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. 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 is invited to present his session on "Orchestral Bowings at the ASTA Conference in Pittsburgh this year, March 2, 2017.
- by Dennis Miller - Mansfield University Director of Public Relations
Concerts and Events
2015JAN 8 - Invited Guest Composer - North Point Christian School Orchestra, Michigan (Via SKYPE) - performance of Sarch Ahlan Sabaya Alfarah, Aaron Tenney, Director
FEB 27 - Invited Orchestral Clinician - Bloomsburg University STRINGPOSIUM - Violin Sectionals and Technique Sessions
MAR 8 -CONCERTMASTER - HOBBS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, New Mexico - MOZART: Seraglio Overture, Symphonie Concertante, Symphony 40