MacPhail Austin Piano Festival – Creative Workshops
Five musical offerings, including performances, and creative workshops will be presented from October 7-9, 2022.
Performers
VICTORIA EBEL-SABO Composer, pianist, teacher
Victoria is a published composer and was named “Composer of the Year, 2009”, by the Washington State Music Teacher’s Association. Besides composing a number of choral and solo piano works, Victoria has composed three full length ballets, “Mary Poppins”, “Peter Pan”, and “Pepito’s Story”, for the Boulder Ballet in Boulder Colorado. Her works, in both sheet-music and collections, have been published by Boosey and Hawkes, Kjos, Willis, Mark Foster, and Santa Barbara Publishing. Her children’s choral compositions have been sung throughout the world. She and her husband Dan, were a two-piano team and four-hand duo throughout their 40-year career. and they performed in Europe and across the USA. She created Bellingham House Concerts, an intimate series performed in homes and small concert venues, which will enter its 16th season. The popular series showcases local artists as solo, and chamber music performers.
Samantha Sinai, cellist, cello teacher, and music therapist, currently lives in Bellingham, Washington. She is Principal Cello in the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra, holds a private cello studio, coordinates Bellingham Youth Chamber Players, and is an Artistic Partner for Bellingham House Concerts. Through her music therapy experience, Samantha has seen time and time again the power music has to transform a moment. She feels that her work as a musician is to bring heartfelt, embodied music to people in meaningful, accessible ways in order to promote wellness for the individual and the community. Samantha completed her Master’s degree in Cello Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Uri Vardi. Samantha looks forward to cultivating her musicianship to continue to create experiences that touch the hearts of her listeners.
October 7
COMPOSE YOURSELF Victoria Ebel-Sabo 6:00 – 7:00pm
For teachers of elementary piano and instrumental students
Compose Yourself, presented by Victoria Ebel-Sabo, is a creative workshop for teachers and focuses on how to introduce elementary piano and instrumental students to the fascinating world of musical composition! Several compositional outlines which encourage the student to freely explore and experiment at the piano or on another instrument will be presented. Learning to create a wide variety of musical sounds is intriguing and stimulating the imagination is fun. Composition can be an integral part of ongoing lessons or used as a summer project. Compose Yourself, a compositional workbook, written by Victoria and a former colleague, will be the teaching text used in the workshop.
Compose Yourself book is $15.00 and will be available for purchase at the workshop
LET’S GET LOOPY Samantha Sinai 7:15 – 8:15 pm
For all instrumental and vocal teachers and students of all ages
In this participatory workshop, students and teachers will have the opportunity to learn about and experiment with a loop pedal! Imagine having the ability to harmonize with yourself and add numerous layers to create your very own composition in the moment. The loop pedal allows us to do just that! Samantha has used this amazing tool in many settings from composing in her living room to working with clients in her music therapy practice. She hopes you’ll walk away with your own ideas about how you could utilize the loop pedal to inspire and engage.
Additional Festival Activities
October 8
PIANO MASTERCLASS 10:00-11:00 am
Victoria Ebel-Sabo will coach teachers, adult, and youth students performing her original compositions.
COMPOSITION PERFORMANCE CLASS 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Participatory informal recital of original compositions
Victoria Ebel-Sabo, Samantha Sinai—performers, teachers, and coaches
Victoria and Samantha will perform, listen to student compositions, and respond with questions and analysis.
Compositions should be short, from 1 to 2 minutes in length.
Possible Inspiration for composing a piece.
- Joy
- Love
- Death
- Mystery
- Cosmos-Space
- Circle of Life
ELEMENTS OF EARTH
- Water
- Earth
- Air
- Fire
- Stones
- Living Creatures
ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
- Melody
- Harmony
- Rhythm
- Form
- Color
- Texture
October 9
Concert 2:00pm – Knowlton Auditorium – Austin High School
SPOTLIGHT ON BIG FAZ!!! FAZIOLI 308 Grande Piano
Original Compositions and performance by Victoria Ebel-Sabo, piano
Special Guests
Samantha Sinai, cello and Austin Children’s Community Choir
Premier of FANFARE FOR AN UNCOMMON PIANO
Showcasing BIG FAZ as a solo, collaborative, and accompaniment instrument
Save the Date – April 16, 2023
Concert Featuring Michael Cain
This concert will feature MacPhail Director of Electronic Music Recording Arts Michael Cain.