Press Release 07/13/08

For further information contact:   Linda Lieberman, 914-722-0037
SUMMIT MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS
1ST ANNUAL PRE-SEASON EVENT

Summit Music Festival will begin its 18th summer season of chamber music and instrumental training with its1st  Annual Pre-Season Event on July 23rd, a cocktail reception and dinner honoring Mary Smart, its long-time benefactor. The event will be held at Manhattanville College, its new festival location, 2900 Purchase St., Purchase.

The cocktail reception and buffet dinner  will be held at Reid Castle from 6:00-10:00p.m. It will  feature a special recital starring Aaron Rosand on violin with Akiko Chiba on piano and Christina Khimm on violin. Mr. Rosand is an internationally acclaimed violinist, renowned as an artist of unique personal style. He is compared to legends such as Heifetz, Milstein, Francescatti, Elman, Kriesler and Ysaye and is noted for his interpretations of tge 19th century repetoire.

Summit Music Festival  brings together an international faculty  of the highest caliber, representing the finest musical traditions of Europe, Asia and  the American continents. For 18 years, students from  all over the world have assembled for concentrated study with pre-eminent artists. They are offered individual lessons, chamber music study, and the opportunity to participate in the SMF Orchestra. In addition, Summit Music Festival features a daily array of special events such as concerts, lectures and master classes in violin, viola, cello, piano, woodwinds and harpsichord throughout the three week program.

All programs and student scholarships are made possible, in part, through grants from the Smart Foundation and the Westchester Arts Council with funds from Westchester County Government. Pianos are provided by Yamaha.

Tickets to the July 23rd  cocktail reception and dinner are $75 each, which only covers the cost of the event, and, therefore, is not tax deductible. Additional sponsorship gifts, in amounts ranging from $35 and above, to Summit Music Festival, a 501 © 3 tax exempt organization, are tax-deductible. For further program or ticket information,  phone (914) 747-2020, visit the Summit Music Festival website at: www.summitmusicfestival.org, or e-mail info@summitmusicfestival.org.For directions to the Manhattanville College campus, visit the www.manhattanville.edu website.