Hoff-Barthelson Music School

Baroque and Beyond Festival Student Piano Recital
2025-03-14 19:15 - 20:15 (America/New_York)
Student recital celebrating keyboard music composed from 1600-1750; featuring music of great Germanic composers Bach, Telemann, and Handel, as well as masters from other lands, performed by selected HBMS pianists.
Followed by a presentation by harpsichordist and internationally renowned pedagogue and performer of Baroque and contemporary music Arthur Haas.
The Baroque and Beyond Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.

Baroque and Beyond Festival Student Recital with Suzuki Violins
2025-03-15 14:00 - 14:45
Student recital celebrating music composed from 1600-1750; featuring music of great Germanic composers Bach, Telemann, and Handel, as well as masters from other lands.
The recital will include a special performance by students enrolled in the Suzuki Violin Program, under the direction of Barbara Berg.
The Baroque and Beyond Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.

Baroque and Beyond Festival Student Recital
2025-03-15 15:00 - 15:45
Student recital celebrating music composed from 1600-1750; featuring music of great Germanic composers Bach, Telemann, and Handel, as well as masters from other lands.
The Baroque and Beyond Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.

Baroque and Beyond Festival Student String Recital
2025-03-15 16:00 - 17:00
Student recital celebrating music composed from 1600-1750; featuring music of great Germanic composers Bach, Telemann, and Handel, as well as masters from other lands, performed by selected HBMS string players.
Followed by a presentation by internationally acclaimed violinist, musicologist, and early music specialist Dr. Alberto Sanna.
The Baroque and Beyond Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.

Baroque and Beyond Festival Large Ensembles Concert
2025-03-16 13:00 - 14:30
Large ensembles concert celebrating celebrating music composed from 1600-1750; featuring music of great Germanic composers Bach, Telemann, and Handel, as well as masters from other lands.
Scheduled to perform:
Handbells — Donna Elaine, Director
Beginner Voices — Yuki Charlesworth, Director
Junior Voices — Kathryn Jones, Director
Adult Flute Choir — Joseph Piscitelli, Director
Flute Club — Donna Elaine, Director
The Baroque and Beyond Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.
Performers and program subject to change.
Suggested donation: $20
HBMS Students – Free of charge

Baroque and Beyond Festival Large Ensembles Concert
2025-03-16 17:00 - 18:30
Large ensembles concert celebrating celebrating music composed from 1600-1750; featuring music of great Germanic composers Bach, Telemann, and Handel, as well as masters from other lands.
Scheduled to perform:
Young People’s Symphonette — Robert Schwartz, Director
Chamber Orchestra — Robert Schwartz, Director
Festival Orchesta — Leandro Gazineo, Director
The Baroque and Beyond Festival is made possible, in part, with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Foundation.
Performers and program subject to change.
Suggested donation: $20
HBMS Students – Free of charge

Violin Master Class with Almita Vamos
2025-04-06 13:00 - 15:15
Master Classes are open to the public to observe free of charge.
Master class coaching by guest artists has been part of Hoff-Barthelson’s curriculum since the School’s founding in 1944. This distinguished tradition continues this season with a roster of world-class musicians and educators including David Madsen, guitar; composers Nils Vigeland and Matt Browne; Almita Vamos, violin; Paul Watkins cello; Chelsea Knox, flute; Victor Rosenbaum, piano; and members of the New York Philharmonic.
Master classes provide a transformative experience for both students and audiences. Following meticulous preparation, students showcase their talents, receiving invaluable feedback and guidance from master teachers. This interaction challenges students to approach their pieces in new and critical ways, resulting in inspiring and enlightening performances. Yet the impact extends beyond those on stage—all attendees can learn by observing the creative process firsthand. As iconic performers coach the next generation, the audience gains insight into musical artistry and interpretation. Even developing musicians are granted a rare glimpse into the mastery of world-class artists.

Almita Vamos, a Juilliard graduate, studied with Mischa Mischakoff and Louis Persinger. She has won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching six times and the ASTA Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award. Mrs. Vamos has been featured on CBS’s “Sunday Morning” and in the best-selling book Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mom by Amy Chua. She has taught at Western Illinois University, University of Minnesota, Oberlin Conservatory, and Northwestern University, and is currently an artist teacher at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. For over 35 years, she has taught at the Music Institute of Chicago and during summers at the Chautauqua Music Festival. She has also taught at Aspen, Meadowmount, and other renowned programs.
Her students have won top prizes in national and international competitions, including the Tchaikovsky, Menuhin, Paganini, and Montreal competitions. Her former students are members of major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, and Chicago Symphony, with some holding concertmaster positions. Notable students include Rachel Barton Pine, Ben Beilman, and Simin Ganatra (Pacifica Quartet).
As a performer, Almita Vamos has concertized globally, with performances in prestigious venues like Carnegie Recital Hall and the 92nd Street Y. She was a member of the Lydian Trio and Antioch Quartet and has recorded for Coronet and Rizzoli labels. She continues to perform and collaborate with her husband, Roland, in violin/viola duos.
View flyer here.

