In July, Music Academy of the West Presents Alan Gilbert, Inaugurating New Partnership with New York Philharmonic, Plus Deborah Voigt, Jeremy Denk, Daniel Hope, Marilyn Horne Song Competition, and More

The Music Academy of the West, now celebrating its 67^th season,will present a cultural feast of events during the month of July, beginning with the launch of an innovative new partnership with the New York Philharmonic. Music Director Alan Gilbert leads members of the Academy Festival Orchestra in music by Schubert, Schoenberg, and Thomas Adès (July 26); Assistant Conductor and Academy alumnus Joshua Weilerstein conducts the Academy’s annual Concerto Night (July 19); and departing Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow gives his first masterclasses as a new member of the Music Academy’s faculty. He is just one of the luminaries conducting masterclasses – which number more than 80 in July alone – at the eminent summer music school and festival in scenic Santa Barbara, CA. Guest artists include

 2014 Mosher Guest Artists Daniel Hope, who joins Academy faculty and Fellows for Max Richter’s Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (July 5), and Deborah Voigt, who appears in an already sold-out recital with Warren Jones (July 17). Other world-class guest artists-in-residence include Jeremy Denk, who plays Bartók with the Academy Festival Orchestra under guest conductor Edward Gardner (July 12), and Stephen Hough, who performs his own Second Piano Sonata (July 22). Cellist Joshua Roman reprises his role as alumnus-in-residence, and Marilyn Horne – also a Music Academy alumna and longtime Director of the Voice Program – presides over the annual Marilyn Horne Song Competition (July 19). 

As Scott Reed, President of the Music Academy of the West, observes: “The choices we make at the Music Academy – the atmosphere we cultivate, the guest artists we engage, the works we select to perform, the faculty we hire, the facilities we build, the Summer Festival we design, everything we do – must answer this question affirmatively: is it good for our Fellows? Our commitment to providing the best possible experience for the young musicians who spend eight weeks with us each summer includes cultivating discerning, appreciative, and adventurous audiences. This intention is the defining characteristic of the Music Academy of the West.” 

July marks the launch of the Music Academy’s unprecedented four-year partnership with the world-renowned New York Philharmonic. The first training program of its kind in the U.S., this innovative new collaboration creates unique educational opportunities for Academy Fellows through teaching, coaching, rehearsals, and concerts with key members of the venerable orchestra. On July 26, Music Director Alan Gilbert, “a galvanizing force at the Philharmonic” (New York Times), leads members of the Academy Festival Orchestra in a program pairing Schubert’s Second Symphony with chamber symphonies by Schoenberg and Thomas Adès (who looks forward to guest conducting his own Polaris and other modern masterpieces later this summer). Philharmonic Assistant Conductor and Music Academy alumnus Joshua Weilerstein (’07 and ’08), winner of the 2009 Malko Competition for Young Conductors, takes up the baton for the Academy’s annual Concerto Night, featuring winners of the 2014 Concerto Competition. A former Concerto Night soloist himself, Weilerstein concludes the evening with an account of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony (July 19).

Music Director Gilbert is also one of several leading lights of the Philharmonic who share their expertise with Academy Fellows this July. He gives a piano chamber masterclass (July 24) and joins celebrated outgoing Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow for a string leadership masterclass (July 25). In his first season as a member of the Academy’s distinguished faculty, the eminent violinist inaugurates a new program for Fellows who wish to pursue leadership roles in orchestras, offering another string leadership masterclass (July 18) and giving both a string chamber masterclass (July 15) and a violin masterclass (July 21). Current Philharmonic Principal Violist Cynthia Phelps teaches a viola masterclass (July 28), while Philharmonic members cellist Eric Bartlett, Principal Flute Robert Langevin, and Principal Trombone Joseph Alessi join forces to present a Masterclass Sampler (July 29). Alessi also returns to conduct a Brass Ensemble Open Rehearsal the following day (July 30).

Generous support from the Samuel B. and Margaret C. Mosher Foundation once again enables the Music Academy to host four stellar guest artists, whose summer residencies include public masterclasses, performances, and private interaction with Academy Fellows. The 2014 Mosher Guest Artists appearing in July are Classical BRIT Award-winning violinist Daniel Hope, hailed by Gramophone magazine as “a force to be reckoned with,” and leading dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt, recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Opera News Award, and Musical America’s Vocalist of the Year. The Washington Post says her voice is “outstanding not only for tone and power, but for interpretive subtlety and emotional nuance.” Violinist Hope leads a chamber orchestra of Academy faculty and Fellows in a performance of Max Richter’s Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (July 5), while Voigt showcases her range in a sold-out Mosher Guest Artist Recital of songs by Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Amy Beach, Bernstein, William Bolcom, and Ben Moore, in collaboration with vocal pianist, faculty artist, and “musician par excellence” (Cleveland Plain Dealer) Warren Jones (July 17). Hope, Voigt and Jones also offer masterclasses on July 4, July 18, and July 9 respectively.

