Harada, Borle, Etc. Take Part in Music Conference in July

The first New York State music education technology conference presented on Long Island on July 20 and 21 will have a major Broadway component: to illustrate music technology used in Broadway shows, members of Broadway hits--Ann Harada (Avenue Q), Michelle Kittrell (Hairspray), Matt Stocke (The Wedding Singer) and Christian Borle (Spamalot) will perform in a concert, "Voices of Broadway," and participate in a workshop with their keyboardists and musical directors.

There will also be workshops sponsored by Long Island's music industry. In addition, there will be receptions hosted by the NYSSMA leadership and by Long Island business leaders. In the evening, participants will see one of the productions of Broadway musicals in which Usdan Center concert performers will have appeared earlier in the day

The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) and Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts will co present a summer mini-conference in music technology called 2006 Music Technology, on Thursday and Friday July 20 and 21, 2006 at both Usdan Center and Five Towns College. The first state-wide music education technology conference ever presented on Long Island, it will focus on computer-assisted music production and notation.

The purpose of the conference, conceived by the NYSSMA Music Technology Committee, is to bring teachers up to date and impart the necessary current technical knowledge vital to teaching music. Open to teachers of kindergarten through university levels, the conference is being programmed by Don Muro, founder and member of the NYSSMA committee and one of today's most prominent technology advocates, and organized by Dale Lewis, the Executive Director of Usdan Center.
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Conference sessions will feature presentations by specialists from Digidesign, M-audio, MakeMusic, Propellerhead, Sibelius, SoundTree and Steinberg. Each session will include a product overview that demonstrates the latest program enhancements, techniques and tips to help teachers work more efficiently in the classroom, and an open forum where questions will be answered by product representatives. An additional highlight will be the application of music technology in Broadway shows. In the evening, participants will see one of the productions of Broadway musicals in which concert performers will have appeared earlier in the day.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, America largest summer arts day camp, was called by Time Magazine 'One of the most unique camps in America.' "It has introduced the visual and performing arts to more than 40,000 young people for almost 40 years on its magnificent 200-acre woodland setting in Huntington, Long Island. Among its alumni are singers Mariah Carey and Jane Monheit, actor Natalie Portman and members of major orchestras and dance ensembles. Although no audition is needed for most programs, its unique stimulation has caused many to go on to professional careers, and in response the Center has increasingly added pre-professional studies and community outreach, through the Heckscher-Usdan Student Art Institute (presented jointly with Heckscher Museum of Art), the Usdan Summer Ballet Intensive and the upcoming Chess Center, opening August 2006, which will be available during shoulder seasons to the outside community," according to press notes.

Fees to attend 2006 Music Technology are $50 for NYSSMA members and $75 for non-NYSSMA members, until July 10. On-site registration will be, respectively, $60 and $85. Non-music educator guests may register for $25. The Conference luncheon, hosted by James Cassara, NYSSMA President, and a Thursday dinner are covered by the registration fee. The Hampton Inn Commack will be the conference hotel, with a special rate of $125 per night, including breakfast, until June 15. There will also be discounted tickets available to the Broadway show Wicked for Thursday evening. Free bus transportation will be provided from the Usdan Center conference site to Manhattan, and back to the conference hotel.

For more information and for conference registration, visit the NYSSMA web site: www.nyssma.org, or contact Patricia White at pwhite2299@aol.com.