Jon Manasse / Jon Nakamatsu Duo

July 2, 2018 at 8:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Admission is free and open to the public

Following its highly acclaimed 2004 debut in Boston, the Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo began extensive tours featuring appearances on chamber music’s most prestigious stages, including the Lincoln Center Mostly Mozart Festival and Washington DC’s National Gallery of Art.

The Duo’s first harmonia mundi recording of Brahms’ Clarinet Sonatas was selected by the New York Times as among its top classical releases for 2008. Subsequent recordings include premières of John Novacek’s Four Rags for Two Jons, Paquito D’Rivera’s The Cape Cod Files, and chamber music of Weber, Beethoven and Brahms.

In 2011, the Duo recorded both Brahms’ Clarinet and Piano Quintets, issued in 2012 as the Tokyo Quartet’s final CD. Individually, both Jons have developed vast repertoires and lengthy discographies. Their hundreds of performances include concerto engagements, recitals and chamber music collaborations worldwide.

VOCE Recital

July 1, 2018 at 7:45 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Admission is free and open to the public

VOCE is a prestigious competition for vocalists, strings, winds/brass, and chamber music. The program is named for Vocalists, Orchestral instrumentalists, and Chamber Ensembles. This recital is a collection of performances from first place winners of the State Finals competition.

Friends of Today’s Music: World Premiere of Bruce Stark’s Three Dances

July 1, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Admission is free and open to the public

The music of American composer Bruce Stark reflects the varied elements of his musical upbringing: early studies in percussion, jazz piano, and classical composition. He completed a masters degree in composition at the Juilliard School in 1984 as a student of Roger Sessions and Vincent Persichetti. Thereafter for more than twenty years he resided in Tokyo, producing a collection of works that reveal a compelling musical voice, drawing from a multiplicity of disciplines and sensibilities. In 2013 he returned to the U.S. and joined the music faculty of DigiPen Institute of Technology (Seattle area) as professor of composition and theory.

Stark’s performances as pianist/arranger can be heard on many recordings (Victor Entertainment, Meister Music, ALM Records, Nami Records, MA Recordings and various independent labels). While living in Tokyo he appeared as soloist, group leader and ensemble player in major concert halls throughout Japan as well as Shanghai’s Grande Theatre, Kennedy Center, and a six-country tour of South America sponsored by the Japan Foundation for Cultural Exchange. In 2013 he won First Prize in the solo jazz piano division of the Wild Flower Music International Recording Competition for his performance of Body and Soul.

Piano Concerto Competition

June 30, 2018 at 7:45 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Admission is free and open to the public

The MTAC Piano Concerto Competition gives students a chance to thrive at what they do best. The students competing in this event are the first place winners from the Regional Competition held this past spring in both Northern and Southern California. The finalists perform a concerto movement before a panel of judges in a highly competitive setting. Winners are selected in each age category, and all finalists receive prize monies underwritten in part by Steinway and Sons.

Young Artist Guild Recital

June 29, 2018 at 8:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Admission is free and open to the public

The Young Artist Guild (YAG) represents the most gifted musicians in the Certificate of Merit® program. Acceptance to YAG is one of the highest honors for Certificate of Merit® students. Students are granted membership in the Guild for five years upon recommendation by a panel of adjudicators. This concert serves as a debut for newly selected members.