Encounters and Artist Lounges have limited seating and require FREE advance online registration to reserve your spot. Walk-ups are welcome, subject to availability.
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JOIN US ONLINE
Encounters, Open Rehearsals, and Preludes will be available to view online.
HOW TO ACCESS
Visit TheConrad.org
Click Learning & Engagement
Under SummerFest 2025 Events, click Learn More to access this year’s recordings
All photos by Ken Jacques except page 6 photo by Allison Boles.
SummerFest 2025 celebrates Milestones—the breakthroughs, turning points, and quiet revolutions that shape both an artist and their art. Over the course of four weeks, 20 performances, and nearly 50 free Learning & Engagement Activities, you’ll come to appreciate the key moments that have defined eras, redefined boundaries, and continue to shape the future of music thanks to the thoughtful and thought-provoking programming of SummerFest Music Director and pianist Inon Barnatan.
I invite you to explore beyond the stage and live out your own transformative moments by participating in our Learning & Engagement Activities this summer. With the wide variety of activities detailed in this guide, there are endless opportunities to learn something new, reflect, and relish in the milestones and music that have brought us here.
Open Rehearsals illuminate the dedication, diligence, and passion that SummerFest artists put into every performance, while Artist Lounges reveal meaningful insights from some of the festival’s musicians.
In our Encounters, we explore the musical genius of composer Philip Glass and discover the powerful connection between Music and Mind with WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health and world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming. We also welcome back Ara Guzelimian, the Artistic and Executive Director of the Ojai Festival in California, who will take us on a deep dive of the string quartet as a medium that has often inspired the most private and personal of a composer’s innermost musical voice, as well as some of their most trailblazing innovations.
I’m proud to announce a new sponsorship for one of our most beloved and impactful education programs, the newly named Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artist Program. I hope you will follow the musical journey and build relationships with these eight young musicians who have studied at some of the world’s leading conservatories by attending Coaching Workshops, Fellowship Artist Spotlight Encounters, and Musical Preludes.
I look forward to seeing you this summer!
Allison Boles Director of Learning & Engagement
Support for LJMS Learning & Engagement Activities is provided by:
Judith Bachner and Eric Lasley | Brenda Baker and Steve Baum | Raffaella Belanich | Jim Beyster | Mary Ann Beyster Gordon Brodfuehrer | Sue and John Major | Stacy and Don Rosenberg | Marge and Neal Schmale | Jeanette Stevens
OPEN REHEARSALS
Observe the intricate rehearsal process that goes into every SummerFest performance and engage in conversation with the artists during post-rehearsal Q&As. No registration required.
Saturday, July 26 · 11 AM–12 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Steven Osborne, Nathan Meltzer, Njioma Chinyere Grevious, Matthew Lipman, and Jonathan Swensen rehearse Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57
Tuesday, July 29 · 1–2 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Stefan Jackiw, Blake Pouliot, Alan Gilbert, Nathan Meltzer, Jonathan Vinocour, Matthew Lipman, Jonathan Swensen, and Ivan Karizna rehearse Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20
Thursday, August 7 · 1–2 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Inon Barnatan, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Stefan Jackiw, Teng Li, and Alisa Weilerstein rehearse Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81
Thursday, August 21 · 5–6 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Benjamin Beilman, Andrew Wan, Hsin-Yun Huang, and Kyril Zlotnikov rehearse Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12, Op. 127
JOIN US ONLINE
Open Rehearsals will be livestreamed and available to view on-demand. See page 2 for more information.
Iron Barnatan, Music Director
COACHING WORKSHOPS LIVE PERFORMANCE!
Follow our Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artist Ensembles, Hesper Quartet and Larinae Ensemble, on their musical journey as they prepare for their SummerFest performances with a series of master classes conducted by seasoned performers from the SummerFest roster. For more information on this year’s Fellowship Artists, see page 13. No registration required. We are excited to welcome two local musicians to participate in the Coaching Workshops.
Inon Barnatan, SummerFest Fellowship Artists
All Coaching Workshop times are 10–10:50 AM and 11–11:50 AM
WEEK 1
TUESDAY
JULY 29
WEDNESDAY
JULY 30
THURSDAY
JULY 31
WEEK 2
TUESDAY
AUGUST 5
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 6
THURSDAY AUGUST 7
WEEK 3
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 13
THURSDAY AUGUST 14
WEEK 4
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20
THURSDAY AUGUST 21
Inon Barnatan coaches Larinae Ensemble on Smetana’s Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15.
