Community Updates

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April 14, 2020

Dear Friends,

As we continue to monitor updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in line with other NYC cultural organizations, we have extended the suspension of in-person events at Kaufman Music Center through July 31.

Merkin Hall
Events are suspended through July 31. We are hopeful that as many performances as possible will be re-scheduled. If you're a ticketholder, please click here for more information. You may also call 212 501 3330 or email us at boxoffice@kaufmanmusiccenter.org.

Lucy Moses School
For the remainder of the spring semester, LMS instruction will continue to be delivered online. In-person classes and lessons are suspended through July 31. Stay tuned for more information about online summer programs. Registration is open for the 2020-21 school year.

Summer Musical Theater Workshop
We have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Summer Musical Theater Workshop. We look forward to next summer. If you have registered for this summer, please look for an email with options from Sean Hartley.

Special Music School
Informed by recent updates from Mayor De Blasio and the NYC Department of Education, we anticipate that public school instruction will continue to be delivered online for the remainder of the school year. Please visit the DOE web site for the latest alerts. 

Kaufman Music Center Gala
We have made the difficult decision to postpone our annual Gala, originally scheduled for June 1. Postponing the Gala is a significant financial challenge for us. This important event raises nearly $1 million every year for our music education programs. The Development team will be following up with Gala supporters this week with more information.

New Projects

  • Broadcast from Home
    I’m thrilled that Kaufman Music Center is Lead Partner of composer Lisa Bielawa’s new project, Broadcast from Home! Bielawa is asking the public to submit testimonies about their own experience of the coronavirus crisis that she will set to music throughout our period of isolation. Episodes will be posted on the KMC web site and social channels every Thursday at 3 pm beginning April 16. Find out more about the project and submit your own testimony HERE.
     
  • Orli Shaham’s Hit Interactive Classical Music Series for Kids Is Now Online!
    The internationally acclaimed pianist Orli Shaham brings her interactive classical concert series for children to your home with season one of a new, 10-episode online series presented by Kaufman Music Center. Posted every Sunday at 11 am on Kaufman Music Center’s web site and social channels beginning April 26, Orli’s Bach Yard Playtime introduces musical concepts, instruments and the experience of concert-going to children.   
     
  • Online Encores
    The stage may be dark for now, but you can still enjoy great performances in Merkin Hall. Join us on FacebookInstagram and Twitter to see Online Encores, some of our favorite moments from the current concert season and gems from past seasons, every day. 

And finally, if you're able to support the Kaufman Music Center community during this difficult time, please consider making a donation todayHere's how.

At a time when we can all use some positive news, it’s inspiring to see so many members of the Kaufman community continuing to make music and build connections. I send my best wishes to you and your families.

Sincerely,

Kate Sheeran, Executive Director
Kaufman Music Center


March 28, 2020

Dear Kaufman Music Center Community,

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy, and doing as well as possible as we continue to navigate our way through this current, unprecedented moment together. Like many of you, we are working to adapt to the new situation, and continue to serve the Kaufman Music Center community. Even though we can’t be together, we believe in the power of the performing arts to connect us all!

Bringing Kaufman Music Center to You
As we continue to monitor updates and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in line with other NYC cultural organizations, we have extended the suspension of public events in Merkin Hall through May 11.

The stage may be dark for now, but you can still enjoy great performances in Merkin Hall. Join us on FacebookInstagram and Twitter to see Online Encores, some of our favorite moments from the current concert season and gems from past seasons, every day. You’ll see highlights from Ecstatic MusicBroadway Close Up and more; family programs like Broadway Playhouse on Sunday mornings; and exceptional performances by young musicians from Face the MusicSpecial Music School and Lucy Moses School. View this week’s schedule. And of course, you can also watch these performances and much more any time on our Youtube channel

Watch Nathalie Joachim and Spektral Quartet perform their Grammy-nominated album Fanm d'Ayiti at Merkin Hall: 

Here's What Online Music Learning Looks Like
During our first week of online music instruction at Lucy Moses School and Special Music School, we heard many success stories, and admittedly faced some challenges. We are so thankful for the support, patience, creativity and resilience of our staff, students, faculty and families. 

If you or your child have always wanted to learn an instrument but never had the time, consider signing up for online private lessons! Learn more. 

And see how online music learning has been working for this LMS family. Huge thanks to Orli ShahamDavid Robertson and their sons Nathan and Alex for sharing their experience!

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A Sneak Peek at Some New Projects
We’re working with our artists on some new projects we’re excited to share with you very soon, including new live performances from JACK Quartet, digital editions of our Sound of History series featuring Special Music School musicians, and new streaming editions of Orli Shaham’s Bach Yard as well as What Makes It Great? – direct from the living room of Rob Kapilow! Stay tuned for more details soon, including a new project with our Artist-in-Residence and 2020 Grammy nominee Nathalie Joachim!

And finally, if you're able to support the Kaufman Music Center community during this difficult time, please consider making a donation today. Here's how.

I am continually inspired by the strength and creativity of the Kaufman community and send my best wishes to you and your families.

Sincerely,

Kate Sheeran, Executive Director
Kaufman Music Center


March 13, 2020

Dear Kaufman Music Center Community: 

Since yesterday’s continued announcements from the Mayor and Governor, we have additional plans and changes for our programs. We do not have a report of infection within our community. We are making these decisions out of an abundance of caution at a time when city and state officials are universally recommending social distancing and limiting movement around New York City. 

