Cali Immersive Residency

Cali Immersive Residency Program
2023-24 Season

Join us for our third annual re-imagined professional residency program at the John J. Cali School of Music. The week-long residencies include a rotation of seven top-rated artists and ensembles. Each residency will contribute to an ongoing exploration of the ever-changing landscape of music today, introducing students to a future that will be, at times, less traditional. Through the multiple opportunities to learn and collaborate with guest artists, Cali students will broaden their understanding of their future musical careers. (Subscribe to the full residency Google Calendar!)

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PUBLIC EVENTS AT THE CALI SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND THE CO-HOSTED BRIDGES SERIES CONCERTS AT MERKIN CONCERT HALL IN NEW YORK CITY.

Co-presented with Kaufman Music Center

Kaufman music center      

Our 2023-24 Guests

 

ERIC WHITACRE APR. 24-26

Renowned American Composer and Conductor Known for His Exceptional Choral Works and Innovative Use of Technology

Join us as we submerge our ears and hearts into the glorious music of Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor, Eric Whitacre.  During his three day residency, Eric will lead students and faculty in workshops exploring creativity as a vehicle for fostering collaboration and unity, juxtaposed with rehearsals and performances of choral and instrumental music spanning his thirty-year career.  

Eric Whitacre Bio

Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor, Eric Whitacre, is among today’s most popular musicians. His works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united 100,000 singers from more than 145 countries. Born in Nevada in 1970, Eric is a graduate of The Juilliard School. He is currently Visiting Composer at Pembroke College, Cambridge University (UK) and is an Ambassador for the Royal College of Music (London). He recently completed two terms as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. In the 2022-2023 season, the Cincinnati Pops and the National Symphony Orchestra premiered a new commission: Prelude in C. Eric is proud to be a Yamaha Artist.

Eric Whitacre Schedule

WED APR 24
10:00AM-12PM | Creativity Masterclass: The Golden Brick
An extraordinary artist, visionary, and human being, Eric Whitacre is genuinely committed to promoting community through choral singing.  During this multifaceted Creativity Masterclass, Whitacre will dive into the creative process as a vehicle for fostering collaboration and unity.  Designed to engage participants from the worlds of music, business, literature, communication, education, and entrepreneurship,
The Golden Brick will lead you on a discovery of interdisciplinary collaborations.   Includes Q & A.
Leshowitz Recital Hall
Reservations Recommended

1:30-3:15PM | Cali Midweek: Creativity, Connection & the Virtual Choir
Launched in March 2010, the virtual Choir, as pioneered and developed by Eric Whitacre, is a global phenomenon that has engaged more than 35,000 singers from 145 countries and united them in their love of choral music through the use of technology. Performances include Lux Aurumque, Sleep, Water Night, Fly to Paradise, Glow, Deep Field, Sing Gently, plus associations with UNICEF, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Disneyland, and the Coronation Festival Gala at Buckingham Palace.  Includes Q & A. Livestream Link
Leshowitz Recital Hall (New Location)
Reservations Recommended

3:30-4:30PM | Composer’s Forum: Finding Your Voice
Masterclass-style workshop featuring original choral and wind ensemble pieces by Cali composition majors Ian Kearney (BMus ’25) and Dayla Spencer (BMus ’27). An extraordinary opportunity for student composers and lovers of new music to receive insightful feedback from a master composer.

Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

5:45-6:30PM University Symphony Orchestra + NJS Youth Orchestra Dress Rehearsal
Alexander Kasser Theater  (STUDENTS ONLY)

7:30PM | Eric Whitacre Guest Conducting October
w/University Symphony Orchestra
& New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra 
Kyle Ritenauer, conductor
Eric Whitacre takes the podium as special guest conductor for a side-by-side performance of his symphonic piece October featuring the Montclair Symphony Orchestra and guests the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra. The program also includes works by Strauss, Valerie Coleman and Hindemith.  Live stream link
Alexander Kasser Theater
Tickets Required

 

THU APR 25

A full day of Kasser Theater rehearsals and a text collaboration workshop (Leshowitz) with Cali faculty and students.  Open to all Montclair faculty and students:
10-10:45AM | Stevie Ryan piano + Rose Quartet Dress:  Excerpts from The Sacred Veil
Alexander Kasser Theater

