The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino International Summer Music Academy (MISMA):
A new and international music series is making its debut appearance in Ukiah. The Mendocino International Summer Music Academy (MISMA), a newly established music program at the Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) is thrilled to unveil the Virtuoso Concert Series, featuring a highly anticipated Artist Faculty Concert, two piano solo concerts, and one saxophone solo concert. The series will showcase a stellar lineup of performances by the exceptional MISMA artist faculty featuring pianists Yaoyue Huang and Scott Lowell Sherman, saxophonist Dr. Wenbo Yin, and guitarist Alex de Grassi. All four concerts will take place at the Sudhana Center Recital Hall located at 225 South Hope St,
Ukiah, CA. Concert #1- Piano Solo Concert, Scott Lowell Sherman, Tuesday, July 11, at 7 pm
The Virtuoso Concert Series opens on Tuesday, July 11 at 7pm with a piano solo concert by pianist and composer Scott Lowell Sherman. Sherman’s program comprises a set of his original compositions, works of Johannes Brahms, Frank Schubert, and the esteemed contemporary composer György Kurtág. Sherman’s works have premiered at the Competition d’Orleans and Porto Pianofest Portugal, where he was a guest artist. He has been invited to lecture at universities in the U.S. and Asia and has won awards at international piano competitions. Sherman will also give a public piano lecture on “Great Piano Works from the Baroque to the Impressionists” on Thursday, July 13 at 7pm. Concert
#2 – Saxophone Solo Concert, Wenbo Yin, Saturday, July 15, at 3:30 pm
The Saxophone Solo Concert by saxophonist and conductor Wenbo Yin will take place on Saturday, July 15, at 3:30pm. Praised for his mastery of a diverse range of genres, Yin’s program ranges from violin transcription pieces for saxophone and piano such as Paganini’s Moto Perpetuo, performed using circular breathing, to jazz duets with guitar faculty Alex de Grassi. Yin recently appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and has played in numerous concerts with prominent jazz artists. He has hosted master classes and lectures at universities and conferences in Asia and the United States. Yin obtained his DMA in Saxophone Performance, Jazz, and Wind Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Concert #3 – Piano Solo Concert, Yaoyue Huang, Sunday, July 16, at 7 pm
The series continues with a solo piano concert on Sunday, July 16 at 7pm by Yaoyue Huang, a powerful pianist with high artistry and technical brilliance. Huang’s program showcases works by French composers Olivier Messiaen and André Jolivet, J.S. Bach, and the Austrian contemporary classical composer Olga Neuwirth. Yaoyue Huang is a Laureate of the International Piano Competition d’Orléans, having received Le Prix Alberto Ginastera & Le Prix André Jolivet. She has performed internationally and regularly premiers and commissions new works. Huang’s public piano lecture on “Great Piano Works from the 20th Century to the Present” will be on Tuesday, July 18 at 7pm.
Concert #4 – Artist Faculty Concert, July 20, Saturday, at 7 pm
The highly anticipated Artist Faculty Concert is set to captivate audiences on Thursday, July 20 at 7pm. This exceptional event will feature the collective talent and mastery of the academy’s four-artist faculty. Audiences can look forward to a set of solo and duet performances by Alex de Grassi. In addition, Wenbo Yin will be joined by the respected composer Spencer Brewer, presenting some of Brewer’s saxophone and piano compositions. Prepare to be enthralled by this extraordinary display of musical artistry.Tickets are donation based. To register, or for more information about the Virtuoso Concert Series and the Mendocino International Summer Music Academy, please visit misma.drbu.edu/virtuoso-concert-series, email music@drbu.edu, or call 707-376-8731.
About Mendocino International Summer Music Academy (MISMA): The Mendocino International Summer Music Academy offers a unique and finely crafted curriculum that brings together professional music programs and wellness practices. The program ensures close mentorship and individualized instruction, allowing musical artists to work closely with a dedicated team of renowned, award-winning musicians and faculty. With a commitment to holistic music education, the academy aims to inspire positive music learning in a supportive and wholesome community, advance performance skills, technique, and overall musicianship, and equip students with tools for concentration and well-being. The academy’s commitment to holistic well-being is reflected in the daily wellness activities led by certified instructors, a healthy lifestyle, and vegetarian meals. By fostering a supportive and wholesome community, the academy cultivates musicians’ inner strength, focus, and overall wellness, offering a transformative experience for all participants and providing them with powerful tools for the next steps of their music careers.
