March 31, 2006 Double bassist Edgar Meyer chosen as Mentor Musician
The Festival is a project of the Philharmonic Society, Laguna Beach Live and Laguna Chamber Music Society
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Laguna Beach Live! and Laguna Chamber Music Society announce the fourth annual Laguna Beach Chamber Music Festival from Monday, April 24 through Sunday, April 30, 2006.

            The Festival is a blend of education, performances and events throughout Laguna Beach, designed to bring together internationally distinguished musicians and gifted young musicians in a week-long personal teaching environment. The public has the rare opportunity to observe these stars of tomorrow as they hone their musical technique and expression, and to enjoy special performances by the master and pupils in intimate settings.   
            The Festival includes three outstanding concerts:  The Opening Night concert “Mozart’s Delight” (Friday, April 28, 2006 at 8 pm) will feature Mozart’s arrangement of one of his middle piano concertos for string quintet and piano. Hear how the players respond to each other with immediacy and sensitivity and see the subtle interaction between piano and strings, the heart of the music’s style.  “Between Friends” (Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 8 pm) with Mike Marshall, one of the top mandolinists in the world, joining Edgar Meyer for an evening infused with a strong Bluegrass influence. “Schubert’s Trout” (Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 3 pm), written specifically for a group of young musicians, has an unusual combination of piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass, perfect for the Festival.                  This year we are proud to have double bassist Edgar Meyer as the 2006 Distinguished Mentor Musician.  Prominently established as a unique and masterful instrumentalist, Edgar Meyer delights his audiences both as a vibrant performer and an innovative composer.  Hailed by the New Yorker as, “...the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument,” Mr. Meyer’s unparalleled technique and musicianship in combination with his gift for composition have brought him to the fore, where he is appreciated by a vast and varied audience.  His uniqueness in his field was recognized by a MacArthur Award in 2002.
            Mike Marshall is one of the world's most accomplished and versatile acoustic musicians, a master of mandolin, guitar and violin whose playing is as imaginative and adventurous as it is technically thrilling. Able to swing gracefully from jazz to classical to bluegrass to Latin styles, he puts his stamp on everything he plays with an unusually potent blend intellect and emotion a combination of musical skill and instinct rare in the world of American vernacular instrumentalists.

            Joining Edgar Meyer this year are ten gifted young musicians:  Kathryn Eberle (violin), Katie Hyun (violin), Jared Turner (viola), Soyeon Lee (piano), Kevin Kwan Loucks (piano), Mihai Marica (cello), and members of the California Quartet:  Bridget Dolkas (violin), Mirabai Weismehl (violin), Christine Grossman (viola), and Erin Breene (cello).  

            Kathryn Eberle (violin) is a USC graduate who received the String and Symphony Award, and is now in the LA Artist Diploma Program at the Colburn School of Performing Arts.  Katie Hyun (violin) is pursuing her Masters at the State University of New York in Stony Brook.  She currently studies with Pamela Frank, Ani Kavafian, and Philip Setzer.  Soyeon Lee (piano) earned her Master’s degree from The Juilliard School and was recently awarded the Arthur Rubinstein Prize, Juilliard’s highest honor for graduating pianists.  Kevin Kwan Loucks (piano) is currently completing his graduate studies at The Juilliard School where he is a Rose and Goldberg scholarship recipient.  He recently won the 2004 Schlern International Competition in Italy, and first prize at the National Piano-Duo Competition in Calilfornia.  Mihai Marica (cello) began his studies at the Music High School in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and is currently studying with renowned cellist and pedagogue Aldo Parisot at Yale.  He recently received First Prize in the Irvin M. Klein International String Competition. 
            The California Quartet has emerged as one of the most promising young chamber music ensembles in the United States.  Bridget Dolkas (violin) is the principal second violin of the Pacific Symphony, and has won first place in the La Jolla Symphony Young Artists Concert Competition.  Mirabai Weismehl (violin) has made appearances with the Marin Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and the Oberlin Concert Orchestra, which she founded and conducted.  She was awarded the Kaufman Violin Prize and earned a Masters degree with Distinction from the Longy School of Music.  Christine Grossman (viola) won positions in both Pacific Symphony and Opera Pacific Orchestra and has been performing with the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Chamber Orchestra.  She received both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from The Juilliard School.  Erin Breene (cello) was recently appointed associate principal cellist of Opera Pacific Orchestra.  She attended The Juilliard School, where she received her Masters degree. 

            Tickets for the concerts are $30 for center orchestra, $25 for rear and sides, and $15 for full-time students with valid ID. Save 15% off when you purchase a package of all 3 concerts. Tickets are available at the Laguna Playhouse box office at (949) 497-2787, Philharmonic Society box office at (949) 553-2422, or visit www.PhilharmonicSociety.org or www.lagunabeachlive.org.

