Pops, Patriots, & Fireworks

Bolivian soprano Shelén Hughes has performed the operatic roles of Atalanta in Handel’s Atalanta, Inez in Mercadante’s I Due Figaro, Snegurochka in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Snegurochka, Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen, and Magda in Puccini’s La Rondine. Hughes made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2019 and her New York Festival of Song debut in 2022. She was a Young Artist at the 2019 Gstaad Menuhin Festival and a 2022 Gerdine Young Artist at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where she performed the role of Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen and Ms. Kohl in the premier of Picker’s Awakenings. Combining her deep passion for music and social service, Hughes is the founder of Voices for Bolivia, a small but growing international non-profit organization that seeks to use proceeds from classical music concerts to help Bolivians in need. Hughes currently studies with Darell Babidge while pursuing her Artist Diploma in Opera Studies at The Juilliard School.  She is a 2023 alum of Caramoor’s Schwab Vocal Rising Stars mentoring program.

Tenor César Andrés Parreño is a native of Manabí, Ecuador. In 2016, Parreño performed as a soloist with the University of Cuenca’s Orchestra and with Guayaquil’s Symphonic Orchestra. In early 2020, Parreño made his Peter Jay Sharp Theater soloist debut as part of the New York Festival of Song’s NYFOS@Juilliard with Steven Blier, and he has performed in two other NYFOS concerts since. In 2021, Parreño made his Juilliard Orchestra soloist debut with Stravinsky’s Pulcinella conducted by Barbara Hannigan. Parreño recently performed his Peter Jay Sharp Theater opera debut as Momo in Luigi Rossi’s L’Orfeo and as Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Parreño is a graduate student in Darrell Babidge’s studio at The Juilliard School and has the distinction of being the first Ecuadorian to ever attend the institution. He is a 2022 alum of Caramoor’s Schwab Vocal Rising Stars mentoring program.

Curt Ebersole has served as the Conductor and Music Director (John P. Paynter Memorial Chair) of the Westchester Symphonic Winds since 2008, fostering its exponential growth over the past 14 years. He retired from Northern Valley Regional High School (Old Tappan, NJ) in 2013 after serving as Director of Instrumental Music for 31 years. His ensembles were honored with consistent critical accolades, and his instrumental Prism Concerts became a local rite of spring. He now serves on the faculty at The Masters School, in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Jane Rechtman Faculty Chair), where he teaches String Ensemble, Chamber Music, and Public Speaking. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Conducting from Northwestern University, and a Master’s degree in clarinet performance from SUNY Purchase, where he studied with Ben Armato. 

Maestro Ebersole has served as a guest conductor and clinician for numerous county, regional, all-state, and adult community ensembles around the world, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Symphony Space, with the U.S. Army Field Band, along with performances in Las Vegas, South Korea, and Australia. He is the founding coordinator of the Music Educators of Bergen County Wind Conducting Symposium. He has served as a clinician at the Midwest Clinic, Temple University, Florida Music Educators Association, and presented his TED Talk, “Framing Failure,” at TEDxOneonta in 2017. His performance achievements include solo and ensemble performances as both a clarinetist and basset hornist, including a recent recording with the West Point Band. 

To learn more about Curt Ebersole, please visit jce.ebernet.biz. 

Westchester Symphonic Winds — an adult, community-based, 60-piece wind and percussion ensemble — celebrates its 35^th season in 2022 – 23. The ensemble strives to promote music in our area, instill pride in our nation and heritage, provide opportunities for personal expression and growth within its membership, and nurture the love of music by offering an exceptional musical experience for people of all ages.  

The ensemble was founded by Rachel Eckhaus, Robert LaPorta, and the group’s first conductor, James D. Wayne, who conducted the band from 1988 – 2004. Dr. Luis Fernando Jimenez was conductor from 2005 – 08. Curt Ebersole was invited to conduct the 20^th Anniversary Gala Concert in 2008, and was subsequently invited to stay on permanently as Conductor and Music Director. Since 2008, guest conductors and clinicians have included Dr. Mallory Thompson, Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Tom McCauley, Dr. Shelley Axelson, Dr. Travis Cross, Joseph Greco, among many others. 

Over the years, the ensemble has given benefit concerts for many groups, including the Food Bank for Westchester, Student Assistance Services, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Rotary Club of Briarcliff Manor, Family Services of Westchester, Yonkers Arts Education, and others.  

The ensemble made its New York City debut at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in March of 2010, its national debut at the 2012 Association of Concert Bands National Convention, and this event marks its ninth performance at Caramoor. The organization is an Ensemble-in-Residence at the historic Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, New York, and rehearses there on Monday evenings from September through June.  

To learn more about the Westchester Symphonic Winds, please visit their website.