July Highlights at Music Academy of the West Include Alban Gerhardt, Leon Fleisher, Thomas Adès and JACK Quartet; Masterclasses with Jeremy Denk and Marilyn Horne; Osmo Vänskä Conducting Academy Festival Orchestra; and Cinderella

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July at Music Academy of the West: Alban Gerhardt, Leon Fleisher, Jeremy Denk & more

 

 

July Highlights at Music Academy of the West Include Alban Gerhardt, Leon Fleisher, Thomas Adès and JACK Quartet; Masterclasses with Jeremy Denk and Marilyn Horne; Osmo Vänskä Conducting Academy Festival Orchestra; and Cinderella

Music Academy Fellows (photo: Brad Elliott)
The Music Academy of the West – which recently announced its $17.5 million Finale capital campaign to support the final phase of a long-term campus renovation and renamed its Main House on the Miraflores campus for legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne with a $6 million gift – continues in fine style this July with a typically wide range of performances and masterclasses from some of the finest musicians in the world. Several renowned performers take up their residencies as Mosher Guest Artists this month: Alban Gerhardt (July 6-10), Leon Fleisher (July 13-19), and the JACK Quartet (July 19-22). Celebrated Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä comes to Santa Barbara to lead the Academy Festival Orchestra (July 11), which also performs under Courtney Lewis (July 18) and Nicholas McGegan (July 25). The Music Academy Voice Program presents a fully staged production of Rossini’s Cinderella (July 30 and August 1) and fellows perform in OperaFest (July 6 and 8). There are inspiring masterclasses with Thomas Adès (July 20), Marilyn Horne, Director of the Voice Program, (July 11), and Jeremy Denk (July 1), who also performs an all-Mozart program with the orchestra and members of the Vocal Program (July 3). There is also some friendly rivalry during the month, with the Marilyn Horne Song Competition (July 18) and the Concerto Competition Finals (July 1 and 2).

In July, multiple events will be streamed live online with select videos subsequently available to watch on demand. All livestreamed events, which include the Academy Festival Orchestra and vocal fellows under Nicholas McGegan (July 25, 8pm PDT), Marilyn Horne Song Competition (July 18, 10am and 1pm PDT), and masterclasses with Jeremy Denk (July 1, 3:15pm PDT), Leon Fleisher (July 13, 1pm PDT), Julie Landsman (July 17, 3:15pm PDT), and Thomas Adès (July 20; 1pm PDT) are listed below. Livestreamed events can all be accessed at http://www.musicacademy.org/Live_Stream.

Mosher Guest Artists-in-Residence: Alban Gerhardt, Leon Fleisher, JACK Quartet

The Music Academy has once again been able to host guest artists throughout the summer thanks to generous support from the Samuel B. and Margaret C. Mosher Foundation. July’s Mosher Guest Artists are cellist Alban Gerhardt (July 6-10), pianist Leon Fleisher (July 13-19), and the JACK Quartet (July 19-22). Gerhardt, praised by The Guardian as “one of finest cellists around – expressive, unshowy, and infinitely classy,” perform with pianist and Music Academy faculty member Natasha Kislenko in Hahn Hall on July 9. Fleisher appears with piano duo partner Katherine Jacobson Fleisher in Hahn Hall on July 15. The award-winning JACK Quartet, whose members include Music Academy alumnus Ari Streisfeld (violin, ’01-’03), performs in Hahn Hall on July 20.

Opera: Rossini’s Cinderella

The Music Academy Voice Program presents a fully staged production of Rossini’s Cinderella at the Granada Theatre on July 30 and August 1. Jayce Ogren, former music director of the New York City Opera, conducts the Academy Festival Opera Orchestra; David Paul, a faculty member at Juilliard and the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, returns to direct. “Rossini’s bel canto style of opera is difficult to perform, but beautiful to hear,” said Marilyn Horne, who has directed the Music Academy’s renowned Voice Program since 1997. “Everyone will enjoy the vocal fireworks and the charming libretto.

Academy Festival Orchestra

Fellows gain insight into the professional music career through their work in the Academy Festival Orchestra, playing under some of the world’s leading conductors. On July 11 they appear with Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä, who leads Kalevi Aho’s Gejia and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. New York Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Courtney Lewis, who was also recently appointed Music Director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, takes up the baton on July 18 for this year’s Concerto Celebration, featuring winners of the Music Academy’s 2015 Concerto Competition. Jeremy Denk appears as pianist and leader in an all-Mozart program alongside members of the Academy Festival Orchestra and Voice Program fellows on July 3. And Nicholas McGegan, the effervescent music director of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Francisco, conducts fellows in selections from Handel’s Italian opera Orlando and Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony on July 25.

Masterclasses

All fellows participate in the Music Academy’s extensive schedule of masterclasses, one of the hallmarks of the curriculum and designed to complement individual private instruction. Among the highlights of July’s masterclasses will be Marilyn Horne (July 11), Jeremy Denk (July 1), Leon Fleisher (July 13), and Thomas Adès (July 20).

