On May 20, the Colburn School announced Dr. Adrian Daly would assume the position of provost, the school's senior academic administrator, beginning on July 6, 2015. Dr. Daly comes to the Colburn School from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), and was selected as part of a national search for the newly-created position.

"I'm honored and thrilled to be joining the Colburn School as provost," said Dr. Daly. "For many years, I've admired the school's commitment to artistry of the highest order, music making, education and community engagement, relevance, and impact. I look forward to joining this extraordinary school, and working with its community and President Sel Kardan to build on the legacy of artistic and educational excellence envisioned by the late Richard Colburn."

As provost, Dr. Daly will serve as a member of the senior administrative leadership, liaise with all areas of the school, and ensure smooth academic operations. He will provide oversight of the school's academic divisions, including the conservatory, community school of performing arts, music academy, dance academy, libraries, community engagement, adult studies, artistic administration, residential life, and piano technology. During the 2015–2016 year, he will also serve as interim dean of the conservatory of music.

President and CEO Sel Kardan said: "Adrian Daly brings extraordinary experience and skills to the newly created position of provost, where he will oversee all aspects of academic administration. He distinguished himself among a strong pool of national candidates and we look forward to welcoming to campus this summer."

Dr. Daly most recently served as Dean of the Conservatory at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). During his tenure, he extended CIM's global reach into Asia, developing institutional connections in China, Korea, and Singapore, and expanded CIM's international exchange program by building new partnerships with the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. He also facilitated the approval of five new programs in composer and performance, and new double majors with music theory.

Dr. Daly received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Trinity College Dublin, a Master of Arts in performance and literature from the University of Notre Dame, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music.

A former Fulbright Scholar from Ireland, Dr. Daly served on the faculty at the College of Music in Dublin, teaching piano and music theory, and was a part-time member of the faculty at Eastman, teaching in Eastman's Arts Leadership Program and in the Community Music School. He was previously the Associate Dean for Admissions and Retention at Eastman following other primary roles there in Academic Affairs, Career Services, and Student Affairs. His primary piano studies were with Jeffrey Kahane, Malcolm Bilson, William Cerny, and Frank Heneghan.

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Each spring, SongFest takes up residence at the Colburn School, and on June 7, the art song festival and training program will present a concert in collaboration with Colburn's Ziering-Conlon Initiative entitled Rediscovering Vocal Gems of the Early 20th Century. The concert, which begins at 4 pm in Thayer Hall, features SongFest participants and Colburn Conservatory of Music students and alumni instrumentalists.

"Almost immediately after the creation of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices, Sel Kardan suggested I be in touch with SongFest," said Robert Elias, director of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for the Colburn School. "He felt SongFest, with their wide range of repertoire interests, might welcome a collaboration, and he was right."

SongFest is the United States's premier art song festival and training program held each summer at the Colburn School in Los Angeles. The event provides young singers and pianists with training and performance opportunities with the most distinguished artists in their field by fostering a supportive, challenging, and rewarding musical environment.

Liza Stepanova, an associate artistic director of SongFest, contacted Mr. Elias and with early input from LA Opera Music Director James Conlon, Stepanova devised a program to highlight the work of composers suppressed by the Nazi regime. "These composers would be much better known today had they not been banned from publication, broadcasting, and performance during the twelve years of the Nazi regime," Mr. Elias said. "The history of classical music in the first half of the 20th century is terribly incomplete as a result."

The composers selected for inclusion in the SongFest program share a common lineage. "They all were an integral part of the Austro-German classical music tradition, a tradition that stretches all the way back to before Bach," Mr. Elias explained. "There is no comparable artistic tradition of consistent excellence anywhere in the history of Western culture, whether in music or visual art."

A major goal of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices is to place this music in the ears, hands, and ultimately the repertoire of today's and tomorrow's musicians so they may come to know the music and perform it regularly for audiences.

