Brian Schuldt and Rebecca Hang

Brian Schuldt and Rebecca Hang

ROTARY “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” HONOREES BRIAN SCHULDT AND REBECCA HANG AND THEIR STUDENTS WILL PERFORM AT THE WINTERFEST GALA

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA – On March 8 the Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club will present outstanding Mammoth Lakes citizens Brian Schuldt and Rebecca Hang with the “Service Above Self” award at the Winterfest Gala at Canyon Lodge.  As adopted by Mammoth Lakes Rotary Board, “The ‘Service Above Self’ award is presented to an individual or couple who model the motto “Service Above Self” by providing outstanding service to our community.  This award is given to those who have demonstrated self-sacrifice, compassion for their fellow man, and significant hands-on involvement in one or more endeavors to improve the quality of life of individuals and the community.”

To help celebrate the evening, some of Brian and Rebecca’s students will perform entertaining works by Antonio Vivaldi (“Spring”, with violin soloist Sophia Schuldt) and Michael Jackson (“Smooth Criminal”  in an arrangement by Devin Burgenbauch) and the Felici Trio (with guest pianist Ari Schuldt) will play “Invierno” by the great Tango master Astor Piazzolla.

Cellist Brian Schuldt and violinist Rebecca Hang came to Mammoth Lakes in 1998 as members of the internationally renowned Felici Piano Trio.  A grant program of the National Endowment for the Arts sponsored the residency with the goal of promoting the art form of chamber music in rural America.  An overlapping Artists-in-Residence grant from the California Arts Council and inclusion on the California Touring Artists Roster allowed the Felicis to develop their community-based work in music education and performance.

The trio settled in Mammoth Lakes for good because of the wonderfully positive response it received from the community: Today, Brian and Rebecca teach over 140 young string players (ages 4-20) in weekly after-school group or individual lessons and Brian teaches evening classes at Cerro Coso College.  Together they run a three-week summer festival and associated academy that brings to Mammoth a roster of internationally acclaimed musicians and attracts students from as far away as Spain and Singapore.

The Felici Trio also performs a winter series of world-class chamber music concerts right here in Mammoth, tours across the state of California, and most importantly performs for young audiences in a great variety of settings in order to allow children of all ages to discover the beauties of classical chamber music with their own ears.  “We never thought we would do so much teaching, since our degrees were in performance,” says Rebecca.  “But it was quickly clear to us, that when you perform for children, you awaken in them the desire to make music themselves, and the most natural thing to do was to settle down and start teaching in earnest.  There is no nicer way to share your love for music and your love for your instrument than helping others learn to play!” More…..

Winterfest is an annual celebration and fundraiser sponsored by the Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club with the proceeds to benefit school and youth activities in Mammoth Lakes.  Individual tickets are $100 each.  For more information about the event, attendance or sponsorship, please contact Rick Phelps at (760) 258-6704 or [email protected].

The Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club provides fundraising and support for local causes in Mammoth Lakes. It is one of 34,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide that are part of Rotary International.  The mission of Rotary International, and its members clubs, is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

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