Thursday Februrary 18, 2010
8:00 pm
Santa Clara Convention Center

iPalpiti-_{Orchestral Ensemble of International Laureates}

Acclaimed by the international press, iPalpiti was founded by Eduard Schmieder in 1991.EDUARD SCHMIEDER, Music Director & Conductor; Carnell Distinguished Professor, Boyer College, Temple University

It has since grown to an ensemble of international recognition, establishing a summer residency in Beverly Hills, California in 1999.  iPalpiti (ee-PAHL-pit-ee is Italian for “heartbeat”) has performed to sold-out audiences in prestigious venues such as Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Mozarteum Grosse Hall (Salzburg), Nikkei Hall (Tokyo), Disney Hall (Los Angeles), YMCA Jerusalem, Carnegie Hall (New York), and has been invited as ensemble-in-residence at festivals in Slovenia, Israel, Carinthia, Belgium, and Italy, as well as the Martha Argerich Festival in Beppu, Japan.  Click HERE for a full Bio.

Friday Februrary 19, 2010
8:00 pm
Santa Clara Convention Center

National High School Honors Orchestra Concert
with Conductor Raymond Harvey.   Click HERE for a full Bio.

The mission of the National High School Honors Orchestra is to competitively select the most talented young musicians from school orchestras in each state to assemble biennially and perform in a national showcase, playing music from the professional orchestral literature under the direction of an internationally recognized conductor. The students working toward excellence in the NHSHO are inspired to carry that excellence back to their own schools and on to a musical future.

Saturday Februrary 20, 2010
8:00 pm
Santa Clara Convention Center
ASTA's Gala Benefit Evening 

Celebration of the State Chapters Event and a Performance by the Quartet San Francisco

New This Year:  Change in the Gala Benefit Evening

One of the new features of the 2010 conference is the format of the social event prior to the closing concert.  The Silent Auction is being modified to be a “Celebration of the State Chapters.”  We will auction state baskets prepared by state chapters as part of this special celebration.  String Industry Council members are being asked to donate their items to the state basket in their home state.  As you are aware, state baskets are a member favorite and can include anything that you feel is relevant to your home state.  State baskets can be brought to Santa Clara and turned in at the registration desk.  They can be shipped directly to the hotel.  Or you can send your completed baskets to the National Office  prior to January 15, 2010.  Questions about this should be sent to Donna Hale at donna@astaweb.com   If you plan to bring a basket, please email Donna Hale  prior to January 15 so we can prepare a bid sheet. If possible please include an index card that lists all the donors to your basket that we can display at the celebration and use for recognition in AST after the conference.  A prize will be awarded to the state whose basket brings the most money.  The celebration event will also include a performance. There will be a cash bar and the event is open to all conference attendees.

Quartet San Francisco

Non-traditional in their delivery, QSF redefines the sound of chamber music. When the music says swing, we swing. When the music says groove, we groove.

Grammy nominees for their last two releases (2006 and 2007) and International Tango competition winners (New York, 2004), Quartet San Francisco expresses itself in its agility and standout virtuosic playing. Quartet San Francisco is Jeremy Cohen and Alisa Rose, violinists, Keith Lawrence, violist, and Michelle Djokic, cellist. As crossover specialists they excel in multiple styles from jazz to tango, pop to funk, blues to bluegrass, gypsy swing to big band and beyond.
Click HERE for a full Bio.