Season tickets are on sale beginning June 27 for the Student
Union Classic Performances 2003-04 series. Presented by Boise
State Student Involvement, this year’s series brings to campus
award-winning musicians, an Asian American drumming group and
an internationally acclaimed piano trio.
Season tickets, available until Sept. 17, are $50 for the
general public and $25 for students 17 and under, seniors and
Boise State students, faculty, staff and alumni. For ticket
orders, call Select-a-Seat at 426-1494.
Here is the schedule for the six-concert series, which is held
in the Boise State University Special Events Center at the
west end of the Student Union.
Sept.
21, 4 p.m. — Olga Kern, piano. In June 2001, 26-year-old Olga
Kern was awarded the Gold Medal at the Eleventh Van Cliburn
International Piano Competition, the first woman to have
achieved this distinction in more than 30 years. Kern’s
passionate musicianship and stage presence have captivated
fans and critics alike. A compact disc recording of her
Cliburn competition performances can be found on the harmonia
mundi label.
Oct.
4, 8 p.m. — Naoko Takada, marimba. Naoko Takada is an
accomplished solo and guest performer appearing in both the
United States and Japan. Born in Tokyo, she began to study the
marimba at the age of 8. Her first appearance as a soloist
with orchestra was at age 11, when she played with the Tokyo
Symphony and Tokyo Chamber Orchestras. Takada has earned
degrees in music from California State University-Northridge
and Ithaca College and is currently studying at the Boston
Conservatory with Nancy Zeltsman. Takada is a Yamaha
performing artist.
Nov.
8, 8 p.m. — Catrin Finch, harp. Welsh harpist Catrin Finch is
the royal harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales, a post last
filled in 1871 under Queen Victoria. The Prince revived the
post after hearing Finch perform at his 50th birthday
celebration in Buckingham Palace. Finch has earned several
international awards and performs a limited number of overseas
concerts.
Dec.
6, 8 p.m. — Portland Taiko Ensemble. Established in 1994,
Portland Taiko Ensemble is an award-winning Asian American
drumming group. The performers weave rhythm, melody, humor
and movement into an exhilarating musical experience. The only
professional taiko company in the Pacific Northwest, Portland
Taiko Ensemble has been honored by the National Endowment for
the Arts and the American Composers Forum.
Feb.
7, 8 p.m. — Ju-Young Baek, violin. Ju-Young Baek is both a
soloist and chamber music performer. She has been a featured
performer for the Boise Philharmonic and annually performs
with such orchestras as the London Philharmonic and Tokyo
Symphony Orchestra. A graduate from The Julliard School, Baek
currently works in the professional studies program at the
Manhattan School of Music. Her career has been assisted by
Astral Artistic Services of Philadelphia.
March
13, 8 p.m. — Florestan Trio, piano trio. Celebrating their
26th season, the members of the Florestan Trio have received
international acclaim for their playing. Since joining the
faculty of Portland State University in 1977 as
artists-in-residence, the Trio has performed concerts
throughout the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe. The
Florestan Trio has received two grants from the National
Endowment for the Arts, and recently returned to Asia for
their third concert tour of Japan. While in Tokyo,
Ongaku-no-tomo reported: “Their playing positively overflowed
with life and energy.”
