December 2020
Happy Holidays!
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Cello Carol Medley Video is Posted!
As our 2020 holiday gift, we invited members to participate in our first virtual cello choir concert - a performance of “Cello Carol Medley.” More than 50 recordings were submitted! We are very excited to announce that the final video has now been posted on our YouTube channel for all to enjoy! Click the picture on the right to view and share it with your family and friends. And stay tuned for more virtual concert opportunities!
Many thanks to everyone who submitted recordings - and some for multiple parts! Special thanks to Gary Fitzgerald for creating the arrangement, Sheryl Smith for editing the sheet music, Bomin Collins for "orchestrating" the entire project and conducting the performance, Marion Baker for producing the practice audio tracks as well as engineering the final video, and Aileen Pisciotta for providing video graphics. It has been a labor of love by all!
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Cellospeak's 2020 "Silver Linings Playbook" |
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As 2020 draws to a close, we all would likely agree that it has been the strangest of years. That strangeness has extended to all parts of our existence, including requiring us to adapt to outdoor rehearsals, virtual concerts and Zoom lessons on mute to continue to do this thing that we love. But, as with many difficult situations, there have been unexpected “silver linings,”especially with regard to Cellospeak.
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New Virtual Offerings. Back in the spring of 2020, the news that our annual summer workshop would have to be cancelled produced deep disappointment. Cellospeak quickly adapted to stay in touch with its valued community, holding its first ever virtual Town Hall meeting in early May with 70+. attendees. Responding to expressions of enthusiasm for possible virtual workshops, Cellospeak planned its first "Cellospeak Studio" virtual workshop via Zoom, preceded by an informative "Cellospeakeasy" gathering. The 3-day Studio workshop held at the end of July was a great success, attracting 70 participants and 20+ faculty. Our "Tip Jar" also significantly enhanced our ability to compensate our valued faculty. And at the end of the year, Cellospeak's Cello Carol Medley project, again preceded by a Cellospeakeasy, provided yet another way to keep our community in touch. We are adding these virtual programs - and more - to our permanent repertoire!
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Expanded Community. In this atypical year with all sorts of gatherings and musical performances put on hold, our virtual programs paradoxically have allowed us to broaden our reach. 2020 has seen an increase in members, many of whom have renewed or joined specifically in response to our new virtual initiatives. Our founder, Dorothy Amarandos, would surely be amazed and proud that her beloved Cellospeak, now under the direction of her protege, Bomin Collins as Artistic Director, her daughter Aileen Pisciotta as President, and our dedicated and indefatigable Directors Oona Cheung, Agnes Manley, Barb Stephenitch, and Eileen Street, has managed to enhance connections among its community at the very time that being connected is such a challenge! With your help we can continue to grow and thrive.
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Sustaining Donations. We would like to send a BIG thank you to those who have supported the organization through monetary donations during this past year. In a typical year, Cellospeak’s main source of revenue is our annual workshop fees. But in 2020, when our in-person workshop revenues evaporated and keeping afloat was by no means assured, it has been especially gratifying to see so many people step up and donate. These donations will allow Cellospeak to continue to provide innovative musical opportunities into the future that benefit both our community of amateur players as well as our esteemed professional faculty.
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Please consider a donation to Cellospeak in your year-end giving.
If you haven't already donated, it is not too late to add your name to our list of supporters. We note that new tax laws in 2020 allow even those using standard deductions to claim up to $300 in cash donations to qualified non-profits such as Cellospeak. Tax deductible donations can be made through our website, via PayPal, or by check, mailed to Cellospeak, P.O. Box 5232, Arlington, VA 22205.
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And don't forget to make all of your holiday purchases via Smile.Amazon.com and designate Cellospeak as your preferred charity! |
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2021 Workshops - New Location!!
We are thrilled to announce that we have reserved two weeks next summer for our 2021 workshops at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia! The flat, compact ODU campus - convenient to major airports and other transportation - seems nearly tailor-made for Cellospeak. ODU certainly has a different, more modern, ambiance than Bryn Mawr, but has its own charm - including being near the beach! The workshops will be contingent on the status of recovery from the Covid-19 virus. Please be assured that the safety and security of our participants are a paramount concern. We will keep you informed. But please hold the dates: July 18-30, 2021!
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The new ODU Dining Hall - just steps from the dorms |
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Bomin and Aileen at the ODU Lion Sculpture and fountain |
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Sunset at Norfolk
Waterside District
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New Duet Book by Sheryl Smith
Sheryl Smith, a long time Cellospeak workshop participant and popular arranger, has published a new book called 30 Cello Duets For Beginners. She has made many arrangements for cello, and her specialty is helping make beginners successful. Learning to play with other people, especially playing chamber music, is a skill that needs to be learned in addition to learning to play the cello. The book starts out with a few duets with all open strings. Super easy duets help beginners focus on playing together without worrying as much about the mechanics of cello playing. These days it can be hard to get together with other people and play, but duets can be played alone: record one part and play along on the other! Her books are available in print on Amazon. All of her arrangements are available as pdf downloads at her own website Yellow Cello Music (www.yellowcellomusic.com), or at Sheet Music Plus.
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Cellospeak, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and we rely on your support.
Special thanks to the sponsoring vendors who help us thrive!
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