Alan Gilbert coaches Hesper Quartet on Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K.465 “Dissonance.”
Blake Pouliot coaches Hesper Quartet on Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K.465 “Dissonance.”
Juho Pohjonen coaches Larinae Ensemble on Smetana’s Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15
Stefan Jackiw coaches Larinae Ensemble on Smetana’s Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15.
Clive Greensmith coaches Hesper Quartet on Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K.465 “Dissonance.”
Kyle Armbrust coaches Hesper
on
. Noah Bendix-Balgley coaches Larinae Ensemble on Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47
Teng Li coaches Larinae Ensemble on Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47.
Alisa Weilerstein coaches Hesper Quartet on selections from Beethoven’s String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4.
Jakob Taylor of Larinae Ensemble coaches a local student.
Stephen Waarts coaches Larinae Ensemble on Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60
Tessa Lark coaches Larinae Ensemble on Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60
Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt coaches Hesper Quartet on Bartók’s String Quartet No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Sz.85.
Nicolas Altstaedt coaches Hesper Quartet on Jörg Widmann’s String Quartet No. 8 (BeethovenStudy III).
Valerie Kim of Hesper Quartet coaches a local student.
Kyril Zlotnikov coaches Larinae Ensemble on Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello
Andrew Wan coaches Hesper Quartet on Allegro moderato. Très doux from Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major.
Owen Dalby coaches Larinae Ensemble on Caroline Shaw’s Thousandth Orange
Allison Boles and Jade Lewenhaupt reflect on the festival with Hesper Quartet and Larinae Ensemble.
Dates, times, programs, and artists are subject to change.
Quartet
Britten’s Three Divertimenti
ENCOUNTERS
Encounters are free afternoon events, featuring intriguing lectures, discussions, performances, and diverse perspectives. Encounters reveal fascinating insights into the ways in which music is created, influenced, interpreted, and performed. Registration required.
Thursday, July 24 · 2 PM · The JAI
Exploring Philip Glass’ Piano Etudes
Philip Glass is one of the most influential composers in contemporary classical music. His work spans large-scale compositions—such as operas and film scores—to smaller chamber pieces, but nothing has been as cherished as his intimate piano etudes. Celebrated by many and described as “haunting,” “meditative,” and “lyrical,” these pieces are challenging to perform and test the skills of any pianist. They have even taken on new life.
Leading up to our performance of Glass’ complete Etudes, join Beginner’s Ear founder and New York Times contributor Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim for an engaging Encounter exploring the breadth and brilliance of this celebrated composer.
Monday,
August
4 · 2 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Music and Mind
Hosted by Renée Fleming
A compelling and growing body of research has demonstrated the powerful impacts of music and the arts on health and the human experience. From easing pain and aiding speech recovery after brain injury, to improving mobility in Parkinson’s patients and fostering lifelong achievement and creativity in children, music and arts therapies are proving effective across a wide range of conditions. Soprano and arts and health advocate Renée Fleming’s anthology, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, published in 2024, amplifies this global conversation by uniting expert voices on the transformative role of the arts in health.
In Music and Mind, presented in more than 60 cities around the world, Fleming invites leading local scientists, physicians, and practitioners to join her on stage, offering illuminating discussions and sharing the latest findings about the growing field of arts and health.
Alex Ross
Tuesday, August 12 · 2 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artist Spotlight I with Violist Masumi Rostad
Praised by The New York Times for his “burnished sound,” and described as an “electrifying, poetic, and sensitive musician,” GRAMMY® Awardwinning violist Masumi Rostad is a sought-after soloist, chamber musician, educator, advocate, and writer. He joins Hesper Quartet to perform Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No. 2, Op. 87 for our first Fellowship Artist Spotlight performance along with Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major performed by Larinae Ensemble.
Tuesday, August 19 · 2 PM · The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artist Spotlight II with Violinist Benjamin Beilman
Benjamin Beilman has won praise both for his passionate performances and deep rich tone with the Philadelphia Inquirer calling him “poised and monstrously talented.” As one of the leading violinists of his generation, he has won international acclaim for his performances as both a soloist and as a chamber musician. He joins Larinae Ensemble to perform Franck’s Piano Quintet for the second Fellowship Artist Spotlight with pieces by Beethoven and Bartók performed by Hesper Quartet.
