The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Pleasantville

Russell Ger, the Dynamic, Towering & Talented Aussie-born Conductor, is Leading Orchestra 914 & Sky’s the Limit!

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PHOTO BY SIMON FELDMAN

In a dark suit and a white open-collar button-down, Music Director Russell Ger bounds down the isle of Pleasantville’s St. John’s Episcopal Church. A small leap and he’s on the podium facing the 41 musicians of Orchestra 914. He lifts his white baton and with a nimble swish the sold-out crowd is soothed by the serene sound of Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel Evening Prayer/Dream Pantomime as the fairy tale comes to life on this frosty evening.

Moments before, the Mayor of Pleasantville, Peter Scherer, welcomed the holiday audience to the handsome landmark church. He expressed delight that the rebranded and expanded Orchestra 914 (o914), previously The Chappaqua Orchestra (TCO), has set down roots in Pleasantville. “We welcome Orchestra 914 as they help us usher in this season of hope and opportunity,” he says. “May they do so for many years to come.”

Orchestra 914 Co-Executive Director, David Restivo, explains, “The 2021/2022 season heralds three major changes for The Chappaqua Orchestra (TCO); a new name, a new home base and a new musical director.”

Founded more than 60 years ago by Boris Koutzen, the Chappaqua hamlet has served as home base to TCO’s mix of local amateur and professional musicians who have performed with direction from many notable conductors. In a change of direction, in 2002, under the baton of Michael Shapiro, the goal was to make the orchestra a fully professional orchestra.

BRANCHING OUT

The pandemic curtailed TCO’s performance schedule but provided time for orchestra leaders to develop plans that have been under consideration for some time. One was a name change. “Our goal is to reach a wider audience and a more regional name reflects that intention,” says Restivo, who is also a violinist with the orchestra.

By moving their home base to Pleasantville, o914 plans to expand their community and their audience. Many of the town’s other organizations, the Jacob Burns Film Center, the Pleasantville Music Festival and ARC Stages, are also focused on the arts. o914 does not have a physical facility in Pleasantville.

Right now, their goal is to perform throughout the county. This season, o914 performs at various Westchester venues including Paramount Hudson Valley, Chappaqua Performing Arts Center and St John’s Episcopal Church.

The orchestra also sought the leadership of a new Music Director. “It was a big search,” says Restivo. “Some 80 to 90 people applied from around the world and in the end, it came down to five who auditioned for the position.”

Australian-born conductor Russell Ger made the cut. Ger, who is an alumnus of Symphony Australia, the leading conductor-training program in Australia, also earned a Master in Music in Orchestral Conducting at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He has conducted orchestral, operatic, and choral music across Europe, North America and Australia. Ger also serves as Music Director for the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, Norwalk Youth Symphony and Park East Synagogue in New York City.

AN AMBITIOUS DEBUT

For his debut concert with o914, Ger selected an ambitious program, Shubert Death and the Maiden and Schoenberg Transfigured Night, that he says, “put the orchestra through their paces.” He came away acknowledging the orchestra’s “huge amount of ability, and huge amount of possibility.”

As o914 expands their reach, the energetic Ger is excited to have “different communities come together to explore and expose themselves to music of other cultures that they may not have experienced.” A case in point is their upcoming March concert, Celebración! This tribute to Latin-American composers includes the music of Carlos Gardel, Ginastera, Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla and Arturo Márquez.

Ger comes from a musical family including his talented grandmothers, mother and younger sister, who he says has a lovely soprano voice and performs with an a cappella group in Australia. Ger’s baritone, he’s also studied voice, was in fine form at the holiday concert as he encouraged the audience in a grand finale sing-along.

He was introduced to music at a young age. To entertain him during car drives, his Mom, who was passionate about classical music, would play the game “Guess the Composer”. With delight, he recalls he learned if he said Mozart eight out of 10 times, he’d be right. He grew up playing the piano and tuba and was just 17 when he became interested in conducting.

Ger says conducting is the non-verbal reinforcement of what happens in rehearsal. He describes a conductor’s job as someone who establishes and maintains tempo; sets the mood, atmosphere, and energy of a piece; and controls pacing, unity, and precision.

