by Jeff Lunden
NPR Music News

November 5, 2009 - Opening night of New York City Opera’s new season is Thursday. A longtime scrappy alternative to the plush Metropolitan Opera, the company has struggled to make a comeback after financial and artistic turmoil.

The New York City Opera makes its home on the plaza of Lincoln Center, right in the shadow of the Metropolitan Opera. But New York Times music critic Anthony Tommasini says there’s always been room for two opera companies in town, because both have been so different…But recently, New York City Opera has fallen on hard times. Last year, there was no season at all. The company closed its theater for a costly renovation. Then, the Belgian impresario hired to lead City Opera, Gerard Mortier, bolted when he couldn’t make his ambitious plans happen. And finally, the stock market — and the opera’s endowment — plummeted. With a $15 million deficit, the company almost closed down.

Go here to read more.

After you practice for years and get to Carnegie Hall, it’s almost better to move music stands than actually play the piano.

Depending on wattage, a star pianist can receive $20,000 a night at the 118-year-old hall, meaning he or she would have to perform at least 27 times to match the income of Dennis O’Connell, who oversees props at the New York concert hall.

O’Connell made $530,044 in salary and benefits during the fiscal year that ended in June 2008. The four other members of the full-time stage crew — two carpenters and two electricians — had an average income of $430,543 during the same period, according to Carnegie Hall’s tax return.

At Carnegie Hall, which has featured on its three stages such varied musicians as Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan and the Berlin Philharmonic, only Artistic and Executive Director Clive Gillinson makes more than the stagehands.

Gillinson earned $946,581 in salary and benefits in the fiscal year that ended in June 2008. Chief Financial Officer Richard Matlaga made $352,139, while General Manager Anna Weber received $341,542.

The stagehands benefit from a strong union: Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees demonstrated its clout in November 2007 when its members walked off their Broadway jobs and closed 26 shows for almost three weeks. The strike ended after stagehands and producers agreed to a five-year contract that both sides called a compromise.

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By Aspen Steib
CNN

NEW YORK (CNN) — The YouTube and Carnegie Hall generations collided Wednesday night in New York City as a nearly sold-out audience looked on in amazement.

Almost 100 musicians from around the world — the world’s first symphony orchestra comprised of members who auditioned solely online — played their debut gig. They may have forever changed the audition process in their journey.

The YouTube Symphony Orchestra bore a new era of classical performance at Carnegie Hall, and according to a YouTube employee, that’s exactly what they wanted to do.

“We hope this is game changing in the sense it redefines audition space, it brings people closer together and lets them collaborate, transcending geographical and linguistic boundaries,” said marketing manager Ed Sanders.

Participants were chosen from more than 3,000 YouTube video submissions from more than 70 countries and territories spanning six continents, according to a press release.

On behalf of the students of music at Williams Bay High School, we want to express our deepest appreciation for all of your hard work to help make our tour to New York City a wonderful and highly memorable experience. Your efforts have helped us immeasurably in generating enthusiasm for our small, but growing music department. As the students and parents relay to their friends about what a positive experience this trip has been, more people will want to become involved with our music department in the future.

Robert Semanza, our tour guide, was incredible. He really knew his city like the back of his hand and it was obvious that he enjoyed showing people his “town.” The students and parents absolutely loved him.

All of our coach drivers did an amazing job hauling us around. They did their best to make sure our ride was as smooth and comfortable as possible. Tom, our driver in the city, did things with that coach that most people with little sedans couldn’t do. Spectacular!

The clinicians, Ira Shankman and Bill Silvester, were both terrific. It was very kind of them to spend their morning working with us. They were very knowledgeable, professional, and personable. They challenged our ensembles to be better than they were.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine was a wonderful place to play. It was fun watching the students’ eyes widen in amazement as the reverberation of their sound washed over their ears. One parent was even moved to tears (in a good way) by the emotional strength of our performance.

Really, we can’t say enough about how wonderful the entire experience was. As soon as the bus took off, I felt like I could just sit back and enjoy the ride. All of the many months of fundraising and planning really paid off. We will certainly be using Music Celebrations International for our future touring needs!

Most Sincerely,

David Johnson
Director of Instrumental Music

Kenneth Church
Director of Choral Music / Theater

The Rushville Consolidated High School A Cappella Choir recently toured New York City, performing in the National Festival of the States concert series. The following is quote from Paul Grizzard, choir director:

I personally enjoyed our performance at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine the most. After our performance we were allowed to stay and listen to other choirs, and after the last choir finished they allowed us to stay longer and sing in the great acoustics. The kids had changed clothes and we sang in a circle for ourselves, but were able to perform pieces from our Madrigal Dinners and other previous concerts just for the sheer beauty of music – an experience I will never forget.

