This interview session with Shelley Borror Jackson, Head of the International Academy of New York, located in Manhattan, offered the marvelous opportunity to discover more about this diverse, global approach to childhood education. language skills and cross-cultural understanding. As Shelley reveals in the following fascinating discussion, she and her staff have truly created a vital and diverse, multicultural and multilingual environment in which young children can develop the varied talents, skills, knowledge, compassion and sensitivity needed to become true, valuable and ever-contributing citizens of the World.

The current Metropolitan Opera production of Les Contes d’Hoffman from composer Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), is expertly performed by an outstanding cast and the MET orchestra, led by conductor Johannes Debus. This production is richly empowered by the vibrant, excellent vocal and dramatic artistry of principal singers, Vittorio Grigolo, Erin Morley, Anita Hartig, Oksana Volkova, Laurent Naouri, Tara Erraught and Christophe Mortagne. This last opera from Offenbach combines a vibrant and varied score and libretto with engaging stage sets and three diverse storylines to present a production that is at once embodied with exotic elegance, blatant grotesqueness, depths of heartache and light-hearted humor. Genuine beauty is offset, then balanced with ill-intended sentiments, jealousies and calculated rivalries.

In the Foreword to her very engaging and informative new book, Dr. Jennifer Miceli reveals the many dimensions and unique diversity of her career path and experiences as a professional choral director, music educator, educator of music teachers, and as a performing musician. The choirs she has directed include musicians of varied levels of training and experience from youngsters of pre-school age and children with special needs to intergenerational and accomplished professional choirs and choral ensembles. Although every singer as musician within a choral group brings unique, creative skills and understanding to each rehearsal and concert, quoting Dr. Miceli, “As choristers we breathe together, intone the notes off the page, and unleash the glorious sound of human voices singing in harmony—it can be, and often is, transcendent.”

The Chilean wine organization MOVI has gained quite a reputation in the world of wine due to its quality product, cutting edge wine making practices and unique marketing style. The mini-documentary film The MOVI Movie explores a dynamic and unconventional group of Chilean winemakers, who are helping to create substantial changes in the Chilean wine business. MOVI dares to work in the “risk zone” when it comes to the art and business of wine-making. The film was shot at several member wineries in two of Chile’s most interesting and beautiful wine regions, Casablanca and the Maule Valley in February 2014. 

Photos and article: Len and Gladys Rapoport – Correspondent: Andy Peeke   hotographers from around the world look forward to the end of October.  Is it because October 31st is Halloween and one can find so many great photo opportunities?  Or can it be the beginning of the PDN PhotoPlus Show in New York?  Well […]

A silent, mysterious plague is claiming the lives of bottle nose dolphin in record numbers.

Helen Peterson, dynamic choreographer and poet, will perform HEARTBEATS SPEAK, her original creation of poetry-dance fusion in concert at the Triskelion Arts Theater in Brooklyn, NY, on Sunday, May 4th, 2014. Helen’s unique performance pieces move, intrigue and delight her audiences by very artistically bridging the music of poetry and Spanish Flamenco dance. As a native Cuban born into a theatrical family, Helen’s rich, colorful performances of poetry with dance embody her vibrant heritage, early dreams, artistic and life experiences, and politics as well as her extensive training. With her own unique Flamenco style, bold, earthy realities and graceful, sophisticated flare, she enthrall her audiences, transporting them through her vividly depicted and enacted expressions. Her ardent and elegant voice and movements sculpt shining revelations of her ongoing involvement with the strong and subtle experiential emotions of life. Her unique, artful, kinetic flow of words over dancing rhythms of castanets and drumming feet emphasize the strong, yet graceful empowerment of a fine artist’s poetic vision sung from the heart and soul.

IMPress Magazine covers the New York’s famous 2014 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photos and article

IMPress Magazine covers the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013. Parade route, photos and video are included in our review.