Díaz Headlines International Music Festival

Internationally renowned violist Roberto Díaz performs works by Max Bruch, Paul Hindemith and Tchaikovsky Friday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Westmont’s Porter Theatre. The concert is part of the Montecito International Music Festival, which brings about 160 students to Westmont for a three-week, music-intensive program July 15-Aug. 2. Concert tickets, which are $15 for students/seniors and $30 general admission, will be sold at the door. Tickets to the master classes are $10 for students/seniors and $20 general admission.

Díaz, president and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music, was principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra for 10 years. He was also principal viola of the National Symphony under Mstislav Rostropovich, a member of the Boston Symphony under Seiji Ozawa and a member of the Minnesota Orchestra under Sir Neville Marriner. His recording of transcriptions by William Primrose with pianist Robert Koenig was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award.

Classical cellist Lynn Harrell, who earned Grammy Awards for “Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios” in 1988 and “Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor” in 1982, performs during a master class on Friday, July 19, at 2 p.m. in Hieronymus Lounge at Westmont’s Kerrwood Hall.

Concert violinist Linda Wang, assistant professor of violin at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, performs a master class on Friday, July 26, at 2 p.m. in Hieronymus.

Famed violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi, a faculty member of the Curtis Institute of Music since 2007, holds master classes on Saturday, July 20, at 1:30 p.m. in Deane Chapel and Sunday, July 21, at 2 p.m. in Hieronymus. Ashkenasi, who formed the twice Grammy nominated Vermeer Quartet, performs in concert on Tuesday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Porter Theatre.

Here is a pdf of the festival calendar.