Fort Smith Regional Chamber Of Commerce: A String Fort Smith Presents A Benefit Concert Featuring Chamber Music For Strings By Mozart

Fort Smith AR

03 June, 2022

1:03 AM

Description

Press release from the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce: June 1, 2022 Concert: A Benefit Concert by A String Fort Smith, directed by Lori Fay Date/Time: Friday, June 17, 2022, 7pm/CST Locations: St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 2701 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith Program: Chamber Music for Strings, including:Allegro, from Flute Quartet in D Major K. 285 by W. A. Mozart Allegro in D for Strings by Antonio VivaldiAllegro ma non troppo, from American Quartet by Antonín Dvořák Presto, from Quartet K. Nr. 156 by W. A. MozartLargo movements, from String Quartet Nr. 8, Op. 110 by Dmitri Shostakovich Capricho árabe by Francisco TárregaSuite for Strings by Marc-Antoine CharpentierMusic from "Pride and Prejudice" by Dario Marianelli Romanze, from Grand Sonata in A Major by Niccolò PaganiniA String Fort Smith presents a Benefit Concertfeaturing Chamber Music for Strings byMozart, Vivaldi, Dvořák, Shostakovich, Tárrega, Charpentier, Marianelli, and Paganini The final concert of A String Fort Smith's 2021-2022 Season – A Benefit Concert – will take place on Friday, June 17, 2022, at 7pm, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 2701 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith. The performance will be recorded and offered virtually in perpetuity on A String Fort Smith's YouTube Channel. Repertoire to be performed, includes: Allegro, from Flute Quartet in D Major K. 285 by W. A. Mozart; Allegro in D for Strings by Antonio Vivaldi; Allegro ma non troppo, from American Quartet by Antonín Dvořák; Presto, from Quartet K. Nr. 156 by W. A. Mozart; Largo movements, from String Quartet Nr. 8, Op. 110 by Dmitri Shostakovich; Capricho árabe by Francisco Tárrega; Suite for Strings by Marc-Antoine Charpentier; Music from "Pride and Prejudice" by Dario Marianelli; and Romanze, from Grand Sonata in A Major by Niccolò Paganini. "As we approach the conclusion of our extraordinary 2021-2022 season – our second season since the establishment of the ensemble – I'm delighted to share the accomplishments of this truly remarkable group of young musicians, faculty, and guest artists. Our Benefit Concert is one of several initiatives to support the ongoing work of A String Fort Smith and provide scholarship funding for participating students. Our performance will offer a variety of beautiful and exhilarating music by composers spanning nearly four centuries, with a host of distinguished guest artists. This concert is free and open to all, and I look forward to welcoming our returning friends and fans as well as newcomers!" states Lori Fay, Founder and Director of A String Fort Smith. A String Fort Smith, founded in the summer of 2020 by violinist Lori Fay, is aimed at fostering excellence and unprecedented performing opportunities for junior- and high-school aged students interested in pursuing careers in the performing arts. Assisted by a number of devoted faculty colleagues – Mr. Nathan Boyd, double bass; Mr. Mike Burkepile, violin; Ms. Barbara Godette, violoncello; Mr. Curtis Hansen, viola; Mr. Tim Hess, organ; Ms. Jayne Jostad, violoncello; Brian G. Kim, J.D., violin; Mr. Sean Lewis, double bass; Mr. Josue Saucedo, double bass; Mr. Anthony Verge, Assistant Director, violin and viola; and Ms. Saralyn Workman, violin – A String Fort Smith participants are selected based on an audition. Coaching sessions by respected artists are an integral feature of the A String Fort Smith program; previous coaches include John Jeter, Music Director and Conductor, Fort Smith Symphony; Dr. Er-Gene Kahng, Professor of Violin, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; and Jay Shepherd, guitarist, singer, and composer. The ensemble consists of the most advanced and dedicated students – approximately eight to twelve (8 to 12) participants per semester – who make a commitment to rehearse for one hour once per week, on Monday evenings at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Fort Smith. Participants must be engaged in private music study or plan to undertake private lessons, and are expected to diligently practice for public concerts which take place twice per year in addition to performances in a variety of local settings. The repertoire selected for A String Fort Smith rehearsals and performances comprises primarily unabridged works that students might not otherwise be exposed to in a traditional school setting. Members of A String Fort Smith's roster of artists participating in the June 17, 2022 Benefit Concert – all of whom won a spot in the ensemble based on their outstanding audition – are from a combination of Southside and Northside High Schools. Participants include Southside High School students Andrea Ortega, Iana Perry, Samuel Tran, violin; and Myles Flanders, violoncello, as well as Northside High School students Gregory Allen, Adrian Mazariegos, and Emaline Pendleton, violin; Angel Duron and Nha Ho, viola; and Liberty Vasquez, violoncello. The ensemble is delighted to welcome back three former members of A String Fort Smith to its roster of players for this concert and all graduates of Southside High School, including: Blair Ranells, violin, currently enrolled at UAFS; Callie Shannon, violoncello, a freshman at UofCentral Arkansas, Conway; and Kate Wootten, a sophomore at UofA Fayetteville. Finally, two members of A String Fort Smith who are unable to participate in this Benefit Concert, include Rin Ahlert, violin, and Jedidiah Lightner, viola, both from Southside High School. Friends and fans have come to cherish performances by A String Fort Smith, not only because of Fay's striking programming and the talented student participants, but because of an impressive array of guest artists and student soloists. The upcoming performance will be no exception. Among the many highlights of the upcoming concerts by A String Fort Smith will be appearances by guest artists: Gavin Holland, piano; Ginny Hudson, flute; Jay Shepherd, guitar; Elijah Slaton, percussion; and Olivia Steele, percussion. Founder and Director Lori Fay, is a widely respected violinist, and brings years of symphony orchestra, chamber music, solo performing, and recording experience to the Fort Smith area where she resides. Ms. Fay received a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (Houston, TX), as well as a Master of Music in Teaching from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin, OH). Since settling in Fort Smith over 15 years ago and establishing a career as Associate Concertmaster of the Fort Smith Symphony, Co-Founder and Co-Director of DuoBrava (www.duobrava.com), private violin, viola, and piano instructor, and more, her passion remains working with young string players interested in improving their skills and deepening their love of music. Under Ms. Fay's direction, A String Fort Smith typically presents two public performances with guest artists each season – during the early winter and spring, both free and open to the public – as well as performances at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and preceding select Fort Smith Symphony concerts at ArcBest Performing Arts Center. A String Fort Smith concerts are FREE and open to the public. St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church is accessible for the physically impaired. For patrons who cannot – or chose not to – attend a performance by A String Fort Smith, all performances taking place at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, are recorded and offered virtually in perpetuity, on A String Fort Smith's YouTube Channel. For more information about the work of A String Fort Smith – or how to support our efforts – please visit our website at www.astringfortsmith.com; for string players interested in auditioning for A String Fort Smith, please send an email to [email protected] This press release was produced by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author's own.