Music Academy of the West to Welcome the Public for Community Day on July 12
For Immediate Release June 12, 2007
Contact:
Tim Dougherty
805.695.7908
Santa Barbara, CA- The Music Academy of the West will open its gates to the public on July 12 for a day of compelling classical music events amid the lush gardens of the Academy's storied Miraflores campus. This year's Community Day schedule will include four masterclasses, as well as tours of the Academy grounds and related activities. Open to music lovers of all ages, the day's events will be offered free of charge.
Events will begin at 10 am with a tour of the Music Academy's magnificent gardens. At 1 pm longtime Music Academy faculty member Jerome Lowenthal will lead a piano chamber masterclass in Lehmann Hall. At 3:15 pm Donald McInnes will lead a viola masterclass in Lehmann Hall, and Richie Hawley will lead a clarinet masterclass in Singher Studio. And at 8 pm Lehmann Hall will be the site of a Concerto Night masterclass featuring the winners of this year's Concerto Competition. Participants will be coached in preparation for their performances with the Academy Festival Orchestra on Concerto Night, Saturday, July 21, at the Lobero Theatre.
The Music Academy also will offer "Up Close & Musical," a special event for children and parents, and related activities throughout the day. See the accompanying schedule for complete information.
Limited free parking is available at the Music Academy. For information, call 969-4726. Information is also available online at www.musicacademy.org.
The Music Academy of the West will celebrate its 60th anniversary with an unprecedented 2007 season program featuring numerous classical music luminaries. The Academy will present more than 190 events over the course of this year's Summer School and Festival, which begins June 18 and concludes on August 11. Highlights will include a community concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl featuring conductor/composer John Williams and violinist Gil Shaham, an ambitious production of La Bohème, performances by baritone Thomas Hampson, violinist Gilles Apap, and the Takács Quartet, and conducting turns by Alexander Lazarev, David Robertson, and Jeffrey Tate.
For information, call 969-8787.
Academy Open House
July 12, 2007
All events are free and open to the public.
| 9:30 - 3:30 | Information Table Pick up a schedule of events, sign up for tours of the Academy grounds, enter a raffle for free tickets, purchase a 2007 Summer Festival t-shirt, and pick up a Festival brochure. In front of the Main House |
| 10 - 11 am | Miraflores Garden Tour One of Montecito's great estates, Miraflores remains magnificent almost 90 years after garden designer Paul G. Thiene completed his work. Carole Halsted will lead a tour through the Academy's idyllic, park-like setting and discuss the garden's history, structure, and horticulture. Meet at the Information Table in front of the Main House |
| 11 - 5 | Ticket Office is Open If you wish to purchase tickets to upcoming Festival events, our Audience Services staff will be happy to assist you. Academy Ticket Office |
| 11 - 11:30 | Introduction to the Academy For students and audience members alike, this overview will provide basic information about Festival events. Including a question-and-answer session. Lehmann Hall |
| 1 - 4 pm | Special Open House Sales For fine-quality resale designer clothing, including Armani, Givenchy, and Prada, The Rack is matchless. The Treasure House has an irresistible array of fine antiques and furnishings, crystal and china, silver, linens, and gifts. All of your purchases benefit the Music Academy. The Rack and Treasure House |
| 1 - 3 pm | Piano Chamber Masterclass with Jerome Lowenthal Several ensembles consisting of piano with various configurations of string and wind players will perform and be coached by one of the Academy's most popular teachers. Jerome Lowenthal has been a member of the Music Academy faculty since 1970. Lehmann Hall |
| 2 - 3 pm | Up Close & Musical A Special Event for Children and Parents This hands-on and ask-any-question opportunity for children is offered by our MERIT students - young artists from the community who are spending two weeks at the Academy - and their mentors, who are Academy fellows enrolled in our eight-week summer school. Linger for cookies and lemonade in one of the most charming of the Miraflores gardens. Ann's Garden |
| 3:15 - 5 pm | Viola Masterclass with Donald McInnes Donald McInnes is the Academy's 2007 Elizabeth Firth Wade Foundation Chair in Viola and professor of viola at the USC Thornton School of Music. An alumnus of the Music Academy (1954-56), he has been a member of the faculty since 1982. Lehmann Hall |
| Clarinet Masterclass with Richie Hawley Richie Hawley is principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and director of the clarinet department at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. This is his second year on the faculty of the Music Academy. Singher Studio |
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| 3:30 - 4:30 pm | Music Academy Tour Curious about the human and architectural history of the Music Academy? Fred Lehto, a longtime member of the Academy staff, will lead a fascinating tour of the campus and share interesting lore from the last 60 years. Meet at the Information Table in front of the Main House |
| 8 pm | Concerto Night Masterclass Winners of the Concerto Competition Finals are coached by their faculty mentors in preparation for their performances with the Academy Festival Orchestra on Concerto Night, Saturday, July 21, at the Lobero Theatre. Lehmann Hall |
Founded in 1947, the Music Academy of the West is among the nation's preeminent summer schools and festivals for gifted young classical musicians. The Academy provides these promising musicians with the opportunity for advanced study and performance under the guidance of internationally renowned faculty artists, as well as guest conductors and soloists. Admission to the Academy is strictly merit based, and students receive full scholarships. Academy alumni are members of major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, ensembles, opera companies, and university and conservatory faculties throughout the world. Many have established themselves as prominent solo artists. Based in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West presents more than 175 public events annually, including performances by faculty, visiting artists, and students; masterclasses; orchestra and chamber music concerts; and fully staged opera. For more information, visit www.musicacademy.org.
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