Last week at adn.com/artsnob, I blogged about the virtues of attending performances by young artists. On the civic duty side, all art lovers have a responsibility to show up and support the next generation of talent, to affirm that what they're doing is important. On the personal pleasure side, this talent is often extremely good.
The best of the best will be showcased at 7 p.m. Saturday in the UAA Arts Building Recital Hall at the Anchorage Concert Chorus' annual Winners' Recital. As ever, it's free and open to the public.
It's an important but under-publicized concert. Winners of various Alaska music competitions -- 25 this year -- perform a sample of their repertoire, often with dazzling effect.
There has been a steady improvement in the training and abilities of student musicians over the years and the lineup of performers last year struck me as particularly outstanding.
"Highlights for me included Wesley Voley of Kenny Lake, winner of the Music Teachers National Association Junior Piano division," I wrote. "He was nothing less than astonishing in his performance of Prokofiev's 'Diabolic Suggestion No. 4.' And Ga-In Choi, first place pianist in the MTNA Young Artist division, presented Beethoven's fascinating 32 Variations in C Minor with utter confidence."
I added that the small number of people in the audience baffled me. "Do you know how rare it is to hear Beethoven's 32 Variations performed live? For free? As well as Choi played them? Missing these occasions is sort of like taking a ride down Turnagain Arm on a beautiful day with your eyes shut."
If you love music, don't miss the drive this year.
Performers will include high school and college division champions of the Anchorage Concert Chorus Vocal Scholarship Competition, local winners of the National Association of Teachers of Singing awards (classical and musical theater), Alaska Music Teachers National Awards, Alaska Piano Competition, the Anchorage Civic Orchestra Concerto Competition, and former winners -- now adjudicating the contests -- who will also participate as performers.
Recently noted musicians who will take part include marimbist Noah Hagen, winner of the Anchorage Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and violinist Bryce O'Tierney, winner of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra's Cassetta Competition and the outgoing concertmaster for the Youth Symphony.
In a society that seems bent on plunging to the lowest common denominator with regard to beauty, ability and hard work, this is a way to show that, for some of us, the future of art matters.
A reception -- and destiny -- will follow
Family friendly
Following up on last week's "Plays of Spring" article, we've since been informed about two other musicals that should appeal to all ages. Both close next weekend.
TBA Theatre presents "The Sound of Music" at Alaska Pacific University's Grant Hall in a production that includes talent from a variety of Anchorage theater and music groups. Showtimes are 3 p.m. today and next Sunday, 7 p.m. Friday and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Alaska Fine Arts Academy is presenting "Honk!" -- a tuneful retelling of "The Ugly Duckling" -- at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. The Academy is located at 12340 Old Glenn Highway in Eagle River. Get tickets, $10 for adults, $7 for military, and other information at akfinearts.org or call 694-8909. Want to save a couple of bucks? All seats on Thursday and at the Saturday matinee are the price of the children's ticket, $8.
Astonishing concert
From the adn.com/artsnob blog: At the moment I can't recall attending a better solo piano performance than the one turned in by Michael Gurt on (April 30) at the UAA Arts Building Recital Hall.
Some of us were there only because we were curious about Max Reger's Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Bach; curious as in apprehensive, not necessarily eager. "Reger was considered something of a modernist in his day," Gurt said during his "fair warning" speech about the substance and length (30 minutes) of the piece. Yep, and Reger can still be considered modern in that in many cases he seems interminably emotionless and pointlessly tedious.
But Gurt's Reger was anything but boring. He sorted out the thickly woven musical waves and marshaled them into convincing climax after convincing climax. A bear of a man, Gurt played mostly in the mezzo-forte and louder range, but it was all appropriately shaped and shaded. The Brahms-like construction that astonished Reger's contemporaries popped into full-bodied and satisfying focus. Even for those with a lot of music under their belts, it was a revelation. There was a standing ovation at the end of this first piece on the program as we realized we'd just heard something few had ever heard before and few were likely to hear again.
Writers symposium in Skagway
Alaska mystery writer Dana Stabenow will keynote the first ever North Words Writers Symposium in Skagway, June 3-6. Other speakers and panelists will include Nick Jans, Sherry Simpson, Kim Heacox, David Hunsaker, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Daniel Henry, Elizabeth Dabney and Tim Woody. Get more information at www.nwwriterss.com or by calling conference coordinator Buckwheat Donahue -- with that name do you need any further reason to attend? -- at 1-907-983-2854 or e-mailing carlin_donahue@hotmail.com.
Museum on summer schedule
Starting today, the Anchorage Museum returns to its summer hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. These hours are in effect until Sept. 12.
Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.
By MIKE DUNHAM
mdunham@adn.com