Juilliard spotlights Alumni Carrie Feiner in March Digest

 

 

Carrie Feiner (MM '81, piano) always had a knack for organizing artistic events. As a student, she was already booking herself and classmates at local venues, evoking memories of the impresario Sol Hurok from her teacher Josef Raieff.

Upon graduation, her plan was to do as many events as possible—whether performing solo, with her friends, or hiring other talent. Her career jump-started when she discovered that Manhattan commercial buildings received tax incentives for concerts in their lobbies and street-level plazas. Carrie convinced dozens of property managers to hold concerts, which accomplished multiple objectives—bringing performing arts to tenants and the public; employing herself, Juilliard alumni and other artists; good public relations for the property owners; and, amusingly, repelling loiterers, drug users and dealers because they generally disliked classical music.

Coordinating these events spread by word of mouth, Carrie presented over 400 concerts per year around New York City and broadened the genres beyond classical music to include jazz, ethnic themes, and novelties such as a harmonica player and a professional whistler. She also broadened the venues for her events to include corporate and private parties, weddings, international festivals, and some unconventional settings. Carrie strongly believed that live entertainment should be performed everywhere.

Carrie’s early career also included herself performing regularly at the Lotos Club and similar places, which led to some celebrity contacts. She once played piano at Gracie Mansion for NYC Mayor Ed Koch where Jacqueline Kennedy and Gloria Steinem were in attendance.

While raising four daughters, Carrie slowed the pace of her professional activities. Her attention turned to training her children in music and creating an active musical community around them. One of her daughters, Moriah Trenk continued in the field to become a company pianist for the Philadelphia Ballet

In 2002, Carrie’s career took an unexpected turn. Looking for a new piano teacher for her children, she reconnected with classmate Sara Davis Buechner , who had attended Juilliard as David Buechner before undergoing gender reassignment in 1997. David was a top contestant, orchestra soloist and professor. However, after the gender change, Sara suddenly lost her high-level assignments and was relegated to work far below her capabilities. Carrie made it her mission to overcome the insidious discrimination and revitalize Sara’s career. At first, Sara was not convinced that Carrie could successfully represent her to top orchestras, given Carrie’s home responsibilities, and lack of experience or affiliations in that space. Nonetheless, after a few hard years, Sara’s talent and Carrie’s steadfast efforts prevailed. Major orchestras once again engaged Sara as soloist, universities offered her faculty positions, and the press embraced her story. It was a triumphant success for Sara and Carrie. For over 20 years now, Carrie has represented Buechner, her violin partner Stephanie Chase, and other classical musicians.

Carrie started an annual youth music competition with the New York Chamber Players orchestra, which gave winning contestants an opportunity to perform as soloists with the Orchestra. From 2011 to 2022, the competition attracted hundreds of students, encouraging some to pursue musical careers.

After Carrie’s kids were grown, one of them urged her to resume live piano performance herself. In recent years, Carrie found some opportunities at local clubs and events where she played selections from the classical, ragtime, stride, novelty, and early jazz genres. She has recorded a series of fun YouTube piano videos with animation including four Christmas-themed selections.

And finally, returning to her original calling, Carrie has lately been providing talent to some concert series such as Rutgers University—Camden, the Pregones Theater, Bargemusic and the Candlelight Concerts by Fever series. When it comes to musical events, Carrie just can’t resist!