But there is more to it than that. He also says a conductor must be an excellent communicator, have physical endurance, aural perception, and posses the ability to inspire. “A conductor is part musician, teacher, historian, actor, politician, detective and a mind reader all in one,” he says.

CAPTIVATING AUDIENCES

The affable, outgoing Ger seems to have no trouble filling those shoes. To see him conduct is to enjoy how he encourages, inspires, and implores the orchestra to create a sound of unity and beauty. At the holiday concert, his comfort level on the podium, his enthusiasm and his sense of humor all captivated the crowd.

These days Ger lives in Brooklyn with his wife Kirsten Hicks, an Australian painter and Interior architect whom he met in New York, and their two children Caleb, age 4, and Malu, 9 months old. In his good-natured way, Ger says “kids have not slowed us down, sometimes to our detriment.” The couple enjoys cooking, particularly Asian cuisine, and entertaining. When he’s not reading scores or related non-fiction, Ger is a voracious fiction reader. Still, as you might expect of a conductor, most of his life is dedicated to making, inspiring, and enjoying music.

Orchestra 914 Upcoming 2022 Events

Music is Science – (Family Concert)
Saturday March 5 at 3 p.m.
Chappaqua Performing Arts Center
480 Bedford Road, Chappaqua

ORCHESTRAL SERIES:

Celebración!
Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m.
Paramount Hudson Valley
1008 Brown St., Peekskill

Together in Music (Family Concert)
Saturday, April 23 at 4 p.m.
Chappaqua Performing Arts Center
480 Bedford Road, Chappaqua

Concerto Winners’ Concert
Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
Paramount Hudson Valley
1008 Brown St., Peekskill

CHAMBER SERIES:

Piano/Clarinet
Sunday, April 3 at 3 p.m.
St. John’s Episcopal Church
8 Sunnyside Ave., Pleasantville

O914 String Quartet
Friday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
Bedford Playhouse
633 Old Post Road, Bedford, N.Y.

Flute, Clarinet & Cello Trio
Sunday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m.
St. John’s Episcopal Church
8 Sunnyside Ave., Pleasantville

For tickets and further information visit www.orchestra914.org.

Orchestra 914 presents a Flute, Clarinet and Cello Trio Concert on October 17

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Pleasantville, NY  (Sept. 18)  Orchestra 914 is pleased to present a Flute, Clarinet and Cello Trio Concert on Sunday, October 17 at  3 pm at St John’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Avenue in Pleasantville, NY.  The Trio features Rebecca Quigley on flute, Jarrett Hoffman on clarinet and Zachary May on cello for an afternoon of mixed wind and string trios. Works will include Francois Devienne’s “Trio in Bb,”  “Seclusive Song” by Swedish Cellist Svante Henryson (b. 1963), and Emily Horton’s “Trio” (2019). The program will conclude with Australian composer Harry Sdraulig’s “Serenade” (2019), and a complete performance of American composer Brian Raphael Nabors’ (b. 1991) work “Seven Dances for Flute, Clarinet & Cello. Composer and pianist Brian Nabors’ Seven Dances is a complex piece consisting of seven contrasting miniatures representing various styles of dance and music,including tango, foxtrot and hip-hop.

Brian Raphael Nabors is a composer whose emotionally enriching music presents exciting narratives through its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language. With an eclectic musical palate and crafty compositional technique, Nabors’ music draws from combinations of Jazz Funk, R&B, and Gospel with a modern flair for contemporary classical music. Nabors grew up in the South, and much of his music deals with new reflections on life, nature and the human condition.  This includes how music plays a role in shaping the perception of a society, and how it can be used as a tool to inspire conversations about prejudice, racism and bigotry.  Nabors earned both a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degree in Composition at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM), and prior to graduate studies he earned a Bachelor of Music Theory & Composition degree from the School of the Arts at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. 

