Hoff-Barthelson Music School

Auditions: Festival Orchestra
2023-09-12, 2023-09-19, 2023-09-26
Be a part of “one of the finest high school orchestras in the United States!” Audition for the HBMS Festival Orchestra’s 2023-24 Season!
Instruments needed: oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, timpani, viola and bass.
Hoff-Barthelson Music School’s Festival Orchestra is a full symphonic orchestra for high school students at the highest level of technical ability and musical artistry. Under the direction of conductor Jun Nakabayashi, the Festival Orchestra performs three concerts annually; two are with guest artists of international stature. The orchestra meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:15 – 9:30 pm. Members participate in sectional coachings with members of the New York Philharmonic each spring.
Festival Orchestra auditions are open to all high school students, whether studying at HBMS or elsewhere. Students not yet in high school but who demonstrate exceptional ability and maturity may also audition.
Download audition information here.
Request an audition time here.

Volunteer Kick-Off Meeting
2023-10-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-10-20 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
Learn about volunteer opportunities at Hoff-Barthelson by joining us at one of our Volunteer Kick-Off Meetings!
During the meeting, we will:

Introduce Lori Rothman Kaplan, our 2023-24 Volunteer Chair, and Lucy Rosenberg, Office Manager and volunteer supporter extraordinaire;
Review the School’s 2023-24 schedule of events and associated volunteer opportunities;
Discuss ways in which the volunteer experience at HBMS can be further enriched; and
Enjoy the opportunity to meet and catch up with fellow HBMS volunteers over coffee and delectables!

We will be hosting two meetings to accommodate as many as possible.

The first meeting will be held on Thursday, October 12, at 7:00 pm
The “encore” is scheduled for Friday, October 20, at 9:00 am

We hope you’ll join us at one or the other. To indicate your preference, RSVP here.

Spanning the Centuries Festival Student Recital
2024-03-16 14:30 - 15:30, 2024-03-16 16:00 - 17:00
Student recital celebrating music composed from 1750-1950; featuring music of great Germanic composers — Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms — as well as masters from other lands.
View flyer here.
The Spanning the Centuries Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.

Placement Auditions: HBMS Orchestra Program
2024-05-05 09:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-10 18:00 - 22:00, 2024-05-09 18:00 - 22:00, 2024-05-07 18:00 - 22:00
Hoff-Barthelson Music School invites you to audition for our prestigious Orchestra Program for students in Grades 2-12. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just starting your musical journey, there’s a place for everyone in our orchestral family!
Placement auditions for the Young People’s Symphonette, Chamber Orchestra, and Festival Orchestra will take place on the following dates:

Sunday, May 5: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, May 7: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday, May 9: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday, May 10: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Sign-up here.
Registration deadline: Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Audition requirements:

Two pieces of your choice that showcase your technical and musical abilities
Scales and Rolls

Violin and Cello: One 3-octave scale of your choosing (2-octaves for those interested in the Symphonette).
Viola, Bass, and Harp: One 2-octave scale of your choosing
Winds and Brass: One 1-octave scale of your choosing
Timpani: Rolls in crescendo and diminuendo

Short sight reading exercise

View flyer here.

From Prague to Budapest: Festival Orchestra Finale Concert
2024-06-01 19:00 - 21:00
The Festival Orchestra concludes its 2023-24 season with “From Prague to Budapest” at the Performance Arts Center at Purchase College.
Program:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 38, K 504 “Prague”
Bohuslav Martinů – Concerto for Oboe H. 353, with guest soloist Gerard Reuter
Zoltán Kodály – Dances of Galánta

View flyer here.
Program and soloist are subject to change.

Summer Arts Program Begins
2024-07-01 09:00 - 14:45
Hoff-Barthelson’s popular Summer Arts Program for students entering grades 1-9 begins.

Independence Day
2024-07-04
Independence Day – The School is closed for regularly scheduled lessons and classes, and the Summer Arts Program is not in session.

HBMS Flute Ensemble to Play at UN
2024-07-08 10:00 - 11:15
We are thrilled to announce a special performance by the Hoff-Barthelson Flute Ensemble Program at the Opening of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2024. Led by Donna Elaine, our talented students will present an arrangement of Valerie Coleman’s “Umoja,” a powerful anthem symbolizing unity.
Please join us in celebrating this momentous event on Monday, July 8th, around 11:00 am. You can watch the performance via UNTV webcast at https://webtv.un.org/en. Visit the live schedule starting at 10:00 am and find “High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.”
Congratulations to Donna Elaine, Joe Piscitelli, and all our Flute Ensemble Program members for their dedication and achievement.

Labor Day
2024-09-02
Labor Day – The School is closed for regularly scheduled lessons and classes.

First Instruments and Private Lessons Open House
2024-09-07 13:00 - 16:00
RSVP here (RSVP required.)
Space is limited- early registration is encouraged!
Discover the world of music with us! Families and students of all ages are welcome to attend our Open House event.
From 1:00 to 2:15 pm, students in grades PreK-5 can explore our First Instruments program. These classes are designed to prepare children for private lessons in piano, strings, guitar, winds, brass, and percussion. Meet our instructors, participate in sample activities, and get answers to your questions.
Following that, from 2:15 to 3:45 pm, students in grades PreK-12 and adults interested in private lessons can sign up for 15-minute mini-lessons. This is a great opportunity to meet our Hoff-Barthelson faculty members and experience firsthand what private instruction is all about.
Don’t miss out on this exciting chance to begin or enhance your musical journey with us!

Early Childhood Program Open House
2024-09-17 10:15 - 11:15
RSVP here.
Families with children aged 9 months to 5 years are invited to discover our exceptional program for young children. Join us to learn about our engaging music and movement curriculum and participate in sample activities you and your child can enjoy together.
10:15-10:45 am: Q & A session with HBMS Dean Christopher Kenniff and Associate Dean April Johnson
10:45-11:15 am: Experience a sample class led by Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certified Instructor, Laura Barnet
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the joy of music with your little ones!

Viola Ensemble Program Drop-in Day
2024-09-21 15:00 - 16:00
RSVP here.
Bring your viola and play along with our enrolled students or attend as an auditor to learn more about the ensembles. The days and times correspond to the weekly meeting schedule for the ensemble.
Viola Club Level 2 (grades 8-12)
Intermediate and Advance
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
