Special Performance of Catkin: March 10

SFCM is once again proud to partner with The Santa Fe Concert Association to present Catkin on Saturday, March 10 at 2 p.m. at the museum. Catkin will peformed by the highly talented SFCA EPIK Artists who will take on the roles of the characters in the story using musical excerpts. Gina Browning, SFCA’s Education Director, will narrate the story. Joe Illick, SFCA’s Executive and Artistic Director will be the pianist. The performance will also feature beautiful illustrations, created by children who have participated in SFCM's drop-in art programs. 

The EPIK Artists program coaches young performing artists ages 10 to 16 in vocal and instrumental music and dance and provides performance opportunities throughout the season for these young pre-professionals. Chosen by audition, these students receive private coaching and regular performance opportunities. Not only are the young artists coached in their instrument, voice or dance, they are also taught and practice stage presence, connecting with the audience, nerve management, and other extra-musical essential skills. The SFCA is committed to giving every tool to young talent in the Santa Fe community, enabling them to successfully pursue a career in the arts if that is their wish.

This performance is free with Museum admission.

PRESS RELEASE: SFCA EPIK Artist program performance

Santa Fe Concert Association presents EPIK Artist
Program in performances of CATKIN

Saturday, March 10, 2012
Santa Fe Southside and Main Libraries
Santa Fe Children’s Museum

The Santa Fe Concert Association in proud to present another performance by the highly talented SFCA EPIK Artists. The EPIK Artists program coaches young performing artists ages 10 to 16 in vocal and instrumental music and dance and provides performance opportunities throughout the season for these young pre-professionals. Chosen by audition, these students receive private coaching and regular performance opportunities. Not only are the young artists coached in their instrument, voice or dance, they are also taught and practice stage presence, connecting with the audience, nerve management, and other extra-musical essential skills. The SFCA is committed to giving every tool to young talent in the Santa Fe community, enabling them to successfully pursue a career in the arts if that is their wish.

A group of the SFCA EPIK Artists will take on the roles of the characters in the story Catkin using musical excerpts. Gina Browning, SFCA’s Education Director, will narrate the story. Joe Illick, SFCA’s Executive and Artistic Director will be the pianist. The performance will also feature beautiful illustrations, created by children who participate in SFCM's drop-in art programs.

The EPIK artists play engaging excerpts written by 10-year-old composer and violinist, Ezra Shcolnik, a Santa Fe native, who is studying composition at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, as well as excerpts by Mozart. Catkin will include audience participation. Catkin is told as a 'story drama.’ The story drama format is a performance piece that includes music and narration. Young musicians playing their instruments represent the characters in the story.

The cast includes the following SFCA EPIK Artists: (Some photos in attachment) 

Ezra Shcolnik, 10, composer, violin - Catkin
Phoenix Avalon, 11, violin - The Child (Jeremy)
Cameron Murdock, 17, cello - Wise Woman
Jakob Kaare-Rasmussen, piano- 10, Parents
Lucian Avalon, 13, oboe - Little People King
Zoe Unferverth, 14, voice - Little People Riddles
Elle Knowlton, 13, voice - Little People Riddles
Kaeleigh Glasner, 10, voice - Little People Riddles

The story of CATKIN, by Antonia Barber
A wise woman gives a kitten given to a family who has a young child. The kitten grows into Catkin. The cat is supposed to guard the child, but one day Catkin falls asleep, and the child is spirited away by the Little People. The Little People love the child, but the parents of the child grieve their loss. The Wise Woman tells the cat that he must go to the Little People and rectify his mistake. The cat goes down into the earth and becomes beloved by the king and queen of the Little People. The king knows that Catkin has come for the child and challenges him to a series of riddles. If Catkin can answer them all correctly, he will be able to take the child back. Catkin succeeds, but both the king and queen beg him to leave the child, whom they love so much. Catkin suggests that all the Little People and he takes the child to the Wise Woman for her verdict. The Wise Woman says that since the parents love their child, they must have the child, and since the Little People love the child, they must also have the child. Thus the child lives with the parents for three seasons and with the Little People for the long winters.

 We will be happy to help set up interviews with Education Director Virginia Browning and any of the EPIK Artists in the program. Please call the SFCA office at 505 984 8759 or email Sandy Heydt.

 For general SFCA season information, visit www.santafeconcerts.org.

 Who Santa Fe Concert Association

What EPIK Artist Program performance

When/Where 11:00am, SF Southside Library, Saturday, March 10, 2012
6599 Jaguar Drive

When/Where 2:00pm, SF Children’s Museum, Saturday, March 10, 2012
1050 Old Pecos Trail

When/Where 3:30pm, SF Main Library, Saturday, March 10, 2012
145 Washington Avenue

The Santa Fe Concert Association’s 75th season in 2011-12 is funded by the City of Santa Fe and the 1% Lodgers Tax; New Mexico Arts, a Division of the Office of Cultural Affairs; and the National Endowment for the Arts. Major season corporate sponsors are Encantado an Auberge Resort, Hotel Santa Fe, and Heritage Hotels and Resorts. SFCA’s educational programming touches 5,000 Santa Fe students each year.