Brooklyn Music School to Offer Free Masterclass with Concert Pianist George Lepauw May 8

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) offers a free Masterclass with Concert Pianist George Lepauw on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 from 6:30pm - 8pm at the Brooklyn Music School, 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY. Registration is free and is available HERE!

Acclaimed concert pianist and cultural activist George Lepauw will host a special Masterclass on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 6:30pm at the BMS Theater.

Prominent French composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) brought a seminal force to modern music of the 20th century. To celebrate his work, masterpieces and influence on major composers, painters and writers, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French-American Piano Society present a series of events from May 8-10, 2018.

The class will be exploring the piano music of Claude Debussy as part of the French Cultural Services' commemoration of the 100th anniversary of his death in 1918.

BMS performers include: BMS music mentors Carmen Tang and Mei Yolles, and longtime BMS piano student Chris Yip.

This Master Class is free and open to all.

ABOUT GEORGE LEPAUW

"A prodigious pianist" (Chicago Tribune) recognized for his "singing tone" (New York Times), and a cultural activist who "likes to shake it up" (Chicago Tribune), George Lepauw uses music and the arts to inspire and bring people together.

Named "Chicagoan of the Year (2012) for Classical Music" (Chicago Tribune), George represents the ideal 21st-century musician, intensely focused on his art and wholly engaged with the world.

A concert pianist since his formal debut at age ten in Paris, George Lepauw has performed ever since as a recitalist, chamber musician, vocal collaborator, and soloist with orchestra. He also occasionally collaborates with musicians from other musical genres, including cabaret, musical theater, traditional Chinese and Persian music, flamenco, blues, and pop.

In 2008 he founded the International Beethoven Project (IBP), a radical non-profit organization focused on connecting tradition and innovation in classical music, motivated by Beethoven's indomitable spirit as an artist and humanist, through the production of multi-disciplinary festivals, special events, and media. He continues to serve as its President and Artistic Director.

As part of the Beethoven Project Trio, George performed in the World Premiere concert, in Chicago, of a newly-discovered, long-lost piano trio of Beethoven's in 2009 to great acclaim, followed by a highly-praised first recording on Cedille Records produced by the legendary Max Wilcox, which reached 24th place on the Classical Billboard charts in 2010.

Over the course of his life, George Lepauw has been deeply engaged in community-building and education through the arts and culture. In college, he co-founded and served as both Vice-President and then President of the French Cultural Association of Georgetown University, working hand in hand with multiple university departments as well as with the French Embassy, the Alliance Française, and other organizations in Washington, DC. In 2002, he was a founding member of the Benjamin Marshall Society, dedicated to the forgotten architect of some of Chicago's most iconic early-20th century buildings (i.e. the Drake Hotel). From 2007 to 2010, he founded and published a print magazine, the Journal of a Musician, which featured original articles and interviews with some of classical music's biggest stars (including Hilary Hahn, Yefim Bronfman, Natalie Dessay, James Conlon, Henri Dutilleux). In 2014-15, George was Artistic Director of the Chicago Academy of Music, helping to launch an after-school music education program for deserving children of Chicago's South Side. And between 2016-18, George served as Executive Director of the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest), leading two festivals over the course of his term which presented dozens of films, live concerts, and panel discussions.

The Brooklyn Music School views music and performance as the birthright of all people, an essential way that human beings connect with others and explore their creativity. The study of music has been demonstrated to enhance academic learning and helps to develop discipline and confidence that will serve children well throughout their lives.As part of the vision of reinventing the community music school for the 21st Century, BMS is dedicated to:

* Making high quality musical instruction approachable and affordable to a wide range of students,

* Creating frequent opportunities for performance for our students and cultural enrichment for our community,

* Representing a wide range of musical traditions, including European, African, Middle Eastern, and American to represent the diversity of Brooklyn's musical talent, and

* Offering a warm and welcoming space for families and individuals to explore new talents and make lasting friendships.

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