a choral festival exclusively for treble voices the 4 th annual June 28 – July 1, 2012 in Chicago ’ s historic Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois Featuring Artistic Director Elena Sharkova

E lena Sharkova has been Artistic Director of the Cantabile Youth Singers since 2004 and oversees all educational and performance aspects of the program, in addition to conducting the Ensemble and Vocalise. A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Ms. Sharkova arrived in the Bay Area in 1998 to join the faculty at San Jose State University where she served as Director of Choral Activities. Ms. Sharkova received a Bachelor’s Degree in music education and piano and subsequently a Master’s in choral conducting from the Rimski-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. Upon graduation, she was appointed Chair of the Choral Department of the Preparatory Music School at the conservatory. There she conducted four children’s choruses (ages 3 to 19) and taught the innovative Ogorodnov Method to graduate conducting students. Elena is delighted to be working with young voices again, this time in North America! In demand nationally and internationally as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Ms. Sharkova has lectured extensively on Russian choral tradition and premiered several contemporary Russian major choral works. She has presented workshops and clinics for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and the Association of Kodaly Educators. Elena has conducted children’s, community, university, and professional choirs and orchestras in the USA, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Baltic republics, Scandinavia, and Russia. Festival Artistic Director Elena Sharkova Artistic Director of Cantabile Youth Singers

Festival Venue Orchestra Hall F or nearly the first fourteen years of its history, the Chicago Orchestra performed at the Auditorium Theatre (completed in 1889). Orchestra Hall—the long-standing dream of Theodore Thomas—was designed by CSO trustee and Chicago architect Daniel H. Burnham and completed in 1904, at a cost of $750,000. The dedicatory concert, led by Thomas, was held on December 14 of that year. Orchestra Hall has been host for a variety of performances and presentations since its dedication in During its first fifty years, Orchestra Hall was the regular home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as the Apollo Musical Club, the Mendelssohn Club of Chicago, the Chicago Business Men's Symphony, the Commonwealth Edison Orchestra, and the Marshall Field Choral Society. Mayors Richard M. Daley, Jr. and Harold Washington both were inaugurated during ceremonies held at Orchestra Hall. In addition, the Hall has hosted countless lectures (including Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr.); movies; commencement ceremonies; billiards tournaments, religious services; suffrage and other political rallies; and visiting orchestras, choruses, and dance companies from all over the world.

Participating choirs will spend their time in the “Windy City,” combining sightseeing, rehearsals, and optional individual clinic sessions with Ms. Sharkova. Choirs will have the option to be featured in a stand-alone performance for the other participating choirs, and the grand finale concert will bring all the choirs to sing together en masse in historic Orchestra Hall on Michigan Avenue - home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Sightseeing activities will include…

WELCOME “SPIRIT OF CHICAGO” STUDENT DJ DANCE CRUISE

CHICAGO RIVER & CHICAGO LOOP

NAVY PIER

BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN

FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

S UE, THE MOST COMPLETE T-R EX IN THE WORLD

WILLIS TOWER (formerly Sears Tower)

For an additional cost, you may also visit the following…

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

SHEDD AQUARIUM AND OCEANARIUM

BROOKFIELD ZOO

ADLER PLANETARIUM

Festival activities will include…

FESTIVAL INTRODUCTIONS AND “SING-FOR-EACH-OTHER” CONCERT AT THE MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC

REHEARSALS

FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE IN ORCHESTRA HALL

Music Celebrations International looks forward to providing your group with a truly memorable musical experience of a lifetime! M USIC C ELEBRATIONS I NTERNATIONAL 1440 S. Priest Drive, Suite 102 Tempe, AZ Voice: Toll Free: Fax: