The final performance of the IIMIF 2016 concert tour took place at the William Humbert Amphitheater in Belair, Maryland. The appreciative audience (enjoying the beautiful summer evening in the park) rewarded the performers with enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation. Bravo!

Two more performances today (Villa Julie and Symphony Manor). Just one left in the tour! Catch us in Belair tomorrow at 7:00.

More music-making today: concerts at BYKOTA and Blakehurst in Towson. Audiences love hearing them play, and also, hearing about their lives. They have enjoyed questions about when our soloists began lessons, what drew them to their instruments, how (and how much) they practice, and what classical music means to them. 

And they're off! Four IIMIF students were selected to participate in the 2016 tour, earning the opportunity to be featured in seven concerts (including last Friday's performance in Annapolis). Day one of the post-IIMIF tour: a performance at St. Dominic's in Baltimore. The audience was thrilled!

Congratulations to IIMIF 2016 ensembles on a successful concert!

Congratulations to tonight's solo recital performers - you played (and spoke) beautifully! The program included works by Casadesus, Sarasate, Chopin, Lalo, Sarasate, Elgar, Beethoven, Liszt, Dvorak, and Bruch... and the final selection was a string orchestra performance of Gershwin's ​Lullaby.

Today our tour group enjoyed their first public performance with a successful (standing ovation!) concert as part of the St. Margaret's Episcopal Church concert series in Annapolis. IIMIF Executive Directors Elizabeth Borowsky and Frances Borowsky traveled and performed with the group. Students introduced themselves and their performance selections to the audience, demonstrating how they have been refining their public speaking skills throughout the week in addition to all the technical and artistic musical work.  Congratulations musicians - the audience went wild!

Watch the video to see (and hear) the amazing progress they've made in just a few short days!

We had a fun field trip to the "Shoppes at Gettysburg" (aka outlets) and then got right back to work with rehearsals, an interactive masterclass by Artistic Director Cecylia Barczyk, and a thought-provoking workshop on "Careers in Music" (and, the personal and professional characteristics required to successfully pursue them) by faculty member Sharon Eng. 

Thank you to Brian Ganz for an inspiring masterclass and phenomenal recital. You have inspired us with your music and teaching, but also your words and example, encouragement, and generous time in answering all of our questions on life and music. We are so very grateful.

We were thrilled to have Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Jonathan Carney coach the violinists and violists and listen to the Gershwin Lullaby. He shared so many specific tips and tricks for sound production, technical practice, and artistry. What a fantastic musician and teacher! Later in the day, Artistic Director Cecylia Barczyk gave a presentation on "Coloring Your Music." We concluded the day with stretches/yoga to help ease our bodies.