| Select 2008
All-Alumni Reunion Comments
“Being back once again (although on a
different campus from the E 105th Street address in the years
1964–1968); being once again with gifted young musicians;
sharing memories with contemporaries; basking in the brilliance
of professors Langford and Biggs…It was a great day!!”
—Rich Gradone
“I wanted to thank you for organizing
a really fun reunion. I especially had a wonderful time at
the awards dinner. The group of people that I sat with were
very friendly and enthused and our dinner conversation was
poignant and uplifting. The tours to the Rockefeller Center,
Radio City Music Hall, and the water taxi were really great
as well. I made some new friends and reacquainted myself with
some of my old friends. The beautiful fall weather could not
have been more perfect!”
—Maryam Donovan
“I really enjoyed the reception last week
and felt so bad that I had to leave early from that- we had
rehearsal that night (we needed it!). It seemed like everything
was going beautifully and I really enjoyed seeing so many
people. Incidentally, the bass player who played for us last
night (Maurice Belle) [at the benefit performance of Lucia
di Lammermore] -- I met at the reunion!!! We exchanged cards,
and then as it turns out, literally the next day, our bass
player dropped out and we needed one and I called Maurice!
It was a miracle!!”
—Amy Shoremount-Obra
“MSM will always hold a dear spot in my
heart… Last night was again proof that not only the
friendships of the past, but also the new friends we made
will continue to keep the school spirit alive!”
—Sondra Tammam
“I just wanted to congratulate you on
the reunion last week! My husband and I really enjoyed the
events — we were especially impressed by the work Christianne
is doing with the Distance Learning program…”
—Wendy Talio
“Thank you so much for the great weekend
at MSM… I greatly enjoyed the percussion demo by the
grads, and look forward to another visit.”
—James Petercsak
“Congratulations to all in your department.
… I know what energy and effort went into making the
reunion so very, very special for the alumni who returned
this weekend. It was grand all the way around. I saw so many
people from my thirty year span and most of the encounters
were very touching. I feel quite rejuvenated.”
—Richard Adams
“This is just a note to thank you for
a beautiful day on Friday. Everyone made us feel so warm and
welcome. The additions and improvements look great. Best of
luck to you and the future...I’m so proud to be an alumna
of Manhattan School of Music.”
—Irene Panagakos Lafharis
“WOW! What a reunion. Congrats on throwing
a great party. Hope it raised a lot of money for all the fantastic
programs at MSM.”
—Heather Hamilton
“We had a terrific time at the party!”
—Renee & Larry Harris
“Congratulations for setting up
a high-flying alumni celebration. We all appreciate it.”
—Michael Philip Davis
“Thanks for all of your hard work on this
reunion, it was absolutely incredible. One of the highlights
of my year, truly. Thanks again for a wonderful week.”
—Olivera Medenica
“Kudos, congratulations, and many cheers
for the fantastic job you and everyone who worked on the 90th
… did to make it so successful. There was a real excitement
at the events I attended, and it seems as tho’ you got
a lot of the ‘right people’ back… I was
so honored to be there.”
—Ann McKinney
“Bravo for a job well done!!!”
—Deirdre McArdle-Manning
“It was delightful to see you last evening.
The evening was beautifully done and I really enjoyed the
concert. I know you have worked hard on this and I want to
thank you and tell you that you are very much appreciated.”
—Linda Fennimore
“GREAT reunion… Lovely party and
a very nice program by the young singers in Greenfield.”
—Suzanne Schwing
“Congratulations on producing such an
extraordinary, successful and fun alumni event!”
—Claire Heldrich
“It was a great reunion that your Alumni
Affairs group organized, we really enjoyed all of the events.”
—Mary and Jim Johnson
“…congrats on a really terrific
reunion weekend! I was so happy to be there and it was beautiful
running into people I hadn’t seen in 25 years. Most
significantly, I reconnected with Roy Eaton, who was a very
important, life-changing teacher and friend to me in the early
80’s, and had a lot to do with the course of my career.
That alone was incredibly meaningful.”
—Alex Shapiro
“Meeting old friends and reminiscing about
50 years that have incredibly flown by was a unique experience.
As a ’57 graduate, the setting and the camaraderie evoked
memories of a wonderful period in my life. Kudos to you and
all who put the program together.”
—Dr. Eugene Lonstein
“I wish I could have attended more than
just the dinner but that event was truly first-class. The
meal was delicious and the evening progressed quite smoothly.”
—Rich DeRosa
“I am a spouse of an alumna and an engineer,
so this was a welcomed experience to learn of an ‘other
world’ and your unique institution. I felt warmth and
much love from all those I encountered… [This event
and the value for the cost] could not be duplicated anywhere.”
—Ed Macomb |
