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1991
- Founding of Opus 118 — Public School District #4, East Harlem, New York
Roberta Guaspari began teaching in three alternative schools in the East Harlem’s Public School District #4 over 20 years ago. When funding for her program was cut in 1991, parents, community leaders and philanthropists rallied to save it. Co-founded by Roberta Guaspari and Ed Miller (president emeritus), Opus 118 – an independent, not-for-profit organization was created to ensure that Ms. Guaspari could continue her work in the East Harlem public schools.
1993
- First Fiddlefest — Carnegie Hall, New York
Ms. Guaspari’s cause attracted attention from world-class musicians. Dave Grusin, Quincy Jones, Midori, Mark O’Connor, Itzhak Perlman, Isaac Stern and Arnold Steinhardt, among many others, joined forces with Opus students in the first Fiddlefest benefit concert at Carnegie Hall.
1995
- Second Fiddlefest — Lincoln Center, New York
Celebrating the many music cultures that the violin spans, Opus held another Fiddlefest benefit using a range a fiddling styles: classical, jazz, Scottish and country.
- Fiddle Rescue Mission — East Harlem, New York
After a heavy rainstorm in Harlem, the storage room that held student violins was flooded and all the instruments were lost. The violin rescue mission raised $75,000 for the purchase of new instruments and received donations of more than 150 violins to ensure that the Harlem students could continue with their violin classes.
- Small Wonders — Beacon Theater, New York
“Small Wonders” premieres. An inspirational Academy-Award nominated documentary that highlights the work of Master violin teacher, Roberta Guaspari and her work in the East Harlem public schools. "Small Wonders" (originally "Fiddlefest"), was directed by Allan Miller and produced by Walter Scheuer (Opus 118 Board Member) and Susan Kaplan.
- Christmas Open House* — Washington, District of Columbia
Opus 118 students are invited to play at The White House!
1996
- NY Knicks (annual) — Madison Square Garden, New York
Every year, Opus students are invited to perform the National Anthem or play a half-time show for a NY Knicks playoff game.
- Rosie O’Donnell Show* — New York, New York
- Bach Festival — Leipzig, Germany
At the Musikfesttage in Leipzig, Roberta Guaspari and a small group of students participated in lectures and performed a concert at the Gewandhaus.
- *Christmas Celebration — AT&T Building, New Jersey
Honoring Christopher Reeves
- Maxim Vengerov as UNICEF Envoy — River East School, District 4, East Harlem, NY
1997
- NY Kids Radio Show* — New York, NY
- Third Fiddlefest — Zurich, Switzerland
Hans Baer Bank invited 40 children from the Opus violin program to perform in Zurich. Roberta Guaspari prepared Opus students and rehearsed with 40 students from a Swiss music program to perform together with Isaac Stern, Pamela Frank, Arnold Steinhardt, David Zinman, Heinrich Schiff and Alicia Svigals among others at the Tonhalle.
1998
- NY Liberty Games* — Madison Square Garden, New York
National Anthem
- Fiddlefest in Central Park — Central Park, New York
In collaboration with the Montreaux Jazz Festival, 20 violin students were invited from Zurich to perform with Opus violin students in a program of jazz, Klesmer, gypsy, classical and country violin playing.
- Lotus Club* — New York, New York
- Madonna (Frozen)* — Sting’s Annual Rain Forest Benefit at Carnegie Hall, New York
- VH 1 Fashion Awards* — Madison Square Garden, New York
Playing with Madonna
- Bach Festival* — Symphony Space, New York
- Amnesty International* — Chelsea Pier, New York
1999
- G & P Charitable Trust* — Plaza Hotel, New York
- City-wide Professional Development Day — New York, New York
For Arts Educators @ LaGuardia HS for the Performing Arts
Sponsored by the New York City Board of Education, Opus 118 students performed along with violinist, Diane Monroe for a citywide arts educators’ conference. Roberta Guaspari also participated as a guest presenter.
- NY Yankees Game* — Yankee Stadium, New York
- Oprah Winfrey Interviews* — New York, New York
- David Letterman Show* — New York, New York
- Kennedy Center Honors — Washington, District of Columbia
Opus 118 students participated alongside Mark O’Connor in the Kennedy Center Honors in a tribute to Victor Borge.
- VH 1 Concert of the Century* — White House Lawn
- Music of the Heart — Ziegfeld Theater & Apollo Theater, New York
NY Premiere with live student performance.
The Miramax feature film, Music of the Heart – starring Meryl Streep – centers on the life and work of Ms Guaspari and her dedicated efforts to instruct elementary school students in East Harlem. A group of Opus children performed with renowned members of the Opus musicians’ advisory board for the movie premiere in New York. Shortly after its filming, former New York Chancellor Rudy Crew restored funding for Ms. Guaspari and two other Opus teachers.
2000
- Beethoven 2000 — Lincoln Center, NY
Opus 118 was recognized by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for its outstanding work in Harlem.
- Creating Peace Through the Arts* — United Nations, NY
NGO Peace Caucus in cooperation with UNESCO
- Changing Lanes — New York, NY
A small group of Opus 118 violin and cello students were invited to perform for the Paramount Film Changing Lanes which premiered in 2001.
2001
- A Tribute To Peace* — Washington, District of Columbia
Pacem In Terris Institute, La Roche College
- Welcome Gala for Bill Clinton* — Harlem, New York
State Office building
2002
- Opening of Harlem Center for Strings — East Harlem, NY
In the fall of 2001, two Opus violin teachers were again cut from East Harlem’s Public School Districts #4 budget. To continue to reach more young children in Harlem through its music instruction, Opus opened its doors to the community by starting a new community music school, Harlem Center for Strings, the first community music school in Harlem specializing in string instruction.
