Music Academy of the West’s 2015 Summer Festival Opens This Week; June Highlights Include Takács String Quartet, Mosher Guest Artist Anthony Dean Griffey, Marilyn Horne and Jeremy Denk

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015, the Takács String Quartet is the one of the most respected quartets of our time, the only string quartet to be inducted into the Gramophone Hall of Fame. This year it will once again oversee the Academy’s innovative String Quartet Seminar, which provides 16 string fellows with intensive ensemble coaching over the course of seven days. The seminar concludes with a public recital by participating fellows at Hahn Hall on June 19 – the season’s first Picnic Concert. Audiences will also have a chance to hear the group itself perform, presenting the first concert of the season on June 16.

The Music Academy is given generous support by the Samuel B. and Margaret C. Mosher Foundation through the Mosher Guest Artist program. In addition to Anthony Dean Griffey, this year’s artists are cellist Alban Gerhardt, pianist Leon Fleisher, and the JACK Quartet. Griffey is the first to arrive for his residency in Santa Barbara, June 22–27, and he performs a recital with pianist John Churchwell on June 25, followed by a public Vocal Masterclass on June 26.

Marilyn Horne’s Vocal Masterclass on June 17 serves as an introduction to Voice Program Fellows, and Jeremy Denk presents a Solo Piano Masterclass on June 29. Many other masterclasses will also run throughout June, given by faculty members that include flutists Timothy Day and Jim Walker; horn player Julie Landsman; pianists Jonathan Feldman and Jerome Lowenthal; violinists Kathleen Winkler, Peter Salaff, Jorja Fleezanis and Glenn Dicterow; violists Karen Dreyfus, Donald McInnes, Cynthia Phelps, and Richard O’Neill; and cellists David Geber and Alan Stepansky. Indeed, masterclasses lie at the heart of the Academy’s educational mission and all fellows participate in the extensive program, which is designed to complement individual private instruction. Over eight weeks, more than 100 public masterclasses will be presented by faculty and guest artists.

The Academy Festival Orchestra, made up of fellows, performs twice in June under the baton of Larry Rachleff, music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and Rice University’s Shepherd School orchestras. On June 20 they present Beethoven’s powerful Symphony No. 9 with the Santa Barbara Choral Society, alongside Mason Bates’s Ode, which is inspired by the historical and emotional context of Beethoven’s work. On June 27 the orchestra performs Berlioz’s Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict, Ravel’s Boléro and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Before that, on June 24, the public will be offered insight into the working process of conductor and orchestra, with an open rehearsal as part of the Academy Open House, an initiative designed to build new audiences for the festival by offering free access.

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 will take 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:

Music Academy of the West

2015 Summer Festival: June 15–August 8

Santa Barbara, CA

Music Academy of the West

2015 Summer Festival: June 15–August 8

Santa Barbara, CA

June 15

Piano Masterclass: Jerome Lowenthal

Flute Masterclass: Timothy Day

Violin Masterclass: Kathleen Winkler

June 16

Trombone/Tuba Masterclass: Mark Lawrence

Percussion Masterclass: Ted Atkatz

Viola Masterclass: Heidi Castleman

Takács Quartet in concert

Haydn: String Quartet, Op. 74, No. 3

Carter Pann: String Quartet No. 2, “Operas”

Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 59, No. 1

June 17

Oboe Masterclass: Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

Cello Masterclass: Alan Stepansky

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Dennis Michel

Vocal Masterclass: Intro to Voice Program Fellows with Marilyn Horne and pianist John Churchwell

June 18

String Chamber Masterclass: Takács Quartet

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

June 19

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Charlie Geyer

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Picnic Concert: Academy Fellow String Quartets

June 20

Academy Festival Orchestra, Larry Rachleff, conductor and Santa Barbara Choral Society

Mason Bates: Ode

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

June 22

Solo Piano Masterclass: Jerome Lowenthal

Flute Masterclass: Timothy Day

Violin Masterclass: Glenn Dicterow

Masterclass Sampler with Eugene Izotov, Nico Abondolo, and Fred Carama

June 23

Trombone and Tuba Masterclass: Mark Lawrence

Percussion Masterclass: Ted Atkatz

Viola Masterclass: Heidi Castleman

Music Academy Festival Artists Series: Beloved Brahms

Anthony Plog: Octet

Reinecke: Trio

Brahms: Trio in B Major

June 24

Academy Open House: all events are free

Academy Festival Orchestra, Larry Rachleff, conductor: Open rehearsal

Ravel: Boléro

Oboe Masterclass: Eugene Izotov

Cello Masterclass: Alan Stepansky

Vocal Masterclass: Marilyn Horne

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Dennis Michel

String Quartet Concert with Academy Fellows

June 25

Chamber Music Masterclass: Jeremy Denk

Collaborative Piano Masterclass: Jonathan Feldman

Mosher Guest Artist Recital with Anthony Dean Griffey, tenor and John Churchwell, piano

June 26

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Barbara Butler

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Vocal Masterclass: Mosher Guest Artist Anthony Dean Griffey

Picnic Concert: PianoFest with Academy Fellows

June 27

Academy Festival Orchestra, Larry Rachleff, conductor

Berlioz: Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict

Ravel: Boléro

Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances

June 29

Flute Masterclass: Timothy Day

Solo Piano Masterclass: Jeremy Denk

Violin Masterclass: Jorja Fleezanis

June 30

Trombone and Tuba Masterclass: Mark Lawrence

Viola Masterclass: Cynthia Phelps

Percussion Masterclass: Michael Werner

Music Academy Festival Artist Series: Mozart and Schumann

Mozart: Serenade No. 12

Schumann: Fairy Tales

Mozart: Quintet No. 3

July 1

Oboe Masterclass: Eugene Izotov

Cello Masterclass: Robert deMaine

Double Bass Masterclass: Nico Abondolo

Bassoon Masterclass: Dennis Michel

Vocal Masterclass: Jeremy Denk

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

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

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

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

July 10

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Vocal Masterclass: Fred Carama

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows

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

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

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

July 17

Clarinet Masterclass: Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass: Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass: Julie Landsman

Vocal Masterclass: John Churchwell

Picnic Concert with Academy Fellows

July 18

Marilyn Horne Song Competition

Concerto Celebration: Academy Festival Orchestra, Courtney Lewis, conductor

Concerto Competition Winner Performances

Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

July 20

Solo Piano Masterclass: Thomas Adès

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

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

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

Music Academy Festival Orchestra and Nicholas McGegan

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

July 29

Oboe Masterclass: Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

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

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

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

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

Academy Festival Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor

Webern: Im Sommerwind

Ligeti: Atmosphères

Wagner: Prelude to Lohengrin (Act I)

Brahms: Symphony No. 2