11:15AM-12:30PM | Vocal Accord, Steven W. Ryan piano + Rose Quartet: Five Hebrew Love Songs and The City and the Sea
Alexander Kasser Theater

1- 2:15PM | Chorale, Steven W. Ryan piano + student percussionists: Cloudburst and Seal Lullaby
Alexander Kasser Theater

2:30-3:45PM | University Singers, Steven W. Ryan piano + Tomoko Fujita cello: The Sacred Veil (Mvts. 2-5), Lux Aurumque and Sing Gently
Alexander Kasser Theater

4-4:25PM | Wind Symphony: Sleep
Alexander Kasser Theater

4:45 – 6:15PM | Multi-faceted Text Collaboration Workshop: Painting with Words
Composers, writers, and performers all utilize “text” in important ways. This workshop will be an exploration of text from those specific perspectives and understanding the nexus for technical, expressive, and creative considerations for the choral art.
Leshowitz Recital Hall

7:30-9PM | Cali Conversations
During this very special Cali Conversations, join Director Anthony Mazzocchi and choral director Dr. Heather J. Buchanan in an expansive dialogue about Eric Whitacre’s creative journey and fascinating career.  The evening will include integrated choral and instrumental performances with Whitacre on the podium. Featuring Vocal Accord, University Singers, Rose Quartet and faculty Steven W. Ryan piano and Tomoko Fujita cello. Multi-camera livestream provided by School of Communication & Media TV Production students & faculty.  Livestream link.

Alexander Kasser Theater
Reservations Recommended

 

FRI APR 26
8:45-10:30AM | HS Choirs Workshop (Selected HS Choirs ONLY)

11:30AM-1:30PM | The Artistry of Eric Whitacre (SOLD OUT)
Imagine the sound of 635 passionate singers united by the masterful direction of Eric Whitacre! Join us as we bring the vibrant music-making in The Artistry of Eric Whitacre directly to you via livestream from the Alexander Kasser Theater. Enjoy Eric’s enlightening stories of musical and human inspiration as the esteemed Montclair State University Singers, Chorale, and Vocal Accord perform highlights from his iconic choral catalog. Sing along with The Seal Lullaby, Lux Aurumque, and Sing Gently from your home or classroom as Eric leads 499 choristers from 18 High Schools in soul-stirring side-by-side performances with the Montclair choirs. Certain to be an inspirational,  life-changing experience, we are proud that 100% of the funds from this sold out concert will provide pathways to music scholarships for deserving students through the Invest in Cali Fund . Multi-camera livestream provided by School of Communication & Media TV Production students & faculty.
DONATE

3:30- 4:30PM | Music Ed Classroom Methods II (STUDENTS ONLY)

7:30PM | University Wind Symphony Concert
Eric Whitacre Guest Conducting

Dr. Tom McCauley, conductor
Eric Whitacre will take the podium as a special guest conductor for his work Sleep. Multi-camera livestream provided by School of Communication & Media TV Production students & faculty. Livestream link.
Alexander Kasser Theater
Tickets Required

PAOLA PRESTINI  SEP 20, SEP 25, OCT 4, OCT 11, NOV 14-16, FEB 6-8

Composer, Co – Founder & Artistic Director of National Sawdust and VisionIntoArt

Paola Prestini is an “enterprising composer and impresario” and a “human resources alchemist” (The New York Times).  As Artist in Residence for 2023-2024, the Montclair community is in for a treat as she aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among the departments, engage teachers and students in the creative process, explore the craft and discuss the current state of the field, and create an outward-facing collaborative work that engages with the community.

“New York retains a remarkable cadre of composers…but chief among these is the singular figure of Paola Prestini.”
FINANCIAL TIMES

Paola Prestini Bio

Composer Paola Prestini has collaborated with poets, filmmakers, and scientists in large-scale multimedia works that chart her interest in themes ranging from the cosmos to the environment. She has created, written and produced projects such as the world’s largest and first communal VR opera, The Hubble Cantata, and the eco-documentary The Colorado. Her opera Sensorium Ex dives into community impact and AI-bridging her love of collaboration with system building. Her work has been performed by the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, Bellas Artes, and at the Festival Dei Due Mondi in Italy. She has been a resident at MASS MoCA, the Park Avenue Armory, the American Academy in Rome, and at Sundance. Prestini is a Co-Founder of VisionIntoArt, a non-profit new music and interdisciplinary arts production company in New York City and is the Co-Founder/Artistic Director of the non-profit music organization National Sawdust.

