Binghamton Community Orchestra to present ‘Stage and Screen – Filmtastic!’

The Binghamton Community Orchestra returns with more favorite music from stage, screen and soprano in its Winter “Filmtastic!” concert, to be presented Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in Binghamton’s East Middle School Auditorium.  

Music Director Timothy Perry is joined by the orchestra and Southern Tier Music Teachers’ Association (STMTA) Youth Soloist Cassandra Pinataro, who performs “Summertime” from George Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess and the brilliant concluding “Alleluia” movement from Mozart’s motet Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165. 

The work of several superstar film composers is highlighted by Hans Zimmer’s Batman: The Dark Knight Rises; Michael Giacchino’s music from The Incredibles; John Barry’s Dances with Wolves; and Howard Shore’s score for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. 

Completing the program will be two of the most influential compositions written for theatrical plays: Three excerpts from Aaron Copland’s stage music for Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, and Erich Korngold’s masterful suite to accompany Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing. 

“One of the most interesting facets of orchestral music is how it interacts with the dramatic art forms of film and theater,” notes conductor Perry. 

“In Opera and Musical Theater, the music is usually the leading element, while in plays and cinema the composers must merge fully with the dramatic characters, plot, setting, and even technical elements such as costumes and lighting. The vast capabilities of the symphony orchestra allow it to be used – brashly, or with total subtlety – to color the unspoken, un-shown emotional moods of a drama, or to serve as a controller on the tempo, pace and momentum of a play or movie. It’s absolutely fascinating to sit in a concert and hear how each art form and composer employs its stage music differently.”  

Their featured soloist, Cassandra Pinataro, finds herself attracted to repertoire that both challenges her and connects with her on an emotional level. The Mozart Alleluia requires a substantial amount of vocal flexibility, and this piqued her interest.  

She stated, “I realized the challenges this piece would entail, but the vocal hurdles excited me.” In the case of the Gershwin, while possessing obvious technical challenges, it was the “endearing nature” of the song that got her attention.

Pinataro has spent her entire life immersed in the music. In her own words, she stated, “I began singing when I was young. My mother has an incredible voice, so we would sing together around the house. She gave me a foundation for proper vocal technique. I continued singing throughout my childhood and fell in love with the way music made me feel, as well as the way it brought joy to others.”  

Pinataro has been formally developing her art over the past seven years, studying with both Beth Buckzowski, and also her current teacher, Barbara Ann Powell.

To get a feel for how deeply immersed Pinataro is in her music, one only has to look at how active she is.    

She explained, “I am constantly listening to music, singing playing an instrument (in addition to singing, she plays piano, violin, and guitar), or creating tracks on GarageBand.”  

She has been in several performances at the Endicott Performing Arts Center, and is also active in dance. Pinataro has six times been a member of a Broome County Music Educators’ Association All-County Festival Chorus, five times a member of a New York State School Music Association Area All-State Choir, and has twice been selected to sing with the NYSSMA All-State choir in Rochester, N.Y. 

Last year, she won the Eastern Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition, and placed as a semi-finalist in the Classical Singer National Vocal Competition. Pinataro has also co-written, co-produced and recorded vocals for her first original song, Never Stop Dreamin’, which is available on iTunes.

Pinataro also excels in many ways in addition to her musical accomplishments. She is an AP Scholar. She is on her school’s Highest Honor Roll list, and a member of Math Club.  

A leader, she is President of her school, President of Student Council, Vice-President of National Honor Society and President of her Choir. 

She is also quite an athlete. Pinataro has competed in tennis for 12 years, went undefeated in Section IV High School Tennis for the past four. Other tennis honors include: All-Conference Award winner for three years, All- Division Award winner for six, and she has won the Academic All-Star and Sportsmanship Awards in her senior year. Pinataro is Staff Supervisor of the L. G. & T. Tennis Challenger. She is also captain of her indoor track team and was awarded the All-Division award for two years.

Putting all of this together, Pinataro has created her own business, Pinataro Enterprises, through which she offers “live vocal performances, vocal lessons, tennis lessons, marketing and sales of original and cover songs, and Calculus II tutoring.”

She believes it is important to give back to the community, stating, “I also have used my voice to help others. For instance, I recently held three concert events to benefit the victims of Hurricanes Maria, Harvey and Irma.”  

Pinataro is also a volunteer at Catholic Charities, Syrian Refugees Food Drive, and the Boys and Girls Club.

Already, young though she is, Pinataro has an inspiring lesson to teach us all about life.  

She councils, “I am a firm believer in the idea that hard work creates success. I have always put every bit of my energy into shaping my dreams and I hope that I can inspire others to do the same. My message to all singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists is to follow you dream with relentless focus. If a musician puts all of his or her energy into a passion, he or she can become exceptional.” 

Then, as if to set an example, she added, “I am still working on my dream and look forward to unlocking my fullest potential throughout my life.”

Come hear Cassandra Pinataro and the Binghamton Community Orchestra perform together in “Stage and Screen – Filmtastic” on Feb. 24, at Binghamton East Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m., and with support from the orchestra’s corporate sponsor, Weis Markets. 

The school is located at 167 E. Frederick St. in Binghamton, N.Y. Tickets for this concert are available at the door for $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and children 12 and under are admitted for free. 

For additional information about the concert and the Binghamton Community Orchestra, visit http://binghamtoncommunityorchestra.org/. For information about the orchestra, call (607) 862-6268 or email to info@BinghamtonCommunityOrchestra.org.