Pre-Collegiate Musicians Perform at Roosevelt University’s Ganz Hall

The Music Institute of Chicago's (MIC) Academy orchestras will perform a free concert Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall in downtown Chicago. The Academy is an elite training program for gifted pre-collegiate musicians.

The Academy Strings, conducted by Academy Director James Setapen, will perform selections by Mozart, Giuseppe Tartini, Sibelius, Haydn and Academy alumnus Benjamin Fried. Soloists include pianist Ryan Jannak-Huang (Palatine, Illinois) and violinist Monet Lee (Buffalo Grove, Illinois).

The Academy Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Academy violin and viola faculty member Roland Vamos, will perform selections by Vivaldi, Dvorak, and Michael McLean. Soloists include violinists Leah Latorraca (Monana, Wisconsin) and Zachary Spontak (Fairbanks, Alaska).

MIC Academy students have had an impressive presence at major competitions, including first place wins at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (2010, 2009, 2007); St. Paul String Quartet Competition (2010, 2009, 2007); Blount-SLawson Young Artists Competition (2011, 2010); Sphinx Competition (2011, 2008); Johansen International String Competition (2009); ASTA National Solo Competition (2009); Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Auditions (2009, 2008); MTNA National Solo Competition (2010); Annual Steinway Young Artist Competition for Pianists (2011, 2010, 2009); Jules M. Laster Chamber Music Competition (2011, 2010, 2009); Rembrandt Chamber Players Music Competition (2009); and Corpus Christi International Competition for Piano and Strings (2009)-as well as second and third place victories.

The Academy orchestras perform Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan Ave., 7th floor. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Advance reservations are requested by calling 847.448.8308. For information, visit musicinst.org.

About the Artists
James Setapen is director of the Academy and MIC conductor in residence. From 1988 to 2007 he was music director and conductor of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, and he has conducted symphonies and orchestras in Baltimore, Indianapolis, Honolulu, Denver, and Orlando, as well as several cities in Italy, Germany and Austria. Former associate conductor of the Denver and Omaha Symphony Orchestras, Setapen won first prize in the Oakland, California Symphony's American Conductor Competition.
Roland Vamos has been a violin/viola faculty member at MIC for more than 25 years and director of the Academy Chamber Orchestra since its inception in 2006. He has received the Distinguished Teacher in the Arts Award and Distinguished Service Award from the American String Teachers Association; six Presidential Excellence in Teaching Awards; and Distinguished Teacher from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has served on the faculties of Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Minnesota and currently serves on the Northwestern University faculty. Dr. Vamos is a former member of the Houston and Dallas Symphony Orchestras, Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, and Contemporary String Quartet with recordings on the Rizzoli and Atlantic labels. He and his wife, distinguished violinist and faculty member Almita Vamos, commissioned and recently recorded three violin and viola duos by living Chicago composers.

Ryan Jannak-Huang is a scholarship recipient and member of MIC's Junior Academy program and studies with Brenda Huang. In 2010, he was named the MTNA state winner and first prize winner at the Awards competition. He was also the winner of the 2010 Virginia Geyser Behrendt Piano Solo Scholarship and The Amei Hu Lin Scholarship Duet Competition with cellist Johannes Gray. Ryan was awarded first place at the Society of American Musicians Competition for the Primary and Junior divisions. He has also won first place at the Confucius Music Festival for the Youth, Junior I and Junior II divisions. Ryan is a seventh grader at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School in Palatine.

Leah Latorraca is a member of MIC's Academy program and studies with Desiree Ruhstrat. She has won the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras Philharmonia and Youth Concerto Competition (2005 and 2008), the Madison Symphony Fall Youth Concerto Competition (2006) and the Madison Symphony Bolz Young Artist Competition (2008), performing with each of these orchestras. She also received Honorable Mention in the Walgreen's National Concerto Competition (2007) and Music Festival in Honor of Confucius Competition (2008). Leah was the Wisconsin representative at the Music Teacher National Association East Central Division in 2007 and 2008 and placed second at the 2008 Wisconsin ASTA competition. She placed third in the Menomonee Falls Symphony Concerto Competition (2007) and received Highly Commended in the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition (2008). Leah was a finalist in the 2008 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and performed at the winner's concert as Concertmaster of the orchestra. In addition, Leah won the 2008 Anello Scholarship with the Civic Music Association in Milwaukee. She is a senior at LaFollette High School in Madison, Wisconsin.

Monet Lee is a merit scholarship student at MIC's Junior Academy, studying with Desiree Ruhstrat. She was the first place winner of Confucius Competition in 2008. As a member of Magical Strings of Youth at the Betty Haag Academy, she performed for Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in 2006; she also performed with violinist Vadim Gluzman for Prince Lobkowicz at Prague Castle and with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Prague in 2008. Monet is a seventh grader at Twin Grove Jr. High School.

Zachary Spontak is a scholarship recipient and member of MIC's Academy program where he studies privately with Almita and Roland Vamos and chamber music with Abraham Stokman. From 2009 to 2010, he was a member of Quartet Danae, which won the Gold Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in May 2010 and captured the silver medal at the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition in April. Zach is a graduate of the Fairbanks School of Talent Education Suzuki program and is a three-time winner of the Fairbanks Symphony Association's Concerto Competition. In May 2010, he won first prize in the Skokie Valley Symphony Concerto Competition. Zach is a home-schooled senior.

About the Academy
Founded in 2006, the Music Institute of Chicago Academy has established itself as a nationally known center for highly gifted pre-college musicians. The extremely selective program is focused on providing an intensive and comprehensive musical education and significant performance opportunities for developing musicians. The carefully assembled faculty represents internationally recognized teachers and performers with a passion for developing young talent and an established reputation for student achievement. Approximately 50 young musicians participate in all aspects of the curriculum, which includes private lessons with Academy artist faculty, a rigorous chamber music component, a stimulating chamber orchestra, and accelerated music theory classes. Pianists also study keyboard literature and skills in an intimate group setting. A hallmark of the Academy is weekly master classes with some of the world's most celebrated artists and educators. The Academy introduces students to a vast music community of peer musicians, a range of pedagogical styles, and the rigors of conservatory training.

About the Music Institute of Chicago
The Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) believes that music has the power to sustain and nourish the human spirit; therefore, our mission is to provide the foundation for lifelong engagement with music. As one of the three largest and most respected community music schools in the nation, MIC's musical excellence is built on the strength of our distinguished faculty, commitment to quality, and breadth of programs and services. Founded in 1931, MIC is one of the oldest community music schools in Illinois. MIC is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Each year, our world-class music teachers and arts therapists provide the highest quality arts education to more than 5,000 students of all ages and ability levels, at campuses in Evanston, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Winnetka, and Downers Grove. MIC also offers lessons and programs at the Steinway of Chicago store in Northbrook and early childhood and community engagement programs throughout the Chicago area and the North Shore. Performances at Nichols Concert Hall, located in downtown Evanston, reach approximately 14,000 people each year. MIC community engagement and partnership programs reach an additional 6,500 Chicago Public School students annually. MIC offers lessons, classes, and programs through four distinct areas: Community School, The Academy, Creative Arts Therapy (Institute for Therapy through the Arts), and Nichols Concert Hall.

 

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