"SongFest is thrilled about this partnership," Ms. Stepanova said. "Our participants will benefit enormously from exposure to this repertoire, much of which will be unfamiliar to them. Our hope is that they'll go home inspired and continue programming and exploring these works as their careers move forward." As part of SongFest's preparation for the event, they reached out to Professor Timothy Cheek, a foremost expert on Czech lyric diction and repertoire, to help with the preparation of works by Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein, and Vítězslava Kaprálová. Mark Trawka, director of musical studies at Pittsburgh Opera, will conduct Gideon Klein's Madrigal, a haunting ensemble work composed at the Terezin concentration camp.

"We are particularly excited about this first official collaboration between our vocalists and alumni instrumentalists of the Colburn Conservatory," Ms. Stepanova added. "Chamber music and art song were once much more integrated in concert life, but now are often too separate. We hope this is the beginning of an ongoing partnership."

Rediscovering Vocal Gems of the Early 20th Century is free, though reservations are required. Visit SongFest's website to reserve your seat.

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The Community School of Performing Arts will hold its annual Chamber Gala on Saturday, June 6. This year's event has been split into two performances to accommodate the number of participating student ensembles. Concerts begin at 2:30 pm and 4 pm in Thayer Hall.

The Chamber Gala is the culminating performance for students who study in the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute at the Colburn School. "This is an opportunity to showcase all the work they've done this year," said Gina Coletti, who serves as chair of the institute. Each ensemble will perform one or two movements from a longer work.

Chamber music students were placed into trios, quartets, and quintets at the start of the academic year. Students range in age from 11 to 18 years old. "Chamber music represents community in its most essential forms," Ms. Coletti said. "You have to make sacrifices for the betterment of the group, you have to pull your own weight, you have to be honest with each other," she explained. With only one musician playing each part of the score, it becomes even more critical for the musicians to develop strong communication skills. "It's not about compromise," Ms. Coletti added. "It's really about collaborating to find the best way forward for the benefit of the entire group. They develop strong bonds and become mentors for each other."

This is Ms. Coletti's first year as the chair of chamber music for the Community School, and her passion for the art is palpable. She sees her role as one that exists to create opportunities for her students, especially when they ask to try something new. "I try to find a way to say yes," she said. "Their best learning comes from their own feeling of ownership and their passion."

This past spring, two of the Community School's chamber ensembles advanced in the Fischoff Competition, a national chamber music competition held in Indiana each year. The Fenice Quartet advanced to the semifinals, while the Incendium Quartet, who will appear in Saturday's concert, received the gold medal in the junior division of the competition. The Honors Woodwind Quintet, last heard in this semester's Honors Recital, will perform again on Saturday's program as well.

"I just want the kids to have opportunities to thrive," Ms. Coletti said. "They work so hard, practicing hours every week to get it right. They deserve the best chances for success."

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The Community School of Performing Arts will hold auditions for the Colburn Youth Orchestra and Colburn Chamber Orchestra, as well as four other ensembles and the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute June 4–7 on the Colburn School campus.

The Youth Orchestra is a full orchestra comprising strings, winds, brass, and percussion. They perform standard symphonic repertoire, including newly commissioned works and arrangements created especially for them. The Chamber Orchestra consists only of strings and, like the Youth Orchestra, they perform standard repertoire for their ensemble as well as works commissioned for them, including compositions by current Community School students.

Maxim Eshkenazy directs both ensembles and also serves as Associate Conductor of the Colburn Orchestra, the Conservatory of Music's flagship ensemble. Both orchestras regularly appear as part of the Sundays Live performance series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which is also distributed as a podcast by KUSC radio. The Chamber Orchestra debuted at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Sounds About Town series, and the Community School is currently planning a European tour for the ensemble beginning June 2016. The group plans to perform in cities such as Prague, Budapest, and Vienna as part of their very first tour.

Both ensembles participate in the Community School's annual Collaboration Concert, which brings together the Community School's orchestras, choirs, ballet, and modern dance students in one spectacular production involving more than 100 students.

Each year, the Community School's orchestra program holds a concerto competition for students enrolled in the Colburn Youth Orchestra and Colburn Chamber Orchestra. Winners have an opportunity to perform a solo accompanied by one of these ensembles.