Paola Prestini Schedule

WED SEP 20
1:30PM | Cali Midweek Concert | Introduction to the Music of Composer Paola Prestini

Cali Conversations – Paola Prestini in conversation with
Professor Aaron Helgeson
Introduction to the Cali School of Music’s 23-24 Artist-in-Residence’s music, improvisation, and new techniques in a live performance
Leshowitz Recital Hall
Reservations Required 

MON SEP 25
1PM | Composer Practicum
Leshowitz Recital Hall

WED OCT 11
3:30-4:45PM
TOPIC: How to Fundraise and ask for Money
Composer, Co-Founder & Artistic Director of National Sawdust and VisionIntoArt

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC LESHOWITZ RECITAL HALL, CHAPIN HALL

5:30pm-6:45PM
MUGN 152: Music and Film
Univ Hall 1030 (STUDENTS ONLY)

7:30-8:30PM
MUMG 501: Performance Entrepreneurship
Room G1 (STUDENTS ONLY)

TUE JAN 30
COACHING SESSIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

10-12AM
ROSE QUARTET COACHING ON “RED BOOK”

1-2:30PM
CALI COLLECTIVE COACHING ON “AS SLEEP BEFELL”

2:30-4:30PM
NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE COACHING
OF NATIONAL SAWDUST INTERN COMPOSITIONS

FEB 10 7PM
NATIONAL SAWDUST PERFORMANCE
PAOLA
PRESTINI
+
THE
CALI
SCHOOL
OF
MUSIC:
KALEIDOSCOPE OF NEW MUSIC
(646) – 779 – 8455
80 NORTH 6TH ST
BROOKLYN, NY 11249
More Info and Tickets


Concluded 2023-24 Residencies

MICHAEL FABIANO SEP 18

Acclaimed American Powerful and Expressive Tenor

Watching Fabiano sing was akin to watching a superhero lift a heavy object.
The Daily News | Palm Beach

Join us as Michael Fabiano shares his wealth of experience with  young voices at Montclair State University. Born right here in Montclair, NJ Michael Fabiano is notably one of the greatest tenors in the world today. He has performed in leading opera houses, including the San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, Sydney Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Canadian Opera Company, The Royal Opera, and Teatro Real de Madrid among many others. Fabiano’s philanthropic pursuits include CoFounder of ArtSmart whose mission is to transform the lives of youth in under-resourced communities across the US through tuition-free music lessons and mentorship. Experience the thrill of Italian Opera 1820-1940 as Fabiano leads us on a musical journey featuring promising young voices of tomorrow at the Cali School of Music. This appearance is in conjunction with ArtSmart and the Cali Immersive Residency Program.

Michael Fabiano Bio

Of Michael Fabiano’s debut as Lensky in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at the Royal Opera, The Sunday Times in London wrote: “I can’t think of a Lensky at Covent Garden who has held the audience so spellbound in 40 years of Onegin-going… a glorious debut.” The recipient of the 2014 Beverly Sills Artist Award and the 2014 Richard Tucker Award, Mr. Fabiano is the first singer to win both awards in the same year, and is considered one of the greatest tenors in the world today.

Recently, he was named one of the winners of the first edition Teatro Real Award given to artists who have stood out in a special way for their support to the institution throughout the 2020-21 season.

In the 2022/23 season, Mr. Fabiano performed at the San Francisco Opera for their Opera Ball, and Opera in the Park, and will sing Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. At the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, and the Wiener Staatsoper, he will sing Cavaradossi in Tosca. In addition, Mr. Fabiano will make his role debut as Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur with Opera Australia, and perform recitals at the Recital Center in Melbourne, at Victoria Hall in Geneva, and at the Waterford Concert Series in Virginia rounding out his season.

