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Snowy Halloween

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Most New Yorkers were unpleasantly surprised by the unexpected "winter wonderland" that greeted them on Saturday morning, but for the students of Highbridge Voices it added to the excitement and adventure of the annual Highbridge Voices Halloween party. 

Singing ghosts, goblins, and super heroes spent the afternoon dancing, eating and bobbing for apples, while a Nor'easter roared.  Despite the inclement weather, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Casolari grilled (yes, grilled) hot-dogs and hamburgers outside, much to the amusement and enjoyment of the students and staff.  This may very well have been the best Highbridge Voices Halloween Party yet.

Here are some photos from the party:

Highbridge Voices

Begins Their Fall 2011

Semester with Auditions at

New Student Auditions

Highbridge Voices will be holding its annual fall auditions in a number of local schools in the Highbridge community.  All interested fourth and fifth graders that either attend school or live in the South Bronx community of Highbridge are invited to audition.

Highbridge Voices staff will be visiting the classrooms of participating schools to give students a more in-depth description of our programs and to answer any questions that the students may have.  At these presentations, students will be invited to take a permission slip home to their parent or guardian that, when signed, grants that student permission to audition for Highbridge Voices when the staff returns to their school on their specified audition day.

Highbridge Voices' auditions are relatively short in length and are intended to gauge a child's true interest in the program, their ability to follow directions, and their natural talent in pitch matching, rhythm, and overall singing.  If selected by Highbridge Voices, their name will be submitted to a school administrator to review their academic standing and evaluate whether the Highbridge Voices musical and academic programs would be a good and long-term fit for the selected student.

All students who have auditioned will receive written notification of the result of their audition/interview within two weeks.  If accepted, they will be asked to bring an adult representative from their family to a meeting at Highbridge Voices to enroll the accepted student in the program.  If students are not selected in this semester's auditions, they are strongly encouraged to reaudition when Highbridge Voices holds auditions at their school again.

The Fall 2011 Presentation/Audition Schedule:

Tuesday, September 13th

PS 11 Presentations

Sacred Heart Presentations

PS 199 Presentations

PS 204 Presentations

Friday, September 16th

Sacred Heart Auditions

Saturday, September 17th

Auditions at Highbridge Voices

1360 Merriam Avenue at 170th Street

Monday, September 19th

PS 204 Auditions

Tuesday, September 20th

PS 126 Presentations

PS 73 Presentations

Bronx Academy of Promise Auditions

Thursday, September 22nd

PS 126 Auditions

PS 73 Auditions

Highbridge Voices is an amazing academic, musical, and social experience for its participants.  We look forward to seeing you at our presentations in your school and hearing you at an upcoming audition.

The Highbridge Voices programs will resume with the annual Parent Meeting for all returning students on September 23rd at 6:30PM.  This meeting, for both Highbridge Voices students and an adult representative from their family, is an opportunity for families to register their children in the program and for Highbridge Voices to share some upcoming events and exciting changes that have happened within the program since the end of last semester.

Following the parent meeting, Highbridge Voices classes and tutoring/homework will resume on Tuesday, September 27th at 3:15PM with Concert Choir rehearsal beginning on Wednesday, September 28th at 3:15PM.

We look forward to seeing all of our returning students again, so don't forget about the meeting on September 23rd at 6:30PM, and we'll see each of you at classes on September 27th for the beginning of an amazing new semester!

"Oh Say Can You See..."

Highbridge Voices

On a warm, early summer evening with perfect weather, a late-setting sun and more than 46,000 Yankee and Brewers fans in attendance, the Highbridge Voices Chamber Choir sent their soaring voices aloft as they offered their rendition of the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium.

“This was an once-in-a-lifetime experience…I’ll never forget it…” said Pablo Quezada, 13, a member of the Chamber Choir for two years.

June 29, 2011 marked the choir’s debut performance in the new Yankee Stadium, just ten blocks from their Merriam Avenue home. In the performance, the Chamber Choir, led by Highbridge Voices Executive Director Bruno Casolari, was accompanied by members of the Bronx Brass Ensemble. “This arrangement was written specifically for our choir to showcase some of their amazing vocal abilities; like tight three part harmonies and soaring high notes,” said Casolari.

The choir first recorded their rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner in early May and spent the following month perfecting their performance in preparation for their Yankee Stadium debut. At the sound check earlier in the day, as the choristers first began to sing, there were looks of astonishment on their young faces as they heard their voices echoing through the cavernous space that is Yankee Stadium. But their wonder soon turned into a performance as they remembered some of the instructions provided by the voice faculty as they were preparing their students for their debut - don’t listen to the echo, focus on your singing, listen to each other and you’ll be fine – they certainly were.

