YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS, INC. CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF LAUNCHING THE WORLD’S BRIGHTEST CLASSICAL MUSICIANS WITH A SEASON OF HISTORIC EVENTS

100 YCA ALUMNI TO PERFORM IN FREE TWELVE- HOUR MUSICAL MARATHON AT
SYMPHONY SPACE ON FEBRUARY 19, 2011

50TH YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS SERIES PRESENTS
DEBUTS OF FOUR NEW YCA WINNERS AND A LINCOLN CENTER RECITAL DEBUT

YCA ALUMNUS PINCHAS ZUKERMAN CONDUCTS GALA ON MARCH 29, 2011
AT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH 16 FORMER AND PRESENT YCA SOLOISTS
AND ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKE’S

“For an impressive number of highly talented performers, Young Concert Artists has meant the chance to be heard.  For each of them, and our musical life in general, this organization fulfills a vital function.”

– Leonard Bernstein

Throughout the 2010-2011 season, Young Concert Artists celebrates its 50^th anniversary with a year of concerts, special events and important firsts.

A Distinguished History

Founded 1961 by the formidable and tireless director Susan Wadsworth – who still leads the organization today – YCA holds a venerable place in the world of classical music. For fifty seasons, Young Concert Artists has been discovering musicians of great talent, launching careers and invigorating the cultural life of our country.  Beloved by the world’s most respected musical icons past and present, Young Concert Artists has been praised by Beverly Sills who said, “no music organization has a more stunning record for introducing exciting, young artists than Young Concert Artists,” while Yo-Yo Ma stated simply that “the music world would surely be a poorer place without YCA.”

This non-profit has had a pervasive impact on all facets of classical music with YCA alumni performing as renowned soloists, chamber musicians,  conductors and composers, becoming influential teachers, founding chamber ensembles and directing Music Festivals throughout the country.  More than 200 artists, including pianists Emanuel Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Murray Perahia Christopher O’Riley, Jeremy Denk, Anne-Marie McDermott and Richard Goode; soprano Dawn Upshaw; composers Mason Bates and Kevin Puts; violinists Pinchas Zukerman, Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian and Chee-Yun; flutists Eugenia Zukerman and Paula Robison; and the St. Lawrence, Borromeo and Tokyo String Quartets, to name just a few, have achieved important careers.

YCA selects its artists through the annual Young Concert Artists International Auditions.  Adjudicated by a distinguished panel of performers, many of them YCA alumni, the auditions are considered among the most selective in the world.

The winners of the annual and unique Young Concert Artists International Auditions receive a prize program unlike any other. In addition to the arrangement of debut recitals, the organization provides the opportunity for exceptional artists to take their first steps onto the stages of the concert world. Each artist receives management, publicity services, booking and career guidance for three or more years.  The bond between Young Concert Artists and the chosen musicians continues long into a career, providing a lively network in the classical music community.

50^th Anniversary Season Debuts

YCA’s first gifts to the Winners of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions are debut concerts, and this year is no exception with the New York, Washington, DC and Boston debuts of four rising stars: 17-year-old American violinist Caroline Goulding, 21-year-old American pianist Charlie Albright, 26-year-old Belarussian flutist Aleksandr Haskin, and 25-year-old American mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson (dates and venues below).

Additionally, YCA’s Michaels Award is presenting the 27 year-old Russian pianist Gleb Ivanov in his Lincoln Center recital debut at Alice Tully Hall. The award – which is never given more than twice or three times in a decade – is for an artist on the Young Concert Artists roster whom the organization feels is on the verge of a major career. Previous recipients of the Michaels Award include pianist Emanuel Ax and cellist Carter Brey.

Musical Marathon at Symphony Space

Musicians from every year in YCA’s 50 year history will come together in a 12-hour Musical Marathon at New York’s Symphony Space on February 19, 2011. Beginning at 11am, 100 artists from Emanuel Ax to Eugenia Zukerman will take part in a marathon of glorious music-making. The day will be free of charge and open to the public, in the spirit of Symphony Space’s popular Wall-to-Wall programs.

YCA Collaborations:

ENCORES Series

In collaboration with the Morgan Library and Museum, the Young Concert Artist Series is again presenting ENCORES: three Wednesday noon-time recitals featuring pianist Ran Dank (December 15), violinist Hahn-Bin (January 19), and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan (February 9).

French Stars of YCA

A new event this season will be an evening presented in association with the French Institute/Alliance Française at Florence Gould Hall featuring Jean Efflam-Bavouzet, pianist and the Modigliani String Quartet.

Young Concert Artists 50^th Anniversary Gala

On Tuesday, March 29^th, 2011, YCA will hold a gala concert at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. YCA Alumnus Pinchas Zukerman will lead the Orchestra of St. Luke’s with soloists and YCA Alumni mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke; clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester; flutist Aleksandr Haskin; violinists Chee-Yun, Tim Fain, Karen Gomyo, Caroline Goulding, Bella Hristova and Daniel Phillips; pianists Ran Dank, Chu-Fang Huang, Anne-Marie McDermott, Adam Neiman, Vassily Primakov and Vassilis Varvaresos; and harpsichordist Anthony Newman.

For more details about Young Concert Artist’s 50^th Anniversary Season, please visit www.yca.org.

Young Concert Artists 50^th Anniversary Season Special Events
 

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Contact:

Rebecca Davis

Rebecca@rebeccadavispr.com

347-432-8832