Click HERE to view the Encore newsletter for January and February, 2018

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” is the age-old question, to which the answer has traditionally always been, “Practice, practice, practice!”

For every serious musician, performing at Carnegie Hall is a lifelong dream, the pinnacle of success, the ultimate achievement. For three young students at Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, the dream became reality on Sunday, February 18, when Arnav Deshpande, age 11 of Franklin, Maura Johnston, age 15 of Norfolk, and Mia Quinn, age 10 of Franklin, all took the stage for the performance of a lifetime!

Mia Quinn studies voice with Lisa Ostrow, who is co-owner of Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, while Maura Johnston and Arnav Deshpande are students of Rebecca Abalutzk. Deshpande studies piano and Johnston studies voice. Having received the highest scores in the state of Massachusetts with a score of 90 or higher for their specific instrument and level of study, these talented students were invited to perform in the Celebration of Excellence Awards recital. Said Quinn, before leaving for New York City, “I am excited to sing at Carnegie Hall. I can’t wait to set foot on the stage where so many famous people have performed!”

When Johnston was informed that she had been invited to perform, she had this to say:

“When I was told that I had gotten the highest score in the state I was completely surprised, so you could imagine my surprise when I found out I would get to actually perform at the Carnegie Hall.  I wasn’t expecting it at all and still can’t believe I have this opportunity.”

Three times each year, students participate in the internationally-acclaimed Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) assessment sessions, which represent an exciting opportunity for music students, on a national level, to demonstrate the skills that they have honed through hard work and perseverance. The program provides a recognized national standard of success in music study from beginner to advanced levels, and inspires excellence through individual student assessments that are central to the program while also supporting teachers with high-quality and innovative resources. The RCM allows students to measure and celebrate accomplishments and track their progress throughout the country. For the assessments, students are graded on proficiency in the following areas: Performance, technical requirements, aural skills, rhythm, and sight-reading ability.

“This is a comprehensive program which integrates all aspects of music education from performance to theory to sightreading,” states Ostrow, an alumna of the Conservatory herself, “and through its remarkably comprehensive curriculum, we are raising better and stronger musicians. That is why, when The Royal Conservatory was brought to the United States six years ago, we immediately jumped at the opportunity to become a Founding School and an Official Assessment Center here at Encore.”

CONGRATULATIONS MIA QUINN!!

Mia Quinn, who lives in Franklin and studies voice at Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, has been awarded the National Gold Medal of Excellence for 2016-2017 in Preparatory Voice, with a remarkable score of 97. The Royal Conservatory of Music awards the National Gold Medal to the student who has achieved the highest score in the country within their specific skill level for each instrument. Mia, now 11 years old, has been studying voice, as well as performing and recording albums with the Recording Ensemble at Encore for over two years. Under the guidance of her vocal instructor, Lisa Ostrow, (who has guided students to national gold medals twice before), Mia began her studies in voice using the curriculum of the RCM right from the start.

The Royal Conservatory of Music provides a recognized national standard of success in music study from beginner to advanced levels. It inspires excellence through individual student assessments that are central to the Program, while also supporting teachers with high-quality and innovative resources. The RCM allows students to measure and celebrate accomplishment and track their progress throughout the country. All students and teachers across the United States are invited to participate, and Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios is proud to be able to offer these opportunities at the school and through outreach to the surrounding communities.

A number of students from Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, located in Franklin and Millis, participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) assessment sessions each year. The RCM assessment process represents an extremely exciting opportunity for students, on a national level, to demonstrate the skills that they have honed through practice. Locally, assessments are held at Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, which is a Founding School and a regional assessment center for this internationally-acclaimed program. Student participants come from all around the New England area to take the assessments, while adjudicators travel from all across Canada in order to administer the exams. Not only do the adjudicators judge students based on ability to perform on the instrument of their choice within their skill level, but they also administer academic assessments in music theory, harmony, history, and analysis.

Ostrow, Vocal Director and co-owner of Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, had this to say:

“Mia’s accomplishment is extraordinary. Having scored an unprecedented score of 97 on her vocal assessment, her National Gold Medal is a true testament to the dedication she brings to her music studies, the level of support she receives from her family, her innate talent, and her tremendous desire to achieve. And, best of all, Mia is an absolute joy to work with – fun and funny, and incredibly sweet. We are very proud of her, as we are of all our students.”

In December, 2017, Mia received First Class Honors with Distinction on her Level 1 vocal assessment with a score of 92, and is on her way to perform at Carnegie Hall as a result of having won her Gold Medal!

For the assessments, students are graded on proficiency in the following areas: Performance; technical requirements; aural skills; rhythm; and, sight-reading ability. Encore will be hosting another round of regional assessments this spring and is very much looking forward to the opportunity to meet and interact with young musicians from all over the Northeast.

Wow! What an honor to be voted “Most Loved Music Lessons” by our community and surrounding towns. An online platform called Hulafrog ran a contest for the month of January 2018 for the most beloved family-friendly businesses in our area. Parents voted on their favorites, and Encore was the top contender for the category of music lesson provider! This would not be possible without our amazing faculty and staff, as well as our amazing clients. Thank you all for your continued support! Check out the link here.

Happy Halloween, everyone. Classes will resume on a normal schedule, on Wednesday, November 1.