HB Artist Series
2025-04-11 19:30 - 21:00
The HB Artist Series features the exceptional talents of Hoff-Barthelson’s distinguished faculty. Held in Scarsdale, these concerts offer riveting music-making in an intimate setting at affordable prices, showcasing Hoff-Barthelson’s commitment to excellence in music education and performance in Westchester County.
Purchase tickets here.
General admission is $20; HBMS Students are admitted free of charge.
Program and performers are subject to change without notice.
View flyer here.
PROGRAM
Sonata for Flute – Francis Poulenc
Sonatine – Darius Milhaud
Joseph Piscitelli, flute
Emily White, piano
Quintet No. 4 in D Major, G. 448 – Luigi Boccherini
Andrew Marino, guitar
Claire Bright, violin
Lani King Chang, violin
Mark Kushnir, viola
Amy Anwar, cello
Selections by George Gershwin
Porgy and Bess Fantasy arranged by Percy Grainger
The Man I Love
Tomoko Uchino, piano
Katsura Tanikawa, piano

AP Classes & Chopin to Ligeti Information Session
2025-04-23 19:45 - 20:15
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86932179546
Meeting ID: 869 3217 9546
Upcoming Sessions:

Musicianship Labs – April 25, 4:00 pm
Improvisation for Piano 1 & 2 – April 25, 5:00 pm
Elementary Musicianship 1 & 2 – April 26, 5:15 pm
Composition, Film Scoring, Music Technology – April 30, 7:45 pm
Adult Theory – May 2, 5:00 pm
Through the Ages – May 3, 5:15 pm

Musicianship Labs Information Session
2025-04-25 16:00 - 16:30
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81676971778
Meeting ID: 816 7697 1778
Upcoming Sessions:

Improvisation for Piano 1 & 2 – April 25, 5:00 pm
Elementary Musicianship 1 & 2 – April 26, 5:15 pm
Composition, Film Scoring, Music Technology – April 30, 7:45 pm
Adult Theory – May 2, 5:00 pm
Through the Ages – May 3, 5:15 pm

Improvisation for Piano 1 & 2 Information Session
2025-04-25 17:00 - 17:30
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
With Jamie Reynolds and Derek Cooper
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88646115024
Meeting ID: 886 4611 5024
Upcoming Sessions:

Elementary Musicianship 1 & 2 – April 26, 5:15 pm
Composition, Film Scoring, Music Technology – April 30, 7:45 pm
Adult Theory – May 2, 5:00 pm
Through the Ages – May 3, 5:15 pm

Elementary Musicianship 1 & 2 Information Session
2025-04-26 17:15 - 17:45
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
With Yuki Hiruma Charlesworth and Derek Cooper
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88192147850
Meeting ID: 881 9214 7850
Upcoming Sessions:

Composition, Film Scoring, Music Technology – April 30, 7:45 pm
Adult Theory – May 2, 5:00 pm
Through the Ages – May 3, 5:15 pm

Composition, Film Scoring, Music Technology Information Session
2025-04-30 19:45 - 20:15
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83456988754
Meeting ID: 834 5698 8754
Upcoming Sessions:

Adult Theory – May 2, 5:00 pm
Through the Ages – May 3, 5:15 pm

Adult Theory Information Session
2025-05-02 17:00 - 17:30
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88342836040
Meeting ID: 883 4283 6040
Upcoming Session:

Through the Ages – May 3, 5:15 pm

Through the Ages: Music History Class Information Session
2025-05-03 17:15 - 17:45
Explore HBMS’s musicianship offerings in a series of informative sessions led by Dr. Derek Cooper and HBMS faculty on Zoom. Learn about courses in theory, composition, improvisation, and more. Open to students and families interested in deepening their musical understanding.
Join via Zoom
With Donna Elaine and Derek Cooper
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87273478100
Meeting ID: 872 7347 8100

Auditions: HBMS Orchestra Program - New Students
2025-05-04 09:00 - 13:00
Hoff-Barthelson Music School invites students in grades 6-12 to audition for our prestigious Youth Orchestra Program’s Chamber Orchestra and Festival Orchestra.
Request an audition time here.
Audition requirements for new students:

Two pieces of your choice that showcase your technical and musical abilities
Technique Skills

Violin, Cello, and Piano: One 3-octave scale of your choosing
Viola, Bass, and Harp: One 2-octave scale of your choosing
Winds: One 1-octave scale of your choosing
Percussion: Rolls in crescendo and diminuendo

Short sight reading

Auditions for returning students will be held on Tuesday, June 10 and June 17 from 6:00-9:00 pm.
Learn about the HBMS Youth Orchestras here.

