The Symphony Orchestra Augusta in Georgia has announced a new mentoring program for college students, in partnership with Augusta State University. In the program, launched this spring, Music Director Shizuo Z. Kuwahara and retired SOA principal viola Carl Purdy are working with the members of ASU’s new string quartet: violinists Jason Pooler and Bethany Turnmire; violist Timothy Kelley; and cellist Jessica Masdon. Purdy is working with the students on selected pieces for two performances for elementary school students in Richmond County. In conjunction with those performances, the students will prepare a talk/demonstration, and Kuwahara will provide post-performance feedback regarding their presentation. The program was designed to meet needs of the host school and complement its established in-school programs, as well as provide professional guidance for university music students wishing to design their own projects.
Posted April 20, 2011
