Cooper Competition: Three Young Pianists Advance to Final Round to Perform With Cleveland Orchestra Friday

This Friday evening, July 30, at 8 p.m., three young pianists will perform with The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall, during the concerto finals of the Cooper International Competition.

The finalists are George Li, 14, from Lexington, MA; Kate Liu, 16 (born in Singapore, now living in Chicago); and John Chen, 16 (born in Beijing, now living in Leesburg, VA).

George Li will perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1; Kate Liu will perform Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1; and John Chen will perform Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with The Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Jahja Ling. The winner will be announced from the stage immediately following the concert.

A partnership between the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and The Cleveland Orchestra, the Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition is an opportunity for young musicians ages 13-18 – alternating between pianists and violinists each summer – to compete for six cash prizes and the chance to perform with The Cleveland Orchestra. The first prize winner will receive $10,000 as well as concert engagements in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

For more information, or to order tickets for the concerto finals concert ($15-$25), visit www.clevelandorchestra.com, or call (216) 231-1111.

Read The Plain Dealer's coverage of the competition at cleveland.com.

Hough on Life

Stephen Hough is a poet of Twitter! Read a few of the English pianist's previous posts and see if you agree.

"Climbing rose in my little garden - ferocious, with a stalk like a python, spitting out its white flowers in sprays of white." 2:30 PM Jun 21st via web

"Practising Chopin waltzes - like a box of chocolates: finish one, start another." 9:52 AM Jun 17th via OpenBeak

"Isle of Man: the sea is steel-blue, like a sword recovered from some ancient Celtic battle across the leprechaun-green hills." Tuesday, June 29, 2010 6:55:01 AM via OpenBeak

"Let me become your pupil, even if I must pay my tuition with blood" - the young Mahler to the old Hans von Bulow. 12:30 PM May 23rd via OpenBeak

"No ID, but 'je suis moi' got me past the security guard." 9:43 AM May 19th via OpenBeak

Stephen Hough performs the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with The Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Festival on July 31.

“Picture Your Picnic” and share Blossom memories on Facebook to win Cleveland Orchestra tickets

Share your family’s Blossom Music Center picnic memories on Facebook, and enter to win four tickets to see the Orchestra at Blossom! Simply snap a photo of your picnic spread, and post it on The Cleveland Orchestra's Facebook wall.

The contest runs now through August 23, when all entries will be compiled into a photo album and posted on the Orchestra's Facebook page.

During the week of August 23, vote for your favorite Blossom picnic photo by clicking "Like" underneath the photo on Facebook. The contestant whose photo earns the most votes will win four pavilion tickets to a Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom.

So pack your picnic, and snap a picture, and make more summer memories with The Cleveland Orchestra!

Alfresco Friday

The Friends of Solon Center for the Arts are hosting an “Alfresco Friday” featuring members of The Cleveland Orchestra at 7 p.m. Friday, August 6, 2010 at the Solon Center for the Arts. The event will introduce Cleveland Orchestra cellist Brian Thornton in his new role as associate conductor of the SPO. Several members of The Cleveland Orchestra will perform a chamber music concert at the event, which also includes a wine tasting and picnic dinner.

The evening is a benefit for the Solon Philharmonic Orchestra. It is being held in honor of the late Cleveland Orchestra violinist Leon Lazarev, for whom the Philharmonic is naming its concertmaster chair. Mr. Lazarev’s son, Vladimir, is a member of the piano faculty at Solon Center for the Arts.

Reservations are needed by Tuesday, August 3. Call (440) 337-1420.

A Taste of The Four Seasons

Before this evening's concert, Blossom patrons enjoyed a wine and gourmet cheese tasting at the Special Events Center. There were over twenty different wines from local vineyards and distributors and five gourmet cheeses from L'Albatros Restaurant to sample .

Leave a comment and let us know if you were one of the more than 200 people who were in attendance.

Enhancing Your Blossom Experience – Fun Things to do in Summit County before the Concert

Before a great summer evening at Blossom Music Center with The Cleveland Orchestra, take advantage of one of the many outlets for recreation and relaxation in Northeast Ohio. Here are some of the most unique and enjoyable activities located near the Blossom grounds.

The Akron Art Museum.

Located in downtown Akron, the Akron Art Museum is home to a variety of collections, primarily focusing on art created since 1850. The museum is housed in a new glass, steel, and aluminum structure, the John S. and James L. Knight Building, which was innovatively designed in 2007 by the Coop Himmelb(l)au architectural firm of Vienna. Visitors can browse the exhibitions independently, request private or student tours, or take part in one of the complimentary “Five Favorites” tours, in which, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, museum docents share five of their favorite pieces currently on display. Admission is free for children 12 and under, and admission is free for all individuals on the first Sunday of every month. The Museum Store offers a wide variety of items such as handmade art, jewelry, and bags, as well as books and children’s crafts and toys.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

Board the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to tour the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park along the former Valley Railway. In the 1880s, coal, farm produce, and factory products were transported from Akron and Canton to Cleveland on the Railway. Watch as you pass by some of Northeast Ohio’s breathtaking natural landmarks, including the Cuyahoga River, the Beaver Marsh, and the Pinery Narrows. Also see the Canal Visitor Center, the former paper mill town of Jaite, and the Canal Feeder Dam.

The F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm.