"Ensemble participation is a crucial part of a young musician's development," said Assistant Dean Sara Hiner, "especially for those who are at an advanced level and planning to pursue music in college. The skills learned in a large ensemble like following a conductor, active listening, blending as one unit, as well as the camaraderie, is priceless."

Auditioning students should prepare a solo concerto, etude, or showpiece without an accompanist to demonstrate their technical and interpretive skills, along with an orchestral except from a prepared list. Students auditioning for the Chamber Orchestra may sight read as part of their process.

"It is an honor working with such dedicated and talented young musicians as the ones we have here in the Community School," said Orchestra Manager Alexis Luque. "I am looking forward to welcoming new students to our orchestras this fall and helping them to be the best they can be. I could not be more proud of the students in these groups."

Contact the Community School by phone at 213-621-4548 to schedule an audition time.

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William Hagen, a 22-year-old violin student in the Colburn Conservatory of Music, placed third in the 2015 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Beligium, winning him the Comte de Launoit Prize. He was awarded a cash prize of 17,000 EU, and will appear in concert with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège and conductor Christian Arming on June 10. First prize went to Ji Young Lim of South Korea, and second prize went to Oleksii Semenenko of Ukraine.

A native of Utah, Mr. Hagen began his studies at the Colburn School in the Community School of Performing Arts at the age of ten with renowned teacher Robert Lipsett. After two years of collegiate studies at Juilliard with Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho, he returned to the Colburn School to complete his degree with Mr. Lipsett.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition is held in Brussels every year for one of four rotating disciplines, including violin, piano, composition, and voice. The competition was founded in 1937 by concert-violinist Eugène Ysaÿe as the Ysaÿe Competition. After a hiatus from 1939–1950 due to World War II, it was reinstated and named after Queen Elisabeth of Belgium in 1951. Today the competition is recognized as one of the most prestigious in the world.

Mr. Hagen's next public performance is on July 7 in Benedict Music Tent at the Aspen Music Festival and School. He will perform Lalo's Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21 with the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Orchestra.

In September 2014, Mr. Hagen joined the roster of Colburn Artists, a program founded in 2012 to provide professional management services to Conservatory of Music and Music Academy students on the cusp of professional performing careers.

Visit cmireb.be for video of performances from the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the complete list of prize winners. Visit williamhagen.com or colburnschool.edu/colburnartists for more information about William Hagen.

Edward "Ted" Atkatz will join the faculty of the Colburn Conservatory of Music in the fall of 2015 as Professor of Percussion. Formerly principal percussionist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Atkatz also serves on the faculties of California State University at Long Beach, Lynn University, Music Academy of the West, and the Texas Music Festival.

"I'm truly honored to join the outstanding faculty at the Colburn School, which boasts an exceptional roster of teaching staff and attracts many elite young musicians," said Mr. Atkatz. "I look forward to lending my skills and experience to help student percussionists achieve their musical and professional goals."

Conservatory Dean Richard Beene said: "Ted Atkatz has proven himself both a truly great pedagogue and an incredibly adaptable percussionist with a diverse performing background. His orchestral experience, excellence in teaching, and versatility as an artist make him an outstanding addition to our faculty. I'm thrilled for him to share his knowledge with our students beginning in the fall."

Mr. Atkatz will replace Jack Van Geem, who resigned from the Colburn School faculty at the conclusion of the 2014–2015 school year.

Former principal percussionist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Atkatz has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and the Santa Barbara Symphony. Now residing in Los Angeles, Mr. Atkatz is a studio musician and performer in both the orchestral world and with his band, NYCO. He is an active teacher and clinician, and serves on the faculties of the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University at Long Beach, Lynn University, Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and the Texas Music Festival in Houston, Texas. He has given clinics and masterclasses worldwide, and is a three-time clinician at the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

Ted began his studies at age ten at the Bloomingdale House of Music in New York City, and later attended the preparatory division at Manhattan School of Music. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance and Music Education, magna cum laude, from Boston University. His graduate studies were at the New England Conservatory of Music and at Temple University, where he worked with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra. An avid long-distance runner, Mr. Atkatz ran the 2001 Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:59:32, and the 2012 Santa Barbara Marathon with a time of 3:09:34.

