 15

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Two Shandelee concerts showcasing young pianists, including local talent, have been sold out, so a new one has been added to the schedule on August 15 at the Shandelee Concert Pavillion. John Bernstein, a senior at Tri-Valley Central School; Ryan Cerullo, who just graduated from Liberty High School; and Jessica Nesin and Ruby Hong, both of Monticello High School, will perform along with International Artists Allen Yueh, Rodion Efremov, Carolyn Grossman and Anna Fedorova. Shown at bottom right, seated, are Yueh, left, Nesin, Grossman and Hong. Standing are Cerullo, left, Bernstein, Efremov and Fedorova.

The pianists will perform works by Bach, Scarlatti, Debussy, Chopin, Kabalevsky and Grieg. Also on tap will be the performance of a rarely heard four-hand and six-hand piano repertoire.

Admission for students is free. Tickets for adults cost $15 dollars, for seniors, $10. The concert will be followed by a dessert reception. Reservations are required. For more information call 845/439-3277.