Music Academy of the West Song Competition winners to appear in Chicago as part of an International Recital Tour

Newly-commissioned work by Ricky Ian Gordon receives Chicago premiere

Pre-concert reception hosted by Music Academy Board of Directors member Pamela Strobel and supporter Susan Bowey featuring Music Academy alumni in performance

Santa Barbara, CA — The Music Academy of the West’s 2018 Marilyn Horne Song Competition Winners mezzo-soprano Kelsey Lauritano and pianist Andrew Sun appear on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series on Wednesday, May 22 at 12:15 pm in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center. The program features a newly-commissioned work by Ricky Ian Gordon (Without Music), based on poems by Marie Howe, in a Chicago premiere.

Music Academy of the West Board of Directors member Pamela Strobel and supporter Susan Bowey are hosting a private pre-concert reception at the University Club featuring a performance by Music Academy alumni William Welter (’17, ’18), principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Madeline Slettedahl (’16), an ensemble member of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Kelsey Lauritano and Andrew Sun also performed a recital in New York (April 3) at National Sawdust and will appear at Hahn Hall in Santa Barbara (May 24). The Chicago recital will be broadcast live by WFMT 98.7 FM and streamed live at wfmt.com.

The Marilyn Horne Song Competition jury included Honorary Voice Program Director Marilyn Horne, composer Ricky Ian Gordon, Musical Advisor to the ’s Lindemann Young Artist Program Ken Noda, and soprano Susanna Phillips. The winners received The Regina Roney Prize, a cash award of $5,000 generously supported by Rick Roney. They also received a career consultation with 21C Media Group in New York.

The Marilyn Horne Song Competition is presented in memory of Gwendolyn Koldofsky. Past winners include Metropolitan Opera stars Evan Hughes (‘05,’06), Isabel Leonard (‘05), Susanna Phillips (‘02, ’03), and Nadine Sierra (’07), and pianist Spencer Myer (‘98,’00).

The Music Academy of the West’s International Marilyn Horne Song Competition Recital Tour is sponsored by Linda Seltzer Yawitz and Robert W. Weinman with additional support for Ms. Lauritano and Mr. Sun’s Chicago performance provided by Susan Bowey.

“Without Music” was commissioned by Music Academy of the West with the generous support of Lorna Hedges.

About the Marilyn Horne Song Competition Winners Mezzo-soprano Kesley Lauritano, 23, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, recently completed her master’s degree at The , where she also received her bachelor’s degree and was awarded the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music. Ms. Lauritano will be joining the Oper Frankfurt studio in September of 2018.

Andrew Sun, 26, born in West Windsor, New Jersey, is a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. Currently on the coaching staff at Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Sun joined the Resident Artist Program at Minnesota Opera this past fall. Mr. Sun holds degrees from New York University and Manhattan School of Music, and is an alumnus of the 2017 Merola Opera Program.

Program information Marilyn Horne Song Competition International Tour Progams include selections from: SCHUBERT Ganymed, Du Bist die Ruh’, Suleika I RAVEL Histoires Naturelles RICKY IAN GORDON Without Music (world premiere) FALLA Seven Popular Spanish Songs Jan 11, 6:30 pm / LSO St. Luke’s, London / lso.co.uk/lso-st-lukes Apr 3, 8 pm / National Sawdust, New York / nationalsawdust.org May 22, 12:15 pm / Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago* / imfchicago.org May 24, 7:30 pm / Hahn Hall, Santa Barbara musicacademy.org/recital

About Music Academy of the West The Music Academy of the West advances the development of 21st century classically trained musicians and cultivates discerning, appreciative, and adventurous audiences. Founded in 1947, the Academy operates on a 10-acre, ocean-side campus in Santa Barbara, California. Music Academy of the West’s world-renowned eight-week Summer Festival comprises more than 200 events. The Academy began a four-year partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2018 focused on education and performance on both continents. For more information, please visit musicacademy.org.

Released: May 20, 2019

Lauritano and Sun photos courtesy of the artists.

Kate Oberjat Director of Marketing and Communications Music Academy of the West 805‐695-7908 [email protected]