2023-03-22

American violist leads off busy LAMP season

LUNENBURG – A new LAMP season is upon us.

The Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance (LAMP) has a star-studded and busy line-up set for their spring/summer season.

The schedule begins on a big note , with violist Kim Kashkashian performing March 23 at 7 p.m., followed by more than 30 concert events through to July 9.

"We have a real busy season coming up. It's probably one of our most ambitious which is saying a lot, because we're pretty ambitious people," joked artistic director and founder Burt Wathen. "And to start it off with superstar Kim Kashkashian, one of the greatest artists of her generation, is quite something. She's also a great teacher and we have people coming from all over the place to study with her."

Kashkashian, who lives in Boston, arrived in Lunenburg March 19 and she began working with the LAMP residents that day and will continue to do so up until the concert, where they will pull their talents together to perform some beautiful music in the intimate setting of the LAMP hall.

"We have a cellist from Europe, a violinist from Australia, a pianist from China and a quartet from the United States, wonderful young artists," said Wathen. "This is going to be an amazing experience for them and amazing for the public that will come to the opening concert."

Wathen said she will be kept busy during her time here with two or three rehearsals, then a class in the afternoon.

Kashkashian has won many awards, including a Grammy in 2013. In 2016, she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2020 was named an Honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music.

As a soloist, she has appeared with the orchestras of Berlin, London, Vienna, Milan, New York and Cleveland. She now coaches chamber music and viola at the New England Conservatory of Music and is founder and artistic director of Music for Food, a musician-led hunger relief initiative.

To purchase tickets, go to www.lampns.ca or call the office at 902-634-8667.

As previously mentioned, Wathen and his group will have a busy season, along with more than 30 concerts, the residents will perform another 35 outreach concerts as well in schools and seniors' homes.

"One of our major goals since the very beginning (2014) has been to reach as many young people and seniors as possible," said Wathen. "It's a major part of our program and it's not just outreach in the sense of getting out there, it's about character and career building for our young artists and teaches them how to be passionately involved with their community, the community they live in."

Other mentor/teachers coming to LAMP this season are pianist Jane Coop; hornist and conductor James Sommerville; cellist Steven Isserlis; bassist Joel Quarrington; clarinetist Sarah Watts; and baritone Jonathon Adams.

LAMP is located in the Lunenburg Academy building on Kaulbach Street in Lunenburg.