Irving M. Klein International String Competition and 25th anniversary concert

The 25th anniversary concert features pianist Jon Nakamatsu, the Alexander String Quartet, Cypress String Quartet, violist Michi Aceret and past Klein Competition winners including cellist David Requiro and violinist Tessa Lark. They will perform works by Ysaÿe, Kriesler and Brahms.

Mitchell Sardou Klein, director of the Klein Competition since its inception in 1985, is grateful to have helped launch successful careers for many soloists. “Looking back, it’s been extremely gratifying to be in touch with Klein Competition alumni who tell us what a difference we have made in their lives,” he said. “We are continually impressed by the increasing levels of excellence displayed by all entrants over the years.”

This year’s semifinalists were selected from 65 entrants from four continents and the nation’s top conservatories. The semifinalists represent five countries. They are:

• Francesca dePasquale, 20, violinist from Philadelphia. She studies with Robert Lipsett at the Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles.
• Luke Hsu, 19, violinist from Shanghai. He studies with Cho-Liang Lin at Rice University.
• Michael Katz, 22, cellist from Tel Aviv. He studies with Joel Krosnick at The Juilliard School.
• Fabiola Kim, 18, violinist from New Jersey. She studies with Kyung Wha Chung at The Juilliard School.
• Philip Kramp, 23, violist from Springfield, Ill. He studies with Roger Tapping at the New England Conservatory of Music.
• Taeguk Mun, 15, cellist from South Korea. He studies with Minhye Clara Kim at W.T. Clarke High School in Westbury, N.Y.
• Hannah Sloane, 20, cellist from London. She studies with Darrett Adkins at The Juilliard School.
• Xiang (Angelo) Yu, 21, violinist from China. He studies with Donald Weilerstein at the New England Conservatory of Music. Yu was also a Klein Competition semifinalist in 2009.

In the semifinal round, each performer will play an unaccompanied work of Bach, a major portion of a selected concerto and a new commissioned composition by Dick Hyman (“Decree” for violin, “Descant” for viola or “Descent” for cello). In the final round, the artists must perform additional portions of their selected concerto and one major sonata movement.

The grand prize, the Marvin T. Tepperman Memorial Award, includes $14,000 and solo appearances with the Santa Cruz and Peninsula symphonies, Chamber Music Tulsa, Music in the Vineyards, a Bay Area benefit concert and other performances. The Elaine Klein Award goes to second place and is $3,000. The Alice Anne Roberts Memorial Award goes to third place and is $2,500. The Thomas and Lavilla Barry and Lena and Jules Flock Memorial awards go to two fourth-place finishers and include $1,200 each.

This year’s distinguished jury includes members of the Alexander and Cypress string quartets, Michael Gelfand, Peter Gelfand, Marc Gottlieb, Alan Grishman, Joel Hoffman, Dick Hyman, Joshua Kosman, Melvin Margolis, Donna Mudge, Alice Schoenfeld, Margaret Tait, Patricia Taylor Lee and Byung-Woo Kim.

Location and Parking
Knuth Hall is located in the Creative Arts Building on the SF State campus, 1600 Holloway Ave. (at 19th Ave.), San Francisco. Public parking is available in Lot 20, accessed from Lake Merced Boulevard between Winston Drive and Font Boulevard. On weekends and evenings only, public parking is available in Lots 1 and 2, on Holloway Ave. (at 19th Ave.). Parking is $1 per hour with a $5 daily maximum. Nearby street parking is readily available on weekends. For details, visit www.sfsu.edu/~parking.

Calendar Editors, Please Note:
Irving M. Klein International String Competition
Anniversary concert: Thursday, June 10, 8 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Finals: Sunday, June 13, 4–7 p.m.
Knuth Hall, Creative Arts Building, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave. (at 19th Ave.), San Francisco, CA 94132
Information: 415/338-2467; http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/klein
Admission:
Anniversary Concert only: $35 general/$25 students and seniors
Weekend pass (semifinals and finals): $25 general/$15 students and seniors;
Festival pass (anniversary concert, semifinals and finals): $50 general/$35 students and seniors

Anniversary concert
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the world’s leading competition for young string artists. Performers include pianist Jon Nakamatsu, the Alexander String Quartet, Cypress String Quartet, violist Michi Aceret and past Klein Competition winners including cellist David Requiro and violinist Tessa Lark.

Program: Ysaÿe: Sonata No. 4 in E minor; Kreisler: Recitativo and Scherzo-Caprice, Op. 6; Brahms: Quintet for Piano and Strings in F minor, Op. 34; and Brahms: Sextet for Strings No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 18

Competition
Observe the superb performances of young string artists from all over the world who have traveled to San Francisco to compete for one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for virtuosos ages 15 to 23. the semifinal round features eight performers selected among entrants from four continents and top conservatories. Semifinalists will perform a new commissioned composition by Dick Hyman, unaccompanied works of Bach and a concerto. In the final round, the artists must perform additional portions of their selected concerto and one major sonata movement.

This year’s grand prize includes $14,000 and solo appearances with the Santa Cruz and Peninsula symphonies, a Bay Area benefit concert and other performances.