“This was a great moment for the Highbridge community. We can all be very proud of Highbridge Voices and all our kids have accomplished” said Jim Dineen, a Highbridge Voices Trustee in attendance at the game. That sentiment was felt by all of the young singers who graced the field that evening, as well as the more than 200 family members and Highbridge Voices students who were also in attendance.

Highbridge Voices

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Lighthouse International

On Thursday, May 19th, Highbridge Voices held their 2011 Benefit Concert, the most important fundraising event of the year. This year, the event took place in a new location, the state-of-the-art Academy Theater at Lighthouse International in midtown Manhattan.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour catered by Sonnier & Castle, followed by a thrilling performance by the Highbridge Voices choirs. This year’s event was held in honor of Nicholas Lembo and Monadnock Construction, for their contribution to the Highbridge community and to the future of New York City.

After beginning the concert with the Highbridge Voices signature selection, My Song, the Concert Choir performed four German Lieder in a set of works by the famed composer Johannes Brahms.  After the entire choir had performed Wie Melodien, Die Meere, and Brauner Bursche, the opportunity came for the youngest and newest members of the Concert Choir to step into the spotlight and wow the audience all by themselves with their performance of Marienwürmchen, translated as The Ladybug.

Next in the program, the Chamber Choir took the stage, dressed in their brand new tuxedos and gowns, to perform selections from their recent tour of Orlando, Florida.  They began their portion of the Benefit Concert with Cantate Domino; which they performed a cappella.  That was followed by Sechaba, a South African selection that relays the struggles that were suffered under apartheid.

Of particular note is the fact that Sechaba is the selection for which the soloists Robert Cortijo and Alizé Torres were given special adjudicators' awards for the performances they gave while in Florida.

Finally, the Chamber Choir was able to show their love of gospel in an amazing arrangement of Anthony Evans' Never Alone.  This was certainly an unforgettable way to conclude the Chamber Choir's set and usher the rest of Highbridge Voices back to the stage.

Once back on stage, the Concert Choir joined Associate Music director Mary Clementi once again to showcase traditional American folksongs through selections of Simple Gifts and Sourwood Mountain. And for their finale, Highbridge Voices delighted the audience with Baba Yetu, a rousing piece that featured the talents of vocal soloist Foday Kamara and djembe soloist Karizma Nisbett.  It was truly a wonderful way to end an amazing performance.

Traditionally, the annual benefit concert serves as an opportunity to share with our supporters the hard work that the students have been doing, both in and out of the rehearsal hall.  Last Thursday's event was no different.  Not only were the guests treated to a wonderful musical performance, but they also had the chance to hear about our students’ most significant academic achievements; increased grades and test scores, academic honors, and college acceptances. The 2011 Benefit Concert was a rousing success, and for that, we thank all of the supporters of Highbridge Voices.

Highbridge Voices Returns from a

SUPERIOR Tour in

Orlando

From April 14th to April 17th, the Highbridge Voices Chamber Choir travelled to Orlando, Florida for a tour of performances, competitions, and workshops in and around the Orlando area. In addition to the time they spent in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Animal Kingdom, our Highbridge Voices students proudly represented themselves in person and in song as they worked with Dr. Al Holcomb of the University of Central Florida, participated in the East Coast Choral Symposium with students from three of the Orange County Public Schools, performed for the guests of the Saratoga Springs Resort at Disney World, and competed in front of a panel of distinguished adjudicators at Festival Disney. We could not be more proud to announce that our Chamber Choir received a SUPERIOR (the highest possible) rating from the panel for their performance at the competition and to share with you that two of our students, Robert Cortijo and Alizé Torres, were selected by the panel, among the 3,000 plus festival participants, to receive special adjudicators’ awards for their individual performances at the festival. This was an amazing experience for all the students who attended. The recognition the Chamber Choir received for their excellence will certainly serve as an example for every student at Highbridge Voices.

Here are a few highlights from the tour itinerary: 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

  •  Arrive at Orlando International airport

  •  Visit Downtown Disney

Friday, April 15, 2011

  •  Participate in a workshop with Dr. Al Holcomb, Assoc. Professor of Music

  •  Take a campus tour with students from the University of Central Florida

  •  Observe a UCF Opera Workshop rehearsal

  •  Participate in the East Coast Choral Symposium with OCPS students

Saturday, April 16, 2011

  •  Give a performance at the Saratoga Springs Resort

  •  Take the Disney shuttle to EPCOT - Lunch at EPCOT

  •  Enjoy the Festival Recognition Ceremony at Disney Hollywood Studios

Sunday, April 17, 2011

  •  Spend all day in the Disney Parks: The Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios

      EPCOT, and the Magic Kingdom

Monday, April 18, 2011

  •  Return to New York City and Highbridge Voices

The Highbridge Voices

2011 Annual Benefit Concert

Thursday, May 19^th

The Academy Theater at Lighthouse International

Cocktails 5:30pm

Concert 6:30pm

Highbridge Voices

Celebrates the Work

of Joan Colello and the

Pinkerton Foundation

Tuesday, April 5th was an evening of tuxedos, gowns and celebration as  Highbridge Voices students celebrated the career of Joan Colello and her more than forty years of work for the Pinkerton Foundation.

