Friday, May 27, 2011

A wonderful concert!

The CDs and DVDs of the May 22nd Ferris Burtis Music Foundation benefit concert are now available for purchase. It was a marvelous concert and the CDs and DVDs are superb.

To order: send a check made out to Ferris Burtis Foundation to:
Herbert Burtis
53 Rood Hill Road
Sandisfield, MA 01255

Please include your mailing address and email.

The amount over the cost of the item plus postage is tax deductible. CDs and DVDs are $20.00 each.

Plan ahead: These will make wonderful Christmas gifts.

Five great young artists who are going places!

And me.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Thank you!

My sincere thanks to everyone who attended Sunday's concert and especially to those who gave generous gifts to the Foundation.

At the moment, over $5000.00 has accrued. This will make helping young musicians an even easier part of the work of the Foundation.

Checks made out to Ferris Burtis Foundation can be sent to Herbert Burtis, 55 Rood Hill Road, Sandisfield, MA 01255, along with orders for CDs and DVDs of the concert. These are $20.00 each and will be available soon. Anything over the cost of the CD or DVD plus postage, will be tax deductible.

Keep classical music alive!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

You had to be there!

If you were not at the concert at the Sandisfield Arts Center this afternoon, you should have been. Five incredible young muscians raised the roof of this 1840 building with music of the spheres.

Before a packed house, these artists performed sublime music brilliantly, musically, emotionally, and perfectly for two hours. Yevgeny Kutik, Timothy Bozarth, Brunilda Myftaraj, Melissa Morgan, and Igor Lovchinsky played a concert in honor of the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation, thereby raising monies to help the continuing work of the Foundation.


Here, from left to right are Igor, Melissa, Herb, Bruna, Yevgeny, and Tim.


The concert was taped for audio and video and is available from the Ferris Burtis Foundation. If you wish to order a CD or DVD, please send a check made out to the Ferris Burtis Foundation, to Herbert Burtis, 53 Rood Hill Road, Sandisfield, MA 01255. Specify CD or DVD. The cost is $20.00 each. Please include your mailing address and email address. Any amount over the cost of the CD or DVD and mailing is tax-deductible. Check earlier posts to see the complete program.

My eternal thanks to these wonderful young artists for giving me the gift of their talent for this cause. The Ferris Burtis Foundation is dedicated to helping young classical musicians in their education and careers. These five musicians are examples of why we are doing what we do.

If music be the food of love, play on! And ON!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Big Day

After months of planning and help from many friends, this coming Sunday will be a day to remember. The amount of talent that will be heard at the Sandisfield Arts Center is staggering. I am so lucky to know these amazing people to whom music is as important as it is to me.

The Ferris Burtis Benefit Concert will bring into this 1840 building that was first a Methodist Church and later a Jewish Synagogue, a program of fabulous music. Yevgeny Kutik, Tim Bozarth, Brunilda Myftaraj, Melissa Morgan, and Igor Lovchinsky are giving their wonderful talents to reinforce the importance of classical music in life.







My deepest thanks also goes to the board of the Sandisfield Arts Center and especially to Sheila Liberson and Susie Crofut who have been a great help to me in this project. Maeve O'Dea of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, which manages our Foundation, has been invaluable in the planning and execution of this project.

I also appreciate the many gifts made by friends and strangers through reservations. Special thanks to those who gave generously beyond the price of admission.All of the monies received will go to further the education and careers of fine young musical artists.

As we spread the scope of the Burtis Ferris Foundation, we obviously need to have more money with which to work. This concert has gone a long way in helping this become a reality.

In addition to continuing to help Yevgeny and the Elektra Ensemble, we are now helping talented, young 'cellist Julian Müller with his college education. He represents the next generation of young musicians who will replace old fogies like me! 







While it is wonderful that we have great performers like Yoyo Ma, Peter Serkin, and the rest, it is up to us to ensure that the future of the world does not become some sort of mechanical-music-oriented
place. There is absolutely nothing like live music. We are trying to keep it healthy.

Therefore, although this concert is in a small hall in a small town, it is a piece of our future. These young musicians are the future.

