Classical music lovers don’t have to travel to Carnegie Hall or pay hundreds of dollars to hear world-class music all they have to do is go to the Niskayuna Public Library.
For the past 12 years, Charlotte DeBlois has been bringing in young talent from the finest music schools and conservatories from all over the East Coast as part of a series called The Young Musicians Forum but she doesn’t want to take credit for it. One Saturday a month from September through May, a different young talent performs for free at the Niskayuna Public Library. You’d better get there early, though, because there is generally standing room only.
This past Saturday, Nov. 20, young pianist You You Zhang performed Mozart, Chopin and Rachmaninoff pieces to a packed audience in a small room filled with pieces of art in the library.
`I feel it’s a good idea to have literature, art and music under one roof,` said DeBlois.
While the small room is packed for every Young Musician’s Forum event, it will remain in its current space. The intimate gathering works, and so does the location`Ms. DeBlois wants to keep the series in the neighborhood so that patrons can access it easily.
DeBlois, who used to be a pianist, recognizes the pressure put on young musicians after they receive their diplomas to make it in the music world.
`The music schools turn out diplomas every year, and then when the students have finished and get their diplomas, now what? The time pressure for young musicians to get out and perform is very, very crucial, but you cannot blame agents because they have to sell tickets ` and what would sell a ticket is a big name. But how does a young musician ` a top talent ` get a name if nobody gives them a chance?` said DeBlois.
`They all need performance opportunities,` said DuBlois.
Zhang, who has been playing the piano since age four, is currently receiving a master’s degree from the Mannes College at the New School for Music in New York City. She has given recitals in Europe, Israel and the U.S., and has appeared as a soloist with the Dallas/Fort Worth, Eastern Connecticut and Helena (Montana) Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Zhang’s upcoming engagements include Concerto performances with North Penn Symphony Orchestra and Carnegie Hall.
Zhang’s teacher at the Manne’s School, Pavalina Dokovska, presented Zhang several months ago with the opportunity to play in Niskayuna, and she accepted.
`She introduced this opportunity to play at Charlotte’s recital series,` said Zhang.
`It was fabulous I loved it,` she said of her stay with Charlotte DeBlois in Niskayuna. Ms. DeBlois hosts all of the musicians and shows them around the Capital Region while they’re here.
At the age of 24, Zhang is trying to figure out what’s next after she receives her master’s degree. She is debating about whether she wants to continue performing, get doctorate of musical arts, or both.
`If you have a lot of concerts I don’t think that one is able to take the D.M.A. courses [and perform] but some people, if they really love it, do it,` said Zhang.
DeBlois noted the lack of American talent on the Young Musician’s Forum.
`That is a sad answer I have to give you ` there are hardly ever Americans, you see,` said DeBlois, adding that there are very few young Americans who play classical music anymore. She said that all they are interested in is listening to contemporary and pop music.
`The idea was to bring the best of music into the neighborhood so that people have a chance to listen to it, because it is just dismal how pop music ` I cannot even call it music ` is forced upon everybody through the radio or whatever,` said DeBlois.
The talent comes to Ms. DeBlois ` and there is a lot of it. In a phone interview, she said that she was approached by Itzhak and Toby Perlman with young musicians they thought might perform in her series, but Ms. DuBlois hasn’t had time to get around to them.
Other musicians in the program come from the Curtis Institute of Music, Julliard and the Eastman School of Music. Upcoming programs include Rami Sarieddine, a pianist, on Saturday, Jan. 24; and Philip Ivano, another pianist, on Saturday, Feb. 21; then a series of duets on Saturdays, Mar. 28 and Apr. 25.
For information, call the Niskayuna Public Library at 386-2249.“