Competitions

This year’s Concerto Competition Finals, in which Academy solo pianists and other instrumentalists vie for the honor of performing with the Academy Festival Orchestra as part of the annual Concerto Celebration (July 18), take place over consecutive evenings in Hahn Hall on July 1 and 2. The Marilyn Horne Song Competition, one of the most popular events of the summer season at the Music Academy, is a showcase for Academy singers and vocal pianists. Top awards, presented in memory of longtime Music Academy vocal accompaniment faculty member Gwendolyn Koldofsky, are given to the Academy singer and vocal pianist who demonstrate both excellence in the performance of song repertoire and an exceptional gift for audience communication. Winners receive full underwriting from the Music Academy for recital appearances, $2,500 Regina Roney Prizes, and individual consultations with New York-based communications firm 21C Media Group.

About the Music Academy of the West

The Music Academy of the West is among the nation’s preeminent summer schools and festivals for gifted young classical musicians. At its ocean-side campus in Santa Barbara, the Academy provides these musicians with the opportunity for advanced study and performance under the guidance of internationally renowned faculty artists, guest conductors, and soloists. Admission to the Academy is strictly based on merit, and fellows receive full scholarships (tuition, room, and board). The Academy’s distinguished faculty roster has included famed soprano Lotte Lehmann, composers Darius Milhaud and Arnold Schoenberg, cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, and current Voice Program Director Marilyn Horne. 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. In 2014 the Music Academy entered into a four-year partnership with the New York Philharmonic, resulting in unprecedented training and performance opportunities for Academy fellows, and Summer Festival residencies for Philharmonic musicians.

The Music Academy of the West cultivates discerning, appreciative, and adventurous audiences, presenting more than 200 public events annually, nearly half of them free of charge. These include performances by faculty, visiting artists, and fellows; masterclasses; orchestra and chamber music concerts; and a fully staged opera. The 2015 Summer School and Festival takes place from June 15 to August 8 at the Academy’s scenic Miraflores campus and in venues throughout Santa Barbara. For more information, visit www.musicacademy.org.

As the Santa Barbara News-Press states:

“For eight weeks each summer the Music Academy blithely and blissfully takes over our town, presenting a thicket of classical music for our listening pleasure, spoiling us with a high caliber of music and celebrated visitors.”
High-resolution photos may be downloaded here, and a PDF of the Music Academy’s 2015 season brochure may be downloaded here.  
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Music Academy of the West

2015 Summer Festival: June 15–August 8

Santa Barbara, CA

July 1

Oboe Masterclass: Eugene Izotov

Cello Masterclass: Robert deMaine

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Dennis Michel

Vocal Masterclass: Jeremy Denk *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Concerto Competition Finals: Strings

July 2

Chamber Music Masterclass: Jerome Lowenthal

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

Concerto Competition Finals: Winds, Brass, Percussion, Piano

July 3

MERIT concert: MERIT Fellows

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Vocal Masterclass: Martin Katz

Denk Leads Mozart with Academy fellows

            Mozart: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D Minor, No. 20, K. 466

July 6

Flute Masterclass: Timothy Day *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Solo Piano Masterclass: Jerome Lowenthal

Violin Masterclass: Kathleen Winkler

OperaFest with John Churchwell, Christopher Ocasek, conductors; Bruce Donnell, director; Academy fellows

July 7

Trombone/Tuba Masterclass: Mark Lawrence

Viola Masterclass: Donald McInnes

Percussion Masterclass: Michael Werner

Music Academy Festival Artists Series: Sonatafest

            Weiner: Sonata No. 2

            Pierre Jalbert: Sonata

            Kogan: Hassidic Suite

            Brahms: Sonata in D Minor

July 8

Oboe Masterclass: Eugene Izotov *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Cello Masterclass: Alban Gerhardt

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Benjamin Kamins

OperaFest with John Churchwell, Christopher Ocasek, conductors; Bruce Donnell, director; Academy fellows

July 9

Chamber Music Masterclass: Peter Salaff

Academy Fellows Chamber Concert

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

Mosher Guest Artist Recital with Alban Gerhardt, cello and Natasha Kislenko, piano *Livestream at 8pm PDT

July 10

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Vocal Masterclass: Fred Carama

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows *Livestream at 7:30pm PDT

July 11

Vocal Masterclass: Marilyn Horne

Academy Festival Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä, conductor

            Kalevi Aho: Gejia (Chinese Images for Orchestra)

            Mahler: Symphony No. 5

July 13

Flute Masterclass: Timothy Day

Solo Piano Masterclass: Leon Fleisher *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Violin Masterclass: Glenn Dicterow

July 14

Trombone/Tuba Masterclass: Mark Lawrence

Viola Masterclass: Cynthia Phelps

Percussion Masterclass: Michael Werner

Music Academy Festival Artists Series: Vive la France!