During 2021/2022, Mr. Fabiano made his role debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca at the Opéra National de Paris. In addition to this role, Mr. Fabiano performed the title role in Les Contes d’Hoffmann at ABAO-OLBE Bilbao Opera, and sang Rodolfo in La bohème at the Teatro Real. Subsequent performances were Don José in Carmen at Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Washington National Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. He made his role and company debuts as Calaf in Turandot at Opera di Roma, and in a gala concert celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, his role debut as Ismaele in Nabucco at the Teatro Real, and performed Lensky in Eugene Onegin at the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli.

Mr. Fabiano began the 2019/20 season portraying Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon at the Metropolitan Opera, and starring in a season-opening gala for Michigan Opera Theatre entitled An Evening with Michael Fabiano. He assumed the title roles in Don Carlo and Hoffmann, in a new production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann, both at the Opéra National de Paris, and performed Alfredo in La Traviata, and Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Teatro Real, and Ruggero in La Rondine at the Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli. In the summer of 2019 he performed in recital in Turku, Finland, and performed in a concert with orchestra for the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro.

Michael Fabiano Schedule

WED | SEP 6
12-1:30pm | Graduate Practicum
“Curating a Career”
Cali School of Music – Chapin Hall
Room G55 (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

MON | SEP 18
1-2pm | Undergrad Practicum
“Curating a Career”
Cali School of Music – Chapin Hall
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

4:45-6PM | Pathways + ArtSmart Masterclass
Cali School of Music – Chapin Hall
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

6:30-8:30PM | Masterclass
Featuring Italian Opera 1820-1940
Showcasing young artists at the Cali School
Cali School of Music – Chapin Hall
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)
FREE
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED 

 

TUE | SEP 19
2-5PM
Private Coachings
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

LARA DOWNES OCT. 2-4

Renowned American Trailblazing Pianist and Composer 

Honored as 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today, American pianist Lara Downes is an iconoclast and trailblazer. Her dynamic work as a sought-after soloist, recording artist, a producer, curator, arts activist and advocate positions her as a cultural visionary on the national arts scene.  Join us for fascinating conversations, performances and explorations of how Lara amplifies her work.

Lara Downes Bio

Honored as 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today, American pianist (and NY Times crossword clue) Lara Downes has been called “a musical ray of hope” by NBC News and “an explorer whose imagination is fired by bringing notice to the underrepresented and forgotten” (The Log Journal). An iconoclast and trailblazer, her dynamic work as a sought-after soloist, a Billboard Chart-topping recording artist, a producer, curator, arts activist and advocate positions her as a cultural visionary on the national arts scene. Lara’s musical roadmap seeks inspiration from the legacies of history, family, and collective memory, excavating a broad landscape of music to create a series of acclaimed performance and recording projects that serve as gathering spaces for her listeners to find common ground and shared experience.

Lara’s recent and upcoming onstage adventures include guest appearances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Pops, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, with recitals and residencies at Ravinia, the Gilmore Festival, Carolina Performing Arts, Washington Performing Arts, Caramoor, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Cabrillo Festival, and Oregon Bach Festival, among others.

Lara enjoys creative collaborations with an eclectic range of artists including folk icon Judy Collins, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, musical multi-hyphenate Rhiannon Giddens, former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, author John McWhorter, Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell, baritone Thomas Hampson, and violinist Daniel Hope. Her close partnerships with prominent composers span genres and generations, with premieres and commissions coming from Adolphus Hailstork, Jennifer Higdon, Billy Childs, Paola Prestini, Arturo O’Farrill, Gerald Clayton, Jimmy Lopez-Bellido, Teddy Abrams, Clarice Assad, and many others.

Lara Downes Schedule

MON OCT 2
10:30-12:45pm | Meet with Artist Vision Students
Rochberg Room  (STUDENTS ONLY)

1-2PM | School-wide Practicum
“My Story Presentation” includes Q&A
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

2-3PM Piano Huddle / Masterclass and Discussion
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

3:30-5PM | Lecture
School of Communications and Media (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

TUE OCT 3
8:30-9:35AM | MUHS 407, Course on American Music
Room G1

10:30- 12:30 Details to Come

1:45PM and 2:45-3:45 | Cali Collective
G33 (STUDENTS ONLY)

4pm-5:30PM | Meet with Artist Vision Students Office Hours (STUDENTS ONLY)

7:30PM | Concert “New CD Material”
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)
Reservations Recommended