2013 Mosher Guest Artist Jeremy Denk returns this season for a weeklong residency as one of the Academy’s Visiting Faculty Artists. Described by the New York Times as “one of his generation’s most eloquent and thoughtful interpreters,” the pianist was recently awarded a 2013 MacArthur “genius grant” Fellowship, Musical America’s 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year award, and the 2014 Avery Fisher Prize. In July he treats Academy audiences to his “downright seductive” (Washington Post) account of Charles Ives’s formidable “Concord” Sonata (July 15), and plays Bartók’s Third Piano Concerto with the Academy Festival Orchestra and guest conductor Edward Gardner, who serves as music director of the English National Opera and principal guest conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (July 12). Denk also presents a trio of masterclasses, sharing expertise gained from various facets of his career, as a collaborative pianist (July 10), solo pianist (July 14), and chamber musician (July 17).

The Music Academy’s other distinguished Visiting Faculty Artists include Stephen Hough, “the most intelligent and technically impressive British pianist on the circuit” (New York Times). Hough makes two July appearances, giving a solo piano masterclass (July 21) and performing his own Piano Sonata No. 2, “Notturno Luminoso” on a program that also features a faculty sinfonietta led by James Gaffigan, Chief Conductor of the Lucerne Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic (July 22). Gaffigan, who led the Academy Festival Orchestra in memorable performances over the last two seasons, returns in August to conduct a fully staged production of Carmen.

Joshua Roman – “a cellist of extraordinary technical and musical gifts” (San Francisco Chronicle) – returns for a second season as Alumnus-in-Residence at the Music Academy, where July finds him curating his own curriculum to inspire Fellows, teaching a masterclass (July 23), and performing in Mendelssohn’s beloved Octet and one of Matthias Pintscher’s newest works, Uriel (July 29). Later this season the Fellows will perform the premiere of a Music Academy commission composed by the multi-talented Roman and entitled Life on Mars.

Since attending the Music Academy in 2002 – an experience he recalls as “invaluable and inspiring” – Roman has enjoyed remarkable success as a performing artist, curator, and programmer committed to engaging and expanding the classical music audience.

One of the most popular events of the summer season at the Music Academy is the Marilyn Horne Song Competition (formerly known as the Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition), held this year on July 19. Top awards, presented in memory of longtime Music Academy vocal accompaniment faculty member Gwendolyn Koldofsky, will be given to the Academy singer and vocal pianist who demonstrate excellence in the performance of song repertoire as well as a unique gift for audience communication. The competition regularly attracts industry insiders eager for a glimpse of up-and-coming talent, and grand prize recipients will be presented in recital in multiple locations in 2015, including the National Opera Center in New York City. The legendary Marilyn Horne, a Music Academy alumna (’53) and Director of the Academy’s renowned Voice Program since 1997, helps prepare this year’s competitors, all of whom are Fellows at the Music Academy this summer. Previous winners include soprano Nadine Sierra (2007) and mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard (2005).

The masterclass is one of the hallmarks of the Music Academy experience. All Fellows participate in the Music Academy’s extensive masterclass program, which is designed to complement individual private instruction. In July alone, no fewer than 82 public masterclasses are presented by faculty and guest artists. Besides those mentioned above – Alan Gilbert and other members of the New York Philharmonic, plus Jeremy Denk, Daniel Hope, Stephen Hough, Warren Jones, Joshua Roman, and Deborah Voigt – these include flutist Timothy Day (July 7, 14 & 21), horn player Julie Landsman (July 4, 11, 18 & 25), pianists Jonathan Feldman (July 3, 17 & 24) and Jerome Lowenthal (July 3, 7 & 10), violinists Kathleen Winkler (July 7 & 28) and Peter Salaff (July 8 & 31), violists Donald McInnes (July 1 & 8)and Richard O’Neill (July 15 & 22),and cellists David Geber (July 30) and Alan Stepansky (July 2, 9 & 16). The public is invited to attend these classes, which provide unique insight into the music teaching process at its most dynamic and intimate.

Founded in 1947 by a group of Southern California arts patrons and musicians that included Lotte Lehmann and Otto Klemperer, 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). 

