Dr. Sera Jane Smolen 2007-2008

Current and Upcoming Performances

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra: regular member, Orchestra series concerts, Chamber Series Concerts, Sept.2007-May 2008

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Chamber Series: February 17, 2008 Trio Tropicale by Roberto Sierra; , April 6, 2008 Oboe Fantasy Quartet by Benjamin Britten

Regular Regional concerts with singer-songwriter Tom Mank: original music,
improvisation, blues, folk; Guest performers Concert Tour of Netherlands and Belgium, May 2007; Kirkland Arts Center December 8, 2007; Tour of Chicago, Ill, Madison WI, and Minneapolis/St. Paul May 2008.

Syracuse Symphony Substitute

Improvised original music with poet Susan Hoover, Hudson Valley, Ithaca, NY, Treadwell NY, August 2008

"Light in Winter" Collaborations between artists and scientists, Ithaca NY January 20, 2008

Orchestra of Northern New York, Potsdam, NY October 27, 2007

Summer Teaching 2007

Guest Clinician Ontario, Canada Suzuki Program: Improvisation, cello group classes, cello master classes, date TBA

New Directions Cello Festival: Assistant Director, Steering Committee, Educational co-ordinator,
teacher-training co-ordinator, writer for bi-annual newsletter

June 24-July 6, Ogontz Suzuki Institute,daily cello master classes, group cello classes, daily improvisation, workshops and chamber music coaching. Faculty recital

June 8-10- New Directions Cello Festival, intenational festival for improvising cellists Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA. Performing with "Water Bear", Assistant Director; Educational Co-ordinator, co-ordiante all workshops, and jam sessions.

August 2007- Southern Ontario Suzuki Institute, guest clinician: teach master classes, group classes, improvisation courses, performer in faculty
recital. Teacher Training Seminar, Aug. 18. Wilfred Laurier University, Kichenor-Waterloo, Ontario

Teaching, ongoing projects:

Private Cello studio, 210 North Corn St. Ithaca NY, 277-0761, teaching age 3 to adult, begining to advanced

Ithaca New York, private studio program includes:
weekly lessons and group classes covering Tonalization and review, Suzuki solo repertoire, regular reading assignments, improvisation assignments.
Practice Marathon- september -november 15. Practice strategies,
with parent workshops and guest consultants
Performing: Loaves and Fishes, a soup kitchen;
public solo and composition recital;
in-class recitals, regularly. Composition Master Classes;

The Kanack School, Clinton Ave, Rochester NY. Cello Lessons and Group Classes on Tuesdays; 585-244-6910

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Youth Outreach program March-May 2007:
Researched for study guide for all second grades in the Ithaca
region (800 children),
Rehearsed Quintet for programs in classrooms;
Docented in classrooms (performance/teaching),
Performed in classrooms with Quintet.

Researching the Pedagogy of Improvisation for presentations at Educational Conventions: NYSSMA Conference, December 1, 2007

Questions or comments about this site? Contact Sera: serasmolen@earthlink.net
Website last modified September 10, 2008rSite design by Nomad DigitalrrGraphics assist:Diana Souza