Orchestra 914, formerly The Chappaqua Orchestra, seeks to expand the classical music experience for diverse audiences in the Hudson Valley through creative, educational, and community programming with the highest level of artistic integrity.  In 1958, Boris Koutzen created The Chappaqua Orchestra in an effort to bring high quality classical music to Northern Westchester. Over the years, TCO has had many incarnations, from a mix of professions and amateurs, to what is now a fully professional orchestra.  Orchestra 914 is now officially based in Pleasantville, NY, and has recently appointed Russell Ger as its new Musical Director, as part of its goal to widen its geographic scope and to bring an inclusive and unexpected array of live classical music to audiences throughout Westchester, helping to build a community of music lovers of all ages and backgrounds.  Cynthia Peterson, a professional  pianist and performer , and long- time resident of the Hudson Valley currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Orchestra 914 Chamber Music Series.

Suggested donation is $30 at the door (accept cash, check, paypal).  Audience members attending Orchestra 914 concerts will be required to show proof of vaccination and wear a face covering indoors in accordance with current CDC guidelines.

 

Jubilant Mood and ‘Sense of Rebirth’ at Ribbon Cutting for the ‘A Seafood Market Grill’ in Pleasantville

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At the opening of a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new ‘A Seafood Market Grill’: (L-R): Peter Scherer, Bill Flooks, Margaret Cunzi0, Nick Antonaccio, Shari Ascher, Yuliia Aquije, Chef Evans and Carol Barrella

By Grace Bennett

Pleasantville, NY— It felt like far more than a simple ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday to celebrate the opening of the new A Seafood Market Grille on 49 Wheeler Avenue–directly across from the Pleasantville Pharmacy and immediately next door to Soul Brewery.

Comments by Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce and town and county public officials spoke of a ‘rebirth’ to the community in general following a pandemic year that brought unprecedented challenges to the business community, and of course, to everyone else too.

Standing proudly with those gathered were proprietor Yuliia Aquije, who lives with her husband Pablo and daughter in Hawthorne, and Chef Matthew Evans. In a separate interview, Yuliia told the Inside Press that she and Pablo had searched throughout the area for the right location, and were ultimately charmed by Wheeler Avenue.

The store’s opening however had been delayed for six months due to Covid-related challenges.

Expressions of relief and encouragement to the couple and to ‘Chef Evan’  were freely shared.

“We want to be the wind behind your sails… in the friendly environment of 10570,” said Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer. “We know what a difficult time it was to get here.”

Westchester County’s Shari Ascher, representing George Latimer, noted: “It’s thrilling to have some good news that we are moving in the right direction.”

“I’d love to be at a new ribbon cutting every day in this county,” Ascher said, noting Latimer’s strong record of support for the business community. “We urge residents to support local business.’

Margaret Cunzio presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to A Seafood Market Grill

 Mostly, it was a jubilant mood under a bright sun and crystal blue skies. PCTV’s Nick Antonaccio, who opened the ceremony, welcomed the new owners and expressed his enthusiasm for the selection. Along with a full array of fish and seafood items, the new grill offers select prepared foods, such as rice and noodle-based dishes, an already popular soft shell crab sandwich, and non-seafood items too, such as pulled pork Cuban sandwiches. “There’s something for everyone,” exclaimed Chamber board member Margaret Cunzio who presented Yuliia with a Certificate of Appreciation. Cunzio invited attendees to try a fresh shucked Virginia Oyster from Chesapeake Bay, and it was indeed delicious paired with a delicate minuet sauce by Chef Evan.

As Chef Evan uses sushi grade tuna, sushi offerings are planned soon, too.

Village trustee and board member Paul Alvarez stated that the town welcomed the new addition “with open arms… anything you need,” he said.

Chamber President Bill Flooks warmly welcomed the couple too to Wheeler Avenue which he called “the heart of the village.”

In a separate conversation inside the Soul Brewery, another exciting new establishment opened recently by Allen Wallace, Peter Scherer noted that Wheeler Avenue, and Pleasantville at large along Washington and Marble Avenues, have already become “known more and more for our restaurant scene,” but with this grill and other specialty shops opening in town, food specialty offerings to residents are becoming increasingly varied too.”