Many of the students agree with me as to their highlight, but several others liked our clinic with Ira Shankman
of NYU the best. Overall, a very rewarding musical experience for me and the students.

Keep up the good work, MCI! I will be happy to serve as a reference!

Paul Grizzard
Choir Director

NEW YORK (AP) — Harlem is the historic capital of black American culture, but like many New York neighborhoods, it is rapidly changing.

Condos can go for $1 million. Big retailers like Old Navy, Starbucks, Payless, Staples and Blockbuster are ubiquitous. On 125th Street near Fifth Avenue, bulldozers clear a vacant lot for an upscale hotel.

Old-timers worry that redevelopment will wipe out mom-and-pop stores and affordable housing, along with the area’s distinct character. But boosters say commerce and construction bring jobs, safe streets and new cultural and retail venues that complement famous landmarks.

Certainly Harlem’s appeal to tourists has never been stronger. Double-decker sightseeing buses cross 125th Street every few minutes. Japanese visitors queue up at Sylvia’s, the famous soul food restaurant.

“There is an image of Harlem that is indelible around the world,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, the city’s marketing and tourism organization. “But that image is maybe more stuck in the past — the music scene, the Cotton Club, the Apollo Theater. You think about these things because they’re iconic. But Harlem is a wonderful, thriving community. It’s bigger than any building, bigger than any iconic representation. And there are so many things to do.”

But how does a visitor find the real Harlem amid all the changes? And what is the real Harlem anyway?

Here are some answers, along with ideas for where to go when you exit the subway at 125th Street.

NEW YORK (AP) — While planning her vacation to New York, Lisa Werness was so horrified by the prices in Manhattan that she opted for cheaper lodging in Brooklyn — where she scored a room rate of just $400 a night.

“Don’t remind me. I’m trying to forget about it,” the Raleigh, North Carolina, resident said of the price shortly after checking in at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. “We’re just kind of biting the bullet.”

In a city where even residents often pay more than half their salaries for a place to lay their heads, visitors in need of lodging have long faced a shortage of hotel rooms and rising prices.

Now, with 8,500 hotel rooms under construction in the city — a growth of more than 10 percent — that crunch could ease ever so slightly in the coming months. By comparison, it took from 1998 to 2007 to make a leap of the same size.

“One of the challenges that New York has always had is having enough rooms for tourists,” said Sean Hennessey, CEO of industry consulting firm Lodging Investment Advisors. “Most of the time the corporate travelers are willing to pay more than the tourists, and the tourists kind of get crowded out.”

Full article here

Say you’re in the mood to indulge in a shoe-shopping spree — does a certain city pop to mind? How about an urban destination for a romantic weekend? Where in the U.S. can you find the most compelling museums or thrilling club scene? Is the city with the most attractive citizens also the one with the best opportunities for people-watching?

Headline News, Travel + Leisure and CNN.com spent three months collecting 60,000 votes, from local residents and visitors, on what they like (and don’t like) about 25 urban destinations across the country. Voters were asked for their opinions on culture, shopping, people, food and city characteristics — and they gave us more surprises than we anticipated.

Well, America has an opinion — and America has spoken.

Click here for the full report

Seeing Mickey & Co. gets more expensive for third time in past two years

Another reason why touring groups should avoid Orlando and perform in MCI’s National Festival of the States concert series instead!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Walt Disney World is raising ticket prices for the third time in two years, company officials announced.

An adult one-day, one-park pass will increase 6 percent, $67 to $71 beginning Sunday. Discount packages also will be affected, but the per-day cost could be less than $23 for adults who buy as large as a 10-day package.

The change is due to an annual planning cycle of travel wholesalers, tour organizers and commercial publications, Disney officials told the Orlando Sentinel.

Click here for full article

Central Kentucky News Journal

The Taylor County High School Show Choir performed in New York City on June 10-14, representing the state of Kentucky in the 2007 National Festival of the States.

Director Lisa Gupton was informed of their selection in January based upon recommendations of state music officials, past achievements of the group and upon outstanding reviews from Music Celebrations International personnel in Washington, D.C. where the group performed in 2006.

The group had three performances in New York City.

The show choir gave two 30-minute programs for students at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. One of New York City’s eight specialized high schools, the school prepares public high school students for professional careers and/or conservatory study in dance, drama, the visual arts, vocal and instrumental music and theater production.

