Montecito Music Festival Continues

Internationally recognized cellist János Starker performs at two master classes as part of the third and final week of the Montecito Summer Music Festival Wednesday, Aug. 4, and Thursday, Aug. 5, both at 4 p.m. in Porter Theatre. Tickets, $15 for adults and $7.50 for children and senior citizens, can be purchased by calling (213) 300 9585. All fellowship recitals and student concerts are free.

Starker, 86, is one of the supreme musicians and teachers of the 20th century, earning the Grand Prix du Disque, the premier French award for musical recordings, in 1948 and a Grammy Award in 1997.

The third annual festival, hosted by the Westmont Conference Center, brings world-class musicians together with advanced students of classical piano and strings for three weeks of instruction and performance.

Pianist Leon Fleisher, who was scheduled to perform July 29-31, has been forced to cancel his trip to Montecito following hand surgery.

Chan Ho Yun, a faculty member at CSU Long Beach and the Colburn School of Performing Arts, is founder and director of the Montecito festival. He is one of 10 talented faculty members who perform at a concert Monday, Aug. 2, at 8 p.m. Yun, who studied with Harry Curby, Alice Schoenfeld, Eduard Schmieder and Abram Shtern, earned a diploma of the state conservatorium of music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a master of music from Southern Methodist University and a doctor of musical arts from USC.

The faculty concert also includes Yizhak Schotten, one of the most respected violists in the world. Schotten, called “one of America's finest string players” by STRAD Magazine, now teaches at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Peter Takács, Oberlin College professor of piano, performs during a master class Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m.