Lise de la Salle - 2015 Fall Benefit recital

French-American Piano Society

Fall Benefit Recital October 15th, 2015 Consulate General of France New York, USA

Lise de la Salle, Piano Kyle Armbrust, Viola 1

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Welcome to our 2015 Fall Benefit Recital French-American Piano Society is a non-profit organization designed to promote cultural exchange, education, and networking between France and the United States, through French pianists and music.

Over the past two years, our Scholarship grants were awarded to seven talented young French pianists: Matthieu Acar (’14), Maroussia Gentet (’14), Nathanael Gouin (’14), Olof Hansen (’15), Audrey Lonca-Alberto (’15), Marie-Ange Nguci (’15) and Tanguy de Williencourt (’15).

This year, Marie-Ange Nguci won the First Prize at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (IKIF): she will be returning to give a recital as part of our 2016 program.

We are exceedingly grateful to the many corporate and individual patrons who are joining us this year to offer Scholarship Grants and fund our recitals. Their continued presence at our side will guarantee even more success in the future.

This evening, we are honored to welcome renowned French pianist Lise de la Salle and American violist Kyle Armbrust.

Together, they project a symbol of French-American friendship, particularly demonstrated tonight through their interpretation of "Romeo and Juliet" among other pieces Please join me in welcoming these talented Artists that illustrate so well the Mission of our Society.

Mathieu Petitjean, Ph.D. Founder and Director

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French-American Piano Society Presents Thursday, October 15th, 2015 at 6:30pm Consulate General of France in New York

Lise de la Salle, Piano Kyle Armbrust, Viola Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Lise de la Salle, Piano

Romeo and Juliet arr. for viola and piano, Op. 64 Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Lise de la Salle, Piano and Kyle Armbrust, Viola

Chromatic Fantasy, BWV 903 J.S. Bach/Zoltรกn Kodรกly (1882-1967) Kyle Armbrust, Viola

Viola and Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Allegro appassionato, Andante un poco adagio, Allegretto grazioso, Vivace Lise de la Salle, Piano and Kyle Armbrust, Viola 5

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Lise de la Salle “She might just be the most exciting young artist in classical music right now.“ -Pioneer Press

Since 2001 Lise de la Salle has been following an impressive international career performing in the major concert halls of Europe, the United States and Asia such as: The Berliner Philharmonie, Avery Fisher Hall New York, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Wigmore Hall in London, Grand National Theater in Beijing,...

She is working closely with the conductors Fabio Luisi, James Conlon and Osmö Vanska amongst others. She has also played under the baton of Lorin Maazel, Sir Andrew Davis, Semyon Bychokov, Marek Janowski, Sir Neville Marriner, James Gaffigan, Lawrence Foster, Andrew Litton , Louis Langrée, Christoph König, Dennis Russell Davis, Peter Oundjian, Robin Ticciati, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Sir Charles Mackerras.

Lise de la Salle is regularly invited to perform with orchestras including: The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra in London, Wiener Symphoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Moscow State, Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Boston Symphony Orchestra..

Lise de la Salle, born in 1988, started playing the piano at the age of four and gave her first concert, broadcast live by Radio France, when she was nine. At the age of 13 she made her Concerto debut with Beethoven`s Concerto No 2.

From 1998 to 2006 she studied with Pascal Némirovski. She also attended the post graduate cycle at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris – CNSM. 7

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Kyle Armbrust “Armbrust's viola tone was an artful chameleon…”

--expressmilwaukee.com Violist Kyle Armbrust started playing the viola at age three.

He has performed as soloist with The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Lake George Chamber Orchestra, and Musica Bella Orchestra. His New York solo debut with Kurt Masur and the Juilliard Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall was described as “assured, brilliant, and stylish” in The New York Times. He leads a versatile musical life as skilled chamber musician, experienced soloist, orchestral leader, contemporary music specialist.

Kyle’s dedication to chamber music has led to festival appearances at Aix en Provence, Caramoor, Marlboro, Moritzburg, Mostly Mozart, Ravinia, Schleswig Holstein, and Verbier. An active proponent of contemporary music, he has worked with many composers including Elliot Carter, Mario Davidovsky, Osvaldo Golijov, Herbie Hancock, Steve Reich, Kaija Saariaho, and John Zorn.

