The Sun Valley Summer Symphony School of Music will celebrate its 10th anniversary this summer with a series of events in the Wood River Valley. Nearly 200 students have spent time in the core and developmental programs at the School of Music in the last 10 years.
Local graduates of the School of Music have gone on to study music at several colleges and universities, including the Berklee College of Music in Boston, New York University and the University of Idaho.
On Sunday, May 2, the School of Music's honors recital featured top students who auditioned to earn a spot on the program. They included soloists, chamber orchestra musicians and vocal ensembles.
Sun Valley Summer Symphony Director Alasdair Neale was in attendance to present the first "Carol Nie Outstanding Music Award" to 18-year-old pianist Brendan Freund, who has been a student since he was in third grade.
Freund was selected by a panel of faculty and symphony board members. The award was accompanied by a $1,000 prize that can be used to further his musical training.
"He played the cello when he began at the School of Music 10 years ago," Education Director Kim Gasenica said. "He was no taller than his instrument."
Now Freund is all grown up. He ended the Sunday program by playing the lively "Scherzo" by Charles Griffes.
"It was beautiful," Gasenica said.
Freund will attend Stanford University and pursue music as a minor.
Other events to celebrate the School of Music's anniversary this summer will include a faculty and guest artist concert and performance by current students and alumni of a musical work for strings, voice and piano.
An original piece has been commissioned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the music school and is being composed this summer by School of Music composer and vocal coach Jim Watkinson.
Neale will conduct the premiere of the piece at the Sun Valley Summer Symphony's family concert on Aug. 14 in Sun Valley.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
Photo by Willy Cook
