2006 AHS Conference Concerts

Opening Concert—Music of the Pacific Rim
July 2, 2006-7:30 p.m. Geary Theater

María Luisa Rayan-Forero (ARGENTINA)
María Luisa Rayan-Forero is a frequent recitalist, solo performer with many orchestras and other groups, and a recording artist. She won Second Prize in 2001 at the USA International Harp Competition and First Prize in 2000 at the Anne Adams Scholarship Award competition, USA.

Julie Ann Smith (USA)                        
Julie Smith is one of America’s most exciting young harpists and has gained international recognition for her charismatic performing style and diverse repertoire. She won the Second Prize, 2004 USA International Harp Competition, and the Third Prize, 2001 USA International Harp Competition. She is an active recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras.

Naoko Yoshino (JAPAN)
Naoko Yoshino is one of the most outstanding harpists in the world today. In 1985, she won First Prize at the Ninth International Harp Contest in Israel, and her worldwide career began. A prolific recording artist, Ms. Yoshino has played with the world's top symphonies and chamber orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Gala Reception
July 2, 2006-9:45-11:00 p.m.

Paul Hurst (USA)
Paul Hurst, with his virtuoso playing of everything from classical to show tunes and ragtime on the harp, coupled with his distinctive style of music-making, is known and loved internationally as a concert harpist, pianist, recording artist and composer. His professional credits also encompass conducting, accompanying, teaching voice and piano, arranging for several community orchestras, and directing musical theatre.

Grand Finale Banquet — "The Sounds and Tastes of Asia" >
July 5, 2006-7:00 p.m.

Pre-Banquet Reception Music:
Featuring Naomi Kato, harp
and Elizabeth Falconer, koto

Guest Artist:"Ginger" Cui JunZhi, konghou (Chinese harp)

Harp Ensembles/Duos of the Pacific Rim

• Australia — Kioloa Harp Ensemble (Alice Giles and the Australian National University Harp Ensemble)
  July 4, 2006 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  
  
• Asia — The Pacific Harp Duo (Kyo-Jin Lee and Ann Yeung)
  July 4, 2006 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  
  
• Mexico — SONDOS (Janet Paulus and Mercedes Gómez)
  July 4, 2006 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  
  
• USA/West Coast — "In Memory of  John Escosa and Jack Nebergall" (Michael Rado and James Pinkerton)
  July 3, 2006 5:00-5:40 p.m.
  

Jazz & All That Stuff — "A Tribute to Dorothy Ashby"
July 4, 2006 10:00 p.m.

• Carol Robbins with Buddy Halligan
• Sarah Voynow
  

Lever Harp Concert
July 4, 2006 5:00 p.m.

• Alfredo Rolando Ortiz—Paraguayan Harp
• Twin Harps—Diana Stork and Cheryl Ann Fulton
• Laura Zaerr

Chamber Music Concert—Major Orchestral Harpists with Bay Area Ties
July 3, 2006 7:30 p.m. Geary Theater

Julie Lang-Bunzel
Julie Lang-Bunzel, native of San Francisco, California, resides in Israel since 1993. In her early years, Julie was Principal Harpist with the award-winning San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Salzburg Music Festival, and the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra.  Julie’s teachers include Linda Wood Rollo, Marcella DeCray, Lynne Aspnes, Susann McDonald and Judith Liber.