The Solomon Mikowsky Recital Hall
Photos by Bryan Mandelbaum
  Mikowsky standing next to an exhibit of his students prices and diplomas .jpg) 28 outstanding students of Solomon Mikowsky featured on the West wall of the Mikowsky Recital Hall. Solomon Mikowsky Dedication Concert in Review Solomon Gadles Mikowsky Recital Hall, New York, NY Manhattan School of Music October 3, 2010  A rare performance by Dr. Mikowsky at the opening of the Mikowsky Recital Hall at Manhattan School of Music “Turnabout is fair play”, the saying goes. Frequently, an institution will pay homage to a great and distinguished member of its faculty. But this time, Solomon Mikowsky – who has certainly earned a tribute for his years as a renowned piano pedagogue who has produced many fine artists (and competition winners) – honored the Manhattan School of Music with a beautiful and heartwarming gesture: a gift of a superb recital hall, replete with two Steinway concert grand pianos and a capacity for audio and video recording (plus a third Steinway Model B grand for his adjacent studio). On Sunday afternoon, October 3rd, I was honored to be present for the grand opening festivities of the Solomon Gadles Mikowsky Recital Hall on the third floor of the MSM. Dr. Mikowsky’s tribute was not only to this school, but also in honor of 12 of his former and present pupils who held forth with a fine concert by way of a retrospect. The live recital commenced with a recorded performance of Bach’s Fantasy and Fugue in A Minor as performed by Mikowsky at the age of fourteen. In front of the audience was a photograph of the fledgling virtuoso (what a handsome devil he was!). Later on, at the behest of many of his appreciative charges, Dr. Mikowsky (who was going to remain silent) played a Galuppi Sonata with elegant taste and good tone, showing us all that he can still “do” as well as teach! Dr. Mikowsky was born Solomon Gadles in Cuba of Russian-Polish parentage and his mother’s maiden name was Mikowska. His early musical training was with Cesar Perez Sentenat, who had studied in Madrid with Cubiles and in Paris with Joaquin Nin, a pupil of Moszkowski, himself a pupil of Liszt. Later, he earned his degrees at the Juilliard School, working with Sascha Gorodnitzki (Bachelors and Masters degrees) and a doctorate from Columbia University. Frequently invited to serve on the juries of important international piano competitions, he has given master classes worldwide, and is the author of a book on nineteenth-century Cuban music.  Dr. Mikowsky with some of his international price winning students. Photo Credit: Brian Hatton The impressive recitalists included two Domenico Scarlatti sonatas (A Minor, Longo 241, Kirkpatrick 54; and A Major, L. 395, K. 533) played with brilliant note-perfect fluency by Inesa Sinkevych, but with one gaffe: the printed program attributed them to Domenico’s father, Alessandro, 1660-1725 (who wrote vocal music!); Liszt’s F Minor Concert Etude, La Leggierezza (Ian Yungwook Yoo); Chopin’s C-sharp Minor Etude, Op. 10, No. 4 (Kookhee Hong); Albeniz’s Asturias (Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz); Albeniz’s Evocacion from Iberia (Gustavo Diaz-Jerez (who had originally intended to play El Puerto from the same work); Lecuona’s Cordoba (Yuan Sheng, who played lustily, although I have heard him play Bach wonderfully well and also had glowing words for his Schubert B flat Sonata, D. 960); the ubiquitous Albeniz Tango in Godowsky’s gussied-up arrangement (Ren Zhang); Scriabin’s Etude in C-sharp Minor, Op 8, No. 12 (Alexander Moutouzkine); Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infante defunte” (Youngho Kim); Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 (Wael Farouk, a Shura Cherkassy look-alike who I glowingly reviewed in New York Concert Review for his account of Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto with the MSM orchestra last year); Busoni’s Sonatine super Carmen No. 6, K. 284 (Kirill Gerstein, a recent Gilmore Artist Award and Avery Fisher Grant winner); and finally the Aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations (Simone Dinnerstein; truly an Aria da Capo; the first time I heard her play at the tender age of 11, Ms. Dinnerstein was a pupil of Dr. Mikowsky and she has many accomplishments to her credit in the intervening years—subsequent studies with Herbert Stessin, Maria Diamond (a student of Artur Schnabel) and Peter Serkin. Herself-produced CD of the Goldberg, now available on Telarc, has been acclaimed a best-seller). I must comment that the room can accommodate an audience of 50, and that its acoustics are ideally crystal clear, absolutely perfect for the obvious ideals of Dr. Mikowsky’s taste for extreme digital clarity and articulation, Spartan and judicious pedaling and discipline, as opposed to an often esteemed and encountered murkiness that could (and often does) hide a multitude of sins by less technically adroit students. The concert was followed by a lavish reception and dinner, capping a joyously memorable and touching occasion. Congratulations to all, and especially to Solomon Mikowsky! -Harris Goldsmith for New York Concert Review; New York, NY |
