PMP/Suncoast to Present PMP ALUMNI: IN CONCERT for 2015-16 Season

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast (PMP/Suncoast) expands its programming for the 2015-2016 Season by offering PMP Alumni: In Concert, a series of three concerts featuring alumni of New York's esteemed Perlman Music Program (PMP).

Founded by Toby Perlman 21 years ago, PMP offers unparalleled musical training to string players of rare and special talent between the ages of 12-20 from all over the world. With a first-class faculty led by her husband, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, PMP is developing the future leaders of classical music.

These three alumni concerts, two in Sarasota and one in Venice, are presented by PMP/Suncoast in addition to the 12th Annual PMP Sarasota Winter Residency program in December. Tickets are now on sale! Buy a subscription to the series for $75 and save $30. Individual concert tickets are $35. Youth tickets (18 and under) are available for $5 with the purchase of a regular-priced ticket.

October 10, 2015: 3pm - Sarasota Opera House. Features Molly Carr, viola and Yannick Rafalimanana, piano. Ms. Carr holds a B.M. and M.M. from the Juilliard School, and she currently holds a viola faculty position in both the Juilliard pre-college program in New York City, as well as the Galamian School in Malaga, Spain. Mr. Rafalimanana began his musical studies at the Conservatory of Lille. He later graduated with first prizes in both Piano Performance, and Chamber Music and Collaborative Piano Performance, from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Both musicians were part of PMP summer music programs and returned to Sarasota earlier this year specifically to be part of the PMP Alumni: In Schools outreach program.

November 22, 2015: 3pm - Sarasota Opera House. Features Sean Lee, violin and Peter Dugan, piano. With performances described by The New York Times as "breathtakingly beautiful," Mr. Lee is quickly gaining recognition as one of today's most exciting rising artists. His debut album, released by EMI Classics, featured the Strauss Violin Sonata and reached the Top 20 of the iTunes "Top Classical Albums" list. Mr. Dugan, hailed "a formidable soloist" by the Washington Post after his Kennedy Center debut this season, has been praised by the Baltimore Sun as "spellbinding" and by the Palm Beach Daily News as "superb." Mr. Lee was 15 when he first began with PMP, as a student in PMP's Summer Music School, Chamber Music Workshop on Shelter Island, NY and the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency. He has since joined the faculty of PMP, teaching in the violin studio in collaboration with Itzhak Perlman. Mr. Dugan participated as one of the very few piano students/young artists in the program at Shelter Island at the age of 14 in 2003. He has also served as a staff member in support of PMP students during the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency in past years.

April 17, 2016: 3pm - Venice Performing Arts Center. Features the Ariel Quartet (Alexandra Kazovsky and Gershon Gerchikov, violins; Jan Grüning, viola; and Amit Even-Tov, cello). Characterized by its youth, brilliant playing, and soulful interpretations, the Ariel Quartet has quickly earned a glowing international reputation. The Quartet formed in Israel seventeen years ago when its members were young students, and they have been playing together since. While teenagers, they came to the U.S. to study with The Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island. They started coming to Sarasota as participants of the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency and taught in the school program for three years. The Ariel Quartet performed the complete cycle of Beethoven String Quartets (17 string quartets performed in 6 concerts), with members not yet 30 years old - a musical feat likened to climbing Mount Everest.

Purchase subscriptions for the PMP Alumni: In Concert series today for $75 online at www.PMPSuncoast.org or call 941-955-4942. Individual tickets are $35 and are available online or at the specific venue's box office. (Sarasota Opera House for Oct. 10 and Nov. 22 and Venice Performing Arts Center for April 17.) The PMP Alumni: In Concert series is sponsored in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues.

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast (PMP/Suncoast) was established in May 2008 as an independent non-profit organization with the mission to provide operational stability and funding support for a permanent Sarasota winter residency for The Perlman Music Program (PMP). Founded by Toby Perlman, and with world-renowned faculty members led by her husband, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, PMP augments its seven-week summer program in Shelter Island, N.Y., with a 17-day intensive PMP Sarasota Winter Residency each December. The residency provides valuable mentoring and performance opportunities for young string musicians, ages 12-20+, and a rich opportunity for community audiences to experience the magic of musical mentoring during approximately 20 free events on the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus. The program culminates with the Celebration Concert, featuring Itzhak Perlman directing the PMP String Orchestra.

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast also presents PMP Alumni: In Schools which brings these professional musicians into elementary, middle and high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. These free in-school experiences include interactive performances for students and teachers. These acclaimed musicians also perform throughout the year in a formal concert series called PMP Alumni: In Concert and in free and low-cost events as part of PMP Alumni: Around Town. For more information, visit www.PMPSuncoast.org.

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