Press Releases
Classical 89.5, KMFA and The Amati Foundation Announce Violin Performance
Competition for Local High School Juniors
Program will recognize central Texas' most talented young violinists and
their schools.
For Release August 16, 2005 Austin, TX --- Classical 89.5, KMFA - Voice of the Arts for Central Texas, and The Amati Foundation announce the inception of the KMFA Violin Competition and Loan Program for central Texas high school students.
The KMFA Violin Competition and Loan Program is an annual competition open to central Texas juniors who play violin in their high school music program. Each year, one talented violinist will receive a loan of the KMFA Violin for use during their senior year. The KMFA Violin is a replica of a 1742 Guiseppe Guarneri del Gesu violin and was handcrafted by Austin-based luthier William M. Townsend (see: http://www.townsendviolins.com). The violin has a value of $10,000.
Townsend, founder and chairman of The Amati Foundation, said, "It is an honor to be able to provide this violin to the citizens of central Texas. This program provides local high school musicians the ability to compete for use of a concert-quality violin, which will create an exciting competition for local high schools, music teachers, and their students. It will recognize the best high school violinists that central Texas has to offer."
"The KMFA Violin Competition further ties KMFA into the local community, providing a positive experience for area students," said Jack Allen, General Manager of KMFA. "The opportunity to use a world-class violin, to perform on air through KMFA broadcasts, and to be recognized as central Texas' most talented high school senior violinist is a distinction of which any young adult, their parents, peers, and schools will be proud."
Details of the Competition
Each fall, Austin area students can submit a cassette tape or CD of four songs of their choice, through their music teacher, to The Amati Foundation, P.O. Box 340552, Austin, TX 78734. Entry submission forms can be found at http://www.amatifoundation.org/pages/2/index.htm.
Submissions must be received between September 1 and November 10, 2005. Judging of the submissions will occur with a panel comprised of professional musicians and members of the KMFA and The Amati Foundation staffs. Five students will be selected as finalists and will participate in a studio recording of their favorite classical pieces for broadcast on KMFA. Based on the decision of the judges, one student will be awarded the use of the KMFA Violin for their senior year. This student will be invited to perform for KMFA listeners during the Fall and Spring semesters in a program designed to highlight the student and their teacher.
As part of The Amati Foundation's educational outreach programs, the KMFA Violin Competition and Loan Program will be administered by The Amati Foundation in conjunction with KMFA radio."
About KMFA
Since 1967, KMFA has been Austin's only listener-supported, pure format, classical music public radio station, providing Central Texans with local and nationally syndicated programming that reflects the great beauty and diversity of the genre. Additionally, KMFA highlights and promotes a wide variety of local performing arts groups and events as part of its commitment to public service. For more information, visit www.kmfa.org
About The Amati Foundation
The Amati Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the stringed arts. Its programs encompass The Amati Foundation Historical Collection, a recreation of 37 famous instruments for loan to orchestras and museums; Educational Programs designed to bring violin instruction to 500 underserved schools across the United States; and an Instrument Loan Program that places exceptional instruments into the hands of outstanding young American performers. See http://www.amatifoundation.org.