MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON DEBUTS WITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S COMPOSITION
Manchester, VT: The Manchester Music Festival’s opening night concert on Thursday, July 12th at the Southern Vermont Arts Center will feature three virtuoso guest artists performing works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and an original composition by Artistic Director Adam Neiman. Joining Neiman on stage at the Arkell Pavilion will be acclaimed musicians Vadim Lando, clarinet; Stefan Milenkovich, violin; and Amit Peled, cello. Curtain is at 7:30PM.
Neiman, a Grammy Award nominee, is hailed as one of the premiere pianists, composers, and musical entrepreneurs of his generation. Neiman’s Piano Trio No. 2 for Clarinet, Violin, & Piano was originally commissioned by the North Shore Chamber Music Festival in Northbrook, Illinois. This single-movement, neo-tonal trio unfolds in four interwoven sections linked by strong thematic connections and an unbroken narrative flow; at the work's apex is a lush climactic conclusion of unrestrained power and energy.
Neiman will unveil the work with Vadim Lando, who has been praised by The New York Times for his “consistently distinguished, vibrant and virtuosic playing.” Lando has won top prizes in many international competitions including the Gold Medal at the National Festival of Music Competition in Canada.
Violinist Stefan Milenkovich, a perennial audience favorite at MMF, is the winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and medalist at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition. He was named Serbia’s Artist of the Century, Most Humane Person, and Brand Personality of the Year. He enjoys a prolific career as an internationally sought-after soloist and recitalist, including noteworthy appearances for U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Pope John Paul II.
Amit Peled will be featured at the event’s pre-concert recital. Peled is a Grammy-nominated cellist, conductor, and teacher, who has a thriving solo career performing on the historic 1733 Goffriller Pablo Casals cello personally bequeathed to him by Marta Casals Istomin. He will perform the sumptuous Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata with Adam Neiman at the pre-concert recital at 4:30PM on July 12th the Southern Vermont Arts Center. All pre-concert recitals are free and open to the public.
Tickets to the July 12th festival concert are $40 for adults and $15 for students. Also join Stefan Milenkovich and Amit Peled for free masterclass presentations at 11AM and 1:30PM on Saturday, July 14, at the Manchester Community Library. MMF celebrates top-tier emerging talent with its Young Artists Program concerts at SVAC on summer Sundays at 2PM – tickets $10. All tickets can be purchased online at mmfvt.org, by calling 802-362-1956, and at the Southern Vermont Arts Center Arkell Pavilion box office.