5 American musicians chosen for cultural exchange with Sarajevo Philharmonic
Five young American musicians have been selected for an International Cultural Exchange program that will take them to Bosnia‐Herzegovina for 10 months to perform with the Sarajevo Philharmonic. Lindsey Kleiser of Dayton, Chihiro Kashiwakura of Illinois, Rebecca Fathman of Colorado, Erin Paul of Las Vegas, and Kent Klarer of Kentucky will perform in opera, ballet and symphonic concerts through July 2013.
The International Cultural Exchange Program is coordinated and sponsored by the Bosnian‐ Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS) in cooperation with the Sarajevo Philharmonic.
The mission of the Bosnian‐Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences is to provide connections between Bosnian‐Herzegovinian and scientists, musicians, artists, and professionals in North America to build bridges of cooperation between our countries. The Academy promotes the spirit of intellectual diversity and free exchange of ideas in the belief that knowledge is shareable wealth.
The Sarajevo Philharmonic was founded in 1923 and has played an important role in shaping the musical life of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Sarajevo Philarmonic is a full‐time orchestra that currently performs in the National Theatre in Sarajevo and tours throughout the region.
The Sarajevo Philharmonic operated without interruptions throughout the siege of Sarajevo from 1993‐1995. Although Sarajevo was exposed to daily bombardment from the surrounding hills which killed over 10,000 of its citizens, the Philharmonic held nine concerts in the 1993‐1994 season, 21 concerts in the 1994‐1995 season, and 41 concerts in the 1995‐1996 season. Out of those 41 concerts, 10 were held prior to November 1995, when the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed. The Philharmonic lost two musicians during the siege.
The International Cultural Exchange Program for Classical Musicians starts in September 2012 and the participants will return to the United States on July 30, 2013. Selection of the musicians was done by Conductor and Artistic Director Diane Wittry, who is a BHAAAS international member; Samra Gulamovic, director and conductor of the Sarajevo Philharmonic; and Eldin E. Karaikovic, BHAAAS project director. The applicants submitted copies of their performance resumes and unedited DVDs of their playing. The applicants also included a short video of why they wanted to participate in the program.
Lindsey Kleiser, a native of Dayton, began her music studies at the age of five, playing the piano. She began studying the oboe at the age of 11. Her oboe studies took her to Interlochen where she had the opportunity to study with oboists such as Linda Strommen, Elaine Douvas, and Dan Stolper. She then began her studies at Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music with Mark Ostoich where she has recently completed a Bachelors degree of Music in Oboe Performance and a Bachelors degree of Music Education. During her tenure in Cincinnati, Lindsey performed in the conservatory's Philharmonia, Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, operas, musicals, ballets, and chamber ensembles. She has worked as a freelance musician, maintained a small private studio, and played with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. She has performed at the Victoria Theatre and Schuster Center in Dayton, as well as Civic Hall in Richmond.
Jennifer Chihiro Kashiwakura, a native of Illinois, holds a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign where she studied with Timothy McGovern. Chihiro graduated in May 2012 with highest honors, known as the Bronze Tablet Honors. She also received many awards and scholarships such as the Woman Band Director International Scholarship "Ladies of the Podium" Award 2012, Edmund C. Williams Award 2012, Edmund J. James Scholar 2012, Theodore Presser Scholar 2011, Verna K. Townsend Award 2008‐2012, and Duane A. Branigan Award 2008. She was also the winner of the 2012 Thomas J. Smith Competition which granted her full tuition from the University. This summer, Chihiro participated as a performer in a masterclass at the 2012 International Double Reed Society Convention at Miami University. In summer of 2010, she participated in an American Wind Symphony tour of the Gulf of Mexico, and attended the Madeline Island Chamber Music Camp.
Rebecca FathmanOriginally from Falcon, Colorado, Rebecca Fathman is a senior horn performance major at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In June of 2010, she participated in the Colorado College Summer Music Festival and she performed with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in May of this year. Rebecca currently lives in Boulder, Colorado and studies with Michael Thornton.
Erin Paul is a freelance French hornist based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She recently received her master of music in horn performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, having studied with Bill Bernatis. Erin received her bachelor of music degree from the Hartt School in West Hartford, CT in horn performance and music history in May 2010 (magna cum laude). While at the Hartt School, she studied with NYC freelance artists Daniel Grabois and Peter Reit. In the summer of 2012, she studied with David Brockett and Bruce Heim at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Other summer festivals have included the Franco‐American Vocal Academy, Lake Tahoe Music Festival and Kendall Betts Horn Camp. Erin served as a part‐time instructor graduate assistant for the music department at UNLV, teaching beginning music theory to majors and non‐majors, and teaches privately. She also coaches the horn section of Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada.
Kent Klarer holds a Bachelors Degree in Trombone Performance from the Indiana University acob's School of Music where he studied with professors Peter Ellefson, Carl Lenthe, and M. Dee Stewart. While at IU Kent performed most often as a symphonic musician, but enjoyed innumerable experiences playing jazz and classical chamber music, music for ballet and opera. He also enjoys exploring new contemporary works, particularly pieces written for solo or small brass ensembles written within the past thirty years. One of Kent's last concerts at IU as a student was playing principal trombone with the Indiana University Philharmonic in the milestone revival performance of Richard Strauss' opera Der Rosenkavalier. While in Bloomington Kent had the opportunity to perform with many of the regional orchestras near the university including the Bloomington Camerata Orchestra, the Columbus (IN) Philharmonic, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Kent is also a proponent of music education and has taught privately and with band programs across Indiana and his native Kentucky.
International conductor Diane Wittry, oversees the selection of American musicians for the International Cultural Exchange Program. Diane Wittry is the Music Director and Conductor of the Allentown Symphony, PA, and is known throughout the United States and abroad for her innovative and creative concert programming.