GM Robert Hess Featured at Cross-Generation Event
January 10, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

CONTACT:                                                                                
Erica Werber                                                                                                                                                                                          
JCC in Manhattan                                                                                                                                                                                
(646) 505-4493 
[email protected]    
 
Renée M. Yarzig
Cross-Generation Chess
Cell:  (917) 822-3141
[email protected]                                                                                                                               

FREE Cross-GenerationTM Chess Tournament on January 16, 2011 at the JCC in Manhattan

Featuring GRANDMASTER ROBERT HESS, 19 and PETER HESS, 18

With Musical Guests Pianist Maxim Pakhomov, Cellist Teresa Kubiak and The Young Cellists of Westchester

New York, NY - December 6, 2010 -- The JCC in Manhattan, Pegasus Media Productions, Inc. and Friends of Chess announce the next FREE Cross-GenerationTM Chess Match with Special Guests, Grandmaster Robert Hess and Peter Hess.  The chess tournament will be held on Sunday, January 16th at the JCC in Manhattan, located at 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street in the Auditorium on L2 Floor, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  Senior citizens will challenge and be challenged by children, K-12, playing numerous chess games.  This is not a rated tournament but rather an exchange of chess plays, enabling both generations to communicate and play chess while listening to live classical music performed by Pianist Maxim Pakhomov, Cellist Teresa Kubiak and The Young Cellists of Westchester.  A complimentary kosher lunch will be served.

GM Robert Hess, 19, became a Grandmaster during his junior year at Stuyvesant High School.  Hess was a member of the U.S. Chess Olympiad Team and the Silver Medal winning U.S. Team at the 2010 World Team Championships in Turkey.  Among his numerous accomplishments, Hess won the 2006 U.S. Junior Championship, the 2009 Spice Spring Invitational and the 2009 Super National High School Championship.  Hess also competed in the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, tying for second place.  He is this year's recipient of the prestigious Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship. 

Peter Hess, 18, is the Captain of the Bronx Science Chess Team.  He assisted in its founding two years ago as a sophomore, winning 1st Place Eleventh Grade Team at the 2009 High School Grade Nationals in Texas.    

Near the end of the tournament, GM Robert and Peter Hess will conduct a tandem "Simul" (simultaneous chess play, wherein they will move from board to board, making one move at time).  The Simul will be available for the first 35 registered participants.  The Tournament is limited to the 120 participant and registration is required.  The Cross-GenerationTM Chess Program, affectionately known as "Chess, Chatter and Classical Music," is designed to simultaneously demonstrate ability, promote learning and build relationships among the generations.  The Cross-GenerationTM Chess Program is open to the public and FREE for all participants.  To register, visit our website www.crossgenerationchess.com

 Cellist, Teresa Kubiak and Pianist, Maxim Pakhomov are partners in life and in music.  They played the opening performance of the new David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.   Kubiak is the principal cellist of The Orchestra of The Bronx and has performed with many orchestras, including, The New York City Ballet, The Bronx Opera Company and New Music New York.  Kubiak has developed her own musical outreach program and maintains a vibrant teaching practice in Westchester which includes coaching chamber music, cello ensembles and weekly repertoire and technique classes.  Kubiak presented her arrangements for cello ensemble at the 2010 Memorial for 9/11 Victims at Zucotti Park.  Mr. Pakhomov has toured England, Scotland, Austria, Germany and Estonia in both solo and chamber music concerts and has performed at Merkin and Zankel Halls and The Barge Music Festival in New York City.  Pakhomov has performed the piano concertos of Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Grieg, and Saint-Saens.  Pakhomov has a private teaching practice in Manhattan and is on the faculty of the Diller Quaile School of Music and a chamber music coach for Summers Trio.  Both Pakhomov and Kubiak are winners of the Bronx Council on The Arts' BRIO Award (Bronx Recognizes Its Own).

About Friends of Chess

A group of chess philanthropists that include Daniel Stern, President of Metro Academic Prep, www.metroacademicprep.com, based in Manhattan.

About the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Manhattan

The Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Manhattan works to build an inclusive Jewish community that celebrates the strength of diversity.  It is a home for individuals and families of all backgrounds to grow and learn and to care about and deepen their connections to one and other.  Rooted in Jewish values, the JCC's cultural, social, educational and recreational programs offer multiple pathways into the richness of community life for members of all ages. 

About Pegasus Media Productions

Pegasus Media Productions, Inc. is a company that promotes non-profit chess events, produces television musical events, radio and children's programs.  Pegasus is focused on promoting community-based projects for positive initiatives, changes and building a more harmonious, civil society.