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Here
are some Awards that have been
presented
to NYCA
and what the
Community Leaders,
Press, Professionals
and Audiences
are
saying. . . .
It was 24 years ago
when I first spoke with the founders of The New York
Conservatory for the Arts/ Pan American Dance Foundation (nyca.org).
They had just moved to West Hurley, NY and began offering classes in
dance, music and theatre along with Cabaret Performances
and now a Traveling Troupe, a Summer Camp
and the large scale Musicals held at UPAC
in Kingston. Over the years I’ve attended plays and in the mid
1990’s we awarded them with the ART TIMES Cultural
Achievement Award. I was so pleased to hear that they were
able to come to an excellent agreement and purchase the
Woodstock Playhouse thus providing NYCA with a Performing
Arts Facility and saves the Woodstock Playhouse from demolition. By
this coming Summer Stock Season, 2011, NYCA intends
to enclose the Woodstock Playhouse, install heating and air
conditioning, and provide for more comfortable seating. The plans
for the Woodstock Playhouse by the Foundation include maintaining
the facility as a presenting Playhouse with performances of all
kinds, including dance, theatre, music and film and for it to be
available to other Production Companies to rent,
for Touring Companies, Film and Theatre Festival,
as well as be a venue for NYCA produced performances.
-Cornelia Seckle,
Publisher & Raymond J. Steiner, Editor
Art Times,
January/February Issue 2011
“The NYCA Carolers performed at one of our film screenings (Disney's A Christmas Carol at Regal E-Walk Cinema, Times Square) and were a big hit! The audience was enthralled in their performance and felt a genuine sense of holiday cheer from their traditional song selection, period costumes, and all-around enthusiasm. I highly recommend them for Christmas-themed events.”
“Nothing captured the magic of Christmas like the NYCA Carolers. Their renditions of classic Christmas songs entertained our guests at our film screening. The wonderful melodies and harmonies warmed guests and further enriched the Holiday spirit.”
-Courtney DiGiovanni
AIM, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
August 2009
"Working with your
group was like working with professional adults - not kids.
It was a great experience and we enjoyed it very much."
Carnival Cruise
Line's Theatrical Tech Staff
Regarding NYCA
Troupe 2009
Patrons of
Carnival Cruise Line also added:
"We live in
Westchester - and I take my 14 year old son to Broadway shows
all of the time, and he sits their bored; but he couldn't wait
to come to your next show!"
"We enjoyed your
show more than any other shows we saw onboard."
"My nephew goes to
college for theatre, and we went to see his shows . . . and I
tell you, your shows are so much better. You are all so
talented. Reach for it All . . . the Stars! Your all
amazing!"
June 2009
Dear Mr. Farrell
and Mr. Conti,
Thank you for donating 50 tickets
for THE ADVENTURES OF ALADDIN performance that took place at UPAC on May 30.
We received lots of positive
feedback from our foster and adoptive parents about the play. One foster
mom said that two of her difficult to manage children settled down to watch the
show when they heard the sound of one of the female vocalists. She must
have been amazing! Another said that the incredible talent and costumes
made the show magical for the kids. And yet another said that her kids
were in awe of the UPAC theatre and the fact that they were even attending a
play.
As you know, many of the children
in our program have never had the chance to attend a play due to the fact that
they come from home situations where financial means are limited.
Additionally, some of our foster homes with lots of children could never afford
to take their entire family to such an event.
We can't thank you enough for
supporting us year after year and for providing Ulster county foster families,
especially the kids, with a memorable experience.
Sincerely,
Debra Hymes, Jeannette Ramos-Cutolo,
Debra Rosado
Foster Care - Adoption Unit
Ulster County Department of Social
Services
Making a Difference Every Day For
Children and Families
The New York
Conservatory for the Arts is the
Ulster
County Youth Bureau's
Community
Asset Builder Award Winner!
May 2008
NYCA Director,
Randy Conti's WOW Award
from the
Ulster County Youth Bureau April 2008
" Dear Randy -
Meeting you, Doug, Diane, and all the adults, and
most important your students, was such a blessing to me.
They are such a wonderful group of young adults, and to see the
love they have for performing and the love they have for you and
each other touched my heart. You should be so proud of
them, and the opportunities and education you have given them.
Truly missed you all, woke up singing your songs, lol I know
very sad, lol.