| Photos of Opening Concert and reception on October 3rd, 2010  The Mikowsky Recital Hall at Manhattan School of Music  The Mikowsky Studio at Manhattan School of Music                                                     The after-inauguration party starts! Dr. Mikowsky, a bit tipsy, sings and plays two songs (Cuban and Latin-American) surrounded by his Spanish speaking friends, who join in the singing.                                     Solomon Mikowsky Solomon Mikowsky has been called “oneof the world’s most sought-after artistteachers” (Clavier), with “a magicalability to develop his piano students intoartists” (Sur Exprčs). Included inBenjamin Saver’s The Most Wanted PianoTeachers in the USA, he has been amember of the piano faculty atManhattan School of Music for over 30years and is recipient of the school’sPresidential Medal. He also a member ofthe Artist Faculty at Chicago College ofPerforming Arts at Roosevelt University. His pupils have won over 100 top prizesin some of the most importantinternational competitions, including theGilmore Artist Award, the Avery FisherArtist Career Grant and first prizes in theRubinstein (Tel-Aviv), Santander,Beethoven (Bonn), Iturbi (Valencia),Maria Canals (Barcelona), Pilar Bayona(Zaragoza), Jaén, Andorra, Panama andNew Orleans, and other top prizes in theTchaikovsky, Dublin, Sviatoslav Richter(Moscow), Vianna da Motta (Lisbon),Porto, Villa del Mar (Chile), Cleveland,Montreal, Naumburg and E-Competition(Minneapolis). They have performed as soloists with theBoston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas,Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles,Minnesota, Philadelphia, San Francisco,Berlin, Budapest, Frankfurt, Jerusalem,Munich, St. Petersburg and Tokyosymphony orchestras; the BBC, Berlin,Dresden, London (Royal), Moscow, NewYork, Rotterdam and Israel philharmonicorchestras; the Zürich Tonhalle; theDresden Staatskappelle Orchestra and thenational orchestras of Finland, France,Mexico and the Czech Republic, withsuch noted conductors as Comissiona,Dudamel, Dutoit, Ehrling, Eschenbach,Fischer, Frübeck de Burgos, Gielen, Graf,Herbig, Macal, Masur, Semkow,Skrowaczewski and Zinman. Solomon Mikowsky was born in Cuba ofRussian-Polish parentage. His earlytraining was with César Pérez Sentenat,who had studied in Madrid with Cubilesand in Paris with Joaquín Nin, a pupil ofMoszkowski, himself a pupil of Liszt. Hewas later granted scholarships by theCuban government and the JuilliardSchool to continue his studies in NewYork with Sascha Gorodnitzki, theforemost pupil of the legendary Russianvirtuoso Josef Lhevinne, receivingbachelor’s and master’s degrees fromJuilliard and a doctorate from ColumbiaUniversity. Mikowsky is regularly invited to serve onthe juries of some of the most importantinternational piano competitions. He hasgiven master classes at the leadingconservatories in Moscow, St. Petersburg,Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Salzburg,London, Paris, Rotterdam, Madrid,Valencia, Istanbul, Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem,and throughout Australia and the FarEast. A Steinway Artist, he participatedearly on in festivals in France, Italy, Spain,Korea and Taiwan. During the summers,he directs his International Piano Festivalswhich consist of piano courses in variouscountries in Europe and Asia, and theparticipation of his piano students asperformers in numerous recitals. Mikowsky has published a book onnineteenth-century Cuban music, hascontributed to Américas, theOrganization of American States journaland has been featured in interviews inClavier (USA), Chopin (Japan), PianoArtistry (China), Sur Exprčs (Spain) andMusica di Pianoforte (Korea). Inrecognition of his pedagogicalcontribution, Solomon Mikowsky hasbeen awarded the Cintas Prize by theInstitute of International Education.   |
Teacher's Lesson in Giving
By SHELLY BANJO
Renowned piano instructor Solomon Mikowsky once bought an apartment for his students. Now, he's sold his apartment for them. Taking all the proceeds from the $325,000 sale of the one-bedroom in Morningside Heights near Columbia University, Mr. Mikowsky made a $500,000 donation to the nearby Manhattan School of Music. With the money, the school was able to build a new performance space in one of its old libraries. He also donated three Steinway Grand pianos and recording equipment.
