“Each year the El Paso Summer Music Festival honors member of the El Paso community for their untiring efforts, support and dedication to the arts,” says Lynn Provenzano-Guris, EPSMF board president. Locals Ken and Beverly Jinkerson, whose “dedication and support” of music in the Borderland, will be honored this summer.
Marking its fifth season, summer 2009 brings an extra special treat to the city with the addition of From the Top. Last summer, the EPSMF welcomed concert pianist and host of NPR’s From the Top, Christopher O’Riley. O’Riley left an impression in the city, and NPR inked a deal with KTEP 88.5 to air the program in El Paso each Sunday at noon. “Mr. O’Riley performed at the Plaza Theatre and followed this with a Master Class with young area pianists,” says Provenzano-Guris, “He embraced El Paso with a special note that El Paso and the Plaza Theatre [thought] would be a fine match for From the Top.”
“El Paso Summer Music Festival is changing its direction in 2009 to focus on sponsoring NPR’s radio show,” she says. “From the Top will record its last show of the season with an incredible line-up of young talent and the award of the millionth dollar in Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist scholarships. Five slots for talented young musicians between the ages of eight and 18 have been awarded to those who have auditioned and met the musical and academic excellence required for this program. Auditions are done on a national basis.”
“From the Top is a quality event that comes to El Paso though an outstanding team of people dedicated to making a difference in young people’s lives. We have young El Pasoans performing in a program that gives them national exposure,” adds Provenzano-Guris.
Locally, the EPSMF called for auditions last January to raise awareness of both the performance and scholarship opportunities and to promote talented El Paso youth. Those who auditioned included classic vocalists, violinists, clarinestists, bassists and more to compete for the scholarship, which is awarded based on academics and financial need. 17-year-old soprano Natanya Washer, a member of the El Paso Choral Society Young Ladies Choir, is among the musicians who will receive the coveted Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.
The taping will happen Sat., June 13 at the Plaza Theatre. Tickets range from $15 - $35 and are available through Ticketmaster. A reception will follow immediately after at Downtown’s oLo Gallery. The broadcast will air nationally during the week of October 19th.
For more information, call 915.449.0619 or visit
www.elpasosummermusicfestival.org.
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This story was originally published in the May 2009 issue of El Paso Magazine available on newsstands at area Barnes & Noble stores.