- Fiddlefest at the Apollo November 14 — Harlem, NY
Celebrating the inauguration of its new community music school, Opus students performed on stage alongside renowned artists Ysaye Barnwell, Jon Burr, Regina Carter, Dave Grusin, Shana Douglas, Carol Maillard, Diane Monroe, Mark O’Connor, Shankar & Gingger, Arnold Steinhardt, and Maxim Vengerov.
2003
- Fiddlefest at the Carnegie Hall, December 2 — Carnegie Hall, New York
An all-star celebration program celebrates the life of Opus 118 supporter and friend, Isaac Stern. In addition to Opus students led by Roberta Guaspari, musicians include Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Itzhak Perlman, Mark O’Connor, Regina Carter, Joshua Bell, John Blake, Dave Grusin, Diane Monroe, Amanda Forsythe, Arnold Steinhardt, Natalie MacMaster, and Pinchas Zukerman. Special honorees are Sheila C. Johnson and Bobby McFerrin.
2004
- IBM Conference* — Cancun, Mexico
Two groups of Opus 118 students accompany Roberta Guaspari to Cancun, Mexico to give two performances for IBM Executives. Roberta Guaspari is the keynote speaker.
- KIDs of NYU Foundation Fundraiser — 7th Regiment Armory, New York
Roberta Guaspari and 12 students from the Performance Group perform
- Academy of St. Martins in the Fields, Opus 118 Harlem School of Music Workshops led by Philip Sheppard
- End of Year Concert held at the Academy of Arts and Letters in New York City, featuring students of Roberta Guaspari
- String Institute held at Opus 118 Harlem School of Music with Roberta Guaspari, Lynelle Smith, Julie Lieberman and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields teaching teachers from all over the country
2005
- Ortho Biotech Performance in Miami, Florida
Roberta Guaspari and 5 students from the Performance Group
- Wimp’s Southern Style Bakery and Café, Harlem, New York
Roberta Guaspari and 7 students from Opus 118 Wimp's Southern Style Major religious leaders, other government officials, including a representative from C. Virginia Fields' office and community leaders
- Music Hours held at Opus 118 Harlem School of Music
Afterschool program students and guest artists
- American Ireland Funds Benefit, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Grand Ballroom
Roberta Guaspari, Ronan Tynan, and the Opus 118 Performance Group
- Fiddlefeast, Frederick P. Rose Hall
Honoring Nile Rodgers, Roberta Guaspari, Mark O'Connor, Patti Austin, Cho-Liang Lin, Diane Monroe
- Jazz at Lincoln Center AOL/Time Warner Building
Roberta Guaspari and the Opus 118 Performance Group
2006
- Music Hours held at Opus 118 Harlem School of Music
Afterschool program students and guest artists
- Mark O'Connor Concerts, held at Public School 129, and Central Park East II
- End of Year Concert held at the Academy of Arts and Letters
Featuring students of Roberta Guaspari
- Community Service Awards held at AOL/Time Warner Buidling
Roberta Guaspari and the Opus 118 Performance Group
- Education Update, The Harvard Club, New York City
Roberta Guaspari and the Opus 118 Performance Group
- String Institute, Opus 118 Harlem School of Music
Roberta Guaspari, Lynelle Smith, Julie Lyon Lieberman teaching teachers from all around the country
2007
- Music Hours held at Opus 118 Harlem School of Music
Afterschool program students and guest artists
- The Hue-Man Bookstore, Harlem, New York
Roberta Guaspari and the Opus 118 Performance Group
- Time Warner Event, American Museum of Natural History
Honoring Richard Parsons, Chairman and CEO
Roberta Guaspari and the Opus 118 Performance Group
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority "Celebrating Excellence" Concert, held at IS 143
The Opus 118 Harlem Youth Chorus led by Lorna Myers
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, St. James Presbyterian Church, New York
The Opus 118 Harlem Youth Chorus led by Lorna Myers
- St. James Presbyterian Church Closing Gala Service, in Harlem, New York
The Opus 118 Harlem Youth Chorus ed by Lorna Myers
- End-Of-Year Concert held at the Academy of Arts and Letters
Students of Roberta Guaspari, and the Opus 118 Harlem Youth Chorus led by Lorna Myers
- New York Women’s Association, Roberta Guaspari and The Opus 118 Perfomance Ensemble. Held at The New York Women’s Association.
- Columbia Business School, Roberta Guaspari and The Opus 118 Performance Group. Held at The Columbia Business School.
2008
- Music Hours held at Opus 118 Harlem School of Music
Afterschool program students and guest artists
- Pamela Miles Event, Roberta Guaspari and The Opus 118 Performance Group. Held at the home of Pamela Miles.
- Quincy Jones’ Birthday, Held at The Nokia Theatre. Roberta Guaspari and The Opus 118 Performance Ensemble. A.S.C.A.P honoring Quincy Jones.
- Evaluation Week, Held at Opus 118. All Students of Opus 118. Lead by Roberta Guaspari and Lynelle Smith.
- Honors Recital, Held at Opus 118. Honoring students who have shown extraordinary talent and commitment. Special Guest Attendees.
- Music Fest 2008, Honoring Dave Grusin,, Paul Guenther, Kyle Massey, Rondell Sheriden.
- CEPC Time Warner Event, Held at the Time Warner Building. Roberta Guaspari and The Opus 118 Performance Ensemble.
- End of the School year Concert, held at the Academy of Arts and Letters, CPE I, CPE II, PS 129 and RiverEast students of Roberta Guaspari. In addition, the Opus 118 Performance Group, Performance Ensemble and Junior Ensemble.
- Concert in the Park, Held in Central Park. Roberta Guaspari, The Opus 118 Performance Group, and The New York Philharmonic.
*student performances led by Roberta Guaspari
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