Jeffrey Solow offers a variety of residency activities, both in conjunction with performances or as stand alone events. These can include master classes (focusing either on cello or chamber music), retirement residence recitals, school concerts and informances, which are an informal and entertaining combination of playing and speaking.
 
The term ‘Informance’ was coined by Affiliate Artists, a no-longer extant organization that placed performing artists in communities throughout the country for residencies lasting from one to seven weeks. A unique philosophy lay behind the Informance: whether or not an audience may be interested in a particular art form, everyone is interested in people. During an informance, the Affiliate Artist spoke about him/herself, his personal history and how he came to do what he does—interlacing the story with short musical selections that related to his life. This led naturally into discussing the art form, which allowed performances of longer and more sophisticated compositions.
 
Affiliate Artists brought their informances to a remarkable variety of settings including schools, law offices, libraries, service clubs—even to factory floors. The residency generally culminated in one or more formal public performances that drew audience members from the community at large and particularly welcomed those that had attended the informances.
 
With five years’ experience as a highly praised Affiliate Artist and having presented numerous informances, Jeffrey Solow is comfortable in many residency venues and formats.

As a Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour roster artist funding may be available for Jeffrey Solow’s engagements in Washington DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA, USVI, VA and WV. PennPAT funding is often contingent on residency activities being included as a part of an engagement.

Guiding young cellists in Homer, Alaska

"Friday was an amazing day. One would think that every part of the lecture/luncheon was planned and choreographed. It all seemed so spontaneous and such fun—it was one of the best events we ever had. People were pleased with everything. They learned about cello playing, heard exciting musical excerpts, thoroughly enjoyed your comments and observations, and acquired insights into Tchaikovsky’s opus 33. It was a marvelous morning and you made it that way!”

—Bette Zipin
Chair, Program Committee
Rittenhouse Square Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra

"We have not had a cellist anywhere near his performance level since Leonard Rose in 1963."
–SUNY Oswego professor

Masterclass for the Hong Kong Cellists Society
 2007

“Thanks to a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, Jeffrey Solow presented recitals to four retirement homes in the Philadelphia area. At each of these performances, Jeffrey showed himself to be a masterful cellist, with a beautiful tone and lovely interpretations of the music he played. He not only played beautifully, he brought his audiences into the performance with wonderful explanations about the music that were so interesting and entertaining. We really enjoyed his visit and hope he comes back soon again.”

—Mary Borkovitz
Executive Director, Bucks County Performing Arts Center

Masterclass at LaGuardia Arts High School in NY

“Jeffrey Solow plays with such technical expertise that the audience immediately feels confident about his abilities and can focus on the musical and expressive aspects of his playing. His tone is full, his phrasing expressive and his feeling intense. He plays with a refined style and unfailing taste.

In addition to his musicianship, Mr. Solow communicates a lively knowledge of musical history. He kindly provided us with program notes for two of the three concerts he played for us and they were fascinating and enlightening. His comments from the stage were equally engaging. His ability to communicate was further demonstrated in a very successful school program for 350 grade school students. Mr. Solow manages to present classical music in an unintimidating, enjoyable manner that works well with young and old.

I would like to add that Mr. Solow is a pleasure to work with, quick to respond to queries or other communications, enthusiastic, and invariably good-natured.”

—Marietta von Bernuth
President, Chamber Music Society of Utica

Masterclass at LaGuardia Arts High School in NY

Peter Eom receives a lesson in Master Class for Arizona ASTA.