Oneonta, NY (NYSMF/NEW YORK SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL) - The New York Summer
Music Festival (NYSMF) in Oneonta, New York, will showcase performances of the Yamaha Silent Electric String Quartet during their premiere season this June 25 - August 5, 2006. All NYSMF performances are open to the public and are free of charge.
Only six summer music camps nationwide were offered the loan of these instruments by the Yamaha Music Corporation of America, the world's leading manufacturer of musical instruments. NYSMF is the only camp also being granted the use of a Yamaha Silent Electric Bass.
The Yamaha Silent Electric Strings are electrically amplified versions of classic string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass). The instruments are plugged into amplifiers, much like electric guitars, allowing the use of special electronic effects and equipment. Each instrument has a futuristic, minimalistic design, while preserving the original sound and feel of a traditionally constructed wooden instrument.
'This is an incredible opportunity not only for our young musicians,' says NYSMF Director of Communications, Keisuke Hoashi, 'but also for everyone in the area who simply loves music. All summer long, within our regular schedule of nearly 30 concerts, we will present live performances featuring the Yamaha Silent Strings, played by our top students and faculty. We want to share our good fortune in acquiring the use of these instruments with everyone in the community.'
Performances are held in Goodrich Auditorium in the Fine Arts Building on the campus of the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, in Oneonta, New York. A full schedule will be posted at https://www.nysmf.org.
In addition to these public performances, students at NYSMF will have daily use of these instruments in the following NYSMF programs:
1) String Education Program. Every string student and faculty member will have the opportunity to play these instruments in NYSMF's classes and ensembles. Students and instructors will discuss, demonstrate, and discover the fundamental differences between electric and traditional wooden instruments.
2) NYSMF Composition Program. Run by NYSMF resident composer David Ludwig, students in the NYSMF composition program will be given the opportunity to examine the possibilities of using the Yamaha Silent Electric Strings in their original works.
3) NYSMF Chamber Music Program. The best string players will be grouped in an exclusive all-electric classical string quartet, for performances in small ensemble concerts, recitals, and even for presentation before NYSMF's largest weekend concert audiences.
4) Educational/Entertainment Presentations. The NYSMF string faculty will present regular public performances, free of charge, to audiences attending NYSMF's weekend concerts. These performances will include audience participation, demonstrations, and educational presentations about these unusual instruments, and to present their capabilities in contrast to traditional wooden instruments.
5) NYSMF Jazz Program. NYSMF will integrate jazz strings into its four jazz ensembles and its several smaller jazz combos. NYSMF Jazz Coordinator Robert Sabin (of Columbia University) says: 'Jazz string players have always been very difficult to hear, simply because of the acoustic limitations of their chosen instrument. Thanks to their use of technology and amplification, The Yamaha Silent Strings - which is actually the exact opposite of what they are - will give these players an unprecedented opportunity to actually be heard above the drums, trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. Some students will probably be heard for the first time!'
6) NYSMF Documentary Series. NYSMF Director of Communications and resident actor, Keisuke Hoashi (with nearly 100 credits in film, TV, theater, and commercials), will film and produce a documentary about NYSMF's use of the Yamaha Silent Electric Strings during the 2006 season. This will be part of a series of films and documentaries about the first season of NYSMF.
The New York Summer Music Festival (NYSMF) is a six-week-long summer music camp dedicated to providing high-quality performance opportunities to talented young musicians. Students range in age from 10 to 25 years old, and play weekly/biweekly concerts in NYSMF's more than 50 performing ensembles and classes. NYSMF is hosted by the Music Department of the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, in Oneonta, New York.
NYSMF Faculty are from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music; the Juilliard School; the Manhattan School of Music; New York University; the New York Pops Orchestra; and many other top-notch musical institutions worldwide. NYSMF features free Master Classes and performances with internationally renowned musicians including John Patitucci (two-time Grammy Award Winner), Aaron Rosand, Interim conductor of the New York Pops Orchestra Rob Fisher, and many others.
