Seasons...dreams...

KPAC and Antonio Strad Violin invite you to meet and visit with violinist Anne Akiko Meyers at a special in-store CD signing. Join us on Tuesday, October 12, 6pm at Antonio Strad Violin.
Find out more about this Austin based violinist at her website, http://www.anneakikomeyers.com/
Anne's new CD is "Seasons... Dreams." It is released today!
It features 3 world premieres and music with harpist, Emmanuel Ceysson and pianist, Reiko Uchida. On the disc are Beethoven, Debussy, Gershwin, Schnittke, Wagner and Vernon Duke.

‘playing that flows from the heart’  ‘trailblazing violinist’   ‘charting her own course’ 
Anne Akiko Meyers is one of the world’s renowned violinists -a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and educator who is known as one of the most diverse artists collaborating with artists such as Chris Botti, Il Divo and Wynton Marsalis, premiering new works written for her and showcasing under-performed or rarely heard works.
Meyers was born in San Diego, California and grew up in the Los Angeles area before heading to New York. She studied with Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, Josef Gingold at Indiana University, and Felix Galimir, Masao Kawasaki and Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School. At age 23, she was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, the only artist to be the sole recipient of this annual prize.
In the fall of 2009, she was named Professor of Violin at the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2008, she was the first violinist to be a Regent’s Lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles. Meyers has given masterclasses around the world, was a panelist at the Juilliard hosted Starling-DeLay Symposium and is an adjudicator for competitions.
Anne performs on the “Royal Spanish” Antonio Stradivarius violin, dated 1730, that once belonged to the King of Spain.

In store appearance
When: Tuesday, October 12, 6pm.
Where: Antonio Strad Violin
10288 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX 78216
210.349.9788, direct
800.284.9788, toll-free

Welcher Fifth: webisode 3

Later this week, the Austin Symphony premieres Dan Welcher's Fifth Symphony. Host John Clare went to UT-Austin to speak with the composer about the new work.



Listen for more this next Thursday on Classical Spotlight, starting at 2pm on KPAC & KTXI. We'll have more webisodes with the composer here as well!

Welcher Fifth: webisode 2

This Friday, the Austin Symphony premieres Dan Welcher's Fifth Symphony. Host John Clare went to UT-Austin to speak with the composer about the new work.



Listen for more this next Thursday on Classical Spotlight, starting at 2pm on KPAC & KTXI. We'll have more webisodes with the composer here as well!

Pearl Violins

The Daniel Pearl Foundation congratulates teen violin and fiddle players Ian Stewart (16) of Austin and Sam Weiser (14) of Norwalk, winners of the 2008 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins. Recently selected at the Mark O'Connor Strings Conference in San Diego, California, these up and coming musicians will have full use of the handcrafted instruments for a year; including appearances in October to be dedicated as part of the 7th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days.

The Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins were crafted by luthier Jonathan Cooper of Maine, in honor of Daniel Pearl, the journalist and talented musician who played violin and fiddle wherever he traveled. Past winners from the U.S.and Canada have become ongoing ambassadors for the Daniel Pearl World Music Days; using the power of music to transcend boundaries and unite people in Harmony for Humanity. The winners join our global network of concerts in dedicating their October performances to commemorate Danny's October 10th birthday.

"Each year at my String Camp, students who demonstrate great potential and/or exceptional talent are awarded the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins, said American classical and multi genre violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, a member of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days Honorary Committee. As these students practice and perform with the Pearl violins for a year -until the following Camp, when new students receive the instruments - they may come to appreciate the thirst for knowledge and message of healing that defined Pearl's life and career."

String Camp Students Spread Message Of Hope - Ian Stewart and Sam Weiser will play on the Pearl violins for one year

16 year old violinist, fiddler, and mandolin player Ian Stewart of Austin, Texas began studying classical violin at the age of six in his hometown of Austin, Texas. His musical journey took a turn when he attended his first Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp at the age of 10 where he discovered traditional American and world music. He has excelled in region and state contests and will be performing at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December. Ian is also one of the founding members of the cross-genre Americana band The Fireants; 2008 winners of the New Talent Competition at the local Old Settlers Music Festival and a regular fixture on the vibrant Austin music scene.

"Being this years recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin is an incredible opportunity for me to be part of this visionary mission. The message is formed from the simple idea that music is one of the common languages of mankind and can bridge what divides us. I am overwhelmingly honored to have this award pass through my hands and I hope to bring Daniels message to the widest possible audience."

Fourteen-year old Sam Weiser of Norwalk, Connecticut began Suzuki violin at the early age of 3. Talented on violin, viola, mandolin and guitar, he has played for numerous charitable and civic organizations at diverse venues including Carnegie Hall. Currently, the First Violinist in the Apollo Quartet; he was Concertmaster for the Norwalk Youth Symphony from 2004-2007, and in 2008 became the youngest first violinist in its Principal Orchestra. A runner up in the 2007 ASTA's National Alternative Strings Competition, Sam has performed professionally with both Mark O'Connor and with Yale Strom, one of the country's leading Klezmer musicians.

"It is an honor for me to receive the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin. It has brought upon me the determination and commitment to send a message of peace through the language of music. It also has inspired me to explore new ways of connecting to people and promoting Daniel's mission of tolerance."

October Is The Month That Musicians Can Dedicate Their Concerts To Raising Awareness

Daniel Pearl's murder by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002 touched millions who never knew him. By developing international programs focused on journalism, music and dialogue, the Daniel Pearl Foundation seeks to counter the hatred and intolerance that took his life. www.danielpearl.org.

Daniel Pearl World Music Days is an awareness raising network, not a fundraiser, and there is no financial obligation to participate. Musicians of every genre- professional, amateur, and youth- simply register their prescheduled or specially planned October performances at www.danielpearlmusicdays.org, and make a statement from the stage or in the printed program in support of the Harmony for Humanity theme. Since its inception in 2002, more than 2000 concerts in 75 countries have been dedicated.