Program Description

The program will take place in Southampton on August 15-23, in  one of the most breathtaking places on the Atlantic shore. Students will have the opportunity to balance an intensive practice and learning schedule with the Hamptons’ rich cultural life, while enjoying its famous beaches and seacoast.

Both faculty and student concerts will take place at the beautiful Southampton Cultural Center and the famous Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. In addition to extensive training, the festival will provide performance experience and an excellent opportunity for young musicians to launch their careers.

Limited amount of partial scholarships are available based on demonstrated exceptional performance ability and financial needs. The Organization requires that any applicant interested in being considered for financial aid submits a letter that contains the amount of financial aid necessary for such applicant to attend the festival and a statement of the financial circumstances on which such request is based.

The Principle of Unity: A Unique Experience

Along with the regular chamber music concerts, the festival will present series of unique multi-media performances based on the idea of Interactive Arts approach or Unity of the Arts, exploring interrelationships between Music, Spoken Word and Visual Arts and revealing their inherent connections. These programs will serve as windows onto different cultures with world-class musical performances intertwining with literary readings and visual presentation, creating a unique cultural experience for the audience.

There will be visual art exhibits and literally readings, thematically connected to the concerts, presented at the Southampton Cultural Center Gallery and the Levitas Center for the Arts.

Connections

This principal of Unity and connection will be applied to the program as a whole and integrated within its structure.

We would like The Arts Festival to become a place where we connect to each other as one big musical family by sharing in each other’s interests, fostering a common bond to last a lifetime.

While the festival will have three layers, which may function independently – chamber music performances, college-level program and a children program, it is our goal to unite them, thus creating a unique Music and Arts experience for everyone.

Faculty and guest artists will interact with students on a daily basis, providing instructions and supervised practicing time. Selected students will participate in chamber music performances with faculty members, having a unique opportunity to learn from the first hand experience of a rehearsal and performance process with world-class musicians.

Both faculty members and students will participate in various children’s activities and workshops giving children a sense of familiarity with the performers and their creative process, which will naturally flow into an interest in the evening performances they will later attend. The personal connections made with their teachers will help children internalize the experience of seeing serious musicians perform on stage.

Children families are encouraged to attend the festival activities and concerts to share this experience with their kids.

For any further inquiries including the application process and ticket information please contact us at:
office@southamptonartsfestival.org

Founders

The founders of The Southampton Arts Festival are two internationally acclaimed musicians,

Dmitri Berlinsky and Elena Baksht.

Dmitri Berlinsky is a world-renowned violinist, Gold Medalist of the Paganini International Competition, winner of the Montreal, Tchaikovsky, Queen Elizabeth Competitions and the Young Concert Artist auditions in NYC. Dmitri is Artist-Teacher and Professor of Violin at Michigan State University and founder of the International Chamber Soloists ensemble. He is also a distinguished faculty member at numerous international festivals, including the Summit Music Festival, International Academy of Music (Italy), Chautauqua Music Festival, and others. Please visit Dmitri’s website for more information: www.dmitriberlinsky.com

Elena Baksht, winner of the Artists International competition in New York City and a recipient of the Dreskin Foundation Career Grant, is an internationally acclaimed pianist and published poet. She is the creator of a performance series called The World Through the Eyes of Poetry and Music. Elena is on the piano faculty at Michigan State University. She is also a distinguished faculty member at various international summer festivals, including The International Academy of Music, Schlern International Music Festival and Music in the Mountains Festival. Please visit Elena’s website for more information: www.elenabaksht.com