Yamaha Onstage to Launch Inaugural Season at The Gatehouse
BUENA PARK, Calif. — Last October, Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc., one of Harlem's leading performing arts centers (formerly known as simply Aaron Davis Hall), opened a new performance venue, The Gatehouse, and simultaneously launched new programming initiatives to build upon the organization's commitment to develop new works by emerging and established artists of color. The three programs include WaterWorks, Harlem Stride and Harlem Stage Partners. Yamaha artist Tania León, who premiered "Reflections," a new work featuring soprano Tamara Haskin, as well as piano works by León with pianist Jade Simmons in November as part of the WaterWorks presentations, helped choose the Yamaha C7 Conservatory Grand piano for The Gatehouse stage.
Other inaugural events in the WaterWorks series included Roger Guenveur Smith's "Who Killed Bob Marley?"; Sekou Sundiata's "Day of Art and Ideas," featuring pianist Marc Cary; and Bill T. Jones' "Chapel/Chapter."
Brad Learmonth, director of programming for Harlem Stage, says WaterWorks artists have been offering work-in-progress showings and workshops at Aaron Davis Hall for the past two years. "Tania León's works are beautiful and complex, and we wanted to find a way to introduce her to our community and encourage people to embrace her music," says Learmonth. León's use of Cuban Bata drum rhythms inspired a concert with Cuban Bata drummers and her works for piano resulted in concerts featuring pianists Jade Simmons and Ursula Oppens. As the time drew near for her "Reflections" piece to premier at The Gatehouse, she encouraged Learmonth and others to consider a Yamaha piano.
"We had a wonderful conversation with Stan Zielinski at Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. in Manhattan and he provided us with a C7," said Learmonth. "When we received it, we discovered it really fit the stage, which is a somewhat small space, and it looks very good. The sound is extraordinary in the room, which is similar to a small cathedral because of its high, vaulted ceilings."
This spring, Harlem Stride, which takes its name from a group of African-American musicians who defined the Stride movement in Harlem in the 1920s, will feature paired performances by recognized piano masters and younger distinguished players. Yamaha artist Danilo Perez, Randy Weston, Andrew Hill, Jason Moran and others will perform concerts. "The piano will be put to very good use," says Learmonth." The $30-million restoration of The Gatehouse, a Romanesque Revival style pumping station built from 1884 – 1890, was funded by an extraordinary partnership between the public and private sectors. In 1981, The Gatehouse was designated a landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its striking transformation into a 196-seat theater allows theatergoers a rare opportunity to savor one of 19th-century America's greatest engineering feats.
For more information, visit www.harlemstage.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 Marc Cary performs at The Gatehouse
Photo: Ray Llanos |
Brad Learmonth, director of programming for Harlem Stage, says WaterWorks artists have been offering work-in-progress showings and workshops at Aaron Davis Hall for the past two years. "Tania León's works are beautiful and complex, and we wanted to find a way to introduce her to our community and encourage people to embrace her music," says Learmonth. León's use of Cuban Bata drum rhythms inspired a concert with Cuban Bata drummers and her works for piano resulted in concerts featuring pianists Jade Simmons and Ursula Oppens. As the time drew near for her "Reflections" piece to premier at The Gatehouse, she encouraged Learmonth and others to consider a Yamaha piano.
"We had a wonderful conversation with Stan Zielinski at Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. in Manhattan and he provided us with a C7," said Learmonth. "When we received it, we discovered it really fit the stage, which is a somewhat small space, and it looks very good. The sound is extraordinary in the room, which is similar to a small cathedral because of its high, vaulted ceilings."
This spring, Harlem Stride, which takes its name from a group of African-American musicians who defined the Stride movement in Harlem in the 1920s, will feature paired performances by recognized piano masters and younger distinguished players. Yamaha artist Danilo Perez, Randy Weston, Andrew Hill, Jason Moran and others will perform concerts. "The piano will be put to very good use," says Learmonth." The $30-million restoration of The Gatehouse, a Romanesque Revival style pumping station built from 1884 – 1890, was funded by an extraordinary partnership between the public and private sectors. In 1981, The Gatehouse was designated a landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its striking transformation into a 196-seat theater allows theatergoers a rare opportunity to savor one of 19th-century America's greatest engineering feats.
For more information, visit www.harlemstage.org.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.