The Highbridge Voices Chamber Choir sang a variety of Broadway favorites including You're the Top by Cole Porter and Marvin Hamlisch's iconic Broadway hit from A Chorus Line, One.  Audience members both young and old were also moved by the choir's rendition of Lennon and McCartney's Blackbird.

After performing, the students enjoyed dinner with the other guests and had the unique opportunity to visit with other organizations that are supported by the Pinkerton Foundation and the friends from other foundations that were also in attendance.

This event was truly an exceptional evening and a memory that our students will carry with them for years to come.

Voices...

March 30

A student from Highbridge Voices has been invited to attend the 2011 New York Yankees Homecoming dinner to kick off the Yankees 2011 Season.  Katherine Ortiz, a member of the Concert and Chamber Choirs along with her dad Manuel, will have the honor of attending this event that will recognize former Yankee greats Mike Mussina and Yogi Berra. 

April 5

Members of the Highbridge Voices Chamber Choir will perform for the Pinkerton Foundation as they celebrate the 40 years of service of outgoing Executive Director Joan Colello and welcome the Foundation’s new president, Richard M. Smith. The event will be held at the University Club in New York City.

April 8

Highbridge Voices has begun a musical collaboration with Rye Country Day School in Rye, New York, which will culminate in an outdoor performance in Lincoln Center’s Young Music Makers Program Concert at the Josie Robertson Plaza. On April 8, Highbridge Voices students will travel to Rye where the 117 members of the Concert Choir will have a few hours of rehearsals with the Rye Country Day School Choir and their conductor, Ms. Mary Marcel.  There will also be an opportunity for Highbridge Voices students to get to know their new musical friends over lunch and recreation time. 

April 14 to 18

The Chamber Choir is on the move again; this time to, “…wish upon a star...”  Twenty-seven Highbridge Voices students will be in the Orlando metropolitan area for five days, participating in a series of master classes, taking a college tour, giving performances, and singing in their first choral competition.  They will also be visiting a theme park in the area…the one with a mouse.    

April 27

Continuing the musical collaboration with Rye Country Day School, 75 members of their choir will be visiting Highbridge Voices to prepare for the next day’s outdoor performance. The students from Rye Country Day will have the opportunity to work with Ms. Clementi and Mr. Casolari, as well as shoot some hoops and enjoy some Bronx pizza!

April 28

The combined choirs of Highbridge Voices and Rye Country Day School will give a 12:30pm outdoor performance at the Josie Robertson Plaza. The choirs will each offer selections from their upcoming spring concerts as well as join forces for a few collaborative selections.  The performance is open to the public and all are welcome.

May 19

Highbridge Voices will hold its 2011 Benefit Concert at the Academy Theater at Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street.  The evening will begin with cocktails at 5:30pm followed by performances by the Concert and Chamber Choirs at 6:30pm.  For ticket and sponsorship information please call 718-293-8759, or email us at 2011benefitconcert@highbridgevoices.org

Highbridge Voices

Ushers in 2011 with

New Academic Programs

In keeping with its commitment to the academic excellence of its students, Highbridge Voices is excited to announce the addition of two new academic classes this spring.

Beginning on January 29th, Highbridge Voices will begin offering its fourth and fifth grade students even more opportunities to improve their academic standing. Children will gather at Highbridge Voices each Saturday morning to begin their day of academic classes, choir sectionals, lunch, and recreation. All students will attend a new academic class designed with a curriculum to further prepare them for their New York State standardized exams. Conceived to be a comprehensive and in-depth overview of those subjects covered in their schools, the Saturday academic classes are another opportunity for these fourth and fifth graders to become comfortable with the basic skills and new concepts that they will be expected to have mastered come exam time. Following the academic classes will be brief choir sectionals that will provide students another opportunity to solidify their knowledge of the repertoire that the choir will be performing in concerts at the end of the semester. Finally, no day at Highbridge Voices would be complete without lunch and some well-deserved recreation. All students in attendance on Saturdays will be served lunch and given the opportunity to stay a little while longer to visit and play with their friends and classmates.

