I am happy to announce the creation of our own record label, Great Wall Classics, which will feature exceptional international young artists and ensembles. We are launching the label with the release of two debut recordings by two very exciting young violinists: Yabing Tan and Zhang Ying. Their CDs feature stunning performances including Tartini's "Devil's Trill" Sonata and Ravel's "Tzigane." Click on the links below to listen for yourself! Check out all of our recordings here: http://starling.org/media-page/recordings-page

I've recently returned from an exciting weekend workshop in Portland, OR, where I trained a group of local teachers in the Sassmannshaus Tradition for violin playing. We had a wonderful time discussing violin pedagogy and going over the details found in each of the Sassmannshaus Tradition method books. If you're interested in setting up a workshop in your community, please let us know.

Consider giving the gift of music during this holiday season. We have live lessons available on ViolinMasterclass.com, which would make a great gift! If you are in the Cincinnati area, our beginner program Sassmannshaus Tradition has moved to UC Blue Ash and has a few spaces open in violin, viola and cello starting January 14. Reply to this email or call 513-556-2637 for more information.

Bärenreiter has recently released a variety of great violin pieces that would also make for wonderful gift-giving:

Finally, we are happy to announce the 10th anniversary season of the Great Wall International Music Academy will be taking place in Beijing July 16-August 5, 2014. Applications are being accepted now.

 

The Wonderful Summer of 10-Year-Old Violinist Christina Nam

 

Christina Nam (10), scholarship student in CCM's Starling Preparatory String Project, had a busy summer, full of performing and participating in summer music academies.

She was the first performer in the opening concert of the first annual Harpa International Music Academy in Reykjavik, Iceland. Together with CCM alumna Haeri Suh, she performed Kreisler's Praeludium and Allegro and the Czardas by Vittorio Monti.

From June 22 to July 5, she attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival in Philadelphia, PA. She won the competition to perform Bach's double concerto, which she performed on July 2 with Amy Oshiro-Morales, the acting assistant concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton of Christian Marcelaru, the associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, with the Music House and Honor orchestra of PIMF.  She continued her success by winning the concerto competition with Bruch's violin concerto.

From July 12 to August 2nd she took part in the 9th Great Wall International Music Academy in Beijing, China. On July 24, she performed Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen at the National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing. Her piano trio with 12-year-old Marie Decker-Hauzel from Munich and 13-year-old Hong Kong cellist Hua Huang performed Mozart Piano Trio, Op. 502.