Will be up in New
York quite a bit this spring, so look forward to keeping in
touch. BTW there is no comparison when it comes to your
group. They deserve the very best that life has to offer,
as do you and Doug. I am just glad I got the opportunity
to meet ya, get to know you, and make your trip a successful
one, while allowing you to just relax and enjoy.
Will keep in touch
for sure. Take care, hope you are relaxing, and have an
Amazing Week!
Hugz,"
- Shyrl Innis
Week-Long
Professional Tour Guide for Young Performing Arts Groups
and for Troupe
2008: Wowee! Tour Out West
"What commitment
you bring out in these kids! It is fantastic. There are so many
teachers and mentors who impose characters on young performers. I
get the sense that you and Randy guide them, strongly. But you
don't tell them who to be. You give them a chance to have a
process . . . teaching students how to think for themselves and to
create."
- Wendy Bobbitt Cavett,
Music
Director
Broadway’s
‘Mama Mia’
Post-All 4
One, 2008
"I thoroughly enjoyed
the performances of All 4 One. You have some very talented
people in your
conservatory who really excelled within their roles and all of
their hard work certainly paid off.
I was delighted with
the results you had both achieved; you must have been very proud
with the high levels of performance from all of those involved
with the
 production.
It was obvious that you focus on detail within a performance and
production in general. As you well know it is often these small
things that add so much to a show. I was delighted that the US premiere of All 4 One was
performed by NYCA and my music has once again, been part of
developing the talent of the youth in musical theatre.
The intensity and
passion was very powerful. As we moved into the Bastille the
atmosphere of this prison was great, with the shafts of light
cutting through the smoke and the picture of prisoners lying on
the floor creating the right mood for the darkening story.
The acting and
delivery of songs
made the most of the
emotion and were a joy to listen to.
I was very impressed
by the sword fighting. It was obvious that a lot of time had
gone into creating a dynamic, coordinated and exciting set of
sequences. I enjoyed the co-ordination that these displays had
with the music.
The ensemble had done
an excellent job in the studio and had clearly mastered the
songs to a high standard. This extra work really paid off and
the choral sound really did come together well.
The simple scenery
when combined with the lighting was very effective and you and
your lighting team created some wonderful pictures, which
created a rich background in which to place the action.
Thanks again and very
best wishes to you all."
-
John Trent Wallace
Composer of 'All 4 One'
Post 'All 4 One' US Premiere by NYCA, 2008
 "They'll never
replicate these innocents abroad, when the show hits London's West
End...by body language and emotive emanation, . . . anguish and
beatitude . . . a cri de Coeur with a soaring voice conveying true
heartbreak. Separate from the impact of this new historic musical,
but essential to it, is an appreciation of evolving talent in NYCA."
-
Kitty
Montgomery, Reviewer
from
" 'All 4 One' a don't miss epic"
Kingston Daily Freeman, 01/20/08
"It's
Director-choreographer Conti who keeps them
honest, connected to dramatic
center; it's
music director Farrell who tunes them to a vocal vibe that never
stands out beyond interpretive context. Listen to the lyric
hang . . . . The placement of these young soprano voices,
unforced, untouched, and connected instinctually, to the
interior drama of song, is the rarest miracle, elicited by a
remarkable teacher, which approach will abide with them for the
rest of their musical lives. . . . . This wondrous choreography
of body attitude, sustained throughout , is created, of course,
by Conti."
-
Kitty
Montgomery,
A
Review of 'Grease'
Kingston Daily Freeman, 01/20/08
 “The
furvor and magnificence of this regional production played against a
fantastic three story back alley set has got to top any New York City
version .
. . . . The spiritual vibrancy of the conservatory’s production carries
beyond any rendering of J.S. Bach-passions we ever heard, and pride is what
every staff member and student who precipitated in the launch of Grizabella
must feel. Pride fits this whole cast, without a stretch . . . . . Conti
has miraculously awaked the inner cat in every actor. Fused they may be in
sense of species, yet each is an individually fabulous feline . . . . .
schooled in ultra feline finesse – song and dance, and
drama, inseparable from both – at the New York Conservatory for the Arts in
Hurley.”