A Seafood Market Grill will be open every day of the week from 9-7, and on Sunday, 9-4. “We can take orders online at the website and have curbside pick up too,” shared Yuliia. When asked how her business’s opening has been faring since early April, she said. “People are coming in, little by little. We hope more people find out that we are open with great, fresh seafood here!”

More Locals with a Writing Flair: Kat Nemec

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Graphic artist Kat Nemec didn’t originally intend to write a blog. A few years ago, she took her college age son on a cross country trip to the West Coast to help him relocate there. Along the way she chronicled their journey on Facebook with twice daily photos and posts. She posted frequently to keep her daughter updated on their journey as she felt mom guilt that her daughter was missing out on the experience. Facebook readers liked her posts so much that they encouraged her to keep writing and start a blog. One of her Facebook followers was writing coach Wendy Fried who owns Pleasantville-based Wordcraft. She strongly encouraged Nemec to start a blog and suggested the Swoon name as Nemec frequently used that word or signed off her posts with it.

Nemec describes herself as an over-sharer who uses a lot of adjectives and prefers stream of consciousness writing. Topics covered include childhood memories, her parents love affair and the joy of cooking. She is not afraid though to tackle more difficult subjects such as talking about sex with your kids, 9/11, and even her family’s experience with the Armenian genocide. 

“I’m not a writer,” claims Nemec but after reading her refreshingly honest posts you may feel differently. “People are savvy and they will respond to something that is truthful and comes from the heart.” Nemec isn’t interested in amassing a huge number of followers, monetizing her blog or cross-promoting products. She writes her blog as a creative pursuit. “I’m not doing this for fame or fortune. When you do something creative for yourself the need for approval goes away and the best stuff is going to come out.”

Before starting her blog in February 2020, she read books on the subject that suggested she had to write 2-3 posts per week with no dry spots. It didn’t work with her schedule initially. When COVID hit though the timing proved to be fortuitous as a lot of her workload decreased and she was able to write more frequently. “If I don’t feel it, I’m not writing it,” explains Nemec. For example, this past October and November she was depressed about the upcoming holidays and not being able to be with her son. “We are a big holiday family. Writing at that time just wasn’t in my bandwidth.” 

As someone who works in a creative field, Nemec encourages others who want to start a creative pursuit to do it for themselves. “If people respond and like it, then that is just the cherry on top,” she says.

From Kat’s Swooning: “T-Rex and Kong”

“Pleasantville is about 30 miles north of Manhattan. More suburb than vacation destination, people fleeing the city due to the pandemic drive right past our exit while heading upstate. We do have one new family since lockdown…a family of dinosaurs. First, it was just one lone T-Rex, checking things out for the rest of the clan, he* ran through the neighborhood feeling out his welcome. We did not tell him to go back to where he came from, we embraced his uniqueness. After a few weeks, the rest of the family showed up. They are a healthy group…some days they run together, other times they take a solitary stroll. Their presence brings joy and laughter during this time of ever growing fog and confusion. T-Rex sightings posted in real time on FB update us when they are out and about…they are on Romer Avenue, they just turned onto Bedford Road…quick go look! The family made an appearance at the farmers market and at the teacher appreciation day drive by at the elementary school. They remind me of one Halloween during elementary school…when I was kidnapped by the Son of Kong….

People who are willing to be ridiculous…are gifts to the universe. I would like to imagine, years from now, someone will be writing their memories of being a child during “The Pandemic of 2020”. There was no school, no parties, no trips to the pool, no playdates, and no grandparent hugs… but there was a T-Rex, who jogged through town, spreading so so so…very much joy.”

Read more from Kat at www.swooning.me

A Community Focus at the Jacob Burns Film Center

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Margo Amgott, Interim Executive Director, Jacob Burns Film Center

How a Cherished Movie House and Cultural Center is Staying the Course

Situated in the heart of Pleasantville’s vibrant downtown, the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) is a beloved institution in the community, as well as a destination for film lovers from all over Westchester and beyond. Since opening in 2001, the JBFC has welcomed over 3,000,000 people to its five-screen theater complex to enjoy the best of American and foreign film, unique film series and special events. Forced to keep its physical doors closed due to COVID, the JBFC is still going strong, producing a variety of virtual content that lets patrons interact from the comforts of home. 

