%%%%%@@@@@%%%%% ***"Art is the signature of civilizations," --- Beverly Sill

We (the faculty members of Culture Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute) are pleased to post the following report through the courtesy of the largest newspaper of Nevada -- Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Friday, July 30, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Learning Experience

The Las Vegas Music Festival includes lessons for young performers and concerts for the public

By KEN WHITE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Acclaimed violinist Hilary Hahn performs on Aug. 15 during the Las Vegas Music Festival.

Hilary Hahn doesn't drink or gamble. But the acclaimed recording artist and classical violinist still finds Las Vegas a congenial place to visit because of the Las Vegas Music Festival.*2

This is Hahn's second appearance at the festival, which includes educational opportunities for young performers and orchestral and chamber music concerts for the public.

Two years ago, Hahn checked out the city, but spent most of her time rehearsing at the festival.

"I walked around (the Strip) but I didn't find it terribly appealing," says the 24-year-old, who's fresh off playing on the soundtrack for the film "The Village." "But there are great things in Las Vegas. I saw two Cirque de Soleil shows. I don't dislike Las Vegas, but I don't seek out the things people go there for. I go there to work with students."

Hahn says the festival, where she will perform the "Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major" by Niccolo Paganini on Aug. 15, provides a valuable learning experience for students because "it's important to be trained in orchestra and solo performances. And the festival does it very well. It's unusual to find a festival that's not long and huge which also offers all these things."

Festival faculty members include out of state guest artists such as James DePreist, director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School and music director laureate of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra; Michael Gilbert, music masters course, Japan; flutist Renee Siebert of the New York Philharmonic; Gregory Smith, clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Charles Castleman, violinist at the Eastman School of Music; Nurit Bar-Josef, concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra; David Taylor, associate concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Laura Martin-Prokopyk, concertmaster of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony; Evan Wilson, principal violist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Andrew Schulman, former principal cellist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Brinton Smith, cello with the New York Philharmonic; Jerome Lowenthal, piano at the Juilliard School; Peter Nagy, pianist at the Liszt Academy in Budapest; Vladymir Shakin, pianist with the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia; Robert Sherman, pianist with the Juilliard School; and Nelita True, pianist at the Eastman School of Music.

Las Vegans involved in the event include Richard Soule, flute; Stephen Caplan, oboe; Virko Baley, composer; Tim Jones, percussion; and Mykola Suk, piano, all of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

George Stelluto, music director of the event, says it's all about "everyone working, striving, performing together, exchanging knowledge and wisdom, growing. It's incredibly exciting and different every year. The great concerts, the personal growth, a sense of cultural contribution and edification, this is the treasure that results, for us locally and our visiting participants."

Approximately 150 students from Las Vegas, 20 states and 12 foreign countries will participate in classes and perform in 18 concerts.

The festival continues to expand, says Jack Rappaport, president of the festival board, and participants are spreading the word about it.

"As faculty members have come to Las Vegas, they've gone back to their colleagues and talked about the festival," Rappaport says.

Students admitted to the festival are not the cream of the crop in all cases. "We do get outstanding students but it's not limited to that," Rappaport says. "A lot of things are taken into account in student applications, such as competency and passion. It's a challenging festival for students. They're challenged by the level of music they perform."*3

Admission to all young artists concerts is free.

Admission for students of the Community College of Southern Nevada and Clark County School District is free with identification.

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References

*1. CI of WBTI is the initial of Culture Institution (CI) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
*2. LVRJ. 'reviewjournal.com on July 31, 2004,' "A search for news on google.com.," (July 31, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: Communitylink of Las Vegas Review-Journal.
*3. Ibid.