WDPR Discover Classical 88.1 & 89.9 will host its annual Catch a Rising Star gala this Saturday, June 4, at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (2600 Deweese Pkwy, Dayton). Doors open at 7 p.m.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served at the semi-formal event along with wine and beer from Yellow Springs Brewery. The gala is named for its format, which includes multiple performances by up-and-coming young classical musicians throughout the evening.
Croatian classical guitarist Ana Vidovic will headline Saturday’s event. The 35-year-old virtuosa began learning guitar at five years old and has been performing internationally since age 11. At 13, she became the youngest student ever to attend the prestigious National Music Academy in Zagreb, and later studied at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.
Classical Guitar Magazine described her talent as producing “so many moments of insight that you often feel you are listening to the music for the first time,” and Guitar Review wrote, “It is difficult to know where to begin when discussing the enormous talents of Ana Vidovic. Her dynamic range, beauty of sound, precision of articulation and virtuosity are such that listening becomes more of an absolute musical experience.”
In a rarity for classical musicians, Vidovic has also become a viral sensation, garnering millions of views for her YouTube videos.
Homegrown talent will also be on display at Saturday’s event.
“Catch a Rising Star is our chance to shine the spotlight on up-and-coming classical musicians from the Dayton region, many of of whom we first met through our annual Young Talent Search,” said Shaun Yu, President/CEO of Discover Classical, “The talent is absolutely stellar, and we couldn’t believe our good fortune when Ms. Vidovic made herself available for this event.”
Three classical guitarists from Dayton will perform: brothers Garrett (age 16) and Mason (14) Chambal, and Connor Barney, a recent Wright State University alum who will begin graduate studies at Indiana University this fall.
Other scheduled performers are Eva Skanse, flute performance major at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the first flutist ever to win WDPR’s Discover Classical Young Talent Search, and Alex Wunder, an operatic baritone who graduated from Kettering-Fairmont High School this spring and will attend Belmont University in Nashville this fall. Wunder is, to date, the only male vocalist to win the Discover Classical Young Talent Search.
The Catch a Rising Star event will also include a raffle with prizes from artisans, businesses, and organizations from around the region, with tickets priced at 1 for $25 and 3 for $50. All proceeds from the evening benefit Discover Classical, Dayton’s public, 24-hour classical music station, which relies on listener support for most of its annual funding.
Tickets are $88.10 and can still be purchased at 937-222-9377, http://www.discoverclassical.org, and at the door the night of the event.