Colburn School perform hundreds of during the school year, but summer is no exception. On June 21, students from the Colburn School's Jumpstart Young Musicians Program, Glee Choir, and Adult Wind Symphony will join several other performing arts ensembles for the 90th anniversary celebration of Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

The event will begin at 3 pm on the LA Trade Tech campus on Washington Boulevard, just south of downtown Los Angeles. "We're thrilled our students will have a chance to participate in this event and perform for members of the LA Trade Tech community," said Dr. Nathaniel Zeisler, who directs the Colburn School's community engagement programs. "These groups have had only a few opportunities to perform off campus. We love connecting our students with new audiences."

The Jumpstart Young Musicians Program offers beginner-level band instruction to 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students from Los Angeles Unified School District partner schools. Jumpstart students attend up to 11 hours of instruction each week after school on the Colburn School campus. Colburn's Adult Wind Symphony is a 60-piece ensemble made up of educators, performers, and amateur musicians who gather each summer for a series of community performances. The Glee Choir program serves students in several high schools adjacent to downtown Los Angeles.

Along with the Colburn ensembles, performers include the Santee High School Marching Band and Color Guard and the YOLA@Expo Orchestra, with LA Trade Tech students in culinary arts, fashion, and art providing activities on site.

LA Trade Tech is the oldest of the nine public two-year colleges in the Los Angeles County Community College District and served more than 34,000 students in 2014.

Parking and admission to the event are free. Visit our website calendar for more information on this event. Visit this link to see a map of the LA Trade Tech campus.

After an eight-year tenure, first as Associate Dean and then as Dean of the Conservatory, Richard Beene leaves his administrative role at the end of June. In recognition of Dean Beene's contributions to the Colburn School, he will hold the honorary title of Dean Emeritus.

Mr. Beene's accomplishments as Dean of the Conservatory have been considerable. He launched the Conservatory's chamber music program and the Master of Music degree program, created the Teaching Fellows Program, and developed a national model for a comprehensive conservatory curriculum through our Healthy, Teaching, and Working Musician courses. As dean, he also oversaw the successful search for, and appointment of, a number of faculty members.

"It has been an honor to serve the students and faculty of the Conservatory these past years," Mr. Beene said. "I'm proud of all we have accomplished together to elevate the school's profile to be among the best conservatories in the world. This is a great testament to the quality of our artistic community and the hard work happening throughout the Conservatory."

"I have greatly valued Richard's musical acumen and experience, which have been a driving force in his unflagging effort to create an extraordinary environment for gifted young artists preparing for professional careers," said Colburn School President and CEO Sel Kardan.

Mr. Beene will continue to make significant contributions to our campus community as an applied bassoon faculty member, chamber music coach, and Chair of the Conservatory Wind and Percussion Department.

Please join us in thanking Dean Beene for his many contributions to the Conservatory.

Violist Rachyl Duffy (current Master of Music student) won first prize at the 2015 International Hugo Kauder Competition for Viola. The award included a $4,000 cash prize and a performance in at the Whitney Humanities Center in New Haven with other competition winners.

Double bassist Michael Marks (current Bachelor of Music student) won third prize in the Orchestra Division of the 2015 International Society of Bassists Double Bass Competition.

Violinist Eduardo Rios performed Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the Houston Symphony this month. In February, Eduardo won the Gold Medal in the Sphinx Competition, which includes a cash award of $50,000 and the opportunity to solo with major orchestras.

Double bassist Mikyung Soung (current Artist Diploma student) won second prize and the $500 Thomas Martin Prize for best performance of a work by Bottesini in the Solo Division of the 2015 International Society of Bassists Double Bass Competition.

Harpist Ruriko Terada (Bachelor of Music '15, current Master of Music student) won third prize in the Young Professional Division of the 21st American Harp Society National Competition. The award carries a cash prize of $1,000.

Violinist Lucy Wang (Current Bachelor of Music student) gave a special performance with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to a sold-out audience of 2,600 attendees earlier this month. The performance was part of the recognition she received as the Grand Prize winner of the VSO School of Music's Concerto Competition in May 2014.