Piano Master Class with Victor Rosenbaum
2025-05-10 14:30 - 16:45
Master Classes are open to the public to observe free of charge.
Master class coaching by guest artists has been part of Hoff-Barthelson’s curriculum since the School’s founding in 1944. This distinguished tradition continues this season with a roster of world-class musicians and educators including David Madsen, guitar; composers Nils Vigeland and Matt Browne; Almita Vamos, violin; Paul Watkins cello; Chelsea Knox, flute; Victor Rosenbaum, piano; and members of the New York Philharmonic.
Master classes provide a transformative experience for both students and audiences. Following meticulous preparation, students showcase their talents, receiving invaluable feedback and guidance from master teachers. This interaction challenges students to approach their pieces in new and critical ways, resulting in inspiring and enlightening performances. Yet the impact extends beyond those on stage—all attendees can learn by observing the creative process firsthand. As iconic performers coach the next generation, the audience gains insight into musical artistry and interpretation. Even developing musicians are granted a rare glimpse into the mastery of world-class artists.

Victor Rosenbaum is an internationally acclaimed pianist and teacher whose career spans over five decades. He joined the New England Conservatory faculty in 1967, where he taught for 53 years and chaired the piano and chamber music departments. He has established himself as one of the most respected figures in classical piano.
His performances have earned consistent critical acclaim, from his Boston debut to his most recent recordings. MusicWeb International praised his 2020 Brahms CD as “magisterial,” while American Record Guide named his Beethoven recordings among the top classical recordings of 2020.
Rosenbaum has performed extensively as both soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Russia, appearing in prestigious venues such as New York’s Tully Hall and St. Petersburg’s Hermitage. He has collaborated with renowned artists including Leonard Rose, Paul Katz, and members of the Brentano, Borromeo, and Cleveland String Quartets.
As an educator, he has taught at major institutions worldwide, including the Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, and leading conservatories in London, Moscow, Beijing, and Tokyo. His students have won top prizes in major international competitions. From 1985 to 2001, as Director and President of the Longy School of Music, he transformed it into a degree-granting conservatory while maintaining its community music school status.
Currently, Rosenbaum continues to perform and teach internationally, recently being appointed Visiting Professor at the National Taiwan Normal University.
View flyer here.

Music of Our Time Festival Student Recital
2025-05-16 18:30 - 19:30
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Student Recital featuring Contemporary Works (1975-Present).

Music of Our Time Festival Student Recital
2025-05-16 20:00 - 21:00
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Student Recital featuring Women Composers at the Millennium.

Music of Our Time Festival Student Composition Recital
2025-05-17 13:00 - 14:00
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Student Recital featuring music composed by participants of the Compose Yourself! Project and HBMS Composition classes under the direction of Derek Cooper.
View Festival flyer here.

Music of Our Time Festival Student Recital
2025-05-17 14:00 - 15:00
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Student Recital featuring Contemporary Works (1975 – Present).

Music of Our Time Festival Student Recital
2025-05-17 16:00 - 18:00
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Student Recital featuring Our Mentors in Modernism – Schoenberg, Ives, Stravinsky, Bartók, and Britten.

Music of Our Time Festival Student Recital: Micro-Commissions
2025-05-17 20:00 - 21:00
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Micro-Commissions Project, a collaboration between HBMS and the Manhattan School of Music. Co-directed by Peter Seidenberg and Reiko Fueting, MSM’s head of composition, this initiative pairs ten HBMS students with ten MSM composers, who have written original works tailored to each student’s instrument and skill level. These pieces will receive their world premiere at this recital.

Music of Our Time Festival Large Ensembles Performance
2025-05-18 15:00 - 16:30
The Music of Our Time Contemporary Music Festival – Student Recital featuring music composed between 1975 and the present.
Featuring the world premiere of All the Sounds Around Her by Kian Ravaei
Commissioned by HBMS for a student ensemble and made possible under the auspices of Hoff-Barthelson’s Wilma Machover Residency and Commission Program, this piece is inspired by the life and legacy of the beloved children’s musician Ella Jenkins. The work incorporates call-and-response singing, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and Jenkins’ signature multilingual counting games. The piece will be performed by the HBMS Vocal ensembles together with the Westchester Children’s Choir, and the HBMS Festival Orchestra, conducted by Leandro Gazineo.
Scheduled to perform:
Flute Ensemble — Donna Elaine, Director
Chamber Orchestra — Robert Schwartz, Director
Festival Orchestra Strings — Leandro Gazineo, Director
Winner of the Annual Wilma Machover Creative Development Fund
Selected individual student performers
Performers and program subject to change.