The fourth and fifth grade classes are really just the beginning on Saturdays. Highbridge Voices’ lead high school tutor, Agustin Rodriguez, will also be holding Saturday office hours for all high school students that would like a little extra, one-on-one help with their schoolwork. Each high school student will have the opportunity to set up a personal appointment with Mr. Rodriguez and to bring him any of their assignments.

Finally, the Chamber Choir’s regular weekly rehearsals will continue on Saturdays, followed by geometry Regents prep sessions conducted by Mr. Rodriguez for those high school students preparing to take the New York State Regents Exam.

If a whole new Saturday weren’t enough, also new this spring will be weekly Monday classes designed to help those fourth and fifth grade students who are in need of some more concentrated academic instruction. Designed and run by Highbridge Voices’ lead tutor, Denise Cotton, this very small class will meet for two hours and will provide focused instruction on those lessons that are currently being taught in the students’ classes at school. Students will be selected to participate in this class based on their standardized test scores and recent report card grades.

Highbridge Voices is very pleased to have the opportunity to offer its students these two additional days of instruction in basic skills, current lessons, and advanced concepts, and believes fully that these classes will enable its students to achieve new levels of academic excellence. These activities will be required in addition to the regular rotation of music classes, voice lessons, music rehearsals, and homework assistance enjoyed by all Highbridge Voices students Tuesdays through Fridays. The Highbridge Voices Spring 2011 semester will run for twenty-three weeks and will offer programming that guarantees every student at Highbridge Voices an exceptional academic and musical experience found nowhere else.

A Season for Singing:

Highbridge Voices

The 2010 Holiday Season was another big one for Highbridge Voices.  Both the Chamber Choir and the Concert Choir found themselves extremely busy as they celebrated the holidays with New York City in local and televised events.

The Chamber Choir was the first to enjoy the Season for Singing as they reprised their appearance at the Macy's Holiday Window Unveiling on November 18th.  Perched on steps that rose high above Herald Square, the 2010 Chamber Choir joined their voices with Ann Hampton Callaway and members of the Broadway cast of Elf: the Musical, as Macy's brought the magic of the Broadway stage to the world-famous Broadway windows with their "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" themed celebration.

Not long after their turn on Broadway, Highbridge Voices visited the CBS Early Show on Fifth Avenue to help Macy's kick off their nationwide Macy's Believe Campaign.  It wasn't just Santa that arrived that day on East 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.  Members of Highbridge Voices were also there singing some holiday favorites for the gathered audience and television cameras as they heralded Santa onto the plaza.

The members of Highbridge Voices also know that the holiday season isn't always a time for carols and national television audiences.  So, during the second weekend of December, they switched gears to sing the 5PM Saturday Mass at Resurrection Parish in Rye, New York.  The Choir had offered their voices to the service a year ago in January, but singing each part of the mass during the holiday season was particularly special this year.

In another reprise engagement, Chamber Choir returned to New York's Metropolitan Club on December 15th to perform for the patrons of the 2010 Enchanted Holiday Evening. Offering many traditional favorites and a few selections in German, the choir once again wondered at the beautiful location, with its fireplaces and holiday decorations. It was another perfect moment during this Season of Singing.

Since September, the students of the Highbridge Voices Concert Choir have been working diligently to prepare for their annual Winter Concert.  They spent months focusing intently to perfect their breath control, singing vowels, concentration, and Czech pronunciation.  So, it was no surprise at all when the culmination of this semester's hard work rang so beautifully in the Bronx's Sacred Heart Church on Friday, December 17th at 6:30PM.  Together with the terrific Ken Robinson, the over one hundred member strong Concert Choir put on a show for their family, friends, and the community that will not soon be forgotten.  Performing the works of Antonín Dvořák, Alan Silvestri, and Leroy Anderson along with Czech and South African folksongs and traditional winter favorites, they certainly made their community proud.

At Highbridge Voices, no season would be complete without an amazing party, and the Fall 2010 semester was no different.  Over a hundred children spent last Saturday afternoon dancing, playing and visiting as they enjoyed amazing food and a seemingly endless sundae bar with all the fixings.  The 2010 Season of Singing has truly been one to remember.

Highbridge Voices

This past Thursday morning, as the sun was rising over the South Bronx, eighteen students from Highbridge Voices loaded onto a bus for a trip to Midtown Manhattan where they would lend their voices to a good cause. Members of the Chamber Choir helped Santa kick off his national bus tour with the Make-A-Wish Foundation on the CBS Early Show. The choir performed a rousing rendition of “Here Comes Santa Claus” as Santa made his way to the Early Show Plaza and greeted children who had been granted wishes through the program.  The choir was blessed with mild weather and sunny skies as they sang for Santa, the gathered audience, and millions of viewers nationwide.  Santa’s tour is part of the Macy’s Believe Campaign which teams up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation each year.