Live Chamber Music, Ballet, Wine Tasting April 27 In Washington Heights, NY At United Palace Theater

NEW YORK, NY, April 22, 2013 (Press-News.org) Classical music lovers and wine enthusiasts in Upper Manhattan will enjoy an evening of chamber music, ballet, and wine in service of community youth when the United Palace Of Cultural Arts (UPCA) hosts the renowned CelloPointe ensemble and dancers on April 27, 2013. In addition to CelloPointe, which fuses contemporary ballet with live cello performances, the WHIN Youth Orchestra, representing future classical musicians, will offer its "Palace debut" performance. The event unfolds on the stage of the United Palace, widely recognized as one of the most stunning performance venues in New York. http://www.unitedpalace.org/index.php/events/186-chamber-music-ballet ... ne-tasting

All proceeds will support UPCA, which recognizes the critical role the arts play in providing life-changing experiences and opening doors for both young and old.

The Classical Music, Ballet and Wine Tasting event takes place on Saturday, April 27, 2013, beginning with the 4:30 p.m. wine tasting. The concert begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 with online registration, $35 at the door. Without wine, tickets are $15. Entrance fee includes membership in the Founding Friends of UPCA. Persons under 21 are admitted free.

Vines on Pine, a strong supporter of Upper Manhattan community initiatives, will provide a wine tasting in the Palace's grand foyer at 4:30 p.m. before the concert and during intermission.

ABOUT CELLOPOINTE

CelloPointe features chamber music in a variety of string ensembles, accompanying modern ballet. Performances include selections by Bach, Offenbach, Hayden and Mendelssohn.

Their illustrious list of musicians includes:
- Grammy-nominated cellist, Peter Wiley of The Curtis Institute of Music and Bard College. Mr. Wiley is a member of the piano quartet, Opus One and formerly of Guarneri String Quartet and the Beaux Arts Trio
- Cellist Summer Hu, winner of the Washington Performing Arts String Competition and soloist with the Langton Symphonette. Ms. Hu subs with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and is a recent graduate of Curtis Institute of Music
- Cellist Jeonghyoun Lee has participated in the 2012 Rising Stars at Caramoor and Angel Fire Music Festival, and is graduating this year from the Curtis Institute of Music
- Cellist David Wiley is a recent graduate of Bard College, and a cello teacher with Harmony program in NYC
- Violinist Ida Kavafian is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, a founding member of Opus One piano quartet, artistic director of Angel Fire Music Festival. Ms. Kavafian is on the faculty of Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School and Bard College Conservatory. She is also a former member of Beaux Arts Trio & Tashi
- Violist Steven Tenenbom is a member of the Orion String Quartet, a founding member of Opus One piano quartet, and is on the faculties of Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, Bard College Conservatory and New York's Mannes College of Music

Their dancers include:
- Kate Loh, Member of Staten Island Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo, NY, Continuum Contemporary Ballet & Morales Dance; Ms. Loh graduated with honors from Fairfield University
- Claire Mazza, currently a company member with Connecticut Ballet, trained at School of American Ballet Ms. Mazza has danced with North Carolina Dance Theater, Richmond Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Brooklyn Ballet & Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal
- Morgan Stinnet is a soloist with Connecticut Ballet, member of Aijkun Ballet, Ohio Dance Theater, and studied at Point Park College. She is formerly a member of Texas Ballet Theater
- Dona Wiley is a company member with James Robey Dance & Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo NY, she has danced with Connecticut Ballet, studied in summer intensives with Susan Jaffe at Princeton, ABT & Orlando Ballet with Peter Stark & Robert Hill

Choreographers of CelloPointe include:
- Elena Comendador, Assistant Professor of Dance Marymount College NYC. Ms. Comendador was awarded a Teacher Recognition award in 2008, has choreographed for the Ailey School, Manhattan Marymount College, Connecticut Ballet and others. She began her professional dance career with Dayton Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Alabama Ballet & Connecticut Ballet
- Emery LeCrone has created new works for the Guggenheim Museum's Works & Process arts series, New York City Ballet's Choreographic Institute, North Carolina Dance Theater, Hartt University of Dance, New Chamber Ballet & Columbia University
- James Martin, Associate Professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Dance Department, his choreography has been commissioned by Connecticut Ballet, American Dance Festival, and dance departments at Princeton, Wesleyan, Tulane and James Madison Universitites. Mr. Martin has danced with Bill T Jones/Artie Zane, Connecticut Ballet, Jamie Cunningham & Gus Solomons Jr.
- Deborah Wingert, formerly of New York City Ballet under Balanchine, is the artistic director of Manhattan Youth Ballet. She is one of a small group of artists selected by the Balanchine Trust to set his choreography, recently with Neglia Ballet in Buffalo NY
- James Robey, founding artistic director and dancer for James Robey Dance, author of the James Robey Jazz Dance Technique and Syllabus, Assistant Professor of Dance Webster College, his professional career included Metropolitan Opera Ballet, New York Dance Theater, Ohio Dance Theater & Connecticut Ballet

ABOUT The WHIN YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Launched in October, WHIN is an initiative of the newly founded Washington Heights and Inwood Music Project (WHIN) - El Sistema Uptown, in partnership with UPCA and the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. As Washington Heights's only youth orchestra, WHIN meets on Saturday afternoons at the Palace in order to create an innovative training and performing ensemble of young musicians, age 6 to 17. The goal is to instill passion, discipline, vision and commitment in young musicians, to improve their lives and communities through music. This exciting concert and dance event will conclude with the debut performance of the WHIN Youth Orchestra.

ABOUT UNITED PALACE OF CULTURAL ARTS
The United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA) recognizes the critical role the arts play in providing life-changing experiences and opening doors for both young and old. Washington Heights has traditionally been underserved in terms of access to art programs, in part due to a lack of dedicated space. Instead of creating new programs, UPCA hosts organizations that already have a track record of providing excellent arts instruction. Organizations that UPCA has recruited to offer arts and cultural programs at the United Palace include: Harmony Program, WHIN Music Project, People's Theatre Project, and Word Up Community Bookshop.

The UPCA series of classical music programs at the Palace opens the doors for audiences to experience, enjoy, and become educated about classical music in all its forms.

All persons paying $25 or more for tickets to the April 27 event will receive a one-year "Silver Level" Founder's Membership in the United Palace of Cultural Arts. Membership benefits include:

- Enshrinement as a Founding Friend in the ongoing story of UPCA
- Special edition Founding Friend of UPCA pin, that will only be offered during 2013
- Invitation to special Founding Friend Feedback forums at the Palace to help shape the future of UPCA
- Subscription to the UPCA e-newsletter
- Discounted tickets to select events presented by UPCA

LOCATION
The United Palace is located at 4140 Broadway at W. 176th Street.
It is 1-block from the 175th Street A-train station.
Parking on Broadway b/w 176th & 177th Streets.

Contact: MIKE FITELSON
Telephone: 917-842-6291
Email: mikef@unitedpalace.org