Honors Program Student Recital
2025-05-30 18:30 - 19:30
Student recital featuring students enrolled in the Honors Program. *

Elena Collins, voice
Ariana Thomas, piano
Adele Xie, piano

The Honors Program for gifted and committed students, selected through auditions, has produced prize-winning performers in national and international competitions. The program is designed for students 12 years or older who have been enrolled in private lessons for at least two semesters, have been recommended by their teacher, and are motivated, committed, and working up to their potential. Honors students perform stylistically diverse programs for a faculty jury in special recitals at the end of each semester, take musicianship classes, attend professional performances, and participate in HBMS ensembles.
Honors recitals are open to all HBMS students and families as well as members of the general public.
* Performers subject to change.

Honors Program Student Recital
2025-05-31 14:30 - 15:30
Student recital featuring students enrolled in the Honors Program. *

Adhijay Arvind, cello
Madeline Margulis-Ohnuma, cello
Luke Padovano, cello

The Honors Program for gifted and committed students, selected through auditions, has produced prize-winning performers in national and international competitions. The program is designed for students 12 years or older who have been enrolled in private lessons for at least two semesters, have been recommended by their teacher, and are motivated, committed, and working up to their potential. Honors students perform stylistically diverse programs for a faculty jury in special recitals at the end of each semester, take musicianship classes, attend professional performances, and participate in HBMS ensembles.
Honors recitals are open to all HBMS students and families as well as members of the general public.
* Performers subject to change.

Honors Program Student Recital
2025-06-06 18:30 - 19:30
Student recital featuring students enrolled in the Honors Program. *

Melody Dong, violin
Phoebe Lai, voice
Chihoko Saito, piano
Nikhil Saxena, cello

The Honors Program for gifted and committed students, selected through auditions, has produced prize-winning performers in national and international competitions. The program is designed for students 12 years or older who have been enrolled in private lessons for at least two semesters, have been recommended by their teacher, and are motivated, committed, and working up to their potential. Honors students perform stylistically diverse programs for a faculty jury in special recitals at the end of each semester, take musicianship classes, attend professional performances, and participate in HBMS ensembles.
Honors recitals are open to all HBMS students and families as well as members of the general public.
* Performers subject to change.

Honors Program Student Recital
2025-06-06 20:00 - 21:00
Student recital featuring students enrolled in the Honors Program. *

Audrey Li, viola
Lucius Liu, piano
Roland Sadre, piano
Ciara Walker, voice

The Honors Program for gifted and committed students, selected through auditions, has produced prize-winning performers in national and international competitions. The program is designed for students 12 years or older who have been enrolled in private lessons for at least two semesters, have been recommended by their teacher, and are motivated, committed, and working up to their potential. Honors students perform stylistically diverse programs for a faculty jury in special recitals at the end of each semester, take musicianship classes, attend professional performances, and participate in HBMS ensembles.
Honors recitals are open to all HBMS students and families as well as members of the general public.
* Performers subject to change.

Honors Program Student Recital
2025-06-08 13:00 - 14:00
Student recital featuring students enrolled in the Honors Program. *

Meera Chari, cello
Annika Yogaratnam, violin

The Honors Program for gifted and committed students, selected through auditions, has produced prize-winning performers in national and international competitions. The program is designed for students 12 years or older who have been enrolled in private lessons for at least two semesters, have been recommended by their teacher, and are motivated, committed, and working up to their potential. Honors students perform stylistically diverse programs for a faculty jury in special recitals at the end of each semester, take musicianship classes, attend professional performances, and participate in HBMS ensembles.
Honors recitals are open to all HBMS students and families as well as members of the general public.
* Performers subject to change.

Honors Program Student Recital
2025-06-08 14:30 - 15:30
Student recital featuring students enrolled in the Honors Program. *

Natalie Jong, violin
Elliott Levine, violin
Zoe Verduin, violin

The Honors Program for gifted and committed students, selected through auditions, has produced prize-winning performers in national and international competitions. The program is designed for students 12 years or older who have been enrolled in private lessons for at least two semesters, have been recommended by their teacher, and are motivated, committed, and working up to their potential. Honors students perform stylistically diverse programs for a faculty jury in special recitals at the end of each semester, take musicianship classes, attend professional performances, and participate in HBMS ensembles.
Honors recitals are open to all HBMS students and families as well as members of the general public.
* Performers subject to change.