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The Music Academy's fifth annual Piano Festival comes to the Colburn School campus starting July 5. The festival culminates with the Steinway Concerto Competition on July 18, which carries a top prize of $1,500 and solo performance with the Pasadena Symphony on their 2016–2017 season.

The two-week event features master classes, lectures, and faculty and student recitals for 30 participants. Music Academy Dean Ory Shihor feels strongly about the value of this opportunity. "This is tremendous exposure for a young musician," Mr. Shihor said. "The chance to be featured in a performance with a lauded symphony, along with the monetary prize, is incredibly valuable to musicians on the cusp of professional careers."

Festival faculty represent some of the top conservatories and festivals in the world, including Oberlin Conservatory, Northwestern Conservatory, Boston University, San Francisco Conservatory, the University of Kansas, and the Colburn School's own Conservatory of Music and Music Academy.

The Steinway Concerto Competition is an evolution of the festival's annual competition. Sponsored in part by the Steinway Gallery of Beverly Hills, Metropolitan Associates, and the Pasadena Symphony, this year's competition includes a generous cash prize and a prestigious performance opportunity for the winner.

Students were selected through a competitive audition process requiring an application, a performance video, and a letter of recommendation from a professional musician.

Recitals and the Steinway Concerto Competition events are free and open to the public.

Results of the Steinway Concerto Competition will be announced July 19.

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Many Colburn Conservatory of Music and Colburn Music Academy students will spend part of their summer attending the Aspen Music Festival and School. Current Conservatory student William Hagen will make his professional debut, while current student Simone Porter returns for a second engagement and Conservatory alum Radu Paponiu participates in Aspen's program for emerging conductors.

Founded in 1949, the Aspen Music Festival and School is regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in the United States, noted both for its concert programming and its musical training of mostly young-adult music students. The eight-week summer season includes more than 300 classical music events for 70,000 audience members.

"This is a really special opportunity for any musician, and for our students, it means the opportunity to network and practice with musicians who share their dedication and passion for classical music," said Dr. Adrian Daly, the Colburn School's Provost. "The Aspen Music Festival provides an exceptional environment to interact with world-class musicians, and enhances the training they receive here at the Colburn School."

Violinist William Hagen made his professional debut at this year's festival, fresh from winning third prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, the highest showing for an American since 1980. Simone Porter, who received a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant earlier this year, will return to the festival as a soloist under the baton of conductor David Robertson. Violinist and Conservatory graduate Kevin Lin won this year's Aspen concerto competition and will be performing as soloist with the festival orchestra later this summer.

"Aspen is one of the oldest and most prestigious classical music festivals in the country," said President and CEO Sel Kardan. "Musicians have launched major careers there. I'm thrilled our students can participate and perform alongside peers and mentors from top conservatories like the Colburn School."

The Aspen Music Festival continues through August 23.

Dance Teacher magazine honored Jenifer Ringer with its 2015 Lifetime Achievement award, publishing an extensive profile of the Colburn Dance Academy's director in its July issue, available now.

"This was a big surprise, and it was an honor to be singled out in a magazine dedicated to dance teachers so soon after our program started at the Colburn School," Ms. Ringer said. "The award encourages me to keep striving for excellence in the ballet field so that my students have the best possible foundation for their careers in dance."

Ms. Ringer was previously a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and spent two decades on stage before retiring from performance. In 2014, she moved to Los Angeles with her husband, fellow New York City Ballet principal James Fayette, to found the Colburn School's Dance Academy, a pre-professional program for advanced ballet students preparing for careers as professional dancers. The Academy opened last fall with a class of 12 dancers who engage in rigorous study of ballet technique and repertory, along with participation in all forms of dance and exposure to other visual and performing arts.

"I constantly remind myself each student is unique," Ms. Ringer said of her teaching philosophy. "They have different strengths and weaknesses and different ways of learning. Some students may click with a concept right away, while others may not get it until the last two weeks of the program." These variations means Ms. Ringer focuses on how each student responds best to instruction and to teach each student in the most meaningful way.