November 11, 2005 Double bassist Edgar Meyer chosen as Mentor Musician
The Festival is a project of the Philharmonic Society, Laguna Beach Live  and Laguna Chamber Music Society
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Laguna Beach Live! and Laguna Chamber Music Society announces the fourth annual Laguna Beach Chamber Music Festival from Monday, April 24 through Sunday, April 30, 2006.
            The Festival is a blend of education, performances and events throughout Laguna Beach, designed to bring together internationally distinguished musicians and gifted young musicians in a week-long personal teaching environment. The public has the rare opportunity to observe these stars of tomorrow as they hone their musical technique and expression, and to enjoy special performances by the master and pupils in intimate settings. 
            The festival includes three outstanding concerts:  The Opening Night concert “Mozart’s Delight” (Friday, April 28, 2006 at 8 pm) will feature Mozart’s arrangement of one of his middle piano concertos for string quintet and piano. Hear how the players respond to each other with immediacy and sensitivity and see the subtle interaction between piano and strings, the heart of the music’s style.  “Laguna Hoedown” (Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 8 pm) with Mike Marshall, one of the top mandolinists in the world, joining Edgar Meyer for an evening infused with a strong Bluegrass influence. “Schubert’s Trout” (Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 3 pm), written specifically for a group of young musicians, has an unusual combination of piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass, perfect for the Festival. 
            This year we are proud to have double bassist Edgar Meyer as the 2006 Distinguished Mentor Musician.  Prominently established as a unique and masterful instrumentalist, Edgar Meyer delights his audiences both as a vibrant performer and an innovative composer.  Hailed by the New Yorker as, “...the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument,” Mr. Meyer’s unparalleled technique and musicianship in combination with his gift for composition have brought him to the fore, where he is appreciated by a vast and varied audience.  His uniqueness in his field was recognized by a MacArthur Award in 2002.
            Mike Marshall is one of the world's most accomplished and versatile acoustic musicians, a master of mandolin, guitar and violin whose playing is as imaginative and adventurous as it is technically thrilling. Able to swing gracefully from jazz to classical to bluegrass to Latin styles, he puts his stamp on everything he plays with an unusually potent blend intellect and emotion a combination of musical skill and instinct rare in the world of American vernacular instrumentalists.
            Joining Edgar Meyer this year are seven gifted young musicians:  Kathryn Eberle (violin), Katie Hyun (violin), Soyeon Lee (piano), Kevin Kwan Loucks (piano), Mihai Marica (cello), and members of the California Quartet:  Bridget Dolkas (violin), Mirabai Weismehl (violin), Christine Grossman (viola), and Erin Breene (cello).  
            Kathryn Eberle (violin) is a USC graduate who received the String and Symphony Award, and is now in the LA Artist Diploma Program at the Colburn School of Performing Arts.  Katie Hyun (violin) is pursuing her Masters at the State University of New York in Stony Brook.  She currently studies with Pamela Frank, Ani Kavafian, and Philip Setzer.  Soyeon Lee (piano) earned her Master’s degree from The Juilliard School and was recently awarded the Arthur Rubinstein Prize, Juilliard’s highest honor for graduating pianists.  Kevin Kwan Loucks (piano) is currently completing his graduate studies at The Juilliard School where he is a Rose and Goldberg scholarship recipient.  He recently won the 2004 Schlern International Competition in Italy, and first prize at the National Piano-Duo Competition in Calilfornia.  Mihai Marica (cello) began his studies at the Music High School in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and is currently studying with renowned cellist and pedagogue Aldo Parisot at Yale.  He recently received First Prize in the Irvin M. Klein International String Competition. 
            The California Quartet has emerged as one of the most promising young chamber music ensembles in the United States.  Bridget Dolkas (violin) is the principal second violin of the Pacific Symphony, and has won first place in the La Jolla Symphony Young Artists Concert Competition.  Mirabai Weismehl (violin) has made appearances with the Marin Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and the Oberlin Concert Orchestra, which she founded and conducted.  She was awarded the Kaufman Violin Prize and earned a Masters degree with Distinction from the Longy School of Music.  Christine Grossman (viola) won positions in both Pacific Symphony and Opera Pacific Orchestra and has been performing with the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Chamber Orchestra.  She received both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from The Juilliard School.  Erin Breene (cello) was recently appointed associate principal cellist of Opera Pacific Orchestra.  She attended The Juilliard School, where she received her Masters degree. 
            Tickets for the concerts are $30 for center orchestra, $25 for general, and $15 for full-time students with valid ID. Save 15% off when you purchase a package of all 3 concerts. Tickets are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at (949) 553-2422, and online at www.PhilharmonicSociety.org. 
            For more information or to request a full schedule of events, call the Philharmonic Society at (949) 553-2422, or visit www.LagunaBeachChamberMusicFestival.org.