The Cuban-born pianist has been teaching at the Manhattan School of Music since 1969. Mr. Mikowsky, came to America in 1956 after the Cuban government awarded him a scholarship to attend the Juilliard School and study under Russian concert pianist and teacher Sascha Gorodnitzki.When nerve damage stopped him from playing piano, he began teaching at the Manhattan School of Music. "I could no longer express music through my own hands, heart and brain. Manhattan School of Music allowed me to do that through my students," Mr. Mikowsky says.
In the 1980s, he bought the apartment for $33,000 to house his students. At the time, Manhattan School of Music didn't have dormitories, which drove away talented musicians who couldn't afford New York apartment prices, Mr. Mikowsky said. So he would let his students rent the apartment from him at a lower cost. Now, students face a new challenge, he says.
Over the past 10 years, the size of the campus and number of students has more than doubled. Because of the school's growth, there aren't enough spaces for students to perform and practice. Many students wait months for access to recording facilities.
The new recital hall, built in the renovated building where Mr. Mikowsky has been playing for decades, adds another space for students to use. New recording equipment will allow students to make CDs or DVDs of their work to enter into music competitions. The new grand pianos will allow students to practice on the type of pianos used at most competitions and performances, rather than smaller pianos with which students take lessons.
Mr. Mikowsky is bringing a dozen of his best students from around the world, including China and Russia, to perform at an inaugural concert when the space opens in October."Every student playing also came on full scholarship to Manhattan School of Music," he said. "This will be our way of saying thank you to the school."
Write to Shelly Banjo at shelly.banjo@wsj.com
The Solomon Gadles MikowskyRecital Hall Receives Finishing Touches
Solomon Mikowsky, a member of Manhattan School of Music’s piano faculty since 1974, has financed the construction of a new performance space as a gift to the School. Recently completed, the Solomon Gadles Mikowsky Recital Hall is a flexible recital hall with a raised woodenstage large enough to accommodate two grand pianos. It is housed inthe School’s main building, in the space that formerly held the library, room 306.
Dr. Mikowsky, who was awarded a Presidential Medal by the Schoolin 2008, has a long history in the building and feels a deep affinitywith the place. After spendingseven years as a student in the building when it belonged toJuilliard, he went on to teach as a member of the Juilliard Precollege faculty and then of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege and College faculty, all at the same Claremont Avenue address.
The small 740-square-foot hall hasan adjoining vestibule, which willbe used both as a green room andas storage for the two Steinway concert grand pianos when they are not in use. The recital hall has sound/vibration isolation doors and walls designed to give clarity and intimacy to performances and to providenoise/vibration control betweenthe space and the adjoining practice rooms. The hall’s windows lookout over Riverside Park andGrant’s Tomb.
Dr. Mikowsky, born in Cuba of Russian-Polish parentage, was granted scholarships by the Cuban government and the Juilliard School to study in New York with Sascha Gorodnitzki, where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. While studying at Juilliard he made the decision to make his careerunder his mother’s maiden name, Mikowsky. It is as a tribute to his father that the name of the hall now includes his full name, Solomon Gadles Mikowsky.
Dr. Mikowsky says he is happy and excited with the results: “I think the hall is beautiful and it will be very useful for the School. This will allow students to try out concerti and we can have two-piano concerts. I hope this hall will give the piano faculty a chance to hear our best students play on a concert grand in a recital hall when they are preparing for competitions and recitals. And this will allow them to make adjustments to sound and interpretation, many things that are different when you play on a concert grand rather thanin the studio.”
“When I devoted myself to teaching it was here, and I love this school.I feel very confident in the School and in President Sirota. And mytrust in him has led me to do something beyond my means.”