WED OCT 4
1:30PM | Cali Midweek “Cali Conversations” with Lara Downes and Cali School of Music Director, Anthony Mazzocchi (PUBLIC)
Reservations Recommended

3-5PM | Meet with Artist Vision Students – behind the scenes “preview” (STUDENTS ONLY)

7:10-9:40PM | Entrepreneurship
Room G1 (STUDENTS ONLY)

DAVID KRAKAUER OCT. 30-NOV. 4

World-renowned Virtuosic Clarinetist

David Krakauer, Grammy nominated “…genre-fluid clarinet genius” (NPR) along with his longtime musical collaborator: pianist, composer and producer Kathleen Tagg, will explore the intersections of written music and improvisation. During the week at Cali, Krakauer & Tagg will put together a performance of their visionary cultural dialogue composition: Keepers of the Flame”

David Krakauer Bio

Widely considered one of the greatest clarinetists on the planet with his own unique sound and approach, David Krakauer has been praised internationally as a key innovator in modern klezmer as well as a major voice in classical music. In addition, his work has been recognized by major jazz publications around the world. He received a Grammy nomination as soloist with the conductorless chamber orchestra “A Far Cry“, received the Diapason D’Or in France for The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind (Osvaldo Golijov and the Kronos Quartet/Nonesuch) and the album of the year award in the jazz category for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for The Twelve Tribes (Label Bleu). Abraham Inc’s Tweet Tweet (co-led by Krakauer with funk legend Fred Wesley and renegade beat architect/multi-instrumentalist Socalled) peaked at #1 in Funk and #1 in Jewish and Yiddish Music, and #35 in music sales on Amazon. It reached #7 in Jazz on Billboard and was featured at #40 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart for fastest sellers.

David Krakauer Schedule

MON OCT 30
1-2:30PM | Practicum for all Woodwinds – Intro to Klezmer
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

3-4:15PM | Jazz Improv
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

TUE OCT 31
10-Noon | Keepers of the Flame Rehearsal
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

12:30-2:30PM | Rehearse Golijov with Rose Quartet
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

2:45-3:45PM | Cali Collective
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

5-6:30 | Cali Pathways – Intro to Klezmer
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

 

WED NOV 1
9AM | Jazz Practicum
Room G55 (PUBLIC)

10-11:30 | Jazz Lit Class
Room 230 (STUDENTS ONLY)

1:30PM | Cali Midweek
Performance, Lecture, and Q+A
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)
Reservations Recommended

3-4:30 | Masterclass for Clarinet
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

5-6:30pm | Piano Class with Kathleen Tagg
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

7:10-9:40PM | Performance Entrepreneurship
Room G1

 

THU NOV 2
Noon-1:30PM | Composition Reading Workshop
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

2-4PM | Keepers of the Flame Rehearsal
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

5-8PM | Keepers of the Flame Rehearsal
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

SAT NOV 4
7:30PM | Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
PUBLIC TICKETED EVENT
David Krakauer, clarinet with Kathleen Tagg, piano
Bridges Concert
Tickets $25 at Merkin Concert Hall

ARTURO SANDOVAL DEC.7-10

World-renowned Cuban Jazz Trumpeter, Pianist, and Composer

Trumpeter and Composer Arturo Sandoval is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has been seen by millions at the Oscars, the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards.  During his residency, Sandoval will not only inspire the students as the star guest for the Crawford Concert performing with the Wind Symphony, but also with masterclasses and a deep dive into his Cuban roots at the Cali Conversations.

Arturo Sandoval Bio

A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American Jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has been seen by millions at the Oscars, at the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards.

