Young & Very Talented Roosevelt Island Piano Students Perform "Music Is All Inclusive" Concert With Chamber Orchestra - Presented By RIRA & RIDA, Dedicated To Memory Of Former Main Street Wire Editor Dick Lutz

Following the May 19 memorial celebration in honor of former Main Street Wire editor Dick Lutz,  Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Children, Youth & Education (CY&E) Committee Chair Adib Mansour organized a Chamber Music concert performed by Roosevelt Island young people dedicated to Mr. Lutz.

Below is video of the concert courtesy of John Dougherty



and Mr. Mansour reports:

After the passing of my mother, I am back in New York contemplating on the success of RIRA’s Children, Youth & Education Committee’s “Music is All Inclusive” concert last May. The concert was in collaboration with Roosevelt Island Disabled Association's Wendy Hersh and Musicute’s piano instructor Ms. Shuang.

Of course, the heroes of the concert were the young Roosevelt Island piano students: Bijan Navab (13 yrs old), Lou-Ann Sire (12 yrs old), Nina Xining Wang (12 yrs old), Tung Le (12 yrs old), Isra Ghrib (10 yrs old), Amelia Ghrib (9 yrs old), Hemi Te Amo (9 yrs old), James Wilson Bailey (8 years old), and Penelope Louise (5 yrs old).

The idea I had behind the concert was to elevate the expectations of our youth and let them know that with their hard work and their steadfast determination they can achieve their dreams. In this case, one of their dreams was to play with an actual professional Chamber Orchestra. The other thought was to get them to understand that all the residents of the island are equal. The message that I incorporated in my communications with the students and on the program was: “I do not have a disability, I have a gift”.

Lots of heartfelt “thank you” to everyone that helped while I was away. The community came together to coordinate the concert which was dedicated to Dick Lutz and was preceded by his memorial. The concert was set in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd which added a beautiful resonating sound and a dramatic feel.

It was not easy to coordinate the project while attending to my mom’s health from Lebanon. But the support from the community and RIRA/RIDA members was invaluable in making it a resonating success.

I am proud to be part of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association, and this beautiful community.

Watch the Chamber Music concert - some very talented Roosevelt Island young people.