New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/02/2014 -- Thanks to the support of individuals, businesses and grants, the New Docta International Music Festival provides free chamber music concerts and educational events for Argentinean youth. This year’s festival takes place Sept. 1-7 in Córdoba, Argentina.
The New Docta International Music Festival was put together by violinist Sami Merdinian, mezzo-soprano Solange Merdinian, and cellist Yves Dharamraj, who ran the inaugural event in 2013. The Merdinians, who grew up in Córdoba, still have strong ties to the area and are committed to giving back to the community.
“Our goal is to bring world-class chamber musicians to Argentina to perform live concerts, to nurture the next generation of young Latin American talent and to build a cultural bridge between Argentina and the USA,” said Dharamraj. “We want to make this accessible for everyone so all of our concerts and educational events are free and open to the general public.”
The 2014 festival kicks off with a free outdoor concert on Sept. 1 at the iconic Colegio Nacional de Monserrat and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Festivities continue with free chamber music concerts, open rehearsals, master classes, and educational performances in local public schools for more than 4,000 students.
On Sept. 7, the festival closes with a gala at the Teatro San Martín, featuring string quintet Sybarite5, violist Nathan Schram, pianist Riko Higuma and the award-winning Children’s Choir from La Escuela de Niños Cantores de Córdoba Domingo Zípoli.
Dharamraj and the Merdinians will also perform at the gala. All the artists involved are world-class musicians who graduated from Yale, Juilliard, Bard, and New England Conservatory, and regularly perform at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Walt Disney Hall.
Solange Merdinian has been acclaimed by the New York Times for her “smoldering stage presence” and The Sarasota Herald Tribune lauds Sybarite5 for its “classically-honed technique mixed with grit and all-out passion.”
To finance this chamber music festival, more than $37,000 has been raised through benefit events and grants but an additional $15,000 is needed. In order to generate this funding, Dharamraj and the Merdinians have launched an Indiegogo campaign, which can be viewed at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-docta-international-music-festival-2014
Donations of any amount are welcome. For $35, backers will receive a CD of the 2013 gala concert. A $75 pledge fetches a signed photo and festival T-shirt. Larger contributions are rewarded with concert DVDs, lunch with the New Doctas and home recitals by Sami Merdinian, Solange Merdinian or Dharamraj.
“As the only international chamber music festival in the region, we’re featuring exciting programming, mentoring, public classes for aspiring musicians, dynamic interactive performances at local public schools and individual lessons for select young talent,” Dharamraj said.
“Since all events are free and open to the public, we welcome connoisseurs and newcomers of all ages to experience the transformational beauty, power and joy of chamber music in an intimate and personal way.”
For additional information, visit http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-docta-international-music-festival-2014; the New Docta website, http://www.newdocta.org; or the New Docta International Music Festival Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/newdocta
Dharamraj can be reached directly at newdocta@gmail.com
Contact Name: Yves Dharamraj
Company Name: New Docta International Music Festival
City: New York
State: NY
Zip Code: 10023
Country: USA
Phone Number: 203-530-4193
Email Address: newdocta@gmail.com
Website URL: http://www.newdocta.org