The
AIB is a hugely popular Dance Company/School that performs throughout
the region. Led by Anastasia Babayeva and Denis Gronostayskiy they
offer choreographed and re-staged full length performances including La
Sylphide, Giselle, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals and
many other contemporary works for competitions and performances. This
year they appointed a Composer In Residence, Jennifer Nicole Campbell,
who in addition to holding her M.M. and B.M. degrees from Peabody
Conservatory, a division of The Johns Hopkins University, also brings a
wealth of composing and performance experience to the table. She has
performed at Lincoln Center, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, the
Grand Opera House in Delaware, and the Musikhauset Aarhus in Denmark
among others, and her compositions have been aired on Philadelphia's
WRTI and New York's WQXR. The Academy of International Ballet established in 2001 is open to students of all ages and is based on teaching the Vaganova (Russian training) Method, developed by Agrippina Vaganova in 1934. Her methods are still used by many professional schools and ballet companies throughout the world because they develop great strength, beautiful lines, perfect positions, and superior artistry in every student and dancer.
The Academy has taught over 1000 students, many using the Vaganova (Russian training) Method, developed by Agrippina Vaganova in 1934. Her methods are now professional dancers with ballet companies in United States and abroad including PA Ballet, Washington Ballet, Richmond Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and others. Students compete in professional ballet competitions like YAGP, American Ballet Competition, Universal Ballet Competition, Easton Ballet Competition, and the World Ballet Art Competition. More than 60 students also perform “Nutcracker” every year for more than 1000 audience members. Plus there are 3-5 outreach performances in great locations like PAFA, The Brandywine River Museum of Art and assisted living centers throughout the region.
All students receive the same professional, high level quality of instruction through classes including Pre-Ballet, Intermediate and Advanced Ballet, Jazz, and Character Dance. The Academy’s strong technical foundation of classical ballet not only creates the ballet artist but also gives a student of jazz, modern or hip-hop the greatest opportunity for success. Their jazz, modern, and character dance instructors have studied under some of the finest instructors in their field and continue to dance professionally.
In addition to its location in Media, PA, The Academy is proud to announce opening of a second location at 405 Caredean Drive, Horsham, PA 19044
LOCATION: IN THE MAINSTREETS
The Academy of International Ballet
75 W. Baltimore Pike
Media, PA 19063
866.908.5666
www.academyballetru.com
Delaware County Symphony
The Delaware County Symphony (DCS) was established in 1971 and has been the "Symphony In Residence" at Neumann University since 1986. The symphony is dedicated to providing outstanding musical experiences for residents of the Delaware County area. It performs four full symphonic concerts featuring outstanding soloists and four intimate chamber concerts each year in the beautiful 300 seat Meagher Theater in the Thomas A. Bruder, Jr. Life Center at Neumann University located in Aston, Pennsylvania.
The mission of the DCS is to enhance the social fabric, quality of life and cultural experiences for all within the region. With each performance the DCS brings to the cultural landscape a rich, time-honored tradition of preserving, performing and exploring classical music. Over the past many decades, each performance season offers four full symphonic concerts and four chamber concerts. Under the baton of Music Director Joseph Caminiti each concert is energized by an ongoing artistic collaboration involving more than 84 DCS musicians, exciting professional guest soloists and an engaged and appreciative audience. Each concert also offers a free 30 minute pre-concert conversation that offers insights into the biography of the composer and commentary on the music to be performed.
The chamber music series offers audience members the unique opportunity to enjoy performances featuring small ensembles from duos, trios to quartets and more that present an emotionally intimate, satisfying and engaging musical conversation.
The DCS also offers Master Classes taught by DCS musicians providing instruction, guidance, technique and inspiration to young musicians. In addition the DCS offers young musicians of outstanding talent the opportunity to audition for its annual Youth Concerto Competition. The winner of the competition is awarded prize money and performs a full-length concerto with the symphony during its regular subscription series concert.
“DCS musicians, staff, board members and volunteers are dedicated, passionate people. We come together and affirm our vision and commitment to the very best in symphony and chamber concerts by making classical music available to all in our region at a convenient location and at reasonable prices.” – William Conville
MAIN PERFORMANCE LOCATION:
The Meagher Theater at Neumann University
1 Neumann Drive, Bruder Life Center
Aston, PA 19014
www.dcsmusic.org
www.neumann.edu
International Ballet Classique
International Ballet Classique (IBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of classical ballet and new and creative ideas in the arts.International Ballet Classique conducts professional level ballet performances, ballet festivals, lecture-demonstrations, and services community programs which all endeavor to make ballet and dance available to a wide and diverse public. IBC works with world-renown dance artists who hail from many of the finest schools and companies throughout Europe and the United States. Professional artists work with IBC to increase the opportunity for young dancers to study, learn, and reproduce the fine art of classical ballet – to preserve classical ballet and to go on to educate a new generation of Americans to the beauty of the art. This is accomplished by the production of full-length ballets, ballet excerpts, and contemporary dance exhibitions that are a combination cast of accomplished student and professional dancers.
