Suffolk County’s Vanderbilt Planetarium brings space and music together under one dome
By Jennifer Donatelli
On November 10, as strings played, music and the cosmos united in a concert that took its audience on a journey through time and space at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium’s annual Strings Under the Stars event.
Performing to a sold out crowd, professional musicians from Long Island Chamber Music played a program of introspective classical music, as visuals of space were projected onto a 60 foot dome.
Dave Bush, Program Director of the Planetarium, explained the dome video sequences displayed “things related to outer space.”
“[Some things shown] are stellar nurseries and explosions, paired with scenes that are slow moving, all set to music, so it’s comforting and transportive at the same time,” Bush explained.
““The music,” he went on, “is amplified by the sound system, and the visuals have been specifically picked to match the mood of all of the pieces.”
Long Island Chamber Music is a non-profit organization, founded by husband and wife team, Eric Huckins and Gergana Haralampieva. Their mission is to make professional classical music of the highest caliber accessible to Long Island audiences.
Huckins said the artists they work with are world-class musicians from Long Island and New York City and are chosen from institutions such as Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Concert Artist Guild, among others.
“In addition to being leaders in their art form, our musicians are teaching artists, entrepreneurs, and socially-minded advocates for classical music,” Huckins explained.
Haralampieva elaborated, explaining that the immersive quality of concerts like these makes it easier for a wide range of audiences to “connect with classical music.”
Bush added that this type of show has grown in popularity through the years, and that Long Island Chamber Music consistently added new music and visuals to their performances.
Marc and Daniela Wong of Huntington, enjoyed their night out under the stars.
“We go to concerts a lot, but I have never seen or heard anything quite as spectacular as this. The music is amazing and the immersive idea is brilliant,” said Wong.
For more information on upcoming concerts and educational programs held by Long Island Chamber Music, visit their website at, www.longislandchambermusic.com. And to see upcoming events held at the Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion & Planetarium, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.
