Kenneth Sarch and Elio Villafranca acknowledging the bravos in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
after the world premiere of Villafranca's "Cinque". Sarch conducted the Orquesta Sinfonica
Juvenil and Elio played solo piano September 11, 12, 13 2015. Kenneth Sarch performs Mendelssohn Concerto with OSJ 2013
Announcing the publication of COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG ODYSSEY
BEN FRANKLIN’S MARCH, MINUET, and CAPRICCIO for String Orchestra (Grade 3 1/2)
Arranged for String Orchestra
(Grade
3) by KennethSarch
with
added tin whistle (flute), drum &
singers
LUDWIG Master Series Read more about it here. KJOS Music Company
Read additional press coverage here or here.
AHLAN SABAYA ALFARAH
String Orchestra (Grade 2 1/2) with added drum & finger cymbals
KJOS Music Company
Dr. Kenneth Sarch
leaves a long legacy of accomplishments in the
classroom and around the world. The professor
of music retired in May 2013 after nearly two
decades at MU.
On campus, he built the symphony orchestra
into a dynamic, full unit that impressed audiences
and received well-deserved accolades and he started
a String Chamber Orchestra. He added flair to
the performances with his showmanship and humor.
The Julliard graduate came to MU in
1995 to teach violin and viola and conduct. Over the years he
has been awarded two Fulbright Scholar Awards in music to teach,
perform and conduct in Brazil and Bolivia, the 2003 PMEA Citation of
Excellence in College Music Education and USIA Arts America Grants
to Panama, Brazil, Jordan and Israel. He was invited 12 times to conduct the Panama National Youth
Orchestra Music Festival in Panama City. He founded and was the
first conductor of Orquesta
Sinfonica Juvenil in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and returned in
August 2013 as Guest Conductor in a program of American music and
Violin Soloist performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto to
celebrate the orchestra’s 10th anniversary .
In
the
U.S, Ken presented Recitals, String Workshops, Master Classes and
Clinics at state, regional and national music conventions,
universities and music schools. He has done numerous guest
conducting appearances at District, Regional, and All-county
orchestras in 12 states, as well as fulfilling international
conducting and performing invitations in Brazil, Jordan,
Israel, Venezuela, Bolivia, Panama and Puerto
Rico. Ken was named Interim Conductor for the Lycoming College
Community Orchestra for Fall 2016.
He performed
the world premiere of Panamanian composer Narcisco Garay’s
“Violin Sonata” written in 1901 and the Beethoven “Kreutzer” Sonata
at the International Saint Malo Festival.
Ken served as president and state
newsletter editor of the PA Delaware String Teachers Association and
National String and Chamber Music Program Chairs for MTNA (Music
Teachers National Association).
He was
Concertmaster of the Williamsport Symphony for 14 years, as well as
Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony and the New York Orchestral
Society.
Ken’s
publications reflect his scholarly curiosity and wide reach.
They include: “Colonial Williamsburg Odyssey,” for String Orchestra
(six movements based on early American music); “Ahlan Sabaya
Alfarah,” ( Arabic Dance for strings with finger cymbals and drum);
“March, Minuet and Capriccio by Ben Franklin,” based on Franklin’s
manuscripts; “The Rink and The Bank Robbery,” music for two of Charlie Chaplin’s silent
films.
Early in his
career, Ken was Assistant to acclaimed violinist and teacher, Roman
Totenberg, who died recently at age 101.
Though he’s
“retired,” Ken shows no signs of slowing down. A quick check
of his website shows a full schedule of conducting and
performing, and taking up the position as Concertmaster of the
Bloomsburg Symphony and conducting the Orquesta Sinfonica
Juvenil he founded in Santa Cruz, Bolivia to include the
South American premiere of Villafranca "Cinque" and Mary Lou
Williams "Zodiac Suite" with Internationally acclaimed Jazz
pianist Elio Villafranca in 2014. He was appointed Conductor of the
Lycoming College Community Orchestra For Fall 2016. Ken was invited by American String Teachers Association (ASTA) to present his Session "The Bouncing Bow Strokes" at the ASTA National
Conference held in Tampa March 2 - 5, 2016 and his Session "101
Ways To Teach Vibrato" at the ASTA Conference in Salt Lake
City in 2015 to much acclaim. He was invited to
present his session on "A Review of Orchestral Bowings" at the ASTA
NationalConference in Pittsburgh - March 2, 2017. Dr.
Kenneth Sarch was appointed Professor of Violin at Lycoming College
and Concertmaster of the Lycoming College Community Orchestra
beginning fall 2017.
- by Dennis
Miller - Mansfield University Director of Public Relations
Concerts
and Events