Local Students to Present Free Recital

For Immediate Release June 29, 2009

Contact:
Tim Dougherty
805.695.7908

Santa Barbara, CA – The public is invited to attend a free chamber music recital featuring accomplished local students at the Music Academy of the West on Friday, July 17. The recital will take place at 1 pm in Hahn Hall. Free parking is available on the Music Academy campus, located at 1070 Fairway Road in Santa Barbara. A reception on the patio leading to Hahn Hall's front entrance will follow the performance.

The program will include Beethoven's Septet in E-flat Major, op. 20; Bach's Trio Sonata in G Major and Concerto for Two Violins; Handel's Trio Sonata in D Major and Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arranged for quintet); Dvorak's Bagatelles, op. 47 (movements I, III, and V); Schumann's Fairytales, op. 132; and William Presser's Brass Quartet.

The recital will culminate the students' participation in the Music Academy's MERIT Program. Inaugurated in 1998, MERIT (Music Education Reinforces Intellect and Talent) provides musicians ages 12 to 18 with an intensive two-week immersion in the Academy's Summer School and Festival and mentoring from Academy young artists. The admission process is competitive and applicants are required to audition. Directed by Linda Holland and supported by the Henry E. and Lola Monroe Foundation, the Cheeryble Foundation, and United Way of Santa Barbara County, the program also operates from September through May as MERIT Extended.

This year's MERIT students are: Yujin Ariza, violin (Cupertino); Laura Baldwin, cello (Santa Barbara); Edaan Byle, violin (Ojai); Vincent Chen, cello (Goleta); Jeremy Corren, piano (Beverly Hills); Tyler Dolin, trombone (Santa Barbara); Lauren Ewing, trumpet (Walnut); Elsie Hendricks, violin (Ojai); Oige Keane, viola (Los Olivos); Tiffany Meier, violin (Goleta); Maxime Morise, violin (France); Seth Noorzad, viola (Goleta); Jae Park, clarinet (Santa Barbara); Nina Pitts, cello (Houston); Kassra Rafiee, bassoon (Ventura); Grace Sedgwick, clarinet (Santa Barbara); Valerie Sgheiza, horn (Ventura); Joseph Sriprayittichai, violin (Santa Barbara); Nicolas Sterner, cello (Goleta); Cecilia Teichert, violin (Oak View); Sio Tepper, piano (Santa Barbara); Cameron Wray, horn (Ventura); Rick Zang, trumpet (Ventura); and Sophia Zheng, piano (Santa Barbara).

As part of its 62nd Summer Festival, the Music Academy also will present an ambitious production of Ambroise Thomas' charming French Romantic opera Mignon, as well as performances by conductor Leonard Slatkin and pianist Christopher Taylor. The Academy is presenting more than 190 events over the course of this year's Summer School and Festival, which began June 22 and concludes on August 15. Additional highlights will include performances by the Canadian Brass and the Takács Quartet, and conducting turns by Larry Rachleff, Peter Oundjian, George Manahan, Nicholas McGegan, and Alexander Mickelthwate. Featuring the Academy's exceptionally talented Fellows, together with illustrious guest performers and faculty, the events will be presented at the Academy's scenic Miraflores campus and in venues throughout Santa Barbara.

For information, call 969-8787. Information is also available online at www.musicacademy.org.

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 frequent performance under the guidance of internationally renowned faculty artists, guest conductors, and soloists. Admission to the Academy is strictly merit based, and Fellows receive full scholarships (tuition, room, and board). Academy alumni are members of major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, ensembles, opera companies, and university and conservatory faculties throughout the world. Many enjoy careers as prominent solo artists. Based in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West presents more than 200 public events annually, including performances by faculty, visiting artists, and Fellows; masterclasses; orchestra and chamber music concerts; and fully staged opera. The Music Academy began broadcasting live performances by the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera at Hahn Hall in October 2008. For more information, visit www.musicacademy.org.

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