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation always welcomes gifts from like-thinking people.
Ferris Burtis Foundation
Berkshire Taconic Foundation
800 North Main Street
Sheffield, MA 01257-0400

Friday, May 13, 2011

A fine young musician

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation is happy to announce that it will be giving scholarship support to an excellent young 'cellist, Julian Müller. Julian performed last night at Rood Hill Farm for Bruna Myftaraj and Melissa Morgan from the Elektra Ensemble, Maeve O'Dea from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, which manages the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation, and myself. He was accompanied by Anne Chamberlain, pianist.




Julian has been accepted at both the Eastman School of Music and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he will begin studies next fall. He has an impressive repertoire of concerti, sonatas, and other solo pieces. He has studied 'cello with Jay Shulman, Helene Annas, and currently studies with Ronald Feldman.

He has agreed to perform a recital here at Rood Hill Farm at the end of each school year.

I am delighted that the work of the Foundation, which John and I set up in 1987, is helping such fine young artists as Julian. Yevgeny Kutik and the Elektra Ensemble are also under our aegis. John would be very proud of the way the Foundation has grown. My thanks to the many people whose generous gifts are helping it grow.


Rood Hill Farm

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Concert info

Ferris-Burtis Music Foundation Benefit Concert.
Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.
Sndisfield Arts Center, Hammertown Road,
Sandisfield, MA

The Ferris Burtis Foundation helps young classical musicians in their education and careers.



Reservations $20.00. Make checks payable to
Ferris Burtis Foundation and mail to Herbert Burtis
53 Rood Hill Road, Sandisfield, MA 01255. Please include your email address for confirmation.

Brilliant young violinist Yevgeny Kutik, pianist Timothy Bozarth and the spectacular Elektra Ensemble will perform. They are all under the aegis of the Foundation.


More generous gifts will receive two reservations and have their name listed in the program for all gifts of $100.00 or more.

Friend: $100.00-$299.00
Sponsor: $300.00-$499.99
Benefactor: $500.00-$699.00
Angel: $700.00-$999.00
Founder: $1000.00 or more.
Any amount over the cost of the reservation ($20.00) is tax-deductible.

Here is the updated program for the concert.
Johannes Brahms   Sonatensatz
Alfred Schnittke   Sonata No. 1
   Andante
   Allegretto
   Largo
   Allegretto-Largo
Joseph Achron   Hebrew Lullaby
Maurice Ravel   Sonata
   Allegretto
   Blues
   Perpetuum mobile
Yevgeny Kutik and Timothy Bozarth
Ernest Chausson   Piano Trio in G minor
   Pas trop lent
   Vite
   Assez lent
   Animé
Astor Piazzolla  Invierno Porteño
                        Primavera Porteña
        (From Cuatro Estanciones Porteñas)
 The Elektra Ensemble
Brunilda Myftaraj, Melissa Morgan, Igor Lovchinsky

Yevgeny Kutik under management

We are happy to announce that Yevgeny Kutik is now under the management of Parker Artists. To reach them you may contact Tom Parker at http://www.parkerartists.com/  and tom@parkerartists.com


You may also reach them by snail mail at:
Parker Artists
382 Central Park West, 9G
New York, NY 10024

At the moment they are negotiating European appearances for Yevgeny for next season, including his debut at the Lobkowicz Palace in Prague.



Prince William Lobkowicz and Herbert Burtis in front of the Lobkowicz Palace within Prague Castle.

Yevgeny will be joined by the Elektra Ensemble in the Gala Benefit Concert for the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation on May 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Sandisfield Arts Center. Find more information in earlier posts.

The Sandisfield Arts Center is located on Hammertown Road just off Rte. 57 in Sandisfield, MA.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Concert time

Only 22 days to concert time! Please make your reservations for the Gala Ferris Burtis Benefit Concert on May 22 at 4:00 p.m. at the Sandisfield Arts Center.
For information, check earlier posts.

Here are the artists:

Yevgeny Kutik



The Elektra Ensemble
Brunilda Myftaraj, violin
Melissa Morgan, 'cello
Igor Lovchinsky, piano

All of these brilliant young artists are sponsored by the Ferris Burtis Foundation.

At the moment we are also auditioning high school graduating seniors for scholarship help.

Classical music needs help to survive.
That is our goal!