Oliver Aldort returns to Orcas Center stage

Orcas Islanders will have the rare opportunity to experience the talents of local musical prodigy Oliver Aldort at Orcas Center on Saturday, June 28 at 7:30 pm.

Aldort, who grew up on Orcas Island, is only 14 and already an accomplished musician. He studies with world-renowned cellist Lynn Harrell and during this summer, while Mr. Harrell is away in Germany, Aldort will study remotely with Julliard cello professor Andre Emilianoff.

During the 2008 Seattle Young Artist Music Festival, Aldort performed with the Philharmonia Northwest Orchestra and took the Festival’s Concerto Medal. A seasoned performer, Aldort has many recitals under his belt and has been a featured soloist with symphony orchestras in Washington State, British Columbia and Massachusetts. The week prior to the June 28 concert, Aldort will be performing in a master class taught by Desmond Hoebig, principal cellist with the Cleveland Symphony, at the Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival.

In an international arena, RDF Television of London will travel to Orcas Island specifically to interview Aldort for a program they are producing on musical prodigies around the world.

Oliver is involved increasingly in conducting and will soon have the opportunity to conduct a full orchestra. He is currently studying conducting with symphony and opera scores by Brahms, Mozart, Dvorak and Mozart. His teacher is Roupen Shakarian, conductor of Philharmonia Northwest Orchestra, who will give Aldort the opportunity to conduct the orchestra in the fall.

Aldort’s June 28 concert will include Bach’s unaccompanied Suite 6, prelude; Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro; a Debussy cello sonata; Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso; the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata #32; and Brahms Second Cello sonata in F major. He will be accompanied by Seattle-based pianist Meade Crane and joined onstage by a surprise guest.

Tickets for the Oliver Aldort concert are $16, $12 for Orcas Center members, and $10 for students. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, a limited number of complementary tickets are available for children and youth. For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit www.orcascenter.org or call or 360/376-2281 ext 1 or visit Orcas Center during box office hours, Thursday-Saturday, noon – 4 pm.

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