All of the countless hours of dedication and solitary devotion to our instruments bring us personal growth, enjoyment and fulfillment. Still, we bring the greatest value to the world only by sharing our gifts.

I once read that performing is the hardest job that there is. It’s a statement that rings true for many of us. Sometimes it brings us pure elation, yet at other times it can be utter terror. It humbles us, and makes us appreciate what great performers do.

Most recently, I was privileged to attend a live performance of Jason Robert Brown’s groundbreaking musical Parade at the Mark Taper Forum. Beyond the heartbreaking story, I felt great appreciation for what each and every one of the performers (as well as the creators) shared so generously. It was an unforgettable experience.

Last summer a large part of our studio family devoted months of rehearsal to a weekend of live performance of Jason Robert Brown’s music. While it was my joy to perform this incredible music with students, friends and family, it was also my honor to be able to share it with all who attended.

When our work as performers reaches beyond our own aspirations and touches the hearts and minds of those around us, we’re each creating a more beautiful world. What greater gift of love could you give?

Studio Recital:
Saturday, December 5 • 4:00 p.m.
Studio Performance Facility

Rehearsal with pianist will be held at the same site on Friday, December 4 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Students will be assigned an individual rehearsal slot in advance.

All students are expected to participate in the recital, and support fellow students by remaining present during the entire event.

Amanda Workman performs in The Magic Flute

Studio alum Amanda Workman is performing in the role of Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Riverside Lyric Opera. Tickets and information here. Support Amanda and live opera close to home by attending this event.

Mercedes Machado won first place in the Chaffey Joint Union Solofest Competition in the classical category. Congrats to all the finalists: Marissa Henkel, Laura Musquez, and Hannah Meisser who won an honorable mention in the Musical Theater catagory.

Mackenzie Orr performs the role of Scout in Fullerton College’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” (October 22, 23, 24)

Also on stage in in the near future is Marissa Henkel featured in the Los Osos High School production of To Gillian on her 37th Birthday.

Michael Sturgis is performing along with stage and screen veteran Fred Willard in the Grove’s production of Elvis and Juliet.

Gracie Unger is featured as Cinderella in the Grove Theater’s Children’s Production of Cinderella. One performance only: November 14th at 12 noon. Gracie receives credit for all tickets sold, so… please mention her name.

Leanna Arredondo is Tiger Lily in the Chaffey High School producton Peter Pan.

Maggie Anderson, Eryn Moore and Christina Stratford are featured the Lewis Family Playhouse Production of The Crucible.

Cesar Giovanni Quintero appears in the Candlelight Pavillion production of The Man of La Mancha.

Brandon Alpert will appear in the Performance Riverside production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

I am so proud of everyone!!! Every studio student should support your fellow students and attend as many productions as possible. Let me know what you are doing and I will post it on the website!

Our dear friends John Walz, Edie Orloff and Roger Wilke write:

Greetings from Europe. We are having a wonderful tour with the Pacific Trio. We have done concerts in Poland and Germany so far, tomorrow we are in France, then back to Germany. We finish up in Munich, playing at the Gasteig, which is the release concert for our new CD of American works.

This, the latest of many European tours by The Pacific Trio, brings home to us the universal nature of music. A great performance of live music will capture the imagination of people across any culture, social class, political or religious belief. Our performing artists have done much to promote understanding and cooperation across the far corners of the Earth.

Frequently we see the world in a distorted view of controversy, conflict and turmoil on TV and in newspapers. Yet as a race, humans share much more that connects us than separates us. Follow our intrepid three friends across the planet and you’ll find living rooms and auditoriums full of diverse audiences that celebrate the universality of great music.

In what city, country or continent could Gershwin’s Second Piano Prelude (arranged for trio) not melt your heart?

Studio students Jessica and Mike Ciao recently took the challenge and contributed their selected recordings. Will you take the challenge too?

Listening Challenge Selections:
Can you name a famous violinist that performed in each of the following time periods?
1900-1935
1936-1950
1951-1979

and one more for posterity, Alison Krauss, 2007 recording

Bye Bye Birdie opens July 24 – Design: Carlos Musquez

Bye Bye Birdie is a favorite of the Broadway musical theater stage with book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse.

