CLASSICAL MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO ANNOUNCES MINNESOTA VARSITY FINALISTS
Apr 1, 2015
Classical MPR has announced the Showcase Artists for its fifth annual Minnesota Varsity classical music showcase for instrumentalists, vocalists and composers. To participate in Minnesota Varsity, musicians ages 14-18 from around the region were asked to submit a recording of themselves performing. Student composers (also ages 14-18) were invited to submit an original score for clarinet, French horn, and piano, or any solo or combination of those three instruments. For a third year, American Composers Forum (ACF) is a partner with MPR in the Composition category.
Minnesota Varsity 2015 Showcase Artists:
Collin Jinks, piano, Bayport
Max Melin, marimba, Excelsior
Caroline Paulsen, cello, Minneapolis
Trio Tesoro: Sarrah Bushara, oboe, Eden Prairie; Luca Tallarini, clarinet, Inver Grove Heights; Cole Thompson, piano, Falcon Heights
Showcase Artist by Audience Vote:
Scottie Schwefel, voice, Minnetonka
Minnesota Varsity 2015 Showcase Composers selected by ACF:
Louisa Byron, Waseca, "The First Snow" for Clarinet, French horn, and Piano
John Kuntz, Eagan, "As the Day Unfolds" for Clarinet, French horn, and Piano
The Showcase Artists and Composers will perform at the Fitzgerald Theater on Sunday, April 19. Due to a scheduling conflict, the concert will take place at 4 p.m., rather than the previously published time of 5 p.m. The Showcase Composers' pieces will be performed by graduate students from the University of Minnesota. Listeners can tune in to Classical MPR to hear a live broadcast of the concert.
Classical MPR staff received more than 125 submissions from across the state. From those, 13 were chosen as Featured Artists and 5 were chosen as Featured Composers. The student musicians received a professional recording session at MPR's studios and their music was broadcast on Classical MPR in March. The Featured Composers participated in a Mentorship Day with charter ACF member and composer Carol Barnett as mentor and received assistance in polishing their compositions and presenting them to an audience.
In late March, a panel of celebrity judges chose four performers to be Showcase Artists--the panel included: Sam Bergman, viola, Minnesota Orchestra; Eva Beneke, guitar, McNally Smith College of Music faculty; Amy Roisum Foley, Director of Bands, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Ruth Palmer, pianist/vocal coach and Minister of Music, Unity-Unitarian Church, St. Paul; and Tesfa Wondemagnehu, Choral Conductor, Manager of American Public Media's Choral Initiative.
Last month, the public participated in the online Audience Vote at classicalmpr.org and chose one of the Showcase Artists. Also in March, the ACF selected two Showcase Composers.
Minnesota Varsity Showcase Concert Sunday, April 19, 4 p.m. (NOTE TIME CHANGE) Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul
The 2015 Minnesota Varsity Showcase will include performances by the five Showcase Artists and works by the two Showcase Composers. University of Minnesota graduate students Jennifer Runck, clarinet; Ann Kezar, French horn; and Francesca Tortorello, piano will perform the premieres of the Showcase Composers' pieces.
Tickets: Admission is free and open to the public but a ticket is required. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Fitzgerald Theater Box Office at 651-290-1200.
TUNE IN: Classical MPR can be heard in the Twin Cities on KSJN 99.5 FM. A complete list of Classical MPR stations can be accessed online: go to ClassicalMPR.org, and click on "stations." Listeners can hear the live broadcast of the Minnesota Varsity Showcase Concert on Sunday, April 19, at 4 p.m.
Minnesota Varsity is supported by the generosity of these foundations and individuals: James and Kathryn Catalano; Kay and Gerry Erickson; Mary Gale; Margaret H. and James E. Kelley Foundation; Andy Kiorpes and Farrel Rich; Ann Newhall and Rick Schleuss; Stephen Otto; Ed and Jenni Ryan; Saunders Therapy Centers; Kay Savik and Joe Tashjian and Irma Wyman.