Spring 2009 Newsle�er

The Roberta Flack School of Music is in its third year of

residence at The Hyde Leadership Charter School in the South
Bronx. The partnership between Ms. Flack’s charitable
founda�on and Hyde-Bronx began in 2005. Ms. Flack, one of
the most iconic voices in 20th Century popular music, was a
music teacher herself when she began her performing career in
Washington, D.C. in the late 1960’s. A�er decades of
interna�onal touring and recording, Roberta resolved to create
a music school in New York City that would provide inspira�on
to a new genera�on of young musicians. At the same �me, the
Hyde Founda�on of Maine was searching for space in New York
to create its third public school. (The others are in New Haven,
CT and Washington, D.C.) Roberta’s vision of a magical,
inspira�onal school of music for middle-school children blended
harmoniously with Hyde’s character-based approach to
educa�on and philosophy of unique poten�al, and so The
Roberta Flack School of Music was born.

ROBERTA FLACK SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT

THE WORLD OF CHILDREN AWARDS CEREMONY

Students from the Roberta Flack School of Music are ready to perform at the
World of Children Awards ceremony at UNICEF Headquarters, November 2008
FROM DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Greg Tardy, Program Director &
Instrumental Music Instructor
Greg Tardy is an award winning
mul�-reed instrumentalist who has
toured with jazz greats Elvin Jones,
Nicholas Payton and others. He has
released four albums as a solo ar�st
and has studied at The University of
New Orleans and the Wisconsin
Conservatory of Music. Prior to
joining the RFSM, Greg taught at the
New School and has conducted jazz
clinics worldwide.
We are working hard to create a learning environment that
will establish a founda�on for life-long growth in music and
to promote self-confidence, discipline, good work habits
and the realiza�on of each student’s unique gi�s. A
knowledge and apprecia�on of music and the arts is
essen�al to the development of each individual student. It
can enrich the quality of their lives, regardless of ar�s�c
ability, economic circumstances or future career choice.
Our priority for each student is to develop a basic
understanding of music theory, leaving a founda�on that
can be easily built upon by those seeking higher educa�on
in music. New York City is one of the top musical ci�es in the
world and exposure to the talent found here helps to inspire
our students, as well as create higher musical standards.
We are pleased that the Roberta Flack School of Music is
offering woodwind, percussion and vocal instruc�on and is
teaching students various musical styles, including
tradi�onal Western, classical jazz, contemporary and world
music.
Greg Tardy, Director of Music

Joan Rebicek joined the staff of the

RFSM this fall upon comple�on of
her New York State Cer�fica�on
program. She received a B.A. in vocal
performance from the University of
Wisconsin and is pursuing her
Master’s degree at the Aaron
Copeland School of Music at Queens
College. An opera�c soprano, Joan
has performed in the U.S. and
abroad and has competed in many Joan Rebicek, K-2 and 6-8 Music
regional vocal compe��ons.

Jacquelene Acevedo serves as a percussionist for Time Square Church, NYU La�n Ensemble, The Collec�ve
Afro-Cuban ensemble and at Hunter College’s African Dance classes. She teaches percussion for the a�er
school program on Wednesdays.

Pierre Thompson has worked extensively with school and gospel choirs in the United States and Jamaica. He
directs the Roberta Flack School of Music a�er school choir on Thursdays.
 With the expansion of the Hyde-Bronx
School to grades K-2 and 6-8 this year,
the number of children served by the
RFSM grew by 50% to almost
450 students. Students in the
Elementary and Middle schools a�end
general music classes at least twice
per week.

Many of our 7th and 8th grade woodwind students have remained in the
a�er school music program since it’s incep�on in 2007.

In the RFSM a�er school program

for grades 6-8, students receive
group and private instruc�on on
flute, clarinet, saxophone, and
percussion. The program received
beau�ful brand new instruments
thanks in part to the generosity of
Paul Ash, President of Sam Ash
Music, who provided them at a
greatly reduced cost.

Hyde-Bronx and the RFSM serve the popula�on of Hunt’s Point, one the
most economically disadvantaged in New York City. The student body is
Jasmine Jones, 6th 99% La�no and/or African American more than 90% of the school’s
grade clarine�st, families live near or below the poverty line. Virtually none of the children
said of the RFSM in our programs would otherwise be able to afford the instrument rentals
a�er school music and private lessons provided here. The NYC Board of Educa�on
program, “It has environmental survey gave Hyde-Bronx an A for parent sa�sfac�on and
changed me. I am another for progress, and we recently passed our NY state 3rd year
more open to new review with flying colors. The funding for the RFSM is almost en�rely
things, and I provided by the Roberta Flack Founda�on, a 501c3 charitable
understand how organiza�on. Dona�ons in support can be mailed to the Roberta Flack
prac�ce makes
Founda�on, % Magic Lady, Inc. 236 Fi�h Avenue, Suite 901, New York,
perfect.”
New York 10001. For more informa�on contact: RFSM Execu�ve
Director Barre� Zinn Gross: 646.249.9239 or barre�z@robertaflack.com

8th grader Josue

Gabrielle Orengo, 6th Rodriguez is in his 3rd
grade flau�st, loves year at the RFSM. He is
playing the flute and an excep�onally
looks forward to her talented young singer
solo in the spring and saxophone player.
concert. Usually shy He also shows great
and reserved, music ap�tude on the
has helped bring her keyboard and hopes to
personality to life. become a professional
musician.
 Roberta Flack School of Music News
May 2009
Performance at World of Children Ceremony
On November 13, 2008 students from the RFSM
a�er school choir sang at the World of Children
Award Presenta�on Ceremony in the UNICEF
building in New York City.

The children rose before dawn to dress up and arrive on �me

for the event. Under the direc�on of Joan Rebicek, they sang
the theme song of the WOC founda�on and student
ambassadors of Hyde-Bronx presented WOC founder and
Chairman Harry Leibowitz with a check for $327 that was
raised by Hyde-Bronx students. A�er the ceremony they had
the opportunity to meet with the inspiring honorees like an
8th grader from Iowa who raised millions of dollars for
Hurricane Katrina vic�ms.

RFSM Students A�end The New York Philharmonic

On November 22, 2008, 20 middle school students were
hypno�zed by Beethoven’s Fi�h Symphony when they
a�ended a live concert at The New York Philharmonic where
Lorin Maazel (Conductor) and Alisa Weilerstein (Cellist) were
performing Beethoven’s masterpiece. When the performers
began to play the students felt as if what they had been
learning in class was coming to life right before their eyes.

Vocal Workshops
In February, Gospel singer Vikki Griffin and
Chilean jazz vocalist Claudia Acuna performed
and conducted vocal clinics for the Roberta Flack
School of Music a�er school program. Many
Middle school students who are not part of the
music program a�ended and learned about
these genres of music as well as the career paths
of the ar�sts

In previous years RFSM students have performed at the Alcorn State Jazz Fes�val at
Vicksburg, Mississippi, at City Hall Park on Fox 5’s Good Day New York for the start of New
York’s first outdoor music fes�val, and with Roberta as MC in the Central Park bandshell as
part of the Make Music New York fes�val. These trips have been underwri�en by the
generosity of individual donors. For informa�on about suppor�ng the RFSM see page 3.