GNMC Students Performances & Competitions

The Landos - Maxim, Pippa and Vadim, relaxing before a performance for the Andrea Lang Fund Benefit Concert

Throughout the year, Great Neck Music Conservatory students are showcased in many public performances, competitions and community service venues. This past month was no exception with many exciting performances and student accomplishments.

Student Performers Raise Funds for Long Island Cares

Five GNMC students were featured in a beautiful concert on the “Robinson Hour” Concert Series at Gloria Dei Church in New Hyde Park. The concert raised funds for Long Island Cares, helping to sustain the Harry Chapin Food Pantry. Soprano Rebecca Bastos (Mineola) and Pianists Marc Fishman (South High), Scott Feiner (Roslyn), Mohit Sani (North Middle) and Maxim Lando (JFK Elementary) played music by Chopin, Liszt, Scott Joplin and others for a very warm and appreciative audience.

Performing at Steinway Hall

GNMC presented a very special Piano Recital and Masterclass at the historic Steinway Hall in Manhattan. The recital featured eleven pianists performing piano concertos (with two pianos) and impressive solos. It also involved a fascinating Public Masterclass discussing the music of Chopin with Dr. Michael Baron, Professor of Piano at Florida Gulf Coast University in Florida and Honorary Professor of Music at Yantai University and Hubei University in the People’s Republic of China. Selected students performers were Aaron Liu (Jerrico), Jonathan and Patrick Gao (Great Neck), Daniel Wallick (Port Washington), Madeline Barcia (Manhasset), Mohit Sani (Great Neck), Ayano Goto (Syosset), Scott Feiner (Roslyn), Maxim Lando (Great Neck), Caleb Jiang (Great Neck) and Marc Fishman (Great Neck).

Performers and guests enjoyed the rich atmosphere of the Steinway Hall Rotunda. They marveled at the beautiful architecture, amazing artwork, and could feel the history of almost every legendary pianist who has played at Steinway Hall during the last century

Twelve year old Sophie Saidmehr represented GNMC and delighted a Great Neck audience singing Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” at Sip City with three professional musicians as part of the Ian Petillo Quartet. “I am proud of my student, Sophie. She is extremely talented, has good ears, a good time feel since she started studying two years ago, at ten years old. We have been focusing on ear-training, sight-reading, improvisation, transposing and preparation for her vocal/acting auditions.” says GNMC Faculty guitarist Nick Russo (full time performer/published author/adjunct college professor).

Sophie Saidmehr with GNMC guitar teacher Nick Russo

In competition news, Marc Fishman was just awarded second prize in the American Fine Arts Festival International Concerto Competition. As a prize, this summer he has an opportunity to travel to Russia and perform Rachmaninov’s second Piano Concerto with the Kostroma Symphony Orchestra! Marc, a sophomore at Great Neck South High, has been studying piano with Alla Bell at GNMC since he was four years old.

Alexandra Woroniecka, an eight year old pianist and violinist, was a first prize winner in the New York Concert Festival auditions. As a result she was featured in an Awards Performance at Carnegie Hall this past March. On May 7th, Alexandra was also featured on an Omega Ensemble Concert at the United Methodist Church in Sea Cliff, New York. Alexandra has also performed  at the World Congress in 2009 and at Lancut Castle in Poland in 2010.

Eight year old pianist Maxim Lando performed at the Andrea Lang Fund Benefit Concert in Manhattan, raising funds for an innovative education program at the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum. Maxim performed for an eclectic audience of artists, designers, television personalities and script writers.