Levine Students dominate Beatty Guitar Competition
Washington, DC, March 23, 2011 – The Levine School of Music is pleased to announce that ten guitar students won prizes in the Beatty Music Scholarship Competition for Classical Guitar. Levine students won top prizes in every division, including a complete sweep of the junior division.
Junior Division – Robbie Belson, first prize, Jonathan Maranville, second prize, Patrick Hoeppner, third prize, Arda Sahiner, fourth prize, Aiden Pillard, fifth prize;
Senior Division – Gwendolyn Cardiff, third prize and Simon Gigli, fifth prize.
These students study with Levine faculty-artists Risa Carlson, Franco Platino, Douglas Rogers, and Tracy Smith. Prize winners, Eleanor Pressler and Robbie Belson, will perform on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, April 3, 2011.
Risa Carlson, chair of Levine’s guitar department remarked, “Entering a competition challenges one to work hard and go beyond even one's own expectations. We are so proud of these students, who obviously did just that. Their achievements speak to the quality of the training they are receiving here at Levine. Bravo to our fantastic students and teachers!"
The Beatty Competition, now in its fifth year, takes place over three days at George Washington University in Washington DC for students who live within the Washington DC and Baltimore metro area. The competition is judged to determine five scholarship winners in each of three age groups: youth (up to 12 years old), junior (13-15 years old) and senior (16-18 years old) in addition to a grand prize and the special composer’s prize. This year students competed for $6,900 in scholarships, including a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to the student producing the best performance of a Manuel Ponce (Mexican Composer, 1882-1948) composition.
Levine’s Guitar Department is the second largest department in the School with over 275 students receiving instruction by a roster of ten world-class faculty-artists. Guitar students may begin as young as 3 ½ as part of the Suzuki method and spanning to a large community of adult guitarists. In addition to classical guitar, instruction is available in jazz, rock and blues on acoustic and electric guitar. Support of the Guitar Department is provided by the D’Addario Foundation and scholarship assistance is available.
This performance of "Jitterbug Waltz" by "Fats" Waller is part of a concert called "A Musical Conversation" that took place at Levine School of Music on January 22, 2011.
Eddie Drennon, violin Vasily Popov, cello Bob Sykes, piano
Watch rehearsal scenes from Act Two @ Levine's production of Ragtime: School Edition, Performances run from February 11-13, 2011 at Georgetown Prep's Figge Theater in North Bethesda, MD.
This video documents the performance of Levine's New Horizons Band honoring WWII veterans visiting Washington DC through the Honor Flight Network.
The Honor Flight network brings thousands of veterans to visit their memorials each year. For more information about the Honor Flight network, visit http://www.honorflight.org
This video documents the O|A|R rock master class and guitar workshop at the Levine School of Music on Friday, December 17, 2010.
Levine thanks O|A|R band members Chris Culos, Jerry DePizzo, Benj Gershman and Richard On for sharing their rock knowledge with our students. For more info about O|A|R, visit http://www.ofarevolution.com/
Why did Beethoven write Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor?
Why did Beethoven write Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5 No. 2?
In this video, renowned musician Lambert Orkis tells the story behind the music during a chamber music master class at the Levine School of Music in Washington, DC. The performers are Stephen Moran, cello, and Ralitza Patcheva, piano.
Maria Mathieson appointed Director of Music Education
Washington, DC, December 10, 2010 – The Levine School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Maria Mathieson as its Director of Music Education. Ms. Mathieson, most recently Acting Dean of the School and former Assistant Dean, is a music educator, arts administrator and classical musician.
Peter Jablow, the President & CEO of Levine remarked that “after an intense and competitive nationwide search, we concluded that the best candidate for the job was already on the job. She brings to her new post a great knowledge of the institution, an intense passion for, and dedication to, music education, and the leadership skills to guide Levine’s innovation in response to the changing nature of music education.”
Mathieson stated that she was “thrilled and honored to accept this position and looks forward to building on the tremendous success that Levine has experienced in its 35 years of serving the greater Washington region.” She went on to say, “I look forward to working closely with our superb faculty to provide all our students, of whatever age or ability, with a rich educational menu. I also value our commitment to opportunity and will work to ensure that our campus at THEARC and our other educational partnerships providing instruction to those without means thrive.”
Ms. Mathieson has a Bachelor of Music (Honors) from the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland. With over fifteen years of experience in music and arts education and administration, Ms. Mathieson is well versed in overseeing and supporting all aspects of multi-state and inter-generational after-school music and arts programs. She will have direct oversight for Levine’s curriculum, faculty management and leadership development, and admissions.
Ms. Mathieson came to Levine in 2006 after 11 years with The Salvation Army. In her tenure at Levine, she has managed the expansion of Levine’s summer programs, and reinvented Levine’s Honors Program to widen the experiences of participating students. In addition to her administrative role at Levine, Ms. Mathieson continues to study piano and volunteers with The Salvation Army playing trombone in the National Capital Band, and conducting a youth brass band and chorus.
Watch rehearsal scenes from Act Two @ Levine's production of Les Miserables: School Edition, Performances run from November 19-21, 2010 at Georgetown Prep's Figge Theater in North Bethesda, MD.
Washington, DC, August 3, 2010 – The Levine School of Music is pleased to announce that it is joining forces with Act Two Performing Arts to offer this region’s most dynamic student musical theater program. Beginning in September, Act Two Performing Arts will become part of Levine, this area’s leading community music school, to form Act Two @ Levine. Together, the natural blending of these two organizations will create the strongest and most innovative music theater educational presence in the region, offering students performance opportunities, vocal coaching, and theater training, provided by some of Washington’s most talented faculty-artists.
Act Two’s creative force, Artistic Director, Kevin Kuchar, will continue to direct the performances of Act Two @ Levine, and will become a member of the esteemed Levine faculty.
Act Two @ Levine’s season will open with a production of "Les Miserables", with rehearsals at Levine School's Maryland campus at the Music Center at Strathmore. This first production will be performed in November and will feature middle and high school students. The program will also include Act Two’s performance ensemble, "C*mpani" with rehearsals also at Strathmore.
Act Two and Levine share many similar core values, including a dedication to excellence, to challenging creative limits, and to providing a supportive environment for all students. The educational philosophy of Act Two is to provide students with the technique, discipline, and skills necessary to build their confidence and self-esteem while developing as artists. This partnership complements Levine’s mission to provide a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.
Summer is the perfect time to expand your musical horizons and discover something new!
Levine offers classes, workshops, boot camps, and lesson packages for students of all ages, from babies and toddlers to seasoned music lovers.
New this summer:
A jury is an opportunity for students to perform and receive feedback from a panel of other teachers within the School in a positive and encouraging manner.
The Spring Semester juries will take place May 17 - May 23. During jury week there is no group or private instruction after 3:00 ...
