 AYP Concert this Sunday Featuring Pianist Michael Sheppard
The American Youth Philharmonic (AYP) and Principal Conductor Christopher Zimmerman welcome to the stage pianist Michael Sheppard on Sunday, January 26, 3:00 p.m. at George Mason University's Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia. Sheppard will perform Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The concert also includes Starburst by Leshnoff and Symphony No.1 by Brahms. Tickets are free for music teachers, free for ages 5 and under, $10 for students (including college with I.D.), $10 for seniors (65+), and $20 for adults. For concert details visit www.aypo.org/events.
AYP is the flagship orchestra of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. It is a full symphonic orchestra consisting of the most accomplished young musicians in the area who perform demanding standard orchestral literature as well as newly composed works. Throughout its history, the orchestra has received wide critical acclaim for its professional sound and mature interpretation in performances at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Constitution Hall, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, George Mason University Center for the Arts, George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium; and in tours to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival (Scotland), British Festival of Youth Orchestras, Festival of Youth Orchestras (Chicago, Washington D.C.), the Spoleto Festival (South Carolina) and the International Rachmaninoff Festival (Russia). AYP has collaborated with the Master Chorale of Washington, Virginia Ballet Company, Oratorio Society of Washington, Fairfax Choral Society, Reston Chorale, Washington Performing Arts Society and numerous renowned soloists, including pianist Horacio Gutierrez, trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, pianist Sara Wolfensohn, clarinettist Paquito D'Rivera and guest conductor, Leonard Slatkin.
About the Guest Artist: Already known as a pianist of dazzling virtuosity and penetrating musicianship, Michael Sheppard is also spreading his wings as a composer, arranger and transcriber. Trained by the legendary Leon Fleisher and the scholarly but passionate Ann Schein at the Peabody Conservatory, Michael was selected by the American Pianists Association as a Classical Fellow. This designation led to the recording of his Harmonia Mundi CD of 2007 and in late 2012 another recording was released by Azica, a Cleveland-based label distributed worldwide by Naxos Records. The APA fellowship provided a tour of Southern Asia and the Middle East, done in collaboration with the US Department of State. During this tour, he performed with numerous national orchestras, played chamber music with resident ensembles, and played in solo recitals as well as diplomatic events. He additionally found time to do master classes and conducted informal presentations in secondary schools and universities. Michael Sheppard appears through the courtesy of Chesapeake International Artists. [Complete Biography]
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