Ms. Ringer has high hopes for her students. "I want to do my best to give them the skills needed to dance professionally in major ballet companies," she said. "This means teaching them to thrive in highly competitive, emotionally and physically demanding environments without losing their sense of self." Her extensive experience in dance has helped her learn how to strike this balance. "I'm going to sound like a mom, but I also just want them to be happy," she added.

The Dance Academy will welcome three new students to its program this fall, filling spots left by dancers who have joined professional companies or moved to New York to pursue dance full time.

The Community School of Performing Arts will welcome more young pianists to camp this week when it launches a two-week day camp for musicians aged 9–13. Students will spend the camp engaged in many aspects of piano musicianship in a fun and social atmosphere.

Founder Micah Yui said the idea to start the camp was inspired by her students. "I have so many young piano students who go to academic or sports camps, but nothing musical," she said. "I thought this would be a great opportunity for them to really dig into music at a time when they don't have strict demands from school and other activities."

The camp will include classes and workshops in choir, drama, percussion and rhythm, and duo piano, just to name a few. "I'm hoping the participants see there's more to the piano than just playing the notes," Ms. Yui said. "They need to be complete musicians with a great sense of rhythm, a strong imagination, and a connection with their feelings."

Students will also participate in master classes and recitals. Ms. Yui and her co-director Carmina Glicklitch have two field trips planned to enrich the student's experience at camp. A walking tour of the nearby Music Center complex and surrounding areas will end with a picnic, while students will also experience a docent-led tour of the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles.

The inaugural Piano Camp beings July 20.

Later this week, 60 students from 15 Los Angeles Unified School District partner schools will arrive on the Colburn School campus to begin a two-week odyssey of music, dance, and drama as part of the annual Summer Encounter day camp program.

Participating students, all of whom will begin fifth or sixth grade in the fall, have been nominated by their teachers for demonstrating an interest in the performing arts. Summer Encounter is an important experience for them at this moment as most of the students have limited access or no access to performing arts education during the school day. For some Summer Encounter participants, this will be their first opportunity to play an instrument, to dance, and to perform on stage for friends and family.

High school and college students serve as counselors each year, helping students feel more comfortable and to inspire them to keep working. Miranda Landfield, a Community School of Performing Arts alum, returned as a counselor for several years during her summer breaks from the University of California at Berkeley. She's found the experience continues to reward her. "I remember there was a boy named Sam who was always sort of unfocused in dance class. Every day we had to really model for him enthusiasm and energy and try to get him to be engaged," she said. "When we were in dress rehearsal for the final show, Sam came up to me and told me he didn't know the dance routine. There was a lull in rehearsal and I took him aside and taught him the entire routine, from start to finish. At first he wasn't getting it and he became very frustrated. But we worked at it and slowly but surely he eventually had it down. After the show, he ran backstage to give me a huge hug. 'I did it!' he said excitedly. 'I actually did it, and I saw my Mom and my brothers and sisters in the audience,' I will never forget that moment."

"We want this to be a rich, immersive experience for these students," said Dr. Nathaniel Zeisler, who directs community engagement programs at the Colburn School. "For some of them, this will be a really fun way to spend two weeks of their summer. For others, it will be the start of a lifelong relationship with the performing arts."

At the conclusion of the summer, 15 Summer Encounter students will have the opportunity to continue their study of music at the Colburn School through a scholarship lasting until they turn 18. The next step for most students will be to enter the Jumpstart Youth Music Program, a concert band ensemble, along with private lessons for their instrument.

"It's the highlight of our summer when Summer Encounter begins," Dr. Zeisler said. "The campus really comes alive with the joy and excitement of these students."

Summer Encounter kicks off July 20.

Violinist Geneva Lewis, who studies with Aimée Kreston in the Community School of Performing Arts, recently won the Grand Prize in the Enkor International Music Competition. Greek composer Lina Tonia will write a violin concerto, and as part of her award, Geneva will perform its world premiere.

The Grand Prize also includes digital publishing and distribution of a recording by KNS Classical in Spain, a debut album release from Master Chord Records, two appearances with the Ploieşti Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, a concert appearance in Cyprus, and scholarships to attend the LMP European Masterclass in London and the 2016 New Virtuosi Mastercourses and Festivals.

