TOP WESTERN U.S. CLASSICAL MUSIC ARTISTS, AGES 20-35,
TO COMPETE FOR CASH AWARDS AT
LMC’S 2017 FRANCES WALTON COMPETITION
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 3 IN SEATTLE
NEW VENUE THIS YEAR – MAGNOLIA LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2414 31st Avenue W, Seattle
The public is welcome to attend the free day-long competition
and the 7:30 p.m. winners’ concert at Magnolia Lutheran Church
Seattle, WA — Wednesday, May 10, 2017 — Top aspiring classical music artists, living, working or studying in 19 western states, will compete for cash-award prizes at the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle (LMC) 29th annual Frances Walton Competition on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at a NEW VENUE, Magnolia Lutheran Church, 2414 31st Avenue W, Seattle, WA. The 15 final competitors of piano, voice, strings and wind instruments are between the ages of 20 and 35. They will compete for 4 solo-winner spots from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and all four winners will perform a free concert that evening at 7:30 p.m. for the public. The day-long competition, featuring fifteen 20-minute recitals, is also free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend this family-friendly day of music. Free parking is available on the public streets or in the LDS parking lot across the street.
The 2017 Competition will feature artists who studied at The Juilliard School of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, University of Minnesota, Guildhall School of Music, Saratov State Conservatory, University of Southern California, Royal Academy of Music/London, Colburn Conservatory, University of Washington, Bard Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, University of North Texas, Western Washington University, Norwegian State Academy of Music, Conservatorium van Amsterdam and Academy of Music of Lausanne/Switzerland, among others. Many have earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
Joining competitors from Switzerland, Australia, Korea, Russia, China and six western U.S. states, are local musicians from Seattle, Kenmore, Gig Harbor and Tacoma. The artists will be performing on the piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone and guitar. Soprano and alto vocalists also will be competing. Competitors’ cities of residence, schools of study and performance schedule on June 3 follows.
In September 2017, the competition winners will take part in two LMC-hosted statewide outreach tours, visiting Washington state communities underserved by classical music. While on tour, the musicians will present public concerts, school assembly performances and master classes. The 2017 Frances Walton Competition and Tours are organized by members of the Frances Walton Competition Committee, chaired by LMC trustee Gail Perstein. To fund this educational and career-supporting opportunity for classical musicians, please visit LMC’s website at lmcseattle.org and click on the “donate” button.
Previous Frances Walton Competition winners include: renowned soprano Heidi Grant Murphy (in 1987), who is in demand by worldwide opera companies and symphony orchestras; award-winning soprano Anne-Carolyn Bird (in 2003), who made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the 2006-2007 season; violist Mara Gearman (in 2003), a member of the Seattle Symphony; pianist Natalya Ageyeva (in 2002), founder and artistic director of the Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle; guitarist Hilary Field (in 1993) featured in the March 2017 Classical Guitar magazine; and cellist Darrett Adkins (in 1993), currently on the faculty at both Oberlin and Juilliard schools of music, to name a few.
About Ladies Musical Club
Seattle’s oldest cultural organization, Ladies Musical Club, was founded in 1891 by a group of 24 women musicians. Its original mission was to foster an appreciation of classical music in the cultural life of the city. Artist performers hosted for more than a century by LMC make up a Who’s Who list of classical music stars. These include such luminaries as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Geraldine Farrar, Fritz Kreisler, Marian Anderson, Artur Schnabel, Igor Stravinsky, Isaac Stern, Marilyn Horne, Alicia de Larrocha, Canadian Brass, Emanuel Ax, Beaux Arts Trio, and many more. See the entire list from 1900-1995. Celebrating its Quasquicentennial (125th anniversary) in 2016, Ladies Musical Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, consisting of 150 intrepid women. LMC’s mission is to foster classical music through education, performance and awards.
For more information, visit LMC’s new website at lmcseattle.org.; and “Like” Ladies Musical Club of Seattle on Facebook.
–All programs, artists and dates subject to change–
Support for the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle’s 2016-2017 season is provided by
Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture
4Culture
2016–2017 Season Media Sponsor is Classical KING FM 98.1
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Media Contact (do not publish)
Media requests for photos, interviews and photos relating to Ladies Musical Club and performing artists are welcome.
Mary G. Langholz/LMC communications consultant
Email: vote4arts@outlook.com
Release #1617-11
May 10, 2017
Ladies Musical Club of Seattle
FRANCES WALTON COMPETITION
Saturday, June 3, 2017
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Magnolia Lutheran Church
2414 31st Avenue W
Seattle, WA 98199
7:30 p.m. – Competition Winners’ Concert – FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Each of the four final solo winners will be featured.
The following schedule is also available on LMC’s website at www.lmcseattle.org.
