Our Favorites Park News Artist News Ravinia History Classical Opinion All Posts Back to Ravinia.org View 2021 Schedule RSMI ALUMNI MAKING HEADLINES IN NOVEMBER 2021 November 17, 2021 in RSMI, Music Education, Artist News Since 1988, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute has been an international destination for young professional musicians devoted to honing and advancing their musical talents. Over that time, RSMI has seen over 1,500 exceptional musicians enter its programs, many of whom have made impressive accomplishments in their careers. Here are a few recent stories from November 2021: Pianist Awadagin Pratt (Piano & Strings ’90) is among three recipients of the Sphinx Organization’s Sphinx Venture Fund. Pratt met the fund’s mission to support initiatives designed to solve a challenge or an issue related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music, and received a $100,000 grant for the inaugural Nina Simone Competition, which will be presented at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Pianist Yuja Wang (Piano & Strings ’04) received a glowing review in the San Diego Union-Tribune for her performance with the La Jolla Music Society, which featured pieces by Bach, Shostakovich, and Busoni: “As someone who studied piano for almost 20 years, trust me — her playing was at a rarefied level far beyond anything most pianists could ever hope to achieve.” Soprano Claire Booth (Singers ’04) received a five-star review in The Guardian for her new album Mussorgsky: Unorthodox Music: “Booth brings each song to life with operatic vividness, whether it’s the satirical ‘The Goat’ with which the disc opens, the sadness of bereavement in ‘The Leaves Rustled Softly’, or the desolation of ‘On the River’ from ‘Sunless’ … The whole thing is a joy, brilliantly conceived and presented with tremendous panache.” Soprano Erin Morley (Singers ’04, ’06) stars in the title role of Aucoin’s Eurydice in the upcoming production at the Metropolitan Opera, opening on November 23. Eurydice is a retelling of the classic Greek myth of Orpheus in a new way—with a libretto by Sarah Ruhn based on her 2003 play, the story is reversed, being told from Eurydice’s point of view. Saxophonist Grace Kelly (Jazz ’07) joins The Main Squeeze for a new music video of the band’s rendition of “Dr. Funk.” Watch Kelly put her groovy sax prowess on full display throughout the entire live performance from the band’s Los Angeles home! Prev / Next ABOUT Ravinia, North America’s oldest music festival, stands today as its most musically diverse, presenting over 140 different events throughout the summer. Visit our website for more info. Archives by Year 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009