SPOKANE SYMPHONY PRESENTS A YOUNG VIOLINIST ON HER WAY TO STARDOM

Oct 11, 2004

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow

Spokane: Violinist Tai Murray, Spokane Symphony's Music Director Eckart Preu and the Spokane Symphony present an evening filled with youth on Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House. This marks opening night of the Symphony's newest series Symphony YES! - a Youth Exploration Series.

Symphony YES! allows kids ages 8 to 14 and parents to have fabulous experiences at the Symphony. This four-concert series offers something for every young listener including a special program book and an extraordinary benefit at each concert. The first extraordinary benefit of the series allows kids to get up close and personal with Tai herself. At intermission Symphony YES! Kids will have the opportunity to talk with Murray.

Together with the orchestra, Preu and Murray will dazzle listeners young and old with works by Roussel, Korngold, and Debussy.

Twenty-two year-old Murray is an aspiring artist who's fulfilling her destiny as a born-to-talent violinist. At age 2 when other two-year-olds were coming into their terrible years she told her mother, Mommy I want to play the violin.

Since then she has stayed true to her passion having her debut performance with the Chicago Symphony at the young age of 9 years old after just 4 years of violin study at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She continued her education at Indiana State University and she recently completed her three-year diploma program at the Julliard School in New York City this last spring.

Murray has received top prizes in the Indiana University Concerto Competition, the Inaugural Sphinx Competition, and the Juilliard School Concerto Competition. Murray was also awarded a Certificate of Honor for outstanding musicianship by the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. She has played with the Chicago Symphony, The Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra in California, The Julliard Orchestra and others.

In its first year, Symphony YES! received rave reviews from parents, young listeners, and critics. Great seats with kid-friendly sight lines to the orchestra at extremely reduced prices, opportunities to meet new Music Director Eckart Preu and world-renowned guest artists, and hands-on activities make this a program sure to ignite the imagination and passion for music. Symphony Yes truly is an adventure in classical music.

This concert is underwritten by: Charles and Cathy Simon
Symphony YES Series is underwritten by: Spokane Teachers Credit Union

CALENDAR LISTING:
Violinist Tai Murray, with the Spokane Symphony; Friday Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. in the Spokane Opera House. Tickets are $15 to $34 Call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200 or www.spokanesymphony.org; tickets are also available, with service charges, through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT.