Yurina Shin Seon Kyong Kim The Sorel Organization Donates to Women Film Composers in the 2007 NYU/ASCAP Foundation Film Scoring Workshop in Memory of Buddy Baker Yurina Shin and Seon Kyong Kim are the recipients of the Sorel scholarships specifically designated for women film composers. The workshop, bucking a traditional industry practice that often excludes women film composers, has accepted eight women among the twenty spots in the prestigious workshop. The faculty features training under such world-renowned film composers as Ira Newborn (Naked Gun, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) and Mark Snow (X-Files). Kaija Saariaho photo by Maarit Kytöharju On December 13, as part of the New York Philharmonic's Hear & Now series, examining today's music, the orchestra introduced Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf's turbulent "Adriana Song." The "Adriana Song," derived from Adriana Mater"("Adriana Mother"), is the second opera by these Paris-based artists, prior to the "Songs" inclusion in the orchestra's concerts on December 14,15,16. Motherhood and war are the concerns of the opera and songs. The Opera National de Paris AKA Bastille Opera gave "Adriana Mater" its premiere on April 3.        Patricia Bardon photo courtesy of IMG Artists "The Adriana Songs" were co-commissioned by the Philharmonic, made possible by The Claudette Sorel Endowment Fund. – Q Onstage.com Irish mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon portrayed Adriana in the opera and, in her Philharmonic debut, in the songs. In Paris, Saariaho's compatriot Esa-Pekka Salonen led the opera. American conductor David Robertson, Musical Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, presided over the four songs, half an hour in length, here. David M. Tiffany, Vice President, University Advancement; Executive Director, Fredonia College Foundation and Judy Cope, Executive Director, The Sorel Organization The Sorel Organization Grant Fund The weekend celebration of the Elizabeth and Michel Sorel Charitable Organization's gifts to SUNY Fredonia held double the excitement after a surprise announcement on Saturday, Sept. 29. During the dedication of a new Steinway concert grand piano, Judy Cope, executive director of the Sorel organization, which provided funds to purchase the piano and $55,000 to create a scholarship endowment through the Fredonia College Foundation, presented a second check for $55,000 to Vice President for University Advancement David Tiffany. The funds will be used to enhance the scholarship endowment. The crowd gathered for the dedication in the Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall. Vice President Tiffany noted, "Doubling the principal in the Claudette Sorel Memorial Piano Scholarship allows for more scholarships and larger awards. It will considerably strengthen the School of Music's piano major and grows the legacy of Miss Sorel." The original gifts from the Sorel organization were facilitated by alumni Wende Persons, '74, and Professor Phyllis East, '71, both former students of the late Distinguished Professor Claudette Sorel, a concert pianist who was head of the piano area at the Fredonia School of Music for many years. A multi-media musical tribute was also offered in Miss Sorel's memory by a former student and Eastman School of Music faculty member Tony Caramia, '73. The evening's events included a dinner during which former students and acquaintances of Miss Sorel shared memories of her dedication to students and teaching, including Professor East, Ms. Persons, Ms. Cope, Esther Lanford, Helga Hulse, Raya Then, '72; Douglas Martin, '79; Mr. Caramia, and School of Music Director Karl Boelter. The celebration concluded with a well-received concert by internationally-renowned pianist Richard Goode. This website and all content copyright 2006 The Sorel Organization  •  Site Design: Canfield Design Studios, Inc.