Originally titled Let’s Go Steady, this satire on American society is set in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the army in 1957. The rock star character’s name, “Conrad Birdie,” is word play on the name of Conway Twitty, who is remembered today mainly as a country music star but was one of Presley’s rock ‘n’ roll rivals in the late 1950s. The original Broadway production was a Tony Award-winning success. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions. (courtesy Wikipedia)

Come support your Alpert Studio students and alums, many of whom are participating in this family friendly production of a true Broadway classic!

Performances are Friday, July 24th, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25th, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, July 26th 2:30 p.m., Friday, July 31st, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 1st, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 2nd at 2:30 p.m. at Los Osos High School, 6001 Milliken Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Ticket Order form

Kaitlin Orr, MacKenzie Orr, Angie Harold, Zach Jacobsen and Scotty Jacobsen are featured in the Citrus College Conservatory performance of Footloose.

Appearing in the Broadway Experience production of Bye Bye Birdie (a project dear to my heart, as I am the music director), are Ariel Fazekas, Laura Musquez, Miranda Ford. Elysee Carenno, Ian Hewitt, Zeke Gonzalez, Michael Vandie, Gabi Ensil, Sabrina Bertic, David Nicholson, Marissa Henkel, Hanna Meisser, Sarah Hinrichesen, Maggie Anderson, Sarah Jackson, Michael Sturgis, Cesar Quintero, Darrah Carattini-Garcia, Chris Small and Brandon Alpert. The production opens on July 24. Additional information can be found here.

Be it an opera of Mozart or a scene from any current Broadway hit, a great score, polished singing and thoughtful acting are all integral to a convincing performance. So found a contingent of young Alpert studio students and alumni who participated in a recent master class presented by Eden Espinosa in conjunction with Broadway Experience.

Kudos to all of our students who attended and/or performed at the event. It was a great opportunity to learn from a well known performer at the top of her game. Ms. Espinosa’s insights received rave reviews from all in attendance. We’re all indebted to her as well as Sergio Mejia who led a dance workshop.

Thanks to Broadway Experience for hosting the event and to Debbie Jackson for providing the photos in this slide show.

Alpert Studio Students are invited to participate in a musical theater master class for dance and vocal performance, presented by noted Broadway star Eden Espinosa and choreographer Sergio Mejia.

Eden Espinosa began singing at the age of three and performing at age five.¹ After graduating from Canyon High School, she worked at local theme parks prior to being discovered by the BKLYN casting director. Espinosa worked on creating the title role of the musical at the Denver Civic Theatre for nearly two years. Prior to BKLYN’s Broadway run at the Plymouth Theatre, Eden made her Broadway debut in the original company of Stephen Schwartz’s musical Wicked, where she understudied Idina Menzel’s Elphaba. Espinosa departed Wicked in August, 2004. BKLYN began its Broadway run on October 24, 2004 and closed on June 26, 2005. (extracted from Wikipedia)

Presented by Broadway Experience
Adult class (14 & up) Sunday, June 28th at 3:00pm
Youth class (7 thru 13) Monday, June 29th at 10:00am
Participant Fee: $65.00

The Studio Theater • 1400 N. Benson Ave., Upland CA

For information call (909) 982-5736 • http://broadwayexperience.org

By reservation only. Sign up early for this very special event, as class sizes are strictly limited

Just a few quick reminders for violin students of the Alpert Studio:

Summer Schedule:

Violin lessons are scheduled all summer long, with the exception of August 3 – August 14. Additionally, some lessons between August 17-19 may be impacted, however I plan to reschedule those lessons later that week, or during a mutually convenient time. As always, your regular monthly tuition will apply during the summer, as it is based on a total of 40-45 lessons during the year, payable in 12 installments.

If you plan to travel during summer months, please let me know at your earliest convenience, so that I can help you schedule make-up lesson time.

A Musical Summer

Summer often affords students more time to focus on musical activities. I’ll be talking to you about some possible summer projects, if you’d like to put some extra energy into your violin. Let’s talk!

Listening Challenge:

Can you name a famous violinist that performed in each of the following time periods?

1900-1935
1936-1950
1951-1979

Extra Credit: Share an audio/video link to a performance by each of these violinists. I’ll post your selections on the studio website!

Free Outdoor Concerts

Come see the fabulous fiddle group Barrage perform at the Redlands Bowl on Tuesday, July 14. Cody Bryant and the Riders of the Purple Sage perform on Friday, July 10. And I’ll be performing with the Redlands Symphony on Tuesday, July 28. Info: http://www.redlandsbowl.org/programs.htm

Have a wonderful, safe and musical summer!

Bill Alpert