|
|
The Bell'Art Ensemble
We are a group of chamber musicians dedicated to taking music out of the concert hall into a welcoming and intimate environment. We aim to bring the power of live music to everyone, one living room at a time. The name "chamber music" itself implies a smaller space, where the audience is a vital part of the performance. At a Living Room concert, you will be able to interact with music on a deep level because you are close at hand to the musicians. In this way we establish a personal connection with our audience.
In addition to performing music of many different styles and genres, we also speak about each work on the program to help you gain insight and perspective for each piece, whether you are a casual listener or a classical music aficionado.
At the end of each performance there is a reception where guests and performers can mingle and have a drink and a bite to eat. Please consider hosting or attending a concert, and supporting our endeavors to achieve our goal of promoting classical music as something vibrant, approachable, and meaningful for all. More information about hosting one of our concerts can be found on our Hosting FAQ page.
In addition to performing music of many different styles and genres, we also speak about each work on the program to help you gain insight and perspective for each piece, whether you are a casual listener or a classical music aficionado.
At the end of each performance there is a reception where guests and performers can mingle and have a drink and a bite to eat. Please consider hosting or attending a concert, and supporting our endeavors to achieve our goal of promoting classical music as something vibrant, approachable, and meaningful for all. More information about hosting one of our concerts can be found on our Hosting FAQ page.
MEET THE ARTISTS
|
Ashley Freeburn
Ashley Freeburn, violinist, earned her BM and MM degrees in music at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Carnegie Mellon University. An active chamber musician, Ashley has held residencies at the Charlotte New Music Festival and the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and she has been featured in concerts throughout the United States. Ashley is a founding member of the newly formed women’s orchestra, the Kassia Ensemble. She has performed with the Erie Philharmonic, and the Wheeling and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestras. She is currently acting Associate Concertmaster of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra. Ashley has served as violin faculty at the Center for Young Musicians, and she is currently adjunct professor of violin at Chatham University.
|
Raquel Winnica Young
Mezzo-soprano Raquel Winnica Young earned her Degree in Vocal Performance from the Colon Opera House in Buenos Aires and an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University. A two-time winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society major auditions, she has performed locally (Quantum Theatre, Apollo’s Fire, Chatham Baroque, Pittsburgh Camerata) as well as in Europe, North and South America. She is on the voice faculty of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
www.raquelwinnicayoung.com
|
Jack Kurutz
Pianist Jack Kurutz is an avid recitalist and chamber musician with a diverse repertoire. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, his Master of Music from New England Conservatory, and an Artist Diploma from Carnegie Mellon University. In September 2007, Mr. Kurutz won First Prize in the William Garrison Piano Competition; he was also a finalist in the 2009 Simone Belsky and Steinway Society of Massachusetts piano competitions. In May of 2011 Mr. Kurutz was the featured soloist with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic in a performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto. He is currently adjunct faculty at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh CAPA. Please visit www.jackkurutz.com for more information.
|
|
Lenny Young
Lenny Young, oboist, is Principal Oboe of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Johnstown, Westmoreland and McKeesport Symphonies. He has written, arranged and performed music for the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Alia Musica Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Camerata. He is the Director of the Choir at Third Presbyterian Church and teaches oboe, music theory and solfege at Pittsburgh CAPA, in addition to teaching solfege at his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University.
|
Billie Jo Miller
Billie Jo Miller actively performs as a collaborative artist and maintains a private piano studio in her home. She received her Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where she studied with Ian Hobson, and earned her MM in Piano Performance at Carnegie Mellon University under Ralph Zitterbart and David Deveau. She has also studied under Ward Davenny in New Haven, CT, and appeared in masterclasses of Earl Wild.
Ms. Miller served as a studio coach and accompanist at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music. She has performed with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, winners of the Pittsburgh Concert Society, and CMU faculty. She worked extensively with the violin studio of Cyrus Forough at Carnegie Mellon University. She has also served as a piano teacher at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA) and the CMU Preparatory School, where she taught group piano class as well as private lessons.
Currently she lives in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh's North Side with her husband Mark and her two sons, Kobe and Malachi.
|
Upcoming Events
|
2021 Concerts coming soon! Please join our email list to learn more about our upcoming projects.
|
|
HOSTING FAQS
|
Do I need a piano? Our preference is for homes with pianos, but we will do at least one piano-less concert per season.
|
Do I have to pay you? You do not pay us anything; we take a free-will donation at the door for guests (we suggest $20 per person, $15 for students). We are also available for private events for a set fee; please contact us for rates.
|
Do I need a piano? Our preference is for homes with pianos, but we will do at least one piano-less concert per season.
|
|
How do I get a date and time? One of our members will contact you asking for your month, day and time preferences; we may also offer you several date options. Concerts are on Friday evenings, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons or evenings; the start times are flexible. (Please note: from October through January, we generally avoid playing during Steelers games).
|
How many people should I expect? You tell us! When you confirm a date with us, you decide how many people would fit in the performance space. If you don’t know, we’d be happy to visit and consult with you.
|
How much of my house will you use? We will primarily need two rooms, one for the performance and one for the reception. In addition, we will need a small private area to store our instruments and warm-up/relax between pieces. If we are providing reception food, we will also need access to the kitchen (see below). We also need a table near the entry to hold our programs, donation basket and promo materials.
|
|
How many chairs do I need? We enjoying letting guests use the furniture in the space, especially couches-- although we may ask to re-arrange things (with your permission, of course.) We have about 30 folding chairs we can bring to fill up the room; just let us know in advance how many you’ll need.
|
On the day of the concert, when will you arrive? When will you leave? We like to arrive 60 minutes before start time; if we are bringing chairs and/or reception items, we like to arrive 90 minutes before start time. Please be ready for guests to arrive starting a half-hour before the start time. The concert lasts between an hour and forty-five minutes and two hours. The reception length is up to you; they usually last between one and two hours.
|
Do I need to promote the concert? Can I invite my friends? You can invite your friends; we promote through our email list and Facebook page. We send out an email announcement and create a Facebook event about three weeks before the concert. To protect your privacy, we do not display your name, and limit posting your address. Please make sure your friends RSVP to us through our website, facebook, or email address.
|
|
Do I have to organize the reception after the concert? You may organize all or part of the post-concert reception if you wish, and this will certainly help us with our production costs. But we can provide a basic reception, consisting of fruit, cheese, beverage and other salty and sweet snacks. Or we can collaborate! If we bring a complete reception, we will need access to your kitchen in order to set up.
|
Do you record your concerts? We do video-record the performance, but only the performers themselves. We also like to take pictures of each concert for our archives. Please let us know if you have any privacy concerns. You are free to take your own pictures or video-record, but please let us know beforehand.
|
We hope that you and your family are remaining optimistic, healthy, and well! We are looking forward to performing for you and being together with you again, live and in person, when this is all over!
Hugs from Ashley, BJ, Jack, Lenny, and Raquel |
Photos courtesy of Alisa Garin Photography.
Please consider a donation. Your support enables us to keep presenting our concert series!
We are excited to announce the release of our first CD! It features music from our first several seasons, and is available at our concerts for $10. It is available for purchase via BandCamp.
|
|