IBC’s commitment to “sharing the art of classical ballet” and “outstanding leadership, vision, and talent,” has been recognized by:
• United States Senators Arlen Specter and Robert P. Casey, Jr
• PA State Senator Dominic Pileggi
• PA Governor Edward G. Rendell
• Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
• Federation of Alliances Francaises in the U.S.A. Inc.
• Middletown Business Association
As a member of The Arts Guild at Neumann University, Aston, PA, the majority of our full-length performances are held at Delaware County’s Fred P. Meagher Theater, Neumann University. Our 2017/2018 season will delight audiences with the holiday’s most beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, start off the New Year with Neumann University’s annual Evening In Gala, then on to our second annual Multicultural Dance Festival, and in the Spring enjoy our Fairy Tale Ballet Festival.
Master Class Weekend Initiative –
September 16th & 17th
Contact them at:
International Ballet Classique
P.O. Box 982
Media, PA 19063
(610) 986-2474
ibtcompany.org
Lansdowne Symyphony Orchestra
Founded in 1946 at the First Presbyterian Church in Lansdowne, the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is one of the oldest community orchestras in the Greater Philadelphia area. Although the talented musicians who form the core of the 75+ members of the LSO come from many walks of life, they all share a strong love of music. Their repertoire includes orchestral music from the Baroque through contemporary classics, including time-honored favorites and interesting rarities. Their season runs from October through April and consists of 5 concerts performed at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center and at other area venues.
A few short years after its creation in 1946 LSO had become Lansdowne’s community orchestra. Henri Elkan, a well-known musician and music publisher, served as conductor from 1955 to 1980 and initiated collaborations between the orchestra and area dance and choral ensembles.
Jacques Voois of West Chester University took over the podium in 1980. He undertook the most ambitious venture to date in the orchestra’s history: performing live at a midnight concert broadcast around the world from within the United Nations in New York, in celebration of Earth Day. This performance of the third movement of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with a young Russian soloist was the first time in history that a symphony orchestra performed within the United Nations.
Irving Ludwig, former violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, was appointed Music Director in 1991. He dramatically elevated the musical capabilities of the orchestra and involved his talented family in the orchestra, featuring son Michael (later Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra and then Concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic) as concertmaster for a time and also as soloist, and son Mark (violist with the Boston Symphony) as soloist. He also brought the collaboration of many of his colleagues from the Philadelphia Orchestra, including current concertmaster Herold Klein. Under Ludwig, the Lansdowne Symphony began its annual Young Artist Competition, selecting 3 or 4 talented young people to perform concertos with the orchestra each season. Ludwig also instituted collaborations with the University of Pennsylvania Choir and the award-winning Upper Darby High School Choir (Handel’s Messiah and other works), and often featured chamber pieces and concertos performed by members of the orchestra.
In late 2014, Maestro Reuben Blundell, pictured in the top photo, joined the LSO as the fourth Music Director in the Orchestra's 70 year history. The 2016-17 season is also Reuben’s eighth as music director of the Hunter Symphony, of the City University of New York’s “crown jewel,” Hunter College. With the Hunter Symphony, he has worked with choreographers and museums, initiated new-music programs, and raised the orchestra’s profile, while growing the orchestra from a chamber ensemble to a symphony orchestra. Blundell is also the principal conductor with the Riverside Orchestra in New York, as well as a resident conductor (and frequent concertmaster) with the Chelsea Symphony.
LSO’s Irving Ludwig Young Artists’ Competition
2017 marked the 60th anniversary of the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra's Young Artists Concerts, which feature the winners of the Young Artists' Auditions. This competition is well-known in the Delaware Valley and draws contestants from Pennsylvania and nearby states. The talented young winners of the competition appear as soloists with the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. The LSO's Young Artist soloists often go on to win other prestigious competitions, and many have become professional musicians with illustrious performing careers.
LOCATION: IN THE CROSSROADS
MAIN PERFORMANCE LOCATION:
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center
601 North Lansdowne Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
www.lansdowneso.org