Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series presents: Matt Allen, cello and Yannick Rafalimanana, piano Sunday, February 17, 2013, 4:00 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center Honoring Donors R.C. and Tina Vasavada

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Matt Allen

Matt Allen is establishing himself as one of the leading young American cellists. At the age of 17, Mr. Allen was named by the jury, from 60 cellists up to age 30 representing 24 countries, the Gold Medalist in the Gaspar Cassado International Violoncello Competition in Hachioji, Japan.

Matt won his first international recognition at the 2008 Stulberg International String Competition, taking the gold medal at only age 16. Further success has awarded him 1st place in the ASTA National Solo Competition, 1st place in the NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs) Young Artist Award, 1st place in the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition, and top prizes at the Johansen International Competition and Irving M. Klein International String Competition.

Program Claude Debussy Cello Sonata Alfred Schnittke Sonata No. 1 Béla Bartók Romanian Folk Dances Intermission Zoltán Kodály Sonata for Solo Cello

He gave his first solo performance with orchestra and solo recital at the age of 11. Embarking on a solo career with a commanding repertoire of over 20 concerti, Mr. Allen has been featured with a number of orchestras throughout the United States including the symphonies of Cincinnati, Midland (MI), LaGrange (GA), Tallahassee, Kalamazoo, Asheville, and El Paso. Concerto performances have also been with the Transylvania Symphony Orchestra, State Hermitage Orchestra of Saint Petersburg, Russia and the Tokyo Philharmonic. Mr. Allen has already graced the stages of the world's most prominent venues including the Terrace Theater of Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, Tokyo's Suntory Hall, and the Cleveland Orchestra's Severance Hall, performing Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante for a sold out audience and live broadcast. Mr. Allen currently studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Yannick Rafalimanana

French pianist Yannick Rafalimanana has developed an international concert career, performing recitals and chamber music concerts regularly throughout Europe, the United States, and Africa. He has recently won first prize in the Boston Pops Concerto Competition, a prize that will lead him to appear as a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston in May 2013. Mr. Rafalimanana has won numerous awards and prizes in several competitions, including the Bruxelles J-Musiciens Competition and the International Ravel Academy's Rotary-Lions Competition.

As a soloist, he has performed regularly with the Orchestre CNR de Lille, Orchestre Impromptu, and the Ensemble Parisien. He has recently founded and conducted the LFO - a chamber music orchestra based in Boston, involving NEC students, with whom he has also played as a soloist. Mr. Rafalimanana also performs frequently with the Trio La Plata, a group formed in Paris in 2006. In addition, his great experience as a collaborative pianist in orchestra has led him to perform under the batons of Peter Eotvos, Jean Deroyer, Thomoty Brock, Zolt Nagy and others.

Mr. Rafalimanana has participated in numerous summer festivals; among them are the Perlman Music Program and the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. He has collaborated with well known musicians such as Itzhak Perlman, Donald Weilerstein, Joseph Kalichstein, Kim Kashkashian, Gary Hoffman, Paul Katz, Roger Tapping and James Tocco.

Born in Lille, France, Mr. Rafalimanana began his musical studies at the Conservatory of Lille under the tutelage of Alain Raes. He later graduated with first prizes in both Piano Performance and Chamber Music and Collaborative Piano Performance from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Mr.Rafalimanana is currently pursuing his Graduate Diploma at the New England Conservatory, studying with Vivian Weilerstein.

Tickets are $25 advance; $5 more day of concert (buy your tickets early!).
Children and young people ages 7 through 17 are admitted free.

For advance purchase, go to Brown Paper Tickets or call them at 800-838-3006.
To purchase in person, visit the Gualala Arts Center or Dolphin Gallery in Gualala.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.