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For Immediate Release
LOCAL STUDENTS RAISE MONEY WITH ENCORE
FOR CARNEGIE HALL PERFORMANCE
Brioso Quintet to perform Benefit Concert To Send Students to New York City
AUSTIN, Texas - (July 29 2008) - The Brioso Quintet, McCallum Fine Arts Academy's premier string ensemble, will put its musical talents to work once again for the McCallum Orchestra Performance Fund, established to provide scholarships to deserving orchestra students who will perform in Carnegie Hall next June. The benefit concert is sponsored by Blackerby Violin Shop and will take place in the beautiful sanctuary of University United Methodist Church (UUMC), 2409 Guadalupe Street on Sunday, August 17 at 7 pm.
The quintet will perform two works, one by Antonín Dvořák and a piece
written especially for the group by local composer, Steve Bernal.
Bernal's String Quintet in B flat, Op.1, No.3,
which they premiered at the Nuestros Nińos Benefit Concert to an
enthusiastic audience, that commemorates the high school graduation of
the senior members of the Brioso Quintet.
Also on the program is Dvořák's String Quintet No. 2 in G major.
The quintet just received top awards at the University Interscholastic
League's State Solo and Ensemble Contest for their contest performance
of the Dvořák's String Quintet first movement. They have been
rehearsing for several months in preparation for this concert and have
worked with Jessica Giliam-Valls, from the Austin Chamber Music Center
through an in-school coaching program at McCallum Fine Arts Academy.
The
McCallum Orchestra Performance Fund is a non-profit fund administered
through the Austin Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation. All
donations to the McCallum Orchestra Performance Fund are tax
deductible, and go to support premiere performance opportunities for
this award-winning orchestra program at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy
in Austin, Texas.
Ranked among the finest public school
orchestra programs in the nation, the McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Orchestra, comprised of approximately 100 students who come from the
Central Texas Area, receives special invitations from outstanding
organizations like the Carnegie Hall Masterworks Series to perform
major works with nationally recognized musicians and conductors.
On
Saturday, June 13, 2009, Austin's Fine Arts Academy Chamber Orchestra
at McCallum High School will perform at New York City's famed Carnegie
Hall as part of the Masterworks Series. The Masterworks Series invites
qualified ensembles to collaborate on a major work for choir,
professional orchestra and soloists under the direction of a nationally
recognized conductor. McCallum's Orchestra is scheduled to perform
Schubert's Mass No.2 in G major with the McCallum, Pflugerville and San
Marcos Choirs under the direction of John Rutter.
The Brioso Quintet performed a benefit concert for a special needs school on July 20 at the Mexican American Cultural Center. The school, located in in Cuernavaca, works with mentally and physically handicapped students. "We were totally surprised by the overwhelming turnout and support we had at our first benefit concert," violinist Gonzalo Hernando exclaimed. "We had no idea that nearly 180 people would come to our performance and be so generous," Hernando said. The benefit raised nearly $3,500 for the Nuestros Nińos School in Cuernavaca. "This money will go a long way to help these children and I can't wait to see their faces when we present the check," Hernando added.
The Brioso Quintet represents the principal players from the McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchestra, including Gonzalo Hernando, graduate senior on violin, Caris Longoria, graduate senior on violin, Catherine Cotham, graduate senior on cello, August Dennis, graduate senior on bass and Caitlin Coughlan, junior on viola. They decided they would put their talents to work again and support their high school orchestra as they prepare their program for Carnegie Hall. "I am very excited about this benefit concert," said August Dennis, graduating bass player, "it's a chance for us to give back to our orchestra and help our former classmates go to Carnegie Hall next June. The Brioso Quintet is one of the small ensembles established at the McCallum FAA that plays at weddings and parties to raise funds for this exciting performance in New York.
Patrons can meet the musicians and learn more about The McCallum Orchestra Performance Fund at a reception immediately following the performance. Orchestra parents are providing exquisite deserts and coffee in the church courtyard.
Free parking is available across the street from UUMC in the Platinum Parking Lot at 25th Street and Guadalupe (west side), and in the UT highrise parking garage behind the lot on San Antonio Street.
"Four of us are heading off to different colleges this fall, so this is our final performance as a group and we hope to raise a lot of money for our orchestra," said graduating senior, Catherine Cotham.
### Contact:
Michael Coughlan
Hendrix Coughlan Media, Inc.
email: michael@hendrixcoughlan.com
phone: 512.420.0968
512.413.1601
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