By Eileen Wingard
SANTA MONICA, California –Since its inception in 1955, under the visionary leadership of Sylvia Kunin, the Young Musicians Foundation has nurtured a long list of outstanding concert artists and conductors. In the past several weeks, I personally attended performances by four YMF competition winners, Violinist Zina Schiff in recital in San Francisco, Pianist Horacio Guiterrez performing with the San Diego Symphony, Pianist Mona Golabek starring in a one-woman show at the Geffen Playhouse, and Lucas Richman conducting the YMF Debut Orchestra on the Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. In addition, Pianist Gerald Robbins performed last weekend at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall, a concert which I was unable to attend.
Listening to the Debut Orchestra Sunday afternoon, June 10, in a program of works by Mozart, Saint-Saens, Ibert and Faure, it was apparent that the Young Musicians Foundation is continuing to carry out its mission of preserving the classical music heritage by contributing to the personal, academic and artistic development of young musicians.
The Debut Orchestra, comprised of 70 of Los Angeles’ most gifted 15-25- year-old musicians, displayed their talents under the capable direction of guest conductor, Lucas Richman, Music Director of both the Knoxville and the Bangor Symphony Orchestras.
The Japanese cellist, Yoshika Masuda, 1st prize winner of the Debut Competition, gave a nuanced performance of the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto. He produced a warm, vibrant sound with lovely phrasing. There were magical moments, as when the strings introduced a tip-toe-like theme which continued under the soaring cello line. The final moto perpetual section raced to an exciting climax.
After receiving his masters degree at London’s Royal Conservatory of Music, he followed his teacher, the renowned cellist, Ralph Kirshbaum, to the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.
Preceding the cello concerto was a well-paced performance of Faure’s Masques et Bergamasques, a suite of contrasting dances. The concert concluded with a spirited reading of Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, the “Jupiter.”
Maestro Richman served as guest conductor of the Debut Orchestra’s recent tour of China, a new achievement in YMF’s long list of accolades.
With young people continuing to strive for greatness in mastering musical instruments, and organizations like YMF continuing to support their efforts, the future of classical music looks bright and promising.
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Wingard is a retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony and a freelance writer. She may be contacted at eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com