The show choir had the opportunity to work with Professor Ira Shankman, vocal jazz professor at NYU in a specialized clinic. Shankman gave the group performance suggestions and worked with them on vocal production technique.

“The students had a great time with Mr. Shankman and received some exceptional training in both singing and showmanship,” Gupton said. “It was quite an honor to have such a prestigious gentleman work with our Taylor County High students.”

The show choir gave an hour-long performance in the public lobby of the United Nations Building. This show featured selections from their 2007 spring revue.

“We opened the set with selections from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and immediately drew a large crowd of both visitors and UN personnel. The students gave what was surely the best performance of their lives and the audience had a wonderful time,” Gupton said. “Many of the listeners who had stopped by for a moment stayed for the entire show. Watching people from other cultures enjoy the performance so much was a lifelong memory for our students.”

In addition to their performances the students were invited to the CBS Early Show.

“We were excited when we received the invitation and had a great time meeting the hosts and having our moment on national television.”

The group also attended a performance of “The Phantom of the Opera.” The five-day tour included opportunities for the show choir to visit Ellis Island, Liberty Island, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Battery Park, Wall Street, Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem, Central Park, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center site and many other attractions.

The National Festival of the States is organized by Music Celebrations International of Tempe, Arizona, a professional festival/event organizer with years of both national and international music festival expertise.

“It was an honor to represent Kentucky again this year in this outstanding program. We were able to sing in some outstanding venues and to share in the cultural activities of one of our nation’s greatest cities.”

Very good trip! All my interactions with the Music Celebrations personnel were great. The sightseeing was amazing and our tour managers (guides) did a phenomenal job, and the venues were exceptional. I loved how informative the trip was. We saw so much, and we sang well at our venues. It was a great trip for our kids. I would love to be a reference!

Kelly Meyer
Beatrice High School Concert Choir

I remember wondering at the beginning of this past school year if Music Celebrations was going to be a company that I would be able to rely on and want to work with again. It is so helpful for us teachers to know firsthand who we are dealing with and whether or not we are in good hands when we make trip arrangements on behalf of many students and at their expense. Your people kept telling me that this would be a wonderful tour to New York City - AND you were right!!

Thank you everyone involved for making the weekend worthwhile. Our wishes were met and exceeded. And yes, I would travel again with MCI, now knowing that you are what you say you are! I would certainly be a reference for MCI!

Greta Reed
Gloucester High School Choirs

My personal highlight of the tour was the fact that I didn’t have to worry about anything! Every aspect of our tour to New York City was handled seamlessly and communication regarding my tour was given to me well in advance so that I knew what to expect. I got what I expected: what more can a tour director want from a tour?

Overall, this was a top quality tour. Great tour guide, bus and driver, great food, a fabulous city to see and a wonderful experience all around. I have purchased many tours through Music Celebrations and this was, without a doubt, the BEST tour I had experienced. Everyone at MCI is exceptional. Donna was impeccable, Dan outdid himself and all of the “behind the scenes” staff at MCI who had anything to do in the creation of this tour should be congratulated.

Nathan Artley
Pine Forest High School Orchestra

By Lori Price

Newton - String players from both the Sussex County Youth Orchestra and a group from Pine Forest High School in North Carolia will present a free concert at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14 at the Presbyterian Church.

The free concert is sponsored by Music Celebrations International.

Music Celebrations International has arranged a China tour for the SCYO in June and has also made NYC tour plans for the Pine Forest high school orchestra.

The North Carolina high school is in Fayetteville, home to Fort Bragg and many of its students come from military families. According to the musical director, Nathan Artley, this is the group’s seventh tour organized by MCI. “ I love touring and MCI does such a great job. I have about 45 kids in my group and am taking 32 to NYC.” Artley has been the group’s director for 19 years and admits that his job can be challenging as well as rewarding. “ It took me a few years to get used to the transient nature of the military lifestyle. I get students in the program while parents are based in Fort Bragg and then they are transferred and leave. Building a stable base of orchestra talent can be difficult when students so often move in and out throughout the school year. But the kids work hard, I love them and they love to play,” said Artley.

The group will be visiting the big apple, and attending a workshop at New York University. The joint concert, and social exchange also planned, is one of the activities the group will participate in, and according to Artley, is the highlight of their trip. “They are really looking forward to meeting members of the Sussex County Youth Orchestra and learning more about them,” said Artley.