Kyle is a founding member of the Knights Chamber Orchestra and a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). He is principal viola of the Westchester Philharmonic, and has performed as principal viola with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 2012 and 2013 Kyle was invited to join the Lucerne Festival Orchestra with Claudio Abbado. Kyle has recorded for the Ancalagon, Cedille, Interscope, Naxos, Ondine, Phil.harmoni, and Sony labels.

Kyle received three degrees from the Juilliard School. He plays a Carlo Antonio Testore viola made in Milan in 1752.

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Honorary Board S.E. Bertrand Lortholary Consul General of France in New York

Françoise Noël-Marquis Directeur Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris

Bruno Mantovani French composer, Paris Directeur, Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris

Jerome Rose American pianist, New York Founder and Director, International Keyboard Institute and Festival

Susan Wadsworth Director and Founder, Young Concert Artists, Inc, New York

Hélène Tysman French pianist, Paris First Prize IKIF 2012 MacKenzie Award

Executive Team Mathieu Petitjean, Ph.D. Founder and Director, New York

Michele Amar Director, New York Office, French Music Export Office, New York

Gretchen Amussen Director of External Affairs and International Relations Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris

Elizabeth Olson Marketing and Artist Relations, New York 10

We are grateful to our 2015 partners: Airline and Scholarship Grant Partner:

Scholarship Grant Partners:

New York artists’ host:

Recitals Partners

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French-American Piano Society 2015 Program Spring Benefit Recital Tuesday, April 28th at 6:30pm, Consulate of France in New York “Le Piano Dans La Musique Créole ” Thierry Vaton, Pianist and George Granville, Keyboard

Award Ceremony and Recital Friday, July 17th at 6:30pm, Consulate of France in New York “2015 Young Pianists Scholarship Recital” Olof Hansen, Pianist, Audrey Lonca-Alberto, Pianist Marie-Ange Nguci, Pianist, Tanguy de Williencourt, Pianist In partnership with the

International Keyboard Institute and Festival’s Master Series Recitals Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College Jerome Rose, Pianist, Saturday, July 18th at 8:00pm Marc-André Hamelin, Pianist, Sunday, July 19th at 8:00pm Mei-Ting Sun, Adam Golka, Stanislav Khristenko Saturday, August 1st at 8:00pm

Fall Benefit Recital Thursday, October 15h at 6:30pm, Consulate of France in New York Lise de La Salle, Pianist Kyle Armbrust, Viola 13

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The Scholarships Grants Why? French pianists are under-represented in US-based piano competitions due to lack of funding, not lack of talent. Our goal is to reverse this trend, offering new professional opportunities to French artists and an enhanced experience to American audiences.

Objective Starting in July 2014 and for a period of three years, we will sponsor ten young French pianists through our Scholarship Grant Program, thus allowing them to participate in New York’s International Keyboard Institute and Festival and its related MacKenzie Piano Competition.

Grant The grant covers round-trip transportation from Paris to New York, tuition fees for the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (in the summer) and housing during the two-week festival.

The program also includes a public recital at the France’s New York Consulate prior to IKIF, well as audition fees to the Young Concert Artists’ Paris auditions in September 2015.

Past Grant Winners:

Matthieu Acar (’14)

Semi-finalist, IKIF 2014

Maroussia Gentet (’14) Nathanael Gouin (’14) Olof Hansen (’15) Audrey Lonca-Alberto (’15) Marie-Ange Nguci (’15)

First Prize, IKIF 2015

Tanguy de Williencourt (’15)

Semi-finalist, IKIF 2015 15

Friends and Donors Donors and friends of the French-American Piano Society are vital to the success of our mission. Your support to our organization provides encouragement and incentive to these young artists at the start of their careers, whilst also strengthening ties between France and the United States.

Join our 2015 Membership Enjoy exclusive membership benefits while supporting the FrenchAmerican Piano Society’s Educational Programs Keyboard Membership ($8,800 and above)

VIP invitations to all recitals, signed CDs and programs, behind the scenes meetings with artists, and participation in our leadership and many activities.

Full Arpeggio Membership ($2,300 and above)

VIP invitations to all recitals, signed CDs and programs, behind the scenes meetings with artists.

Chromatic Scale Membership ($1,200 and above)

VIP invitation to all recitals, signed CDs and Programs.

Scale Membership ($600 and above)

Invitation to three recitals, signed CDs

Key Membership ($100 to $500)

Invitation to one to three recitals depending on contributions.

