Bogotá, Colombia – A series of preview concerts sponsored by the Salvi Foundation Colombia, in advance of the III Cartagena International Festival of Music, took place in Cali at the Enrique Buenaventura Theatre; MedellÍn at the José Gutiérrez Gómez Theatre; and Bogotá at the Sala de Conciertos of the Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, September 11,13 and 16, 2008. The programs featured the music of Samuel Barber, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Kenji Bunch, Erno Dohnanyi, Antonin Dvorak, Jeno Hubay, Felix Mendelssohn, Francis Poulenc and Maurice Ravel performed by Festival artists: Founding Artistic Director, Charles Wadsworth, piano; Stephen Prutsman, associate artistic director/piano; and Festival artists José Franch-Ballester, clarinet; Andrés Díaz, cello; Hsin-Yun Huang, viola; and Livia Sohn, violin. More than 1200 people attended the three preview concerts. Black tie benefit dinners were held in Cali and Bogotá to support the work of the Cartagena Festival. The official 2009 Cartagena International Music Festival poster designed by Colombian artist, Juan Cardenas was introduced for the first time at the Bogotá gala.
"The preview concerts offered audiences in each city a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the excitement and beauty of what takes place during the annual Cartagena International Music Festival," says Sandra Meluk, Executive Director of the Salvi Foundation – Colombia. "The Cartagena Festival has now become a national event through these concerts and the masterclasses we offer throughout the year to gifted and talented young Colombian musicians -- an important bond is formed during these exchanges which helps to nourish careers."
According to Stephen Prutsman, "the educational character of the Cartagena Music Festival is an important part of the experience for the visiting festival artists; young Colombian musicians are invited to attend both the open rehearsals and the concerts as part of a pedagogical program in which we, as guest artists, are anxious to participate. It is gratifying to see the dedication and talent of the young artists we have met while in Colombia, including, the more than 120 members of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Medellin School of Music Network, who performed for us during our recent visit."
David Alexander Avendaño, age 10 and Henry Lance, age 16, both members of the Medellín School of Music Network, received the Salvi Foundation Award in recognition of their motivation and discipline studying a musical instrument. David received a violin and Henry an oboe as recognition of their accomplishment. Marta Arango, director of the Medellin School of Music Network commended the students for their talent, dedication and commitment to the program.
"What I experienced in the Master Class series with the Valle Filarmonic Orchestra and at the House of Music in Medellín, will be always stay with me," says José Franch-Ballester. "I was deeply affected by the talent of so many young people and their desire to succeed; although we shared only a few hours together I was impressed by how quickly they learned and applied the techniques we presented to them, it was an impressive and rewarding to experience."
"We are very gratified by the generosity of those who helped make the prelude concerts and black-tie benefit dinners so successful," says Salvi Foundation – Colombia President, Julia Salvi. "The substantial outpouring of support we have received this year is a vote of confidence in what we are creating in Colombia – an opportunity to support social programs through the arts." Sponsors include: Avianca, Cine Colombia, Profesionales de Bolsa, Publicar, RCN Radio y Televisión y Ennovva, Adriana Satizábal, Alcaldía de Medellín, Asociación para la Promoción de las Artes ProArtes, Audi, Banco de la República, Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, Casa Ibáñez, Club Colombia, El Herbario, EPM, Fundación Marin Vieco, Grupo Bancolombia, Harry Sasson, Hosa, Hotel Grand House, Hotel Medellín Royal, Hotel Radisson, Indómita vinos, Manuelita, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Sayco & Acimpro, Seguros Bolívar, Vinos Castillo De Molina, Vinos Finca La Escondida, and Young & Rubicam Brands.
Editor’s note:
For further information regarding the III Cartagena International Music Festival, guest artists and/or reproducible image of the festival poster please visit: www.cartagenamusicfestival.com
Click here to download a copy of the original press release in PDF format.