Speaking with Margo Amgott, JBFC’s Interim Executive Director, one really understands the love and respect between the community and the JBFC. “The community has been so warm and wonderful, so thoughtful. I haven’t worked in a community that works to support an institution as much as the JBFC community has. From the founding board members, founding staff and staff today, they have built relationships–a wonderful example of community-based work.”

Still from the film COLLECTIVE, which will be part of the JBFC Romanian series.

Virtual Screening Room

 The JBFC has found a number of alternative ways to engage patrons through a wide variety of content including new releases and curated film lists to stream from home, family-friendly activities and resources to help make life at home more enjoyable. One of its most popular services is the JBFC’s Virtual Screening Room. 

The JBFC works with film distributors to offer a curated selection of new and classic films to the community. Each screening purchased helps to support the JBFC as well as independent distributors. Recently, the JBFC has started streaming on their own platform, Eventive, which allows viewers a more streamlined way to engage virtually. Its first events held on Eventive were the Romanian Film Festival in late February and the Arab Film Festival in early March. 

Free live-streamed events are another popular offering of the JBFC. Past events have included live virtual Q&A’s with filmmaker and JBFC Board member Ron Howard and another with Viggo Mortensen, director/writer/star of Falling. Upcoming events are always in the works so be sure to check JBFC’s website.

The popular What We’re Watching is an ongoing series where members of the JBFC Programming team casually chat about what recent films and other content they’ve liked, disliked and why. Anything goes in this popular streaming series. The JBFC Education blog is filled with family-friendly activities, how-to videos, streaming content and more. 

Classroom To Screening Room

The JBFC is also fully committed to the education of children. The recently-launched virtual Classroom to Screening Room program allows students in grades 3 through 12 to explore social, economic and cultural forces all through the power of film. The program, which has been offered throughout Westchester for nearly 20 years has now been made available online locally and on a national level at no cost for the 2020-21 school year.                

Amgott is hopeful that the JBFC can re-open its doors for its 20th anniversary celebration this summer. But even if that doesn’t happen, the JBFC has big plans in the works which includes retrospectives from the past 20 years. “We would love to be open by summer but plan for both ways. We miss our community.” She does say that once the theater re-opens, the idea of having the diverse experience of in-person and virtual offerings is very appealing. “Customers can do it both ways–curl up in pj’s at home or come in person and see friends. It has pushed us to think more broadly on how we provide entertainment to those who support movies.”

Bruni Burres and JBFC Founding Director of Film Programming Brian Ackerman

In addition to making many necessary improvements including state-of-the-art air handling, an outdoor box office and sanitizing procedures, the JBFC is refreshing and improving the theater as a whole, to make it an even more welcoming, attractive and comfortable customer experience.

One of those improvements is the re-lamping of the theater marquee, with help from a generous donor. The theater wants to take a more sustainable approach and the beautiful marquee will be one of the first things people see when they arrive. “We feel an obligation to the community to do this and bring light to the building. It can really bring life to the theater which has been dark these months,” says Amgott. In the coming months, look for a rotating art exhibition on-hand as well.  

When the JBFC is ready to re-open its doors, the community is sure to be out in full force, embracing it with open arms. But for now, patrons both near and far can enjoy all the JBFC has to offer from the comforts of home. And that is a pretty incredible thing.

What We’re Watching members of the JBFC Programming team sit down to chat about what they’ve had their eyes on recently. In this casual discussion series, anything goes: from film festival highlights and movies in our Virtual Screening Room, to worthwhile television programs and yes, even purchased disc media! Each discussion starts at 7 pm–every other Tuesday night and will go for about an hour. Founding Director of Film Programming Brian Ackerman, Senior Film Programmer Andrew Jupin, Programmer Saidah Russell, Film Programming Coordinator Adrienne Frank.