French-American Piano Society is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Your contributions are tax deductible

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Friends and Donors Keyboard Members Antoine Huet, NY and AIR FRANCE Full Arpeggio Members Karen Beluso, New York, NY and STEINWAY & SONS Lena Chang, Ph.D., Princeton, NJ and CURE INSURANCE Jean-Francois Deroche, New York, NY and CREDIT AGRICOLE CIB Alfredo Gangotena, New York, NY and SOTHEBYS Bernard Parisot, New York, NY and JC DECAUX Marc Pichot, New York, NY and SOFITEL NEW YORK

Chromatic Scale Members Yann Coatanlem, New York, NY Pierre Cournot, New York, NY Patrick de Chevestre, Stamford, CT and METROWINE Christian Millet, North Bergen, NJ and LOGFRET Hélène Petitjean, MD, Princeton, NJ and MEDNEST

Scale Members Catherine and Etienne Lamairesse, Greenwich, CT Key Members Dean Peter H. Baker, New York, NY Gérard Munera, Greenwich, CT

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Pianists Thierry Vaton and Georges Granville present “Le piano dans la musique Créole” on April 28th 2015 at the Consulate of France in New York.

2015 Piano Competition Scholarship Recipients after their Award Ceremony and first public recital in the U.S., on July 17th, 2015 at the Consulate of France in New York. From left to right: Olof Hansen, Audrey Lonca-Alberto, S.E. Bertrand Lortholary, Gretchen Amussen (CNSMDP), MarieAnge Nguci, Tanguy de Willencourt, Mathieu Petitjean

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2015 Highlights January to March 2015    

French-American Piano Inc. receives 501(c)3 Tax Exempt status The Scholarship Grants program is expanded to four grants 100% of the 2015 Scholarship Grants Funding is raised in 2 months An ecosystem of promotional partners decide to support our cause including NJ Cure, Sotheby’s, Credit Agricole, JC decaux, Steinway Pianos, Sofitel New York, Metrowine, Logfret, MedNest  Air France become our exclusive Airline Partner.  S.E. Bertrand Lortholary chairs our Board and increases his pledge for the “Salon Rose” at the Consulate of France for 3 recitals.  The Competitive selection of the 2015 grants candidates is launched at the Conservatoire National de Paris and Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris

April to August 2015  Spring Benefits Recital features Thiery Vaton and Georges Granville 

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in “Le piano dans la musique Créole Young Pianists compete for the Grant program: Olof Hansen and Audrey Lonca-Alberto are selected at the Ecole Normale de Paris, S.E. Bertrand Lortholary, Marie-Ange Nguci, Tanguy de Willencourt and are selected by The Conservatoire de Musique de Paris.

The audience is amazed by the performance of the Scholarship winners at their Award Ceremony and Recital on July 17th 2015 Scholarship Award winners participate to the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (IKIF) in New York Marie-Ange Nguci wins the first prize of the MacKenzie Piano Competition at IKIF, Tanguy de Williencourt receives Finalist Award

September to December 2015  Lise de la Salle and Kyle Armbrust announce their Duo at the Fall

benefit Recital on October 15th 2015  Pledges received at the Fall Benefit Recital secure 100% of the

2016 Funding of the Scholarship Grant Program (4 grants).

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Frequently Asked Questions What is the mission of the French-American Piano Society?

French-American Piano Society’s mission is to promote cultural exchange, education and networking between France and the United States, around pianists and their music*.

Are my donations tax Deductible?

Yes. We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization since April 2015.

2014 and Q1-2015 donations are tax exempt and receipts will be sent soon.

Are there other initiatives?

At present we are focused on the 2014-2016 Competition Scholarship Grant Program, and seek contributions for the 2016 edition.

Additional programs will be announced on October 15th at our Benefit Recital.

Can I volunteer at French-American Piano Society?

We welcome all volunteers—amateur pianists especially! High school and college students are invited to perform their community service hours with us during the months of May, June and July.

There are many ways to help...  By supporting our $30,000 fund raising goal for 2015  By giving of your time as a volunteer  By acting as our in-house photographer  By offering recital opportunities to grant winners  By spreading the word (Facebook, Twitter…)

Contact: contact@french-american-piano.org *French-American Piano Society does not offer artistic management, though artists and pianists support us by participating in events and recitals and we hope that in so doing enhance their own careers.

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French-American Piano Society Is grateful to the support provided by

Contact us: c/o Hodgson Russ, LLP, 1540 Broadway, 24 th Fl, New York, NY 10036 Email: contact@french-american-piano.org french-american-piano.org 22