With a very heavy heart, we have made the difficult decision to suspend on-premises instruction for Lucy Moses School for both the Adult Division and the Young People’s Division beginning this Sunday through spring break. That means we are working as quickly as possible to have as much online instruction happen as we can, starting with Sunday activities. Our building at 129 West 67th Street will be closed to the public starting on Sunday, March 15th, and we expect it to remain so through April 18th. 

Special Music School, at the discretion of the NYC Department of Education, remains open. We have made the difficult decision that no music instruction will happen on-premises at either Kaufman Music Center (129 West 67th Street) or the Martin Luther King campus for Special Music School. We are moving music instruction online as quickly as possible. SMS staff will send resources and instructions to all music faculty later today. 

These decisions mean that starting Sunday, March 15th, the only people allowed in the building at Kaufman Music Center at 129 West 67th Street are: 

   •  Special Music School K-8 students (Monday through Friday only) 
   •  Department of Education employees at Special Music School 
   •  Kaufman Music Center staff

No Kaufman Music Center faculty will be allowed in the building at 129 West 67th Street or at the Martin Luther King campus. We are doing this to keep as many people as safe and healthy as possible, and per recommendations from government agencies. 

SMS parents should only drop off or pick up students at the front door. Unfortunately, parents will not be allowed in the building. 

Our goal continues to be to deliver as much planned instruction as possible this school year. To that end, staff are working with faculty as quickly as possible to move instruction online. Students, families and faculty will receive further communications from staff members throughout the day today and through next week. We are grateful for your continued patience and creativity as we embark on this new territory. 

As I said in yesterday's update, as of now, public performances in Merkin Hall are suspended through March 31. Face the Music rehearsals and performances are suspended though at least March 22.

I send my heartfelt thanks to all of you for working with us in these constantly changing circumstances. I am continually inspired by the strong community of Kaufman Music Center, now more than ever.

Sincerely,

Kate Sheeran, Executive Director
Kaufman Music Center


March 12, 2020

Dear Kaufman Music Center Community,

I am writing with an update on our latest changes here at Kaufman Music Center, as we do our best to adapt to the situation related to COVID-19. We currently have no known or suspected cases of COVID-19 in the Kaufman Music Center Community, and continue to follow enhanced cleaning protocols. With that said, the health and safety of our community remains our top priority, and it is with that in mind that we have made the following decisions. 

All public events in Merkin Hall are suspended starting today through March 31st. We hope to reschedule as many concerts as possible in the coming months. If you are a ticket buyer or subscriber, please consider donating the cost of your ticket to Kaufman Music Center if you are able. Every bit helps in these trying times. All ticket holders will receive another email with detailed information about options. 

For the time being, Lucy Moses School remains open. All concerts at Lucy Moses School are cancelled through March 22nd. We are currently working with faculty to move as much instruction as possible online as quickly as we can. Our hope is to deliver all instruction during this school year, and we are working to make that possible. We thank you for your patience as we work out logistics. Faculty, students and families will receive more detailed emails from Lucy Moses School director Igal Kesselman and staff members with information. 

Special Music School, as a New York City public school, remains open. We are also working with all music faculty at Special Music School to move as much instruction as possible online as quickly as we can. All events at Special Music School are closed to public audiences. Stay tuned for more detailed email updates from Special Music School staff. 

Face the Music activities are suspended for the next two Sundays, March 15th and March 22nd. Please look for detailed information from Face the Music director Vasu Panicker. 

I would like to thank our staff, board, students, faculty, families, audiences, renters and artists for working with us during this extremely trying time. Artistic education trains us in compassion, improvisation, flexibility and creativity, and we need all of those skills more than ever right now. I send my best wishes to all of you and will continue to send updates as they arise. Updates will also be posted on the Kaufman web site here.

All the best,

Kate Sheeran, Executive Director
Kaufman Music Center


March 5, 2020

Dear Kaufman Music Center Community:

As we stay in touch with the news and city and state agencies about updates regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are acting in accordance with recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, the NYC Department of Health, New York State Department of Health, and the Department of Education.

For all of our faculty, staff, students, and families in Lucy Moses School, Special Music School, and Face the Music, we ask that you:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing — do not use your hands.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing your ABCs while you do it!) or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home if you are not feeling well.
  • Avoid physical contact with others, including shaking hands, hugging, etc.

In addition, here at Kaufman Music Center, we:

  • Are being extra vigilant about sanitizing shared spaces, and frequently contacted items such as drinking fountains, door knobs, elevator panels, hall phones and light switches
  • Regularly inspecting areas that need to be supplied with soap and paper towels
  • Have alcohol wipes available at the front desk for piano keys for students and faculty
  • Have hand sanitizer available in the lobby

Should any cancellations or building closures need to occur at any time, information will be available on the home page of our website, kaufmanmusiccenter.org. Families at Special Music School already received information from the NYC Department of Education, which can be found here.

As a precaution, we also ask individuals who have recently traveled from affected regions of the world to wait 14 days before returning to Kaufman Music Center.

As this situation unfolds, our staff will continue to work closely with the relevant city agencies on all preventative and any responsive measures. In the meantime, I encourage you to monitor news and resources released by the NYC Department of Health, the New York State Department of Health and the CDC.

The health and wellness of our community is our top priority. Thank you for attention to this communication.

All the best,

Kate Sheeran, Executive Director
Kaufman Music Center

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