Another wonderful concert with violinists Lyra, Vela, Sadie, Alice, Catelijne, Cooper and Justin Bartlett our collaborative pianist who makes all our concerts better! May 2024
SCHEDULE FOR Saturday, May 18, 2024
Here is the rehearsal and concert schedule for Saturday, May 18th
11: VV I and VV II
Wonderful Concert at Western KY University
![](https://blogs.iu.edu/jsomstringacademy/files/2024/05/Virtuosi-300x159.jpg)
![](https://blogs.iu.edu/jsomstringacademy/files/2024/05/Layla-Sinead-Alice-300x200.jpg)
![](https://blogs.iu.edu/jsomstringacademy/files/2024/05/Cooper-300x200.jpg)
Thank you to Ching Yi Lin and Andy Braddock for arranging the Virtuosi Concert a WKU – May 2024.
Final Concerts of the Spring Semester
Concerts are Saturday, May 18. Come join us!
The Gala Cello Concert begins at 12 noon in Recital Hall.
The Gala Violin Concert takes place at 1 PM in Auer Hall.
A reminder that Summer II begins on June 22nd.
Don Freund Seven Pieces
Professor Don Freund coached the Virtuosi on his Seven Pieces for Violin/Viola. They will be performed at Western Kentucky University on May 11, at Auer Hall on May 18 and at Sweeney Hall on June 23 for the opening concert of the Summer String Academy. Thank you to Professor Freund!
Virtuosi Perform at ASTA 2024
The Virtuosi played a beautiful concert for over 1,000 people at the ASTA Conference in Louisville this past March.
Bravo to Alice Zheng
Alice performed a beautiful Kabalevsky Concerto with the Indianapolish Youth Orchestra on February 18th. Thank you to the support of conductor Adam Bodony.
New Faculty
We are very pleased to introduce you to our two new String Academy Faculty members – Maki Yamagata (violin/viola) and Erica Ogihara (cello).
Maki Yamagata is currently studying with the world-renowned violist and composer, Atar Arad, and pursuing a doctorate degree in music performance at the Jacobs School of Music. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degree in music performance from University of Victoria, Canada, under the tutelage of Joanna Hood of the Lafayette String Quartet. She was an active teacher in Canada before moving to US and is now studying pedagogy with Mimi Zweig.
Hailing from Miami Florida, Erica Ogihara is a passionate performer and teacher. Her repertoire ranges from works as recent as John Adams’ riveting Fellow Traveller to familiar classics such as Franz Joseph Haydn’s beloved Opus 64 String Quartets. Her recent performance highlights include giving the New York City premier of Lisa Heffter’s Carbon Fiber String Quartet with the Continuum Chamber Collective, a musical group focused on performing underrepresented compositions. Erica has put together numerous chamber projects which have led to her participation in masterclasses with artists such as composer Nico Muhly, pianist Ursula Oppens, and violinist Ida Kavafian. Heard as a soloist with orchestras including the Alhambra Symphony Orchestra and the Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra, Erica has also been a laureate at several competitions including the Walenstein Music Competition and the Artist Series of Sarasota Competition.
As an educator, Erica wishes to cultivate a love of music through her teaching and provide music education to as many people as possible. A Suzuki Association of the Americas registered instructor, she completed her teacher training in books 1-8 with Pam Devenport and books 9-10 with Tanya Carey. As a 2021 Fellow at ArtistYear, the premier AmeriCorps program dedicated for artists, Erica taught music and cello to District I Schools in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley through her service year. In addition, she taught cello lessons and group classes to young cellists at The School for Strings’ Start-Up Program and was a Morse Teaching Fellow and Gluck Community Engagement Fellow through The Juilliard School.
Erica began her studies on the cello at the age of 10 with Audrey Pilafian. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Cello Performance at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of Brandon Vamos of the Pacifica Quartet. Erica completed her Master’s Degree from The Juilliard School and also holds a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory. Her teachers include Darrett Adkins, Natasha Brofsky, Ross Harbaugh, and Judith Serkin.
Time Changes for Intermezzo Concerts on February 25!
Two of our students are in the Finals for the Mauer Competition which the competition just announced will take place Sunday morning from 10 to 12 on February 25. We are hoping for their successes and quick return to Bloomington for the Intermezzo Concerts.
February 25: Intermezzo Concerts for Violin at 2:30 and 4:00 in Sweeney Hall
February 25: Cello Intermezzo 1:00 in Sweeney Hall
Another Honor for Miranda Isbitts
Miranda Isbitts received the Kay and Frank Deodene Memorial Award as part of the 2024 NSAL Instrumental Competition.