—Dr. Solomon Mikowsky
The October 3rd, 2010 Inauguration Concert and the Dinner Party at
President Sirota's Penthouse Apartment at Manhattan School of Music
390 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10025-1897 USA
Telephone (212)-666-5377
Fax (212)-666-6779
E-mail: Mikowsky@hotmail.com
Dear students, alumni and friends,
Now that the opening concert of the new hall at Manhattan School of Music has taken place onOctober 3, 2010, I want to share with you the excitement of the occasion.I am attaching the first announcement that appeared in the MSM Spring 2010 Intermezzonewsletter, a related article from the Wall Street Journal, my invitation letter, the announcementposter, a New York Times advertisement, the program of the concert, the article in the New YorkConcert Review, and the final sum-up in the MSM Fall 2010 Intermezzo newsletter.
The concert was recorded in DVD format. More than 90 photos of the event are also available ona CD. If you wish to have either one of these, all you have to do is send me a simple email withyour postal address specifying whether you want the DVD or the CD or both. My assistant willbe glad to post mail them to you.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who attended the concert and shared it withme personally; the many friends, colleagues and students who sent me warm greetings and bestwishes; the performing participants who went out of their way to travel from so many distantcountries and honor me with their playing; the many other students I wished could have beenincluded, whose musical and pianistic standing made them absolutely eligible; the countlessstudents who have helped me realize myself as a teacher for over three decades; the hard workingand efficient staff who took care of every detail with total dedication; and the members of theMSM faculty, Board of Trustees and administration, from the President down, who supported mein this project all along.
I hope you enjoy reviewing the attached materials.
With best wishes for the New Year!
Hall opening concert invitation
Dear students, alumni, colleagues and friends,As some of you might know, I have contributed the funds for the conversion ofthe old library on the third floor of the original building at Manhattan School ofMusic into a performance space. The gift includes the structural renovation, aSteinway concert grand, a second Steinway Model “B” (and another one for mynew studio next door), as well as state-of-the-art recording facilities.
This project was one of a few that I contemplated years ago to be realizedthrough my will when I would no longer be here. The other projects include therenovation of a 400-seat performance hall in a beautiful landmark building inHavana, Cuba, the country of my birth, which also includes a concert grandSteinway, the renovation of a small performance space at the Chicago College ofPerforming Arts at Roosevelt University, where I am also a member of thefaculty, and the purchase of another Steinway Model “B” for this hall.
So, why has it been done sooner than expected? My dear brother-in-law,unfortunately no longer with us, when hearing about these projects, encouragedme to try to realize them while my hand was “still warm.” He was right! Nothingin my life has given me more pleasure than my present involvement with theenhancement of the facilities at the cultural and educational institutions that aredear to me.
The purpose of this email is to alert you to the forthcoming opening concert ofthe new hall at Manhattan School of Music, which will take place on Sunday,October 3rd, at 4:00 PM. Since my hall only allows a maximum of 50 persons(by Fire Department regulations), I felt quite restrained in my capability to inviteeveryone I wished to! Fortunately, it has been decided that the program will besimultaneously broadcast into the larger Miller Recital Hall, which has first-ratefacilities for that purpose. For those of you who live in New York City andwould like to attend, the added space offered by the Miller Recital Hall makes itpossible. I would be honored by your presence!
The program will bring together twelve of my former students, coming fromvarious countries. Each of them will perform one piece around five minuteslong. They are, in alphabetical order, Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz, Gustavo DiazJerez,Simone Dinnerstein, Wael Farouk, Kiril Gerstein, Kookhee Hong,Yunghoo Kim, Alexander Moutouzkine, Yuan Sheng, Inesa Sinkveych, IanYungwook Yoo and Ren Zhang. There will be some remarks by Dr. JamesGandre, former Dean of Admissions at MSM and current Provost at RooseveltUniversity; Dianne Flagello, former Director of the MSM Preparatory Division;and MSM President Robert Sirota. I look forward to the opportunity to expressmy appreciation to the many persons involved in the realization of this project.
I must devote a few words to explaining how the performers were selected.Though I was originally asked to submit only four or five names, I pleaded andsubmitted a list of more than 30 possible performers. I feel so strongly that thereare so many among my former students (current students could not even beconsidered) who would honor me with their performances, that I had to expandthe list way beyond what was originally requested. President Sirota and thesenior staff then made the final decision based on considerations such asinternational success; major prizes; press reviews; current professional standingin their countries; and scholarships, competitions, and performances during theirstudent years at MSM.
I hope that many of you who can will come and join me on this special day ofmy life. Those who will be listening to the broadcast from Miller Recital Hall, Iinvite to visit my own hall and my new studio next door, which is full ofteaching memorabilia.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Solomon Mikowsky