2017 Frances Walton Finals Competition on Saturday, June 3

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

 

Performing member auditions on November 5

LMC member auditions to be held on Saturday, November 5 from 12 noon to 4pm at Queen Anne Christian Church

Ladies Musical Club (LMC) members participate in a wide variety of rewarding music activities and collaborations with other women of similar interests. Join us in growing our presence and influence in the community. LMC membership is open to music and fine-arts advocates as well as actively performing musicians. In addition to our outreach programs, LMC promotes music among its members through interest groups, master classes, special events, professional networking and community building. All ages are welcome!

Malya sings Mahler

Applying for membership

Performing and At-Large membership is by invitation of the Board of Trustees, based on audition or résumé review. Annual dues are $100 for both At-large and Performing Members over age 32.  Members who are age 32 and under pay $90 per year. Dues for members accepted during the winter/spring auditions will be half the annual rate. There is a non-refundable $25 application fee, which will be applied to the annual dues for successful applicants. To apply:

Download the LMC application for membership (PDF).
Complete the application. Save and place your name where indicated in the file name.
Email the completed application to our membership committee.
Applicants can email the LMC membership committee at membership@lmcseattle.org with any questions that are not answered on the website, or if the application process cannot be completed.

LMC Member-musician auditions
LMC Performing Member auditions will be held on Saturday November 5, 2016 from 12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Queen Anne Christian Church, Seattle. Please have your application in by October 23, 2016. An application received after this date may still be considered if the audition schedule permits. If not, the application will remain active for the Spring LMC Auditions.

Applicants wishing to be accepted as a performing member have two options: audition either as a solo performer or as a collaborative/ensemble performer. In either case, the applicant shall prepare three pieces in contrasting styles, for a total of about 15 minutes of music. Music does not have to be memorized. Other requirements for specific instruments and for singers are:

Pianists wishing to audition as accompanists, but not as solo pianists, should bring a collaborator to the audition. This may be a current collaborator or LMC may be able to find a current LMC member for this purpose. If a collaborator is needed, the applicant shall notify LMC with enough time to find someone, and for the applicant to be thoroughly rehearsed by the day of the audition.

Pianists desiring to perform both as soloists and accompanists should plan to complete an audition for each category. In this case, please submit only one application and fee.

Singers should prepare songs in three different languages. At least two of the selections should be art songs, as LMC primarily presents recitals.

Applicants wishing to audition as an ensemble-only performer, please indicate this on the application. We would strongly prefer to hear the audition with a collaborator. If you have questions about this, please contact LMC at membership@lmcseattle.org.

More information about the benefits of membership

MOHAI TO HOST THE 125TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF LMC DURING ITS FREE “FIRST THURSDAY” ON JULY 7

Historical music reviews at 5:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.

Free Birthday Cupcakes for All on the Pavilion at 5:45 p.m.

With its organizational roots in 1891, the talented members of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle (LMC) will celebrate their 125th birthday at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) with two short concerts. The lively and fun programs will share an overview of the historic organization through a variety of music performances.

Set to a light and entertaining script, the programs will include Prelude in C-sharp Minor, one of Rachmaninoff’s most famous piano compositions, performed by Moscow Conservatory-trained Valentina Rodov, who was a 2011 Van Cliburn piano competition semi-finalist; a frisky saxophone quartet; exciting steel drummers; singers from B.F. Day Elementary School; “Summer” from Piazzolla’s The Seasons, a stirring trio for violin, cello and piano; and the bouncy spiritual, Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down.

For more information about Ladies Musical Club of Seattle and support options, please visit www.lmcseattle.org. For program updates and reminders, “Like” Ladies Musical Club of Seattle on Facebook.

–All programs, artists and dates subject to change–

 

Support is provided by MOHAI, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and 4Culture

Media Sponsor is Classical KING FM 98.1

2016 Frances Walton Competition Winners

Soloists

Anne Suda cello
Anne Suda, cello
Michael Zarling piano
Michael Zarling, piano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dana Jackson bassoon
Dana Jackson, bassoon
Lesley Baird, mezzo soprano
Lesley Baird, mezzo-soprano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternate winners:
Yoon Be Kim, violin
Benton Gordon, flute

small ensemble

Trio brillante
TRIO BRILLANTE Vijay Venkatesh, piano Micah Wright, clarinet Annie Jacobs-Perkins, cello

Alternate Winner:
Friction String Quartet