"This award is particularly exciting because of the many wonderful opportunities it will afford Geneva over the next year," said Ms. Kreston. "Geneva will have experiences that are both rare and valuable to a musician her age. Not only is it an honor to receive this award, but it will provide her with a wealth of new experiences from which to learn and grow."

Geneva will reap the benefits of her prize for most of the next year, traveling, performing, and recording music as part of her win. "I am honored by the decision of the Enkor jury members and grateful for the opportunities I'll have in the next several months," she said. "And I look forward to sharing my experiences throughout the year with the Colburn community."

"Geneva is a dedicated and hardworking student, who is greatly deserving of this honor," said Assistant Dean Sara Hiner. "We are so excited for her and proud that she is representing our Colburn Community School."

Visit enkorcompetition.com for more information on Geneva's award.

The final round of the first Steinway Concerto Competition was held on July 18, 2015 as the culminating event of the fifth annual Colburn School Music Academy Piano Festival. Ray Ushikubo, 14, won First Prize, which comes with the Steinway Prize, a cash award of $1,500, and a guest artist appearance with the Pasadena Symphony at Ambassador Auditorium with Music Director David Lockington during the 2016–2017 concert season. Second Prize of $750 went to Francis Fang, 17, and Third Prize of $300 went to Collin Jinks, 16.

"All the students performed brilliantly," said Music Academy Dean Ory Shihor, "and they should all feel tremendous pride in their achievements."

A panel of faculty members with Pasadena Symphony Music Director David Lockington judged the final round. First Prize of the Steinway Concerto Competition is presented in partnership with the Pasadena Symphony and with generous sponsorship by Steinway Gallery, Beverly Hills. Additional cash prizes for second and third place finalists are sponsored by Metropolitan Associates through the generosity of Colburn School Board Member Alice Colombe.

"Winning a competition feels great," Ray said of his award, "not just because of the prize, but because I get to have more opportunities to perform my music in front of more audience."

The Colburn School Music Academy Piano Festival was founded in 2011 with the purpose of providing young pianists with two weeks of conservatory-level instruction. Thirty students from around the world will have the opportunity to study with world-renowned artist faculty on the Colburn School campus. This year's artist faculty include Gwhyneth Chen, Angela Cheng, Alan Chow, Gila Goldstein, Myong-Joo Lee, Yoshi Nagai, Ory Shihor, and Steven Spooner.

Formed in 1928, the Pasadena Symphony and POPS is an ensemble of Hollywood's most talented, sought after musicians. With extensive credits in the film, television, recording and orchestral industry, the artists of Pasadena Symphony and POPS are the most heard in the world.

Nearly 800 hornists will converge in downtown Los Angeles when the 47th annual symposium of the International Horn Society takes up residence on the Colburn School campus and surrounding areas beginning August 2.

Hosted by Colburn School faculty members Andrew Bain and Annie Bosler, this year's symposium explores the theme of "Then and Now," bridging hundreds of years of horn repertoire and technique. More than 180 events will take place on the Colburn School campus, the Keck Amphitheater at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Grand Park, Grand Performances, and more venues around downtown Los Angeles. The symposium is the largest global horn event of the year.

"We are overjoyed the symposium came to Los Angeles this year, and more thrilled the Colburn School will serve as the event host," Mr. Bain said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime treat for our school's community of horn players and horn enthusiasts."

The symposium's schedule is full of events for registrants, including master classes, lectures, and intimate performances. Many larger performances are free and open to the public, creating opportunity for even more Angelinos to experience the beauty of horn performance and repertoire written especially for the instrument.

"It's such an exciting moment for us as musicians and as fans of the music," Ms. Bosler said. "Our campus will be bursting with the sound of horn playing, and I just can't wait for it to get started."

The International Horn Symposium runs August 2 through August 8. Visit ihsla2015.com for complete event details and information on how to get involved.

The Colburn Adult Wind Symphony will make their third annual appearance in Grand Park on Saturday, August 8, at 6 pm, as part the International Horn Symposium's closing banquet. The concert's program will feature prominent horn soloists from around the world, including members of the Berlin Philharmonic and the United States Army Band.

