Dr. Jacob James Kellas
March 1932 – February 2023
An Afternoon of Music performance to be given in memory of Dr. Jacob James Kellas at Studio Around the Corner, 67 Main Street, Brewster, NY
Program to include works of Beethoven, Bach, Handel and Schumann
Brewster, NY (October 10, 2023) – The Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition will host a free concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, to be given in memory of beloved former Carmel High School string and music teacher, Dr. Jake Kellas, who retired in 1986 as the Chairperson of the String Department at Carmel High School.
Dr. Kellas earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the State University of New York at Freedonia. He continued his education earning a Master of Science Degree from Hofstra University and a Doctor of Education Degree from Lawrence University. As a gifted musician, Dr. Kellas chose to dedicate his career to inspiring young musicians. Throughout his tenure of over 20 years in education, he shared his love of music with his students. Dr. Kellas first introduced his eldest son, Michael, to the cello at the age of seven.
The performance is dedicated to Dr. Kellas in gratitude for the many gifts he shared with his children and his students, including that of music appreciation.
About the Artists
Michael Kellas graduated from Carmel High School in 1973 where he studied cello with his father. He attended Capitol University Music Conservatory where he studied with Ms. Nancy Parini. Mr. Kellas is an active performing musician in the area. He continued his cello studies with Eric Kory, Paul Wooster and Benard Tamosaitis. Mr. Kellas has appeared as a soloist with the Putnam Symphony Orchestra, New Westchester Symphony Orchestra and has performed in the St. Thomas Orchestra and Manhattanville College Orchestra, as well with several chamber groups including performances with the Westchester Opera Group and Putnam Choral.
Bernard Tamosaitis studied at the Juilliard School with Channing Robbins, where he graduated with a B.A. in violoncello. He is the principal of the Bellas Artes Orchestra of Mexico City and a member of the Quinteto de Xalapa, a resident chamber ensemble based at the University of Veracruz. Mr. Tamosaitis has performed extensively throughout Mexico and Latin America. As a cello soloist, he has toured with the New York Symphonic Ensemble, the Sinfonica de El Salvador, the Sound Shore and the St. Thomas Orchestra. Mr. Tamosaitis is a member of Canta Libre, a chamber ensemble which frequently performs throughout the region. Canta Libre's CD of French chamber music for harp, flute and strings was hailed by BBC Music Magazine as its CD of the month. In 2002, Mr. Tamosaitis founded the Saint Thomas Orchestra (www.storchestra.org) and served as its Music Director until 2020. In March 2023, Mr. Tamosaitis conducted the Westchester Chamber Soloists (WCS) Orchestra at Sarah Lawrence College featuring piano soloist Alan Murray. Mr. Tamosaitis is slated to return this fall to conduct another WCS orchestra concert.
Sayuri Iida was born in Tokyo and is a graduate of the Toho School of Music. In her native Japan, Ms. Iida was a recipient of several awards and medals, including top prizes in the All Japan Mainichi Student Competition and the NHK Broadcasting Auditions in Tokyo. In 1976, Ms. Iida came to the United States to study at the Juilliard School, where she was a scholarship student of the late Sascha Gorodnitzki. Over the years, Ms. Iida has given many recitals at major concert halls in New York City including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Japan Society. Ms. Iida was a prizewinner of the Three Rivers Piano Competition in Pittsburgh, the Sixth Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Utah, and was a recipient of the Mitsubishi Group Music Award from the JAA Competition in New York. Over the years, Ms. Iida has performed as concerto soloist many times with the St Thomas Orchestra and has also appeared with the Danbury Symphony, Utah Symphony and the Kingsport Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Iida maintains an active piano studio in her home in Rye Neck, NY.
March 1932 – February 2023
An Afternoon of Music performance to be given in memory of Dr. Jacob James Kellas at Studio Around the Corner, 67 Main Street, Brewster, NY
Program to include works of Beethoven, Bach, Handel and Schumann
Brewster, NY (October 10, 2023) – The Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition will host a free concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, to be given in memory of beloved former Carmel High School string and music teacher, Dr. Jake Kellas, who retired in 1986 as the Chairperson of the String Department at Carmel High School.
Dr. Kellas earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the State University of New York at Freedonia. He continued his education earning a Master of Science Degree from Hofstra University and a Doctor of Education Degree from Lawrence University. As a gifted musician, Dr. Kellas chose to dedicate his career to inspiring young musicians. Throughout his tenure of over 20 years in education, he shared his love of music with his students. Dr. Kellas first introduced his eldest son, Michael, to the cello at the age of seven.
The performance is dedicated to Dr. Kellas in gratitude for the many gifts he shared with his children and his students, including that of music appreciation.
About the Artists
Michael Kellas graduated from Carmel High School in 1973 where he studied cello with his father. He attended Capitol University Music Conservatory where he studied with Ms. Nancy Parini. Mr. Kellas is an active performing musician in the area. He continued his cello studies with Eric Kory, Paul Wooster and Benard Tamosaitis. Mr. Kellas has appeared as a soloist with the Putnam Symphony Orchestra, New Westchester Symphony Orchestra and has performed in the St. Thomas Orchestra and Manhattanville College Orchestra, as well with several chamber groups including performances with the Westchester Opera Group and Putnam Choral.
Bernard Tamosaitis studied at the Juilliard School with Channing Robbins, where he graduated with a B.A. in violoncello. He is the principal of the Bellas Artes Orchestra of Mexico City and a member of the Quinteto de Xalapa, a resident chamber ensemble based at the University of Veracruz. Mr. Tamosaitis has performed extensively throughout Mexico and Latin America. As a cello soloist, he has toured with the New York Symphonic Ensemble, the Sinfonica de El Salvador, the Sound Shore and the St. Thomas Orchestra. Mr. Tamosaitis is a member of Canta Libre, a chamber ensemble which frequently performs throughout the region. Canta Libre's CD of French chamber music for harp, flute and strings was hailed by BBC Music Magazine as its CD of the month. In 2002, Mr. Tamosaitis founded the Saint Thomas Orchestra (www.storchestra.org) and served as its Music Director until 2020. In March 2023, Mr. Tamosaitis conducted the Westchester Chamber Soloists (WCS) Orchestra at Sarah Lawrence College featuring piano soloist Alan Murray. Mr. Tamosaitis is slated to return this fall to conduct another WCS orchestra concert.
Sayuri Iida was born in Tokyo and is a graduate of the Toho School of Music. In her native Japan, Ms. Iida was a recipient of several awards and medals, including top prizes in the All Japan Mainichi Student Competition and the NHK Broadcasting Auditions in Tokyo. In 1976, Ms. Iida came to the United States to study at the Juilliard School, where she was a scholarship student of the late Sascha Gorodnitzki. Over the years, Ms. Iida has given many recitals at major concert halls in New York City including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Japan Society. Ms. Iida was a prizewinner of the Three Rivers Piano Competition in Pittsburgh, the Sixth Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Utah, and was a recipient of the Mitsubishi Group Music Award from the JAA Competition in New York. Over the years, Ms. Iida has performed as concerto soloist many times with the St Thomas Orchestra and has also appeared with the Danbury Symphony, Utah Symphony and the Kingsport Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Iida maintains an active piano studio in her home in Rye Neck, NY.