2017 FRANCES WALTON COMPETITION FINALISTS
Each artist will perform for 20-minutes.
9:30 a.m.
JONATHAN MORRIS, 25
Piano
Boulder, Colorado
University of Colorado Boulder College of Music, (2016-present): Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance Guildhall School of Music and Drama: (2014-2016): Master of Music/MPerf in Piano Performance; Degree classification, with Distinction
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, 2010-2014: Bachelor of Music (Honors) in Piano Performance; Degree classification, First Class Honours
9:559:55 a.m.
CARLOS GARDELS, 29
Piano
South Pasadena, California
Indiana University: Master of Music 2009-2011
Manhattan School of Music: Bachelor of Music 2005-2009
10:20 a.m.
ADAM SEARS, 23
Piano
Missoula, Montana
University of Montana; Undergraduate 2011-2015, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
University of Montana; Graduate 2015 to present, completing a Master of Music in Piano Performance
10:45 a.m.Top of Form
ANDREI ANDREEV, 30
Piano
Eugene, Oregon
Saratov State Conservatory 2007-2013 Master of Music in Piano Performance.
University of Oregon 2015 – current. Second Master of Music in Piano Performance.
11:10 a.m.Top of Form
XIAO CHEN, 28
Piano
Los Angeles, California
University of California, Los Angeles: 2014–2017 (expected) • Doctor of Musical Arts, Piano Performance
The Juilliard School, 2012–2014: Master of Music, Piano Performance
Bard College/Bard Conservatory of Music, 2007-2012: Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance
Bard Conservatory of Music: Bachelor of Arts, Language and Literature
Bard College Middle School, Attached to Beijing Central Conservatory Music School, 2001-2007
11:3511:35 a.m.
XENIA DEVIATKINA-LOH, 26
Violin
Burwood, New South Wales, Australia; Los Angeles, California
UCLA, 2015-2017: Master of Music
Royal Academy of Music, London, 2013-2015: Master of Arts
Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, 2009-2012
12:40 p.m.
YOUNA CHOI, 24
Cello
Seoul, Korea; Los Angeles, California
Colburn Conservatory: 2016 Artist Diploma
Curtis Institute of Music: 2011 Bachelor of Music
Bottom of Form
Top of Form
1:05 p.m.
NATHAN WHITTAKER, 35
Cello
Seattle, Washington
Indiana University: Bachelor of Music
Indiana University: Master of Music
University of Washington: Doctor of Musical Arts
1:30 p.m.
BYUN BOKYUNG, 22
Guitar
Los Angeles, California
The Juilliard School, 2011-2015: Bachelor of Music
The Juilliard School, 2015-2016: Master of Music
University of Southern California, 2016-2019: Doctor of Musical Arts
1:55 p.m.1:55 p.m.
HANNAH LEFFLER, 29
Flute
Denton, Texas
Oklahoma City University, 2005-2009: Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance
University of Northern Iowa, 2009-2011: Master of Music in Flute Performance
University of North Texas: Doctorate of Musical Arts in Flute Performance, 2014-present (In Progress)
Top of Form
2:20 p.m.
YASMINA SPIEGELBERG, 28
Clarinet
Bavois, Vaud, Switzerland; Los Angeles, California
USC Thornton School of Music (CA), 2015-2017: Graduate Certificate in Performance of Music. 2017-2019 Artist Diploma
Norwegian State Academy of Music (Oslo, NO), 2013-2016: Master of Music
Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Netherlands), 2010- 2013: Bachelor of Music
Academy of Music of Lausanne (Switzerland), 2007- 2010: Bachelor of Arts in Music.
Top of Form
2:55 p.m.
ROBERT WAKELEY, 27
Flute
Kenmore, Washington
University of Minnesota, 2016-present: Doctor of Musical Arts – Flute Performance (in progress)
University of Oregon, 2014-2016: Master of Music – Flute Performance
Carleton College, 2008-2012: Bachelor of Arts – Music
3:20 p.m.
Soren Hamm, 27
Saxophone
Tacoma, Washington; Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green State University, 2016-2018: Master of Music Saxophone Performance
Western Washington University, 2013-2015: post-baccalaureate study in music education
University of Oregon, 2008-2012: Bachelor of Music Saxophone Performance
3:45 p.m.
ALYSSA WILLS, 27
Soprano
Westminster, California
University of Southern California, 2015-2016: Graduate Certificate Candidate
University of Southern California, 2013-2015: Master of Music Vocal Arts
California State University Long Beach, 2009-2012: Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance
Top of Form
4:10 P.M.
Rachelle Moss, 27
Alto
Gig Harbor, Washington
University of North Texas, 2012-2014: Master of Music Vocal Pedagogy and Performance
University of North Texas, 2009-2012: Bachelor of Music, Music History and Lit./ German minor