Editor's pick: Concerts at sunset

Shandelee Festival back for the 15th year

WHEN: Saturday, August 2 through Saturday, August 16

WHERE: J. Young Road, Livingston Manor, NY

COST: Sunset concerts $25 for adults; $23 for students and seniors. $75 opening night celebration on August 2.

CONTACT: shandelee.org or 845/439-3277

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Next up in the round of musical festivals that grace this area will be the 2008 Shandelee Music Festival, which will celebrate its 15th anniversary season from August 2 through August 16 at the festival grounds on J. Young Road. The festival is unique in combining an unmatched educational opportunity for gifted pianists from all over the world—including some from Sullivan County—with Sunset Concerts, world-class musical performances by international artists. Dessert receptions follow each Sunset Concert. A high point for Sullivan County residents will be the concert on Saturday, August 9, when Sean Carmichael, the first Sullivan County resident to be chosen as an International Artist of Shandelee, will join with other young pianists given that designation who will give solo performances that night.

The opening celebration will be a performance by the La Vita Williams Guitar Duo, Bret Williams and Giacomo La Vita, on Saturday, August 2 at 8:00 p.m. The Nylon Review called the pair “a duo of spectacular energy and technical resource,” and Tony Morris of National Public Radio’s Classical Guitar Alive said, “La Vita Williams Guitar Duo is an energetic young ensemble with a polished and warm sound.”

Rounding out the week, an evening of chamber music performed by Aiman Mussakhajayeva on the violin and Cullan Bryant on the piano will follow on Tuesday, August 5 at 8:00 p.m. On Thursday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m., Mika Rannali will give a solo performance on the piano. See the Shandelle website for the second-week schedule.

Sullivan County pianists attending the festival’s special day program are John Bernstein from Grahamsville, Ryan Cerullo from Liberty High School, and Ruby Hong and Jessica Nesin from Monticello. Students will also receive private lessons from pianist and pedagogue, Yelena Mamonova, who performed extensively as a chamber musician and as vocal accompanist throughout her native Russia as well as in the United States.