Our celebratory 15th Anniversary season ended on a high note as hundreds of children and families joined us on Saturday, June 21st for the culminating concert of our 3rd Annual Children’s Music Festival. Over 160 students from our partner schools performed a mix of musical styles and traditions on stage alongside professional artists at Teatro Hecksher of El Museo del Barrio. Hosted by Maggie Rodriguez, Co-Anchor CBS News' The Early Show, this culminating concert event followed a spring full of free concerts and workshops, including last month's Children's Day at the Sony Atrium. Featured performances included: cellist extraordinaire Eugene Friesen, Latin jazz great Arturo O'Farrill performing a duet with Midori & Friends alumnus Luis Fernandez, Adventure Concert Series ensembles Afro Brazil Arts and Mexico Beyond Mariachi performing alongside students from our Musical Learning Adventures programs, students parading through the aisles with Music for Homemade Instruments, and an inter-school chorus accompanied by children playing guitars, violins, cellos, and percussion instruments
Adding to the fun were raffle prizes, musical giveaways, and a shimmering stage curtain made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. This year's festival was also part of Make Music New York's free, citywide musical celebration.
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Students from 4 partner schools opened the show with Music of the World, a piece composed especially for this event by Robert Maggio. This song was made possible by a grant from The ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund. |
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Students performing with Music for Homemade Instruments |
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Host Maggie Rodriguez, Co-Anchor CBS News’ “The Early Show” |
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Students performing with Afro Brazil Arts |
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Eugene Friesen in Suite Harmony |
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Afro Brazil Arts entertains the audience during intermission |
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Board Member Marilyn Cohen and Grazyna Zeranska |
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Maggie Rodriguez calls raffle winners with students |
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Students performing with Mexico Beyond Mariachi |
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Guitar students perform with Midori & Friends Teaching Artists Tom Halpenny |
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Pianist Arturo O’Farrill performs with Midori & Friends alumnus Luis Fernandez… |
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…and young percussionist Amaury Acosta |
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A shimmering bottle curtain designed by students serves as stage décor |
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Vocal and instrumental students from 7 Midori & Friends partner schools perform Harmony’s Happening! onstage alongside composter/pianist David Griffiths, singer Monique Griffiths, percussionist Bamm Washington, cellist Eugene Friesen, and teaching artists Tom Halpenny, Suzanne Saba Hughes, and Marina Fragoulis |
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Volunteers from Goldman Sachs’ Community TeamWorks |
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Midori & Friends
352 Seventh Avenue, Suite #301 | New York, NY 10001
212-767-1300
music@midoriandfriends.org