- Review from "Conservatory's Production of CATS Showcases Area
Talent",
Daily Freeman
Theatre Review by Kitty Montgomery, June 10th, 2007
"To Randy Conti and The NYCA Family,
Every show has a load of details that demands attention. But CATS has a few
extra tons to bare, i.e. make-up, wigs, and accessories. With only a few
phone conversations, reams of make-up design illustrations and Wig
Application Manuals, your company created for itself a true-blue CATS. We
are certain your audience members felt as if they were taken back in time to
The Winter Garden.
We could not help but notice, from your performance pictures, that this cast
has an ease about themselves - an ease that only comes from good, solid,
theatrical training. Something great is happening in Hurley, New York.
Only with CATS can kudos be given for re-creating the original. One only
needs to look at pictures from the London/DVD production to know NYCA is
rich. . . very, very rich with talent.
We at Cats Wigs 2 Go, and The Riverside Dinner Theater applaud cast, crew
and staff of The New York Conservatory for the Arts."
 ". . . . . at this
conservatory that harries students toward excellence rather than
encouraging exhibitionism, . . . . . catch this production, or
any other . . . . . company directors Conti and Farrell
invariably get the heart of a show right, drawing their cast to
a focal point that serves it up live and beating and in
touchable, touching proximity. It's not just discipline.
A sense of dramatic truth is conveyed at this conservatory,
contagious to the audience. East band, West Bank, in
college and community productions of the Hudson Valley, how
often do you attend, witness stupendous sets, glitzy costumes
and flashes of talent but walk away unaltered in heart and mind?
This company's shows never leave this hunger."
- Review from "Revival brings '42nd Street' to Hurley",
Daily Freeman Theatre Review by Kitty Montgomery,
January 20th, 2006
". . . . . each sings truly as
led to fine resonance by vocal director . . . shazam - . . .
focus and discipline, that excellence, expanded through joy in
action, suffused the entire house . . . The show with
spectacular
scenery . . . and costume designs . .
. bloomed
 as a
big Broadway
musical and filled the cavernous venue like a rock
concert. "
- Review from "Conservatory troupe sparkles in 'Beauty and
the
Beast' "
Daily Freeman Theatre Review by Kitty Montgomery,
6/19/06
You are training your
students to be both Professional and Artists - -
Thank you!
- Wendy Bobbitt
Cavett,
Music
Director
Broadway’s
‘Mama Mia’
Post-NYCA
Master Class, 12/06
"We
check out student dance recitals and musicals in teen and
collegiate performances up and down the Hudson Valley.
Individual talent abounds, but nowhere else does such a finely
honed ensemble work the boards. Conti has shaped these
kids into crack athletes, lithe and disciplined with something
more than mass frenetic instinct, youngsters whose high-energy
work fuses with dramatic action."
- Daily Freeman Theatre Review by Kitty Montgomery, January 24th,
2005
"The ensemble is
exceptionally good, balancing tight harmonies and
 energetic
footwork with nicely
realized individual characterizations
that
are interesting without being
overpowering. The
Conservatory's strength in teaching movement and dance is
evident in many of the numbers. The band is
impressive....top-notch accompaniment of a caliber that rivals a
professional pit orchestra. Overall, "Jesus Christ
Superstar," is a strong ensemble effort that highlights the
impressive talents of the area's youth and is sure to delight
audiences."
-
Taconic Weekend Theatre Review by Nan Alderson, January 27th,
2005
"
'In
a Musical, you have to sing and act, both.' For this combination, no company
or college theater department in the Hudson Valley creates a finer fusion
than casts playing in New York Conservatory for the Arts productions.
. . . . . There
are no cartoon characters here, no clichés, no vocal narcissism - every
word, spoken or sung, furthers the drama. . . . . these
singing actors are also acting dancers."
- Review from
NYCA Troupe Steps out
in ‘Footloose’
By Kitty Montgomery of
The Daily
Freeman, 1/24/03
é é é é é
Graduates of the NYCA Theatre and Music Theatre
Education Programs
have been accepted into the
Performing Arts Departments
of
Berklee College, Boston
Conservatory, Brandeis
University, C. W. Post College,
Carnegie Mellon University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Circle in the Square, Emerson
College,
The Hartt School,
Ithaca College, Marymount Manhattan College, Montclair College, The
New School,
NYU Tisch / CAP21 , PACE
University, Skidmore, Syracuse University, Wagner College,
AMDA and SUNY Schools.
New York Conservatory for
the Arts
(845) 339-4340
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