On Sunday, January 14, we enjoyed three workshops with Juilliard performance psychologist Noa Kageyama: Beating Anxiety, Optimizing Focus for Peak Performance, and Practicing for Performance Success. Musicians of all ages were welcome and we had a full house for each one. Many people wrote afterwards to thank us for sponsoring these classes and said they were enormously helpful. (more…)
On October 28th, the Merling Trio of Western Michigan University plus Tom Knific on bass, performed a Gershwin medley for the entire Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and spoke to them about the value of chamber music study. Also on the short program was a portion of the Dvorak Piano Quintet played by our own Franklin Pond students of the Cincopation Quartet: Ava Posner, Harriet Skowronek, Lucy Gelber, Jordan Leslie, and Nicholas Lin. Bravo to them on short notice! The Merling Trio (quartet) will return in February for a full masterclass for all the Franklin Pond groups.
Of the six groups Franklin Pond is coaching this school year, two of them came as pre-formed groups, having been together also last year school year. We love that because the longer the students are together, the better they play together, and the more rewarding it is for them and for the coaches.
Right after our Summer Finale Concert, Lachlan McBane went to Cleveland to play with the Cleveland Orchestra. This is the second time he has been invited to play with them, thanks to Principal Violist Wesley Collins who went to Cleveland several years ago from Atlanta. Wesley was also on the coaching artists of Franklin Pond.
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Congratulations to everyone on a GREAT Summer Finale Concert! The kids worked so hard and played very well, especially after studying and being together only four weeks. BRAVO!
Saturday, July 29 was our dress rehearsal and last masterclass with Nick Curry of University of North Florida. Nick joined in all the festivities of the day; listening to all the groups at Kellett, our last lunch together at nearby Landmark Diner, and our last coaching sessions at the Pond. It’s always sad when the last person leaves!
Please join us for our 2017 Community Concerts!
Wednesday, July 26 3:30 PM Mt. Vernon Towers – Sunroom 300 Johnson Ferry Road Sandy Springs, GA Free and open to the public
Stephen Majeske came as our masterclass artist (July 24) and inspired everyone!
Tom Key, well known actor and Artistic Director of Theatrical Outfit, worked with our students at the Pond today. He was absolutely fabulous and the kids seemed to have a good time. By the end of the masterclass, they were speaking with infinitely more self-assurance and not as shy about doing it. He worked on breathing, showing their own personality when they speak, looking people in the eye, and speaking so they can be heard.
