Happy Autumn, Students and Parents!

Its time to get out your family flow charts, calendars, and colored pencils for a new season.

The ASTA State Solo Competition will be held Sunday, Nov. 7. I’ll be making suggestions to you in your lessons about whether or not to participate. The Winners’ Recital will be Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.. The application deadline is Oct. 1. Please see the attached information and application. Our pianist this semester will be Susan Garrelts who is available for this competition and Winners’ Recital. She has also reserved some other dates for us (see below.)

Looking ahead to the Thursday Musical Recital dates: Please choose:
Jan. 22 & 23, 2005 at 1:30
Jan. 29 & 30, at 1:30
Feb. 5 & 6, at 1:30
All recitals are held at University Lutheran Church of Hope.

A recital performance on one of these dates is required for participation in the Thursday Musical Student Competition on Sat., March 5, at College of St. Catherine, 8 am to 5 pm. However, the recital is a good performance opportunity in and of itself without the solo competition.

The registration brochure will be available in October, and the application deadline is due Nov. 15.

We are very fortunate to have Susan Garrelts as our pianist this semester. Please write down these dates for rehearsals, classes, and concerts.

Oct. 3, Sunday afternoon.
Oct. 21, Thursday evening.
Oct. 31, Sunday, afternoon. (I know, don’t worry.)
Masterclass with Mimi Zweig Nov. 18, date tentative
Nov. 20, Sat. afternoon or evening Concert.

After culling the local subscription concert listings, I’ve come up with some suggestions for concerts that I think you’d enjoy. Of course, this list is by no means complete. Please try to attend concerts. Hearing performances is a crucial part of the kids’ development as musicians.

September 23, Th., 11 am Orchestra Hall
September 25, Sa., 8 pm Orchestra Hall
Osmo Vanska
Jorja Fleezanis
Minnesota Orchestra
Beloved concertmaster of the MO, Jorja Fleezanis, performs the Berg Violin Concerto, groundbreaking 20th century masterwork.

Sept. 26, Sun., 2 pm, Sundin Hall
Oct. 3, Sun., 2 pm, SPCO Center
Members of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Chamber music by Bach and Mendelssohn

Sept. 30, Th., 8 pm Temple Israel
Oct. 1, Fri., 8 pm Wooddale Church
Oct. 2, 8 pm St. Paul’s UCC
Steve Copes, director and violin
Wendy Warner, cello
Ruggiero Allifrancini, violin and Nina Tso- Ning Fan, violin
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Our fabulous concertmaster, Steve Copes, leads soloist Wendy Warner in the Haydn Cello Concerto in C. The concert also features chamber music with SPCO musicians.

Oct. 7, Th., 11 am, Orchestra Hall
Oct. 8, Fri., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Oct. 9, Sat., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Tony Ross, cello
Edo de Waart
Minnesota Orchestra
Principal Cellist of the MO performs the Dvorak Cello Concerto.

Oct. 22, Fri., Ordway
Oct. 29, Fri., Ordway
Joshua Bell
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Nov. 18, Th., 11 am, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 19, Fri., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 21, Sun., 2 pm, Orchestra Hall
Lydia Hong, violin
Osmo Vanska
Minnesota Orchestra
Bruch Scottish Fantasy (the “other” Bruch concerto)

Nov. 18, Th., 8 pm, Ordway
Nicholas McGegan
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
New York Baroque Dance Company
Court Dances
Nov. 24, Wed., 7:30, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 26, Fri., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 27, Sa., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Leonidas Kavakos
Osmo Vanska
Minnesota Orchestra
Greek virtuoso performs 20th century masterwork, the Nielsen Violin Concerto

That is all the news for now. Keep practicing. I can feel it in the air-it is going to be a terrific year!

Lucia