Music Academy of the West alumni number more than 6,000, representing a veritable “who’s who” of the classical music world. They include Metropolitan Opera stars Marilyn Horne (’53), Grace Bumbry (’56), Thomas Hampson (’78), Juan Diego Flórez (’95), Isabel Leonard (’05), and Alek Shrader (’08); pianist Orion Weiss (’00); the late Lotfi Mansouri (’57), General Director Emeritus of the San Francisco Opera; Cynthia Phelps (’79 & ’83), Principal Viola of the New York Philharmonic; clarinetist David Shifrin (’68), former Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Laurence Lesser (’53), former President of the New England Conservatory; and singer-songwriter Burt Bacharach (’55).

The Music Academy of the West’s summer festival continues through August 9 with the wide array of offerings outlined below. For more information, visit www.musicacademy.org. High-resolution photos may be downloaded here.  

Music Academy of the West 2014

Summer Festival: June 16–August 9

Santa Barbara, CA

July 5: Daniel Hope in concert  

July 5, 7: Opera Scenes

July 9: Warren Jones Masterclass

July 12: Edward Gardner and Jeremy Denk with Academy Festival Orchestra

July 17: Deborah Voigt in recital

July 19: Joshua Weilerstein with Academy Festival Orchestra – “Concerto Night”

July 19: Marilyn Horne Song Competition

July 21: Academy Percussion Ensemble

July 26: Alan Gilbert with members of the Academy Festival Orchestra 

July 1

String Chamber Masterclass with Jorja Fleezanis

Trombone and Tuba Masterclass with Mark Lawrence

Viola Masterclass with Donald McInnes

Tuesdays@8 Concert with faculty artists

  Mozart: Quintet for Piano and Winds, K. 452

  Ravel: Tzigane

  Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio, Op. 50

July 2

Brass Ensemble Open Rehearsal with Mark Lawrence

Cello Masterclass with Alan Stepansky

Oboe Masterclass with Eugene Izotov

Vocal Masterclass with John Fisher

Bassoon Masterclass with Dennis Michel

Double Bass Masterclass with Nico Abondolo

Concerto Competition Finals, Part One (strings)

July 3

Piano Chamber Masterclass with Jerome Lowenthal

Percussion Masterclass with Edward Atkatz

Collaborative Piano Masterclass with Jonathan Feldman

Harp Masterclass with JoAnn Turovsky

Concerto Competition Finals, Part Two (winds, brass, percussion, solo piano)

July 4

Mosher Guest Artist Violin Masterclass with Daniel Hope

Clarinet Masterclass with Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass with Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass with Julie Landsman

String Leadership Masterclass with Jorja Fleezanis

Picnic Concert featuring Academy Fellows

July 5

Opera Scenes with director Gregory Fortner and conductors Warren Jones, John Churchwell, and John Fisher

Mosher Guest Artist Concert with violinist Daniel Hope, leading a chamber orchestra of Academy faculty and Fellows

Max Richter: Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

July 7

Solo Piano Masterclass with Jerome Lowenthal

Flute Masterclass with Timothy Day

Brass Ensemble Open Sectional with Paul Merkelo

Violin Masterclass with Kathleen Winkler

Opera Scenes with director Gregory Fortner and conductors Warren Jones, John Churchwell, and John Fisher

July 8

String Chamber Music Masterclass with Peter Salaff

Trombone and Tuba Masterclass with Mark Lawrence

Viola Masterclass with Donald McInnes

Tuesdays @ 8 Concert with faculty artists

  Mark O’Connor: Chief Sitting in the Rain, College Hornpipe

Busoni: Carmen Fantasy

  Dvorák: Serenade for Winds, Op. 44

  Bartók: Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion

July 9

Cello Masterclass with Alan Stepansky

Oboe Masterclass with Eugene Izotov

Vocal Masterclass with Warren Jones

Bassoon Masterclass with Dennis Michel

Double Bass Masterclass with Nico Abondolo

July 10

Academy Open House

All events free and open to the public

Collaborative Piano Masterclass with Jeremy Denk

Piano Chamber Masterclass with Jerome Lowenthal

Percussion Masterclass with Edward Atkatz

“The Path to Optimal Performance” workshop with Bill Williams

Downtown Community Concert with Academy Fellows

Opera Preview: Carmen

July 11

MERIT Recital (local musicians aged 11 to 17)

Clarinet Masterclass with Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass with Paul Merkelo

Vocal Masterclass with Fred Carama

Horn Masterclass with Julie Landsman

String Leadership Masterclass with Alexander Treger

Picnic Concert 

July 12

Academy Festival Orchestra with Edward Gardner, conductor

  Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

  Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 3 (with Jeremy Denk, piano)

  Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2

July 14

Solo Piano Masterclass with Jeremy Denk

Flute Masterclass with Timothy Day

Violin Masterclass with Alexander Treger

Academy Brass Ensemble in Concert

July 15 

String Chamber Masterclass with Glenn Dicterow

Trombone & Tuba Masterclass with Mark Lawrence

Viola Masterclass with Richard O’Neill

Tuesdays @ 8 Concert with Jeremy Denk and faculty artists

  Milhaud: Scaramouche

  Rebecca Clarke: Viola Sonata

  Ives: Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass., 1840-60

July 16

Cello Masterclass with Alan Stepansky

Oboe Masterclass with Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

Vocal Masterclass with John Churchwell

Bassoon Masterclass with Benjamin Kamins

Double Bass Masterclass with Nico Abondolo

July 17

Piano Chamber Masterclass with Jeremy Denk

Collaborative Piano Masterclass with Jonathan Feldman

Downtown Community Concert

Mosher Guest Artist Recital with Deborah Voigt

July 18

Mosher Guest Artist Masterclass with Deborah Voigt

String Leadership Masterclass with Glenn Dicterow

Clarinet Masterclass with Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass with Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass with Julie Landsman

Picnic Concert 

July 19

Marilyn Horne Song Competition (10 am)

Marilyn Horne Song Competition (1 pm)

Concerto Night with Joshua Weilerstein, conductor

  Concertos to be announced on July 4

  Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

July 21

Solo Piano Masterclass with Stephen Hough

Violin Masterclass with Glenn Dicterow

Flute Masterclass with Timothy Day

Orchestral Repertoire for Brass Players with Paul Merkelo

Academy Percussion Ensemble in Concert

July 22 

String Chamber Masterclass with Martin Beaver

Trombone and Tuba Masterclass with Ralph Sauer

Viola Masterclass with Richard O’Neill

Opera Covers Performance: Carmen sing-through

Tuesdays @ 8 Concert with Stephen Hough, faculty artists, James Gaffigan, conductor

  Debussy/Sachs: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

  Stephen Hough: Piano Sonata No. 2, “Notturno Luminoso”

Mahler, arr. Klaus Simon: Symphony No. 4

July 23

Cello Masterclass with Joshua Roman

Oboe Masterclass with Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

Bassoon Masterclass with Benjamin Kamins

Double Bass Masterclass with Nico Abondolo

July 24

Piano Chamber Masterclass with Alan Gilbert

Percussion Masterclass with Michael Werner

Collaborative Piano Masterclass with Jonathan Feldman

Downtown Community Concert

Vocal Chamber Music Concert

   Vivaldi: Motet “O qui coeli terraecque”

   Vaughan Williams: “Four Hymns”

   Respighi: “Il Tramonto”

   Barber: “Dover Beach”

   Lori Laitman: “Daughters”

   Jon Deak: “The Ugly Duckling”

July 25

String Leadership Masterclass with Glenn Dicterow, Alan Gilbert

Clarinet Masterclass with Richie Hawley

Trumpet Masterclass with Paul Merkelo

Horn Masterclass with Julie Landsman

Picnic Concert 

July 26

Alan Gilbert and Members of the Academy Festival Orchestra

  Thomas Adès: Chamber Symphony

  Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1

  Schubert: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat, D. 125

July 28

Solo Piano Masterclass TBA

Viola Masterclass with Cynthia Phelps

Flute Masterclass with Jim Walker

Violin Masterclass with Kathleen Winkler

Mock Audition for Brass Players with Julie Landsman, Paul Merkelo, and Ralph Sauer

July 29

Masterclass Sampler with New York Philharmonic musicians Eric Bartlett, cello; Robert Langevin, flute; Joseph Alessi, trombone

Tuesdays @ 8 Concert with Joshua Roman and faculty artists

  Ravel: Sonatine

Matthias Pintscher: Uriel

  Mendelssohn: Octet

July 30

Brass Ensemble Open Rehearsal with Joseph Alessi

Cello Masterclass with David Geber

Oboe Masterclass with Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida

Bassoon Masterclass with Benjamin Kamins

Double Bass Masterclass with Nico Abondolo

OperaNow! Live Podcast with Marilyn Horne, Michael Rice, Oliver Camacho, and Jennifer Rivera (new)

July 31

String Chamber Masterclass with Peter Salaff

Percussion Masterclass with Michael Werner

Downtown Community Concert

Picnic Concert 

For further information, contact:

Glenn Petry

21C Media Group

[email protected]

212-625-2038

Tim Dougherty

Communications Manager

Music Academy of the West

[email protected]

805-695-7908