Carnegie Hall

(New York, NY, October 5, 2020)—This fall, online audiences have the opportunity to hear musical insights directly from some of the world’s leading artists through a new weekly video series drawn from the rich catalogue of master classes for emerging artists presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI).

Beginning October 14 through late November, free episodes will stream each Wednesday on the Hall’s Facebook and YouTube channels, highlighting excerpts from past WMI master classes led by internationally-renowned musicians including pianists Jonathan Biss and Richard Goode, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, trumpeter Hans Peter Schuh and trombonist Dietmar Küblböck, and other celebrated artists from across musical genres. Following the stream, episodes will also be available for free on-demand viewing on the Hall’s website at carnegiehall.org/learn. They are part of Learn with Carnegie Hall, an ongoing online series that shares a range of WMI programming created for families, educators, and young musicians, exploring the power of music to spark growth, curiosity, and connection.

The master class series kicks off on Wednesday, October 14 at 2PM EDT with a brass orchestral master class hosted by Sarah Willis, horn player from the Berliner Philharmoniker. Throughout the master class, Willis, alongside trumpeter Hans Peter Schuh and trombonist Dietmar Küblböck both of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, works with alumni from the Hall’s critically acclaimed National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), comprised of outstanding teen musicians selected each year from across the US. The workshop will focus on music by Stravinsky, Mozart, and Beethoven. Ms. Willis will be a live host throughout this online episode and will answer questions from audiences at home.

The series continues on Wednesday, October 21 at 2PM EDT when viewers can watch favorite past moments from master classes featuring performances from up-and-coming opera singers coached by Joyce DiDonato, the widely-acclaimed mezzo-soprano who has mentored young professional vocalists through Carnegie Hall workshops since 2015. In the workshop, they will explore the music of Handel and Puccini. Ms. DiDonato will also interview mezzo-soprano Kayleigh Decker, who participated in the WMI program in 2015 and is a recent graduate of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Celebrated pianist Jonathan Biss will host an episode devoted to solo piano master classes on Wednesday, October 28 at 2PM EDT, featuring highlights from his past workshops along with sessions led by pianist Richard Goode.

November episodes will include orchestral woodwind masterclasses hosted by flutist Demarre McGill; a workshop focused on orchestral string playing hosted by bassist Joseph Conyers, and a master class led and hosted by jazz pianist Gerald Clayton. Dates and additional details for these programs will be announced later this fall and available at carnegiehall.org/learn.

*****

Complementing the many performances by the world’s finest musicians and ensembles that take place on its stages each season, Carnegie Hall has a long history of supporting the training of the next generation of great artists. Through its ongoing series of WMI workshops and master classes, rising and pre-professional musicians are given valuable access to renowned performers and composers. Participants in these tuition-free opportunities are selected after responding to an open call for auditions. These up-and-coming artists receive coaching and mentoring to assist them in reaching their artistic and professional goals with programming taking place in the inspirational spaces of the Hall’s Resnick Education Wing. Workshops and masterclasses are open to musicians, ages 18-35.

***** 

About Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) creates visionary programs that embody Carnegie Hall’s commitment to music education, playing a central role in fulfilling the Hall’s mission of making great music accessible to as many people as possible. With unparalleled access to the world’s greatest artists, WMI’s programs are designed to inspire audiences of all ages, nurture tomorrow’s musical talent, and harness the power of music to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. An integral part of Carnegie Hall’s concert season, these programs facilitate creative expression, develop musical skills and capacities at all levels, and encourage participants to make lifelong personal connections to music. The Weill Music Institute generates new knowledge through original research and is committed to giving back to its community and the field, sharing an extensive range of online music education resources and program materials for free with teachers, orchestras, arts organizations, and music lovers worldwide. Nearly 800,000 people each year engage in WMI’s programs through national and international partnerships, in New York City schools and community settings, and at Carnegie Hall. This includes more than half a million students and teachers worldwide who participate in WMI’s Link Up music education program for students in grades 3 through 5, made possible through Carnegie Hall partnerships with more than 110 orchestras in the US from Alaska to Puerto Rico, as well as internationally in Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kenya, and Spain.

For a full list of free WMI online resources, please visit: carnegiehall.org/Explore/Learn.

Support for Learn with Carnegie Hall is provided by Hope and Robert F. Smith, and the Siegel Family Endowment.

Lead support for workshops and master classes is provided by Beatrice Santo Domingo, and Mr. and Mrs. Anthony B. Evnin and the A.E. Charitable Foundation.

Workshops and master classes are also made possible, in part, by Mr. and Mrs. Nicola Bulgari.

Carnegie Hall also thanks generous supporters of the wide range of music education and social impact programs created by the Weill Music Institute.