Kids Around the Bay

Janos Gereben on April 12, 2012
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Graduation Time: Free, Exciting Recitals

It is time to head to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A map is provided to assist you in the quest.

As students strut their stuff in individual and group graduation concerts, they — and their families — bask in the spotlight. At the same time, music lovers get a chance to hear free concerts and discover stars of the future for themselves.

Last week, Music News presented the case for oboist Sydne-Mychal Sullivan's recital at 8 p.m. on April 29. Now, having pulled teeth from some of the young virtuosi, who have great skills except in publicity and marketing (they'll learn!), here are a few other recommendations:

Bassoonist Justin Takamine, 11 a.m. on April 15

Justin Takamine

In his first year studying with Steve Paulson at SFCM, Takamine is working for a master's degree. His B.A. is from UCLA, where he studied with John Steinmetz.

His minor was in mathematics, and Takamine admits enjoying "the extremely nerdy pastime of computer programming," cashing in on the hobby by working as application developer at a software company.

"School and work keep both sides of my brain happy and, surprisingly, I often find in one insight into the other."

Accompanied by Xiyan Wang, Takamine will perform works by Noel-Gallon, Devienne, and Saint-Saëns.

Mezzo Kate Allen, 8 p.m. on April 20

Kate Allen

Irish-born Allen is one of S.F. Conservatory master teacher César Ulloa's many talented voice students.

She is in a postgraduate program, on a Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation scholarship, having completed her Master of Music degree in San Francisco.

Allen won the 2010 San Francisco district title of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Her program includes arias by Handel, Cilea, and Bellini; songs by Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler.

 

Soprano Maya Kherani, 5 p.m. on April 22

Maya Kherani

With a Bachelor's of Science degree, summa cum laude no less, from Princeton University in mechanical engineering, as well as minors in materials science, robotics, and intelligent systems, Kherani is aspiring to a singing career.

Locally, she already made her mark in the San Francisco Conservatory's Cosi fan tutte and Ensemble Paralèlle's Four Saints in Three Acts.

She is studying with Pamela Fry in vocal performance master program.

Her recital will include arias by Vivaldi, Purcell, Dominick Argento, Mohammed Fairouz, Bizet, and Richard Strauss.

 

Pianist Laure Struber, 5 p.m. on April 28

French-born Struber has an unusual resume including a Fulbright scholarship, martial arts, and at age 24, two decades of piano.

Laure Struber

She also plays harpsichord, fortepiano, and "some minuets on the viola."

Struber is working on her master's degree with Mack McCray and her performance program includes Bach's English Suite in D Minor, Beethoven's Sonata Op. 110, and Ravel's Miroirs.

She is winner of the piano department's Marina Grin Award for "good citizenship, fine pianism, and selfless contribution to the musical world."

 

 

Violinist Solenn Séguillon, 8 p.m. on April 30

The Paris-born violinist last year toured throughout China as a soloist with the American Philharmonic Orchestra.

Solenn Séguillon

Séguillon spends her summers in France on concert tours with the San Francisco Conservatory's Aleron Trio, which will also give concerts in Spain and in various locations throughout the U.S.

Séguillon, who has studied with Axel Strauss, will receive a Master of Music from the Conservatory this month.

The violinist has performed with both the UNESCO Orchestra (as concertmaster) and the San Francisco’s Magik*Magik Orchestra.

She will play a program of Vaughan Williams, Brahms, and Fauré, with pianists Kevin Korth, Teresa Yu, Igor Pancevski, and cellist Anne Suda.

 

Distinguished Guests for S.F. Girls Chorus Season

Girls Chorus/Chorissa members, circa 2008

With Interim Music Director Brandon Brack taking the baton from Susan McMane to lead the San Francisco Girls Chorus, the organization's 2012-2013 season features significant commissioned composers and guest artists.

Attractions include the premiere of an oratorio, Holy Daughters by Gabriela Lena Frank (named composer-in-residence) and Pulitzer-winner Nilo Cruz, premieres of new Christmas music by Gordon Getty and young composers, and guest artists soprano Jessica Rivera, Jeffrey Thomas and the American Bach Soloists, members of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Marcus Shelby Trio, and Joana Carneiro.

The May 3 world premiere of Holy Daughters will take place in Mission Dolores, with the participation of members of the Berkeley Symphony. The work is based on Biblical texts interpreted by Portuguese poet José Tolentino de Mendonça. Nilo Cruz provided the libretto in Spanish, Portuguese, and Nahuatl (the pre-conquest language of central Mexico). The commission was made possible by the Wallace Alexander Gerbode and the William and Flora Hewlett foundations.

Born in Berkeley, to a mother of mixed Peruvian/Chinese ancestry and a father of Lithuanian/Jewish descent, Frank has long explored her multicultural heritage through her compositions. Inspired by the works and methods of Bartók and Ginastera, Frank considers herself "something of a musical anthropologist." She has traveled extensively throughout South America and her pieces reflect her studies of Latin-American folklore, incorporating poetry, mythology, and native musical styles into a Western classical framework.

New Girls Chorus Into the Alphabet Soup

Joining SFS, SFB, SFO, SFBC, and — significantly — SFGC, there is now YWCP, the Young Women's Choral Projects of San Francisco. You know, of course, that SFGC is the San Francisco Girls Chorus, whose artistic director, Susan McMane, departed last week.

Susan McMane

Not wasting any time, McMane is announcing the formation of a new girls' chorus, and that's what YWCP is. It's not yet quite tripping off the tongue; more a plan than an accomplished fact. As far as projects are concerned, however, this seems to have a robust promise.

Beyond the grandiose goals to be "... a testimony of women’s abilities to create a more beautiful world ... [teaching] dedication and commitment to the highest ideals of humanity," it may well provide a fine opportunity for girls who just wanna have fun, and sing.

McMane's plan is to form an auditioned choir of young women, 12 to 18, from around the Bay Area, to perform locally in 2012-2013, and travel to Italy for performances in June 2013. Tamara Hicks is chair of board, and she says of McMane: "There are few individuals in the world with her talent and track record leading young women’s choral organizations."

An informational meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. April 15 at Synergy School, 1387 Valencia. The contact is Anne Heminger at [email protected].