InConcert presents pianist Lara Downes on Feb. 20

What: InConcert Sierra presents pianist Lara Downes and the
California Rising Stars

When: Sunday, February 20, 2012
1:15pm pre-concert forum
2pm concert

Where: Seventh-day Adventist Church –
12889 Osborne Hill Road
(off hwy 174)
Grass Valley

Tickets: $24 general
– 17 and under free with adult

Available at:
www.inconcertsierra.org
530-273-3990
Nevada County Community Box Office (at Miners Foundry)

InConcert Sierra presents critically acclaimed Steinway Concert Artist Lara Downes and The Rising Stars of California on Sunday, February 19. Performing with Downes will be cellist Clark Pang and pianistAlex Chien. These remarkable young virtuosi have garnered local and national attention, including features on National Public Radio’s popular “From the Top” program.

Pianist Lara Downes is the Artist In Residence of the Mondavi Centerat UC Davis, and the founder and artistic director of the Rising Starsof California. The program introduces community audiences to some of California’s most accomplished young pianists, instrumentalists and vocalists ages 8-18 who are winners of prestigious national and international youth music competitions.

A captivating presence both on and offstage, Downes enjoys a career that commands the attention of concert-goers around the world. The biographies of the two young artists joining her will also haveaudiences running to the concert hall.

Fourteen-year-old cellist Clark Pang made his Carnegie Hall-PBStelevision debut at the age of 10 as the youngest performer to appear on From the Top’s premiere episode, “LIVE from Carnegie Hall”. This past season, Clark performed at Carnegie Hall twice as First Prize Winner of both American Protege’s International Competition of Romantic Music (2011) and American Fine Arts Festival’s International Concerto Competition (2011), marking his fourth solo appearance at Carnegie.

Thirteen-year-old Alex Chien is traversing the globe and winning awards at every stop. In 2011, he won the first prize award in the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, and first place award winner of the 6th Marian Filice Piano Competition. In the summer of 2011, Alex gave two solo recitals at the Sage Gateshead and Newcastle University and performed at the Saarburg Festival in Germany. In 2010, Alex took part in the South America Tour of the California Youth Symphony Orchestra as a soloist. In 2009, he toured the United States giving recitals and garnering awards. He also attended the 2009 Chetham International Summer Piano School in Manchester, England and Saarburg International Music School in 2011, where he worked with many internationally renowned masters.

Lara Downes’ recital program is called “The Three B’s and Beyond: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms….and more.” Downes herself will be performing selections from her recent CD “Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Goldberg: Bach Re-imagined.” The set of new variations on Bach’s magnificent opening theme of the Goldbergs (“Aria”), was written by a group of today’s most renowned composers, including 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon. “I’m so delighted Lara is doing some of her ’13 ways to look at the Goldberg Variations’ – as she’s getting rave reviews all over for the CD,” says Aileen James, pianist and InConcert Sierra pre-concert forum host. Chien will perform Beethoven Piano Sonata Op.2. in A Major and two of the Bach Preludes and Fugues.

Pang will perform the unaccompanied Bach Cello Suite #4 in Eb Major, and Brahms Sonata for Piano and Cello #1 in E minor with Lara Downes.

There will be a pre-concert forum at 1:15pm with host Aileen James. This concert is sponsored by Gerri Griswold; and the family of Keith and Shirley Porter.