Arturo Sandoval Schedule

THU DEC 7
4-5:45PM | Rehearsal with the University Wind Symphony
Alexander Kasser Theater Kasser (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

FRI DEC 8
10-11:30AM | Masterclass (SOLD OUT)
Alexander Kasser Theater (PUBLIC)

Noon-1:15PM  | Arturo Sandoval Rehearses with Jazz Ensemble (SOLD OUT)
Alexander Kasser Theater (PUBLIC)

5:30PM  | Cali Conversations with Arturo Sandoval and Cali School of Music Director, Anthony Mazzocchi
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)
Reservations Recommended

 

SAT DEC 9
10AM-2PM  | Dress rehearsal with the University Wind Symphony
Alexander Kasser Theater  (STUDENTS ONLY)

 

SUN DEC 10
3PM | Crawford Concert
Kasser (PUBLIC)
Free admission but tickets are required (selling quickly, reserve now)

Come and witness the amazing artistry of trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval performing repertoire from both the worlds of classical and jazz music.  Beatrice Crawford Memorial Concert: This concert is a free public performance supported by a generous grant from the Keating Crawford Foundation. It is presented at Montclair State University in memory of Beatrice Crawford, a Montclair musician who was the director of two choral groups “The Madrigals” and “The Choraliers.”.

FREE TICKETS

VIJAY GUPTA FEB.6-8

American Violinist and Social Justice Advocate

MacArthur “Genius” Grant and violinist Vijay Gupta is dedicated to creating spaces of wholeness through music.  As a citizen artist, Gupta will work with the students and describe to the community what it means to make a sadhana – a daily practice – of the world we envision.  What it means to be a musician and how music can inspire healing from within.

A “visionary violinist…one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music,”
THE NEW YORKER

Vijay Gupta Bio

Vijay Gupta is a violinist, speaker and citizen-artist dedicated to creating spaces of wholeness through music. Vijay’s work embodies his belief that the work of artists and citizens is one: to make a sadhana – a daily practice – of the world we envision. Hailed by The New Yorker as a “visionary violinist…one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music,” Vijay leads a protean career as a thought leader, performer, collaborator and communicator.

Vijay is the founder and Artistic Director of Street Symphony, a community of musicians creating spaces of connection for people in reentry from homelessness, addiction and incarceration in Los Angeles. Vijay is also a co-founder of the Skid Row Arts Alliance, a consortium dedicated to creating art for – and with – the largest homeless community in America. For his work in “bringing beauty, respite, and purpose to those all too often ignored by society”, Vijay was the recipient of a 2018 MacArthur Fellowship.

A riveting speaker, Vijay has shared his work with dozens of corporations, campuses, conferences and communities across America over the past 10 years, including The Richmond Forum, The Aspen Institute, Hallmark, Accenture, Mayo Clinic, US Psychiatric Congress, American Planning Association, and the League of American Orchestras, just to name a few. Vijay delivered the 33rd annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy for Americans for the Arts and his 2010 TED Talk, “Music is Medicine, Music is Sanity”, has garnered millions of views.

Vijay Gupta Schedule

TUES | FEB 6
1-3PM  |  Cali Collective Ensemble
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)
Cali Collective Ensemble is a graduate program that aims to prepare young professional classical musicians for careers integrating performance, teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership.  During this visit Vijay Gupta will work with CCE to explore the power of musical connection and communication with the incarcerated community.

4-5PM  |  Composer Readings
Leshowitz Recital Hall (STUDENTS ONLY)

WED | FEB 7

11:30-1PM  |  Violin – Chamber Music Masterclass
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)

1:30PM  |  Cali Midweek Concert
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)
Solo violin recital that will include a talk and Q&A with the audience
Reservations Recommended

3:30-4:30  |  “The Business Of Music” Discussion
(Moderated by Cali Director Anthony Mazzocchi)
Leshowitz Recital Hall (PUBLIC)
Gupta is the founder and Artistic Director of Street Symphony, a community of musicians creating spaces of connection for people in reentry from homelessness, addiction and incarceration in Los Angeles. He will discuss and share with the students and community his life experiences and what it means to be in the Business of Music.

5-6PM  |  Orchestra Rehearsal  (STUDENTS ONLY)

7:30-8:30PM  |  Open Conversation with Music Therapy Students in 230 (STUDENTS ONLY)  

 

THU | FEB 8
Cali Collective Prison Visit
Offered in partnership with Music for All Seasons, an organization that believes in the power of music to heal, bring solace, and to change people’s lives, Vijay Gupta and the Cali Collective Ensemble will visit a prison performing a variety of music, including an arrangement of a song created by an inmate at the Sing Sing prison, the Cali Collective Ensemble wishes to share the humanity of music to create a meaningful experience for incarcerated individuals.