            Couperin: Concert Royaux No. 1

            Ravel: Sonata

            Pierre Boulez: Une page d’ephéméride

            Fauré: Piano Quartet in C Minor

July 15

Oboe Masterclass: Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

Cello Masterclass: Alan Stepansky

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Benjamin Kamins

Vocal Masterclass: Martin Katz *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Mosher Guest Artist Recital with Leon Fleisher, piano and Katherine Jacobson Fleisher, piano

July 16

Chamber Music Masterclass: Philip Setzer

Academy Fellows Chamber Concert

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

BrassFest with Mark Lawrence, conductor; Academy fellows *Livestream at 7:30pm PDT

July 17

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Vocal Masterclass: John Churchwell

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows

July 18

Marilyn Horne Song Competition *Livestream at 10am and 1pm PDT

Concerto Celebration: Academy Festival Orchestra, Courtney Lewis, conductor

Concerto Competition Winner Performances

            Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

July 20

Solo Piano Masterclass: Thomas Adès *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Flute Masterclass: Timothy Day

Violin Masterclass: Alexander Treger

Mosher Guest Artist Recital with JACK Quartet

July 21

Trombone/Tuba Masterclass: Ralph Sauer

Chamber Masterclass: JACK Quartet

Viola Masterclass: Karen Dreyfus

Percussion Masterclass: Michael Werner

Music Academy Festival Artists Series: Two, Five, and Nine

            James Stephenson: Vignettes

            Thomas Adès: Piano Quintet

            Spohr: Nonet

July 22

Oboe Masterclass: Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

Cello Masterclass: David Geber *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Benjamin Kamins

Vocal Masterclass: Rossini’s Cinderella Covers in Concert

July 23

Chamber Music Masterclass: Karen Dreyfus

Academy Fellows Chamber Concert

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

An Evening of Vocal Chamber Music with Academy Instrumental and Voice Fellows

July 24

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows

July 25

Academy Festival Orchestra with Voice Program Fellows and Nicholas McGegan *Livestream at 8pm PDT

            Handel: Orlando (Selections)

            Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

July 27

Flute Masterclass: Jim Walker

Solo Piano Masterclass: Robert McDonald

Violin Masterclass: Stephen Bryant

July 28

Trombone/Tuba Masterclass: Ralph Sauer

Viola Masterclass: Richard O’Neill *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Music Academy Festival Orchestra and Nicholas McGegan

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 6

July 29

Oboe Masterclass: Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida *Livestream at 1pm PDT

Cello Masterclass: David Geber

Bassoon Masterclass: Benjamin Kamins

Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

July 30

Chamber Music Masterclass: David Geber

Academy Fellows Chamber Concert

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Rossini’s Cinderella 

Academy Festival Opera Orchestra

Voice Program Fellows

Jayce Ogren, conductor

David Paul, director

Sandra Goldmark, designer

Marilyn Horne, Voice Program director

Sung in Italian with English supertitles

July 31

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows

August 1 – 8: New York Philharmonic Visiting Faculty Residency

August 1

Rossini’s Cinderella (see July 30)

PercussionFest with Ted Atkatz and Michael Werner, faculty artists; Academy Percussion Fellows

August 3

Solo Piano Masterclass: Alan Gilbert

Flute Masterclass: Jim Walker

Violin Masterclass: Sheryl Staples

New York Philharmonic debut at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Alan Gilbert, music director

Julia Bullock, soprano

Ben Bliss, tenor

Barber: The School for Scandal Overture

Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite

Leroy Anderson: Fiddle-Faddle

Rodgers: The Carousel Waltz

Bernstein: West Side Story Suite

Gershwin: Lullaby

August 4

Trombone/Tuba Masterclass: Ralph Sauer, Alan Baer

Viola Masterclass: Cynthia Phelps *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Percussion Masterclass: Daniel Druckman

Music Academy Festival Artist Series: Music Academy & New York Philharmonic Artists

            Steve Reich: Quartet

            Ponchielli: Il Convegno, Divertimento for two clarinets

            Joseph Turrin: Fandango

            Dohnányi: Serenade

August 5

Oboe Masterclass: Eugene Izotov

Cello Masterclass: Carter Brey

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo *Livestream at 3:15pm PDT

Bassoon Masterclass: Dennis Michel

Vocal Masterclass: Marilyn Horne

August 6

Academy Fellows Chamber Concert

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows

August 7

Clarinet Masterclass: Richard Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Cabaret: The Music Academy’s Signature Gala

August 8

Von Dohnányi Conducts Brahms *Livestream at 8pm PDT

Academy Festival Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor

            Webern: Im Sommerwind

            Ligeti: Atmosphères

            Wagner: Prelude to Lohengrin (Act I)

            Brahms: Symphony No. 2

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