Thursday, August 21 · 2 PM · The JAI
The String Quartet: Music’s Inner World Lecture by Ara Guzelimian
The string quartet as a medium has often inspired the most private and personal of a composer’s innermost musical voice as well as some of their most trailblazing innovations—truly milestone moments as music has evolved over time. With Ara Guzelimian, the Artistic and Executive Director of the Ojai Festival in California, join us for an exploration of the workings of this extraordinary repertoire, with a focus on Beethoven’s late quartets.
JOIN US ONLINE
Musical Encounters will be livestreamed, and the Encounters on July 24 and August 21 will be available to view on-demand. See page 2 for more information.
ARTIST LOUNGES
The spark of creativity is unique for every individual. Drawing on the theme “Milestones,” the Artist Lounge is an in-depth conversation hosted by Artistic Director Leah Rosenthal. Come discover more about these great artists in a warm, intimate setting. Registration required.
Monday, July 28 · 1 PM · The Atkinson Room
To love music deeply and share that with her audience is the raison d’être of Dutch violinist Liza Ferschtman. A musical storyteller committed to the emotional language of every composer she interprets, the ever-widening path of her international career is as varied as the work she performs. In 2006, she received the highest accolade awarded to young musicians in the Netherlands, the Dutch Music Prize, and in 2021, she was made Officer in the Order of Oranje-Nassau, a royal acknowledgement for her contribution to the Dutch cultural scene.
Monday, August 4 · 1 PM · The Atkinson Room
With a clear and heartfelt personal sound, violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley has reached and moved listeners around the world. He enjoys a wideranging musical life—not only is he First Concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker, but he is also a renowned performer of traditional klezmer music and tours extensively both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. A laureate of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition, he also won top prizes at the LongThibaud Competition in France and the Postacchini Competition in Italy.
Monday, August 11 · 1 PM · The Atkinson Room
German-French cellist Nicolas Altstaedt is one of the most sought-after and versatile artists today. As a soloist, conductor, and artistic director, he performs repertoire spanning from early music to the contemporary. He was a recipient of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in 2009, a BBC New Generation Artist 2010–2012, received the Beethoven Ring Award at Bonn’s Beethovenfest in 2015, and was awarded the international music prize Musikpreis der Stadt Duisburg in 2018.
Monday, August 18 · 1 PM · The Atkinson Room
Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt has established herself as one of the most sought-after violists of her generation. She was the founding violist of the twice-GRAMMY®-nominated Dover Quartet and played in the group from 2008–2022. During her time in the group, the Dover Quartet was the First Prize-winner and recipient of every special award at the Banff International String Quartet Competition 2013. Her numerous awards also include First Prize at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and top prizes at the Sphinx Competition and the Tokyo International Viola Competition.
PRELUDES
Ticket holders are invited to The JAI an hour prior to performances to hear musical and historical insights through engaging interviews and fascinating lectures by our esteemed roster of scholars. See the calendar on page 14 for the detailed schedule.
Allison Boles Director of Learning & Engagement, La Jolla Music Society
Michael Gerdes Director of Orchestras and Professor, San Diego State University
Kristi Brown-Montesano Musicologist and Professor, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
Ara Guzelimian Artistic and Executive Director, Ojai Festival
Tiffany Kuo Musicologist and Professor, Colburn School and Mount San Antonio College
JOIN US ONLINE
Patrick Castillo Composer; Vice President of Artistic Planning, New York Philharmonic
Robert John Hughes Journalist, broadcaster, musician, author, record producer
Leah Rosenthal Artistic Director, La Jolla Music Society
All Preludes will be available to view after the concert on TheConrad.org. See page 2 for more information.
MUSICAL PRELUDES LIVE
Ticket holders are invited to extend their evening with more great music performed in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall an hour prior to the listed concert start time.
MUSICAL PRELUDES IN THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL | ONE HOUR PRIOR TO PERFORMANCES
FRIDAY
AUGUST 1
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Hesper Quartet performs Mozart’s String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K.465 “Dissonance”
SATURDAY AUGUST 2 PRODIGIES
FRIDAY AUGUST 8
Larinae Ensemble performs Smetana’s Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15
STRUNG TOGETHER
Hesper Quartet performs selections by Britten and Beethoven
FRIDAY AUGUST 15 LOVE SONGS
Larinae Ensemble performs Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60
PROFOUND REFLECTIONS
FRIDAY AUGUST 22
SATURDAY
AUGUST 23
Hesper Quartet performs Ravel’s Allegro moderato. Très doux from String Quartet in F Major and Jörg Widmann’s String Quartet No. 8 (Beethoven-Study III)
SUMMERFEST FINALE: Starburst
Larinae Ensemble performs Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello and Caroline Shaw’s Thousandth Orange
JOIN US ONLINE
All Preludes will be available to view after the concert on TheConrad.org. See page 2 for more information.