"The opportunity for the Wind Symphony musicians to play with these international artists is really such a special moment for them," said Dr. Nathaniel Zeisler, who directs the Colburn School's community engagement programs. "I'm grateful for our collaboration with the International Horn Symposium and hope our symphony musicians have a wonderful time performing with these guests."

The program for Saturday's concert includes works by Strauss, Saint-Saëns, Graziani, and Grainger, along with world premieres of Wingspan by Gary Kuo and Blockbuster by Adrian Hallan. Horn soloists include Dale Clevenger, Yuta Igawa, Peter Luff, Jeffrey Nelson, Arkady Shilkloper, Denise Tyron, and the Colburn School's Andrew Bain. Classical KUSC's Brian Lauritzen will serve as the event's emcee.

Established in 2013, the Wind Symphony is a 50-piece ensemble of adult musicians from the Los Angeles community performing traditional and contemporary works in outdoor settings. Dennis Zeisler, Chair of the Music Department at Old Dominion University, serves as the group's music director and conductor.

The Adult Wind Symphony performance is free and open to the public. Visit ihsla2015.com for complete information on this event.

Colburn School President and CEO Sel Kardan announced last week a full slate of concerts and major events for the 2015–2016 academic year. The season brings together Colburn's students, extraordinary faculty, and prominent international performing artists on the school's flagship Colburn Orchestra and Colburn Chamber Music Society series, as well as Gibson Dunn Rush Hour and special one-time engagements.

New partnerships with the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in Beverly Hills and the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge will provide even more music lovers opportunities to hear performances by the Colburn Orchestra and Colburn Chamber Music Society.

Colburn Orchestra, under Music Director Yehuda Gilad, will perform concerts featuring Conservatory students in solo performances of beloved concerto repertoire, including works by Saint-Saens, Haydn, and Bruch. Guest conductors this season include Carlos Kalmar, Robert Spano, Thierry Fischer, David Zinman, and Stephane Deneve, who will lead this spring's Annual Gala Concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 24.

The Colburn Chamber Music Society series includes performances by faculty members Ariana Ghez, Martin Beaver, Clive Greensmith, and Conservatory Dean Emeritus Richard Beene along with guests cellist Gary Hoffman, violinist Augustin Hadelich, the Principal Brass of the New York Philharmonic, and the OPUS ONE piano quartet.

The season includes a number of special engagements by students, faculty, and guests. The Colburn School welcomes back contemporary music ensemble wild Up for a joint performances with students from the Conservatory of Music, while a cadre of Colburn School faculty team up with inaugural holder of the Carol Grigor Piano Chair Fabio Bidini for a campus concert of chamber music. Conservatory student William Hagen performs in celebration of his showing at the 2015 Queen Elisabeth Competition, and two principal dancers from the New York City Ballet dance George Balanchine's choreography to Stravinsky's Duo concertant, performed by Conservatory students.

Along with our season of ticketed events, the announcement included the ever-growing roster of free concerts and events hosted by the Community School of Performing Arts, the Music Academy, and the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute programs in the Community School and Colburn Dance Academy.

Visit our Concerts and Events webpage for details about this exciting season of performances, or view our web calendar for dates and program information for specific concerts.

Congratulations to these current students and alumna of the Colburn Conservatory of Music on their recent accomplishments.

Austin Huntington (current Bachelor of Music student) won the Principal Cello seat of the Indianapolis Symphony. He will complete his degree at the Colburn School this fall and join the symphony for performances beginning in January 2016.

Cristina Mateo Saez (current Bachelor of Music student) won second prize at the 2015 International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition in Madrid, Spain.

Cellist Josué Valdepeñas (current Professional Studies Certificate student) won a position with the Calgary Philharmonic and will start with them this September. He hopes to be awarded a Professional Studies Certificate from us in May 2016.

Andrew Pattison (Professional Studies Certificate, '14) has been teaching at DePaul University since last year, and this fall he will join the Lake Forest Symphony as Principal Bassoonist.