By Katie Shah, Public Relations, Bronxville School Foundation

Mar. 17, 2022: Two Bronxville High School chamber music ensembles were selected to perform at the prestigious Westchester-Hudson Valley-Connecticut Chamber Music Society concert on March 3rd at Hoff-Barthelson Music School. Student performers included Ian Gegenwarth, Simos Dimas, Andrew Jensen, and Patrick Wu (The Mendelssohn Group), and Remi Mellinghoff, Saya Mueller, Ria Mueller, and Andrew Jensen (The Borodin Group). Both ensembles are now in consideration to perform at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center as a part of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society’s Young Musicians Program.

Last spring, the Bronxville School Foundation awarded a grant to the high school orchestra program to fund 10 advanced coaching sessions in the 2021-22 school year on topics including intonation, harmony, communication with other players, and concert performance techniques. The grant was designed to help Bronxville students prepare for the CMS Young Musicians Program.

High school chamber music ensembles were invited to submit applications through their school music department to be considered for participation. 

“The grant was really important for the orchestra program because it gave us a chance to try a different style of classical music,” said 11th grade violinist Saya Mueller. “One of the biggest takeaways for me was learning how to weave melodies and harmonies together in a four-person group. The coaches taught us to play with expression without overshadowing each other.”

“Congratulations to the musicians and thank you to the Foundation for support as we continue the journey,” said orchestra teacher Wyeth Tvenge. “Although it is a huge honor for the Bronxville orchestra students to be considered, they have earned it.”

Since its inception in 1991, the Foundation has awarded more than $11.5 million in grants that focus on piloting new programs, pursuing creative ideas, and providing equipment and facilities in the areas of science, arts, athletics, technology, and curriculum development. If you would like to learn more about the Foundation, please contact the Foundation’s executive director, Helena McSherry, at 914-395-0515 or visit the Foundation’s website at www.BronxvilleSchoolFoundation.org.

Pictured: Musician Noa Kageyama coaches high school orchestra students in a session funded by the Bronxville School Foundation. Photo courtesy of the Bronxville School Foundation.