Conservatory Week in St. Petersburg

We just returned from a wonderful week in St. Petersburg. for the Conservatory Week Festival. In addition to our own performances at the Conservatory and nearby Polytechnic Institute, we had to pleasure to hear a number of fantastic performances by students and pros from Russia and around the world. Highlights included performances by the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra and the Conservatory Chorus.

NICOLAS DE GRIGNY (1672-1703)
Hymne du Veni Creator
(Fête de la Pentecôte)
En taille à 5
Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux

JEHAN ALAIN (1911-1940)
Three Dances (1937-1939) JA 120
Joys

LOUIS VIERNE (1870-1937)
from Fantasy Pieces, opus 53, Second Suite
Toccata
Lynne DAVIS, organ (USA)

Rehearsing on stage in the
beautiful Glazunov Hall.

ERWIN SCHULHOFF (1894-1942)
Five Pieces for String Quartet:
Alla Valse Viennese (Allegro)
Alla Serenata (Allegretto con moto)
Alla Czeca (Molto Allegro)
Alla Tango (Andante)
Alla Tarantella (Prestissimo con fuoco)

St. Petersburg Quartet:
Alla ARANOVSKAYA, violin
Evgeny ZVONNIKOV, violin
Boris VAYNER, viola
Leonid SHUKAEV, cello

SAMUEL BARBER (1910-1981)
Summer Music, op. 31

Lieurance Woodwind Quintet
Frances SHELLY, flute
Andréa BANKE, oboe
Sarunas JANKAUSKAS, clarinet
Scott OAKES, bassoon
Erika BINSLEY, horn

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Simple Symphony, op. 4

Suprima Chamber Orchestra
Conductor – Boris VAYNER

The concert is supported by:
The Consulate General of the United States in St. Petersburg

We had the chance to do some sight seeing. Here we are in Catherine The Great's summer palace.

A special thanks to our fabulous guides Valaria and Dasha.

LWQ welcomes Clarinetist Sarunas Jankauskas

A native of Lithuania, clarinetist Sarunas Jankauskas is an active performer in a variety of settings. Currently he serves as the Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Wichita State University and is principal clarinetist of Wichita Symphony Orchestra and member of the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet.

As a soloist, Dr. Jankauskas appeared with Round Rock Symphony Orchestra, Texas Festival Orchestra, The University of Texas Symphony Orchestra and Austin Singers. As a chamber musician he collaborated with Jasper and Aeolus String Quartets, Colette Valentine, Toby Blumenthal, Kris Becker and other accomplished artists. He participated in a number of concert series, including Spring of Harmony, Syzygy, Clutch, Music under the Stars, Kaunas Contemporary Music Festival as well as prestigious summer programs such as Sarasota Music Festival, New Music Workshop at Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Round Top Festival-Institute and Texas Music Festival.

As an orchestral musician, Dr. Jankauskas also performed with Round Rock Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and Brazos Valley Symphony. He is a prize winner at Entergy Young Texas Artists, Kingsville International Young Artists, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artists competitions as well as Round Top Festival-Institute, Butler School of Music and Grand Valley State University concerto competitions.

Dr. Jankauskas previously served on faculty at Texas Lutheran University. He received his degrees from Grand Valley State University, Rice University and The University of Texas at Austin. His principal teachers were Dr. Arthur Campbell, Richard MacDowell, Dr. Michael Webster and Algirdas Budrys.

LWQ welcomes Erika Binsley, horn

From Adams to Mozart and Britten to Wagner, Erika Binsley is an enthusiastic performer of music old and new.  She has been heard around the world as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral horn player.  Miss Binsley has shared the stage with artists such as John Williams and Michael Tilson-Thomas and performed in venues including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, New World Center, and Shanghai Concert Hall.  During the summer, Erika has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Banff Summer Festival, CCM Spoleto Festival (in Italy), and Idyllwild Summer Festival Orchestra.  She has been the recipient of many awards including the ASCAP Livingston and Evans Scholarship, First Place in the Claremont Winds Young Artists Competition, Low Horn Winner of the IHS Dorothy Frizelle Orchestra Audition Contest, and a Trustee Scholarship (full tuition) to the University of Southern California, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.  While at USC, Miss Binsley was also a member of the YMF Debut Orchestra.  Currently, Erika plays in the Wichita Symphony and is a graduate assistant at Wichita State University.