Dawn Tedesco, director of the SCYO, and her husband Gerald Tedesco, conductor, are both looking forward to meeting Artley and his student to share musical ideas and learn about the different backgrounds of members of the two orchestra’s. Members of the Sussex County Youth Orchestra are students, from many different schools in and around Sussex County and its surrounding counties, as well as Pennsylvania. All members are required to take private lessons in addition to their commitment to the orchestra.

“The concert will include many fiddle and Celtic songs which are fun to play and have great audience appeal. We will also have a woodwind trio, flute duet and a brass ensemble,” said Dawn Tedesco.

The young musicians will have an opportunity to socialize at a reception by the Sussex County Youth Orchestra after the concert.

“I am so looking forward to this event. I had the privilege of performing in a joint concert when I was younger and it made a lasting impression on me. I want my students to enjoy the same great experience,” said Artley.

On Sunday, February 18th, a 275 member chorus performed in the Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley, arguably the world’s most prolific Hymn writer.

The Festival Chorus was under the direction of James Ramsey, Timothy Koch, and Eph Ehly.

Below are just a few comments from some of the participants:

“We had a great trip. The Lincoln Center was amazing, and Music Celebrations is awesome!”

“Overall, the festival at Lincoln Center was truly outstanding. Of course my personal highlight was the concert, on which there were many highlights. The level of competency and professionalism of all MCI reps created a sure success. This event FAR exceeded my already high expectations. I am certain that MCI’s handling of the logistics, especially, but not limited to, rehearsal and performance venues and hotels, helped lay the groundwork for musical success. I consider the Festival to be one of the top highlights of my professional and personal experience, and I hope for future projects with MCI.”

“Seeing my choir members so happy and fulfilled after the performance at Lincoln Center was definitely my highlight. They were 6 feet off the ground! We didn’t even need jet power to get home…my choir was lifting the plane right off the tarmac!”

By Linda Bloom*
Jan. 18, 2007 | NEW YORK (UMNS)

A United Methodist-related concert at New York’s Lincoln Center will honor hymn-writer Charles Wesley as it raises funds for relief work.

The 2007 Wesley Choral Festival, presented by Music Celebrations International, commemorates the 300th anniversary of Wesley’s birth. Events begin with a Feb. 15 gala dinner in Little Italy and culminate with a concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18.

The idea for the festival originated with James Ramsey, the director of worship and arts at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Ramsey considers Wesley to be “the largest hymn writer known to mankind” who also had a significant impact on the denomination his brother founded. “From a historical perspective, without the hymns and without the rich history of hymn singing, the musical context of The United Methodist Church would be vastly different,” he added.

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

Performing groups that participate in the National Festival of the States concert series in New York City have the opportunity of visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

From ABC News

The big-splurge dinner out has grown even costlier for New Yorkers and visitors, with the tab at top spots soaring 15 percent since last year, according to the 2007 Zagat dining survey released on Wednesday.

New York traditionally has had the nation’s highest dining tab and this year it came in at just under $40 per person, up 5 percent.

Everyone at Music Celebrations is excited to have 12 outstanding choirs from across America join us in commemorating the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley’s birth in Avery Fisher Hall next February.

Click here for information on the festival program.

New York City is an incredible destination for a concert tour for any type of ensemble. The MCI organized National Festival of the States concert series has attracted several of the top choral and instrumental programs throughout the U.S. We pride ourselves on our ability to get access to some of the most sought after performance venues. These venues, in turn, are very appreciative of the high-quality ensembles we bring to them year in and year out.

The following is a note of appreciation from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine:

As the end of the school year approaches, and as the summer begins, we want to take the opportunity to let you know how much we’ve enjoyed welcoming Music Celebrations and all the choirs and orchestras you’ve brought to the Cathedral in recent months. We hope the program provided the groups an opportunity to experience and learn about the Cathedral in an exciting way and we look forward to their next visits!

The year 2006 has been a very special year, marking Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday, our first founding father to reach this milestone. We honor Benjamin Franklin as one of America’s Founding Fathers and greatest citizens. As a writer, inventor, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist, and civic leader, he helped found a new nation and define the American character.

Music Celebrations International has been working closely with the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary and the city of Philadelphia to provide culturally and musically fulfilling performance tours for select outstanding musical groups throughout all of 2006. We wish to thank all the participants that have toured and performed in Philadelphia thus far, representing nearly every state.

We are pleased to announce that our infrastructure in Philadelphia now allows us to continue to offer this great city as a performance tour destination. The city of Philadelphia might easily be combined with either Washington, D.C., New York City, or both!