“It was the festival that almost didn’t happen,” writes January Holmes in Thursday’s (5/27) Bradenton Herald (Florida). “Budget shortfalls followed by spending cuts almost killed the 46th Sarasota Music Festival, hosted by the Sarasota Orchestra. But then the Jay and Becky Kaiserman Foundation stepped in to rescue it, providing funding for the premiere music extravaganza. This Monday, the three-week chamber music fanfare begins, and there’s plenty of new events for area audiences to look forward to. For starters, the Sarasota Orchestra will perform at the festival for the first time in the event’s history. The orchestra will play alongside festival students during a special concert at 8 p.m. June 5 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. … Each year, roughly 500 music students (ages 16 and older) from around the world audition for the coveted 58 festival slots. They get to work alongside 40 master musicians within the festival’s guest faculty. … Students also will compete for a special solo spot. The winner will perform June 19 at the festival’s Beethoven program at the Opera House.”
Posted May 28, 2010
