HARBOR CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

A division of BOYS & GIRLS HARBOR

For Immediate Release 1/9/08

CONTACTS:  Nina Olson, Publicity Director

(212) 427-2244 ext. 577,  nolson@theharbor.org

Dr. Martin Soderberg, Competition Coordinator

(212) 427-2244 ext.557,  msoderberg@theharbor.org

18^th ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR THE

 CHARLIE PALMIERI MEMORIAL PIANO SCHOLARSHIP

Established by TITO PUENTE

Saturday, February 23, 2008, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

HARBOR CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, a division of Boys & Girls Harbor, Inc. announces the Eighteenth Annual competition for the CHARLIE PALMIERI MEMORIAL PIANO SCHOLARSHIP established by Tito Puente.  The competition is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2008 from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm at the Harbor Conservatory located at  One East 104th Street  in  Manhattan .  For applications and guidelines and to schedule an audition, call (212) 427-2244 Ext. 557.

Serving as competition jurors are pianists, Arturo O’ Farrill, Sonny Bravo, Pablo Mayor, and Dr. Martin Soderberg, Director of the Conservatory's Classical Music Program.

The Charlie Palmieri Memorial Piano Scholarship is awarded to intermediate and advanced pianists ages 12-25 for the study of Latin style piano.  Applicants must demonstrate their talents in Classical and/or Popular Latin styles. The winner will receive one year's training free of charge at Harbor Conservatory with one of our specialists in the field of Latin piano. The Scholarship in memory of Charlie Palmieri was established by Tito Puente to further the inspirational musicianship of the great pianist.  In style, versatility and instrumental virtuosity, bandleader/pianist/arranger Charlie Palmieri had few equals. In addition to recording, arranging and performing he taught music and Puerto Rican history in the CUNY system.  The late great Tito Puente, the "King of Latin music", master timbalero, arranger, composer, and bandleader, also cared deeply about education for young students and the need for youngsters to continue and/or begin their musical studies, as well as to reaffirm pride in Hispanic culture.

Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts is proud of its more than 37 year history of helping young people gain a deeper appreciation of the arts through individual and group instruction, special ensembles, public performances, master classes, and faculty and guest artist recitals. Since 1970, the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, has undertaken an important role in the preservation of Afro-Caribbean Latin music.  The Conservatory's efforts have revolved around three equally important activities: instruction and development of the next generation of Latin musicians; the amassing of materials which make up the unprecedented 19,000 piece Raices Latin Music Museum; and the production of historical concerts.

The Harbor's world-renowned Latin Music program is complemented by equally strong Classical Music, Dance and Drama programs. With a curriculum that ranges from Contemporary Salsa and Latin Jazz to traditional Afro-Caribbean folkloric music, and a faculty of "who's who in Latin music" students study a variety of musical forms such as danzon, son, cha cha cha and mambo, as they learn music illustrating different periods and artists in Latin music history.

At the Conservatory students enjoy the unique opportunity to learn while playing classic music made popular by artists such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco and others.  Profiled in People Magazine, New York Times, Daily News and on Channel 13 in the documentary, “Mi Mambo!”; the Conservatory’s Latin Music program has been a recipient of the Tito Puente Scholarship Fund, Celia Cruz Foundation, Johnny Pacheco Scholarship Fund, Carlos Santana’s Milagro Foundation, and Phish Fan’s Mockingbird Foundation.

For more information regarding Harbor Conservatory and its music, dance and theater programs, please call (212) 427-2244 ext. 573 or visit us on line at www.harborconservatory.org

Herencia Latina