News Release

WINONA LAKE — This summer the Classic Arts Programs will be hosting the inaugural Summer Music Academy from June 6-9.

The Summer Music Academy is a new event in the Warsaw area, offering a new opportunity for pianists, violinists, violists, cellists and string bass middle and high school students. Designed to provide personalized coaching tailored to a performer’s solo and ensemble repertoire needs, sessions with experienced and accomplished instructors are dedicated to nurturing skills and guiding students toward reaching a new performance level.

High school and college students are encouraged to attend the Summer Music Academy.

“We are looking for serious students of classical music who are interested in challenging themselves to grow in their musicianship and skill,” said Judie Meulink, coordinator of the Summer Music Academy. “We are primarily looking for high school and college students, but we would consider advanced junior high students after having a conversation to determine if they meet our criteria.”

Some of what students can expect from the Summer Music Academy include instrumental focus and personalized coaching, tailored lessons that focus on individual musical and technical goals and experienced instruction from Gert Kumi, Simona Barbu and Nariaki Sugiura.

“Our instructors are passionate about teaching and coaching. They are dedicated to growing the next generation of musicians to be independent performers as well as effective collaborators,” said Meulink. Besides working individually with instructors, students will be able to watch how professional musicians rehearse and hear them perform on June 8.

The Summer Music Academy will culminate in a closing performance on Sunday, June 9. The concert will feature the students as they showcase their newfound performance skills. Meulink is coordinating the event and expressed excitement about the program. Looking at the potential outcome for the Summer Music Academy, Meulink noted, “We are looking forward to hosting our student musicians in the community. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your musical training with a fresh perspective.”

All student activities will be conducted at the Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw. Registration is now open and links can be found online at the Classic Arts Programs website and on Facebook Page (classicartsprograms.com or facebook.com/ClassicArtsPrograms).

Instructors include:

International concert artist Nariaki Sugiura received his Master and Doctor of Music in Piano Performance degrees from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has won prizes at numerous competitions, has recorded eight CD albums and has performed solo recitals and concerto engagements around the world. Currently, he is associate professor of piano and collaborative piano at University of North Dakota while also holding visiting faculty positions at East China Normal University in Shanghai and InterHarmony International School of Music. Previously, he has taught at DePauw University, Indiana University, and Lamont Summer Pre-College Music Academy in Denver, and Guangdon University of Foreign Study in China.

International cellist and educator Simona Barbu has traveled the world as a soloist, chamber musician and clinician. After graduating from her undergraduate as the Music Conservatory valedictorian from Lynn University in Florida, Barbu continued her graduate studies with a Master of Music in Cello Performance at Southern Methodist University. She earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Memphis. Barbu has served as a faculty member at Mississippi State University for four years. Currently, Barbu is assistant professor and Burgum Endowed Chair at the University of North Dakota.

Gert Kumi is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music in New York. He has performed as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician across four continents. He made his Lincoln Center debut in February of 2006 performing as a soloist in the Concerto for Solo Violin, Piano and String Quartet. Kumi has collaborated with artists including singer Elton John, composer John Williams, violinist Itzhak Perlman and gospel superstar Sandy Patty, among others. Kumi has taught at Nyack College, Grace College and Seminary, and Anderson University, and he is a guest artist and clinician at summer festivals in the U.S. and around the world.

Pianist Yeon-Kyung Kim regularly performs as a solo pianist and a chamber musician. She has performed at venues in the U.S. and in South Korea. Recently, she was appointed as a staff pianist at Western Illinois University. She maintains a private studio online and in-person and has taught group piano classes. As an advocate of performing arts and showcasing young artists to their community, Yeon-Kyung has founded a nonprofit organization, Glow Music. She holds degrees from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, University of Michigan and Seoul National University.