Young Performers Bring Carnegie Hall to Long Valley

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from the Long Valley Performing Group.

Long Valley Performing Group’s first public concert, “Spring Rhapsody” opened on Sunday, May 22 with Sara Zhou’s magnificent performance of Chopin’s Fantasie-Impromptu. 

From the moment Sara’s delicate fingers graced the keys of the Yamaha grand piano and filled the sanctuary of St. Mark the Evangelist Church with music, an air of awe and wonder descended upon the audience.

The 4-time Carnegie Hall veteran delivered a passionate rendition of the famous concert piece with the sophistication of a professional concert pianist. When she followed up with a nuanced interpretation of the second movement of Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the mood of the audience changed from appreciation to amazement. 

At age 14, mastering one instrument at Sara’s level is commendable.  Mastering two instruments with equal finesse is beyond admirable.

Sara’s performances ushered in a full concert of astoundingly delivered classical and jazz instrumental and vocal pieces by performers as young as 6 years old. It made Long Valley Performing Group’s dream of bringing Carnegie Hall caliber performances to Long Valley and local community come true. 

Tyler Xing, who at the tender age of 6 won first place at Little Mozart competition and performed at Carnegie Hall on Easter Sunday, delivered crisp Ukrainian pieces with deliberation. The child-model within her shone through with her fuchsia colored gown and matching hair adornments.

Young, up-and-coming pianists Matthew Cooley and Vincent Jiang, 7 and 8 years old respectively, played refreshing modern pieces by Gillock and Thompson, while Daniel Kern, already a masterful pianist at age 10, treated the listeners to pieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Burgmüller. 

Jenna Cooley, who won numerous first place awards at NJ Music Educator Association’s competitions and performed at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, presented two beautifully rehearsed piano pieces and debuted her vocal performance with “My Favorite Things”.  Thomas Xing, who has performed at Carnegie Hall twice as well as with the Berlin National Music Academy in February, fulfilled his dream of honoring his favorite composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven. He studied Für Elise on his own with limited guidance from his piano teacher. His interpretation was alternately tentative, passionate and dramatic. The audience responded enthusiastically to the 8-year-old pianist’s first taste of the musical genius and personal complexity of the composer.

Chris Kopreski delivered his own power-house jazz improvisation on Route 66 which rocked the audience. The versatile 11 year old musician, who composes and plays piano, drums, bass guitar and saxophone demonstrated his creativity with incredible technical prowess. 

Clarinetist Kevin Liu and pianist Matt Barickman’s duet of Allegro from the Sonata No. 5 by George F. Handel brought the audience to their feet. This pair of high school freshmen heralded the future for the younger performers of the group and all young children who have musical aspirations. Kevin has been selected to play with the Central Jersey Regional Band for the past four years. This year he was also selected to join the NJ All-State Band and the All-State Symphony.  Matt is an International Winner of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and has received their Sonatina and Early Bach Medals. 

The crescendo of the concert continued with Corrie Lotito as she brought out the high note with her mesmerizing rendition of the Poor Wand'ring One from The Pirates of Penzance. Her voice was truly divine, bringing many in the audience to tears with her exquisite performance. She was joined by the equally beautiful voice of fellow soprano Andria Kwasnicki as together they sang the famous The Flower Duet from the opera Lakmé.

The concert came to a reluctant end for all when the performers joined Corrie and Andria for the Italian finale piece, “Funiculi-Funicula”.  With moist eyes, the MC of the event and one of the founders of LVPG, Lan Ma thanked the audience and the performers. Her words expressed the sentiment of both the audience and the performers’ parents:  “I want all of our performers to know that you have accomplished something significant today through your talent, discipline and hard work. Because of you, the world is a better, more beautiful place. Our community is lucky to have you. You are going places for sure and we will be here faithfully cheering you on.”

After the concert, many from the audience came to the founders of Long Valley Performing Group, expressing pure joy and appreciation. They were delighted when told that these community concerts will continue on a quarterly basis. 

Long Valley Performing Group, Inc was founded by Lei Cooley and Lan Ma, two mothers of musically talented kids, with the support of an increasing number of board of directors. The mission of the group is to sponsor and organize recitals, concerts and other musically related activities for the youth of Long Valley and surrounding communities. It strives to provide the opportunity for kids who love music, dance and other types of performing arts to demonstrate their talents. 

The founders hope that, through public performance, the participants will build self-confidence while culturally enriching the surrounding communities. 

Long Valley Performing Group would also like to recognize Vincent Jiang and Chris Kopreski for winning second place at NJ Music Educators Association’s competition in April of 2011.

Long Valley Performing Group, Inc would like to express heart-felt appreciation of St. Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church for offering a residence for the wonderful concert venue.  

The exceptional dedication from parents of these talented young musicians is truly remarkable.  Without the parents’ support, the concert series would not have been possible. Appreciations also go out to American Bodhi Meditation Society and the Valley Shepherd Creamery for their generous financial contributions, and to the many local businesses who advertised in their program. For a full list of the sponsors, please visit their website: http://longvalleyperforminggroup.org/contribute/sponsor/

As a non-profit organization devoted to promoting musical education of our youth, Long Valley Performing Group appreciates donations from like-minded public. It welcomes local businesses’ sponsorship and concert patrons’ donations to make the free musical programs possible.