Located in Akron, the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm is a hundred-acre arboretum – filled with ponds, gardens, and trails – that serves as a scenic location for hiking, picnicking, and picture-taking. Newly renovated in 2009-10, the 10,000 square foot underground visitor’s center is now sustainable and energy efficient, containing solar panels, reused lumber, and LED lighting. The center provides displays and explanations of plant and animal life native to Northeast Ohio.

Hale Farm and Village.

Hale Farm and Village is a living history museum in Bath, Ohio that provides a glimpse into farm and village life in the 19^th century. Visitors can stroll through farm pastures and historic houses. Artisans dressed in period clothing demonstrate trades of the 19^th century, including basket weaving, glassblowing, candle making, and blacksmithing.

Hudson, Ohio.

A short drive from Blossom, the city of Hudson, OH represents a unique blend of the old and the new and is the home of several important Western Reserve landmarks, including the Clock Tower, Western Reserve Academy, and Library and Historical Society. Hudson was a center of the abolitionist movement and a link on the Underground Railroad. The quaint downtown and the First & Main shopping center offer a variety of local and national shops and restaurants, as well as a gourmet market, live music, and frequent sidewalk sales.

Peninsula, Ohio.

Peninsula, OH, located in the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Visitors can rent bicycles at Century Cycles for a ride along the towpath before browsing in one of the many local and national art galleries and antique shops. Historical sites such as the Cuyahoga Valley Historical Museum, Bronson Memorial Church, and the Peninsula Valley Historic and Education Foundation, are also located in downtown Peninsula. Several different exhibits, farmers markets, and festivals take place throughout the summer.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens.

Located on the former country estate of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company founder F.A. Seiberling and his wife Gertrude, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens holds the distinction of being named a National Historic Landmark. Visitors enjoy exploring the Tudor Revival architecture and elaborate furnishings of the Manor House, touring the beautifully maintained gardens, and stepping inside the butterfly habitat in the Corbin Conservatory. Lunch is available at Molly’s Café, located in the former Carriage House.

Summit County Metro Parks.

The Summit County Metro Parks encompass thousands of acres of preserved natural land. Visitors to the Metro Parks can bike, hike, or walk along the 33.5-mile Bike and Hike Trail or the 13-mile Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, as well as enjoy an outdoor picnic in one of the many park areas.

Sarah’s Vineyard.

Located just across the street from Blossom in Cuyahoga Falls, Sarah's Vineyard is home to a winery, fruit farm, butterfly garden, art gallery, and wine bar. Visitors can sip wine “on tap” straight from the barrel in the tasting room or choose from a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts in the Art Gallery Wine Bar. Handmade artwork from over 50 local artisans is on display in the Art Gallery.

Joffrey Masterclass Inspires

Guiding students through a challenging two-hour masterclass on Monday morning at the University of Akron’s Center for Dance and Theatre at Guzzetta Hall, Ashley Wheater, the artistic director of Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, got a big laugh when he finally commiserated with the students, noting, “Dancing is hard!”

That may be true, but Erica Piper, an advanced student at the University of Akron Dance Institute, said afterward that she’d love to take class every day with Wheater, a former Joffrey company member who was mentored by the great dancer Rudolf Nureyev.

“It’s amazing to work with someone of his background with The Royal Ballet. I’m a fan of Rudolf Nureyev and the Joffrey Ballet, the best company in the world,” the dancer said.

Matthew Roberts, a former Dance Institute student who now studies at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, said, “I really liked his terminology and explanations. He was very specific with his explanations. I’m definitely glad I took this class.”

Working with 19 students from the University of Akron, University of Akron Dance Institute, Canton Ballet, and other studios, Wheater gave the students and audience at the public masterclass a taste of his own background and the style of the Joffrey Ballet, which performs with The Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Festival for two nights over Labor Day weekend.

An audience watched the class, which was also streamed live over the internet from UA’s Albrecht Studio, capturing Wheater as he took the students through barre work and combinations. He made specific corrections and general comments like, “Dancing is transferring your weight in beautiful ways.”

Dancers need to imagine they have a band of steel around their abdominal area, Wheater said. And to make the best impression on the audience, he told them, “Let your eyes help you—all of your limbs need to belong to you, and you make that apparent by focusing your eyes.”

Wheater encouraged the students along with way with “Good, you guys—really good.”

Then there was a nugget of advice any dancer can use, reflecting Wheater’s English upbringing: “Engage your bum!”

Click here to read more about the Joffrey Ballet and its upcoming performances with The Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Festival.

Did you participate in the masterclass? Are you a fan of the Joffrey Ballet? Comment here!

Giora Schmidt's Weekend of Firsts

A protégé of Itzhak Perlman and the son of professional Israeli musicians, Giora Schmidt spends many hours on facebook, sharing violin tips and chatting. He recently took a moment to talk about his upcoming debut with The Cleveland Orchestra on July 11.



Click here to follow Giora on Facebook

Happy Birthday Gustav Mahler!

Gustav Mahler was born 150 years ago today. To celebrate this great composer Performance Today will broadcast a Cleveland Orchestra performance, under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst, of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 in C minor, "Resurrection."

Click here to listen to the broadcast, which will be available from July 7 through July 14.

This performance was taped at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria on November 2, 2007. It features Malin Hartelius, soprano, and Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano.

Back at Blossom

Thousands of people picnic on the Lawn prior to The Cleveland Orchestra's first concert of the summer season.