We are very pleased and excited to welcome you to our second season of On the Rise! We have created an exciting artists roster for the upcoming 2007-08 season, ranging from across cultures, repertoire and sources of inspiration. We continue our inaugural series' focus on emerging artists who perform a mix of mainstream repertory balanced with new compositions by living composers. In striving to bridge gaps, we also explore connections between East and West, young and experienced concert artists and traditional and newer technologies of musical expression. As a means toward inspiring and mentoring our next generation of performers, we are also including youth ensembles from the JCC-Thurnauer School of Music, one of our area's finest pre-college conservatories, as an additional featured segment to two of our concerts. One new feature to all our concerts will be the introduction of Pre-Concert Talks featuring the various featured artists and curated by On the Rise music director Thomas Osuga.

The season begins in October, once again, with the tremendously gifted pianist, Ching-Yun Hu. Ching-Yun's own star is rising rapidly – she enjoyed a critically acclaimed Lincoln Center debut concert at Alice Tully Hall last March, and went on to win the Gold Medal/First Prize at the prestigious World Piano Competition this summer. In November, we are honored to present the famed impresario, WQXR-FM radio personality, author and champion of piano music, David Dubal in a program he has titled, “The Glory of the Piano.” Following his lecture/discussion, he will introduce three young pianists to the Puffin audience.

Our new collaboration with the JCC-Thurnauer School begins in January, when one of their most acclaimed alumnae, cellist Ani Kalayjian will perform in a concert of solo cello works and piano/cello duos in collaboration with Sam Armstrong. Her performance will be preceded by a short recital by the JCC-Thurnauer’s Cello Ensemble, conducted by Yari Bond.

Appearing in February is Shiau-uen Ding, an exciting young pianist who brings her deep passion from Baroque roots to more recent repertory presenting a program entitled: The Piano Today: l'Esprit de joie.  While incorporating electronic and multimedia elements into her performance, we can expect a full musical palette ranging from scintillating Debussy to the most electrifying of living traditions available at the piano. An appearance at the Pre-Concert Talks with Ms. Ding by composer Christopher Bailey is bound to be illuminating and entertaining. March’s concert features pianist/conductor/impresario Marlon Daniel, known equally for his virtuosity and for the unique projects he undertakes.
 
Our final concert in April once again highlights the contributions of the Thurnauer School. Thurnauer faculty member violinist Sharon Roffman will perform a varied program ranging from the baroque to contemporary, in a joint recital with On the Rise curator Thomas Osuga on piano. The Thurnauer’s Violin Ensemble will introduce the afternoon’s program.  

These performances are subsidized by the Puffin Foundation, and this year we will be offering several family-friendly subscriptions to introduce our younger audiences to the magic of live concert music. We are certain that you will enjoy concert experiences at the Puffin Cultural Forum that rival the best you might encounter on the stages of New York City – all in the most intimate of settings.

We eagerly anticipate another productive year in presenting a stellar level of talent, but also for opening up our community to a concert-attending experience that in format and repertory is rarely heard.

We are grateful to Yamaha Piano whose loan of a Yamaha S4 grand piano has made this series possible.

2007-2008 Season
Ticket prices:
Single Concert: $15 adults; $12 seniors and students; Children 12 and under, free.
Single Concert Family Plan: $25 for 2 adults and children (under 18).
General Admission Seating.

Subscription Formats:
Full Season Subscription: $70 for all 6 concerts.
Half Season Subscription: $40 for 3 concerts
of your choice.
*Subscriptions include premium reserved seating, OTR Newsletters, and a “Best of Season” On the Rise CD concert recording.

This and all other Puffin Cultural Forum events and programs are underwritten by the Puffin Foundation Ltd. in an effort to make it possible for anyone to attend.

Performances
October 21 Ching-Yun Hu
November 18 David Dubal & guests
January 27 Ani Kalayjian & Sam Armstrong, Preview: Thurnauer Cello Ensemble
February 17 Shiau-uen Ding
March 16 Marion Daniel
April 13 Sharon Roffman & Thomas Osuga, Preview: Thurnauer Violin Ensemble