FARFY FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP ARTISTS
We are proud to welcome eight talented emerging musicians as our SummerFest 2025 Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artists. The Hesper Quartet and Larinae Ensemble will participate in Coaching Workshops, perform in Encounters and Musical Preludes, and share the stage with other SummerFest artists during their four-week residencies in La Jolla.
Hesper Quartet
Larinae Ensemble
Tang, piano; Jake Dongyoung Shim, violin; Joseph Skerik, viola
HISTORY
For more than 35 years, students from the country’s leading music programs have participated in one of SummerFest’s longest traditions—the Fellowship Artist program. Thanks to generous support from the Farfy Foundation, this program continues to thrive. Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artists are selected by a panel of seasoned professional musicians and represent some of the most exciting talent emerging in classical music. Many of the program’s alumni have gone on to major orchestras and prestigious internation competitions and awards and often return to the SummerFest roster in subsequent years, to the delight of audiences.
Table of Contents
Stephanie
; Jakob Giovanni Taylor, cello
Valerie Kim, Yejin Yoon, violins; Sohui Yun, viola; Connor Kim, cello
SUMMERFEST 2025
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
27 SUNDAY
PRELUDE | 2 PM
Lecture by Patrick Castillo
EMERGENCE | 3 PM
NEW YORK TAKEOVER @ THE JAI | 7 PM The JAI
28 MONDAY
ARTIST LOUNGE | 1 PM
The Atkinson Room With Liza Ferschtman hosted by Leah Rosenthal
3 SUNDAY
4 MONDAY
ARTIST LOUNGE | 1 PM
The Atkinson Room With Noah Bendix-Balgley hosted by Leah Rosenthal
ENCOUNTER | 2 PM · The JAI Music and Mind with Renée Fleming
29 TUESDAY
COACHING WORKSHOPS
10 AM–12 PM · The JAI
OPEN REHEARSAL | 1 PM Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20
30 WEDNESDAY
COACHING WORKSHOPS
10 AM–12 PM · The JAI
PRELUDE | 6 PM · The JAI Lecture by Patrick Castillo YOUTHFUL PASSIONS 7 PM
Midweek Masterworks
10 SUNDAY
PRELUDE | 2 PM · The JAI
Lecture by Tiffany Kuo HOMAGE | 3 PM
11 MONDAY
ARTIST LOUNGE | 1 PM
The Atkinson Room With Nicolas Altstaedt hosted by Leah Rosenthal
5 TUESDAY
COACHING WORKSHOPS
10 AM–12 PM · The JAI
PRELUDE | 6 PM · The JAI Lecture by Kristi BrownMontesano FOR THE END OF TIME 7 PM
12 TUESDAY
ENCOUNTER | 2 PM Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artist Spotlight I
6 WEDNESDAY
COACHING WORKSHOPS
10 AM–12 PM · The JAI
17 SUNDAY
DANCE @ THE JAI
3 PM & 6 PM The JAI
18 MONDAY
ARTIST LOUNGE | 1 PM
The Atkinson Room With Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt hosted by Leah Rosenthal
19 TUESDAY
ENCOUNTER | 2 PM Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artist Spotlight II
13 WEDNESDAY
COACHING WORKSHOPS
10 AM–12 PM · The JAI
PRELUDE | 6 PM · The JAI
Lecture by Michael Gerdes LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
7 PM
Midweek Masterworks
20 WEDNESDAY
COACHING WORKSHOPS
10 AM–12 PM · The JAI
PRELUDE | 6 PM · The JAI Lecture by Ara Guzelimian TRANSCENDENCE
7 PM
Midweek Masterworks
7/24
THURSDAY
ENCOUNTER | 2 PM · The JAI
Exploring Philip Glass’ Piano Etudes
25 FRIDAY
PRELUDE | 6:30 PM · The JAI
Interview with Inon Barnatan hosted by Leah Rosenthal
OPENING NIGHT: GREAT EXPECTATIONS 7:30 PM
26 SATURDAY
OPEN REHEARSAL | 11 AM Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57
PRELUDE | 6:30 PM · The JAI Interview with Timo Andres hosted by Allison Boles THE GLASS MENAGERIE 7:30 PM
