The melodious sounds of the prolific and prominent composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his equally influential contemporaries will once again reverberate in various venues throughout “The International City” with the Long Beach Mozart Festival, a classical-music competition that will feature several free events next month in honor of its 40th anniversary.
Gifted young instrumental and vocal musicians from all over southern California compete for prizes in three different categories (concerto, piano and vocal) while gaining invaluable performance experience.
The festival is supported by three local churches, Cal State University Long Beach, and volunteer and donation sponsorships, and it takes place in various venues around Long Beach. The concert performances are all free, save for “A Night in Vienna,” a fundraising event featuring the winners of the vocal competition.
This year’s grand finale concert will feature concerto competition winner Audrey Yim, a junior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, who will perform Mozart Piano Concerto #17 in G Major. The soloist will be accompanied by the Long Beach Mozart Festival Orchestra, led by guest conductor Dr. Johannes Müller-Stosch. The program also includes Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C Major performed by the 49er Chorus under the direction of guest conductor Dr. Roger Hickman.
The concert is dedicated to Bob Dill, retired Long Beach conductor, teacher, choral director and church musician. The free concert takes place Saturday, Jan. 28, at 4pm, at the Daniel Recital Hall, CSULB, behind the Carpenter Center near the Pyramid on Atherton St. Parking is $5.
Performances for the Long Beach Mozart Festival will include the following:
Piano showcase concert/final piano competition
Friday, Jan. 6 at 7pm
Covenant Presbyterian Church
607 East Third St.
(Free event)
Preliminary vocal competition
Saturday, Jan. 7 from 10 am to 4pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach
5450 Atherton St.
(Free event)
“A Night in Vienna” /vocal final competition
Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach
5450 Atherton St.
$30 suggested donation
Reservations at (562) 498-1346
Grand finale concert
Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4pm
Daniel Recital Hall, CSULB
6200 E. Atherton St.
(Free event)
Parking $5
More Information
(562) 498-1346
longbeachmozartfestival.org