6:30PM | Culminating Concert
This culminating concert will celebrate the end of Vijay Gupta’s Immersive Residency bringing together Montclair String Students and Paterson Music Project students, proving that the art is at the center of our nation’s purpose and that music brings healing power. The concert will include “Concerto for you Reena Esmail” featuring Vijay as the soloist.
Montclair Public Library
at First Congregational Church of Montclair

40 South Fullerton Ave; Montclair, NJ  07042

FREE Reservations Required
Reservations

Made possible by funds from the Essex County Division of Cultural Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

www.jerseyarts.com

TIME FOR THREE MAR. 4-6

Ranaan Meyer, Double Bass
Nick Kendall, Violin
Charles Yang, Violin

Innovative and Genre-defying American String Trio

During their four-day residency at the Cali School of Music, the Grammy and Emmy-winning, genre-bending string and vocal trio Time For Three will share their story of becoming a “classically trained garage band” and their creative process for making music together. Through workshops, masterclasses, rehearsals and performances, TF3 will inspire our students (and the public) to find a unique sound with the tools they have and offer tips on building a career. Their residency ends with a culminating performance at Merkin Hall for the BRIDGES series where TF3 will perform alongside students form the Cali School of Music, the Cali Pathways Project and the Special Music School of the Kaufman Music Center.

Time for Three Bio

Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three (TF3) defies conventions with their genre-bending excellence. Spanning classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles, their captivating sound merges eras, styles, and traditions. Comprising Charles Yang, Nicolas Kendall, and Ranaan Meyer, TF3’s remarkable blend of instruments and voices resonates with listeners globally. Collaborating with contemporary classical composers like Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize winners William Bolcom and Jennifer Higdon, TF3’s recent commission, Contact, premiered with the San Francisco Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Their album, Letters for the Future, conducted by Xian Zhang, reached the Billboard top 10 and won a Grammy. With charismatic performances on renowned stages, TF3’s versatility shines through collaborations with artists like Ben Folds and Arlo Guthrie. Their achievements, including an Emmy and collaborations with acclaimed artists, showcase TF3’s unwavering dedication to pushing creative boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.

Time for Three Schedule

MON MAR 4 
1-1:30PM | “Intro to Tf3”
Performance and Q&A (PUBLIC)
Excited to hear TF3 live for the first time? Have you always wanted to ask them a question in person?
Leshowitz Recital Hall

1:30-3PM | Student Composition Readings (PUBLIC)
Leshowitz Recital Hall

3:30-4:30PM | Improvising Class (STUDENTS ONLY)
Always wanted to improvise but don’t know where to start?  This is your chance to learn from the best in an encouraging + congenial
environment. All instruments and voices are welcome.
Leshowitz Recital Hall

6PM |  Cali Pathways Improv Class (PUBLIC)
Leshowitz Recital Hall

7:30PM |   Rehearsal with Students (STUDENTS ONLY)
Leshowitz Recital Hall 

 

TUE MAR 5 
11AM-1PM | Masterclass with String Students (PUBLIC)
Watching amazing performers teach is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. One can learn so many little tricks of the trade. These dynamic soloists will knock your socks off.
Leshowitz Recital Hall

2-4PM Cali Collective (STUDENTS ONLY)
Leshowitz Recital Hall

4-5PM  Rose Quartet Coaching (STUDENTS ONLY)
Leshowitz Recital Hall

 

WED MAR 6 
10AM-12PM | Chamber Music Masterclass (PUBLIC)
Want to learn how to play really well together? Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a trio at the top of the field.
Leshowitz Recital Hall

1:30PM | Cali Midweek Performance  (PUBLIC)
See all of your favorite TF3 pieces and youtube videos in person!
Leshowitz Recital Hall
Reservations Recommended

3:30PM | Class on How to Sing and Play at the Same Time (STUDENTS ONLY)
How do you build a sound career and with the tools that you have? Notice how so many composers now ask you to sing and play at the same time? Learn how to do it from the experts!
Leshowitz Recital Hall

 

THU MAR 7
7:30PM | Time for Three
Bridges Series Residency Culminating Performance
at 
Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
PUBLIC TICKETED EVENT
Tickets $25 at Merkin Concert Hall

2021–22 Cali Immersive Residencies 2022–23 Cali Immersive Residencies