Close Encounters in Music

The Musical Merit Foundation of San Diego has inaugurated a new program, which creates intimate, musical experiences for schoolchildren. This is at no cost to participating schools. Read More.

Please contact
Ann Chase, Program Co-chair
annacaccia@cox.net
Susanna Han, Program Co-Chair
follymarna@aol.com
Musical Merit Foundation

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

It has been a tremendous joy to facilitate Musical Merit’s CLOSE ENCOUNTERS programs this past year. Gregorio Gonzalez, baritone, (October); Vincent Yang, piano (January); and Lisa Kim, violin (May) performed at more than fifteen San Diego City and County schools.

In each instance, the performing artist brought focus, commitment, and brilliant artistry to schoolchildren of all ages, sharing heartfelt and personal stories of his or her own process of becoming a musician, answering questions from absolute naïveté to acquired musical sophistication with the utmost respect, humor and seriousness. Vincent Yang played on out-of-tune upright pianos rolled into the classroom and exquisite concert grands with verve and excitement. He ended a program of Liszt, Debussy and Beethoven with his own virtuoso arrangement of “Chopsticks.” Lisa Kim and Dana Burnett thrilled middle school and high school string students with selections by Mozart and Brahms, plus an entertaining showpiece “Yankee Doodle Dandy” by Henri Vieuxtemps for solo violin. Gregorio Gonzalez sang an appealing program of songs from Zarzuela and American musical theatre.

In our artistically-disenfranchised schools of today, it is reassuring to view firsthand the wide-eyed delight of the participating schoolchildren and realize what a special gift from MUSICAL MERIT FOUNDATION this program has become.

Ann Chase, Chair
Close Encounters

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SCHEDULE 2011
(These events are not open to the public - They are invitation only.)

Lisa Kim, violin, and Dana Burnett, piano
performed at the following four San Diego schools in May:

Henry High School (May 3)

Farb Middle School (May 3)

Pershing Middle School (May 4)

Lincoln High School (May 4)

An engaging program of selections by Mozart and Brahms was followed by vibrant open discussions between Lisa and the schoolchildren. At Farb Middle School, many of the music students stayed after school to continue the question and answer session with her. She and Dana ended their program with an arrangement by Henri Vieuxtemps: Souvenir Amerique, which included “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” - see more -

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PAST CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

A Close Encounter with Pianist Vincent Yang 2009 MMF winner

A Close Encounter with Baritone Gregorio Gonzalez 2000 MMF winner

A Close Encounter with Baritone Lorant Najbauer MMF winner 2009 and 2010