Join us on February 20th 2009 at 8pm, as we will hosting a concert for the great up and coming talents of "super-youngster" Jennifer Kim (channeling some Barrios in the second video) and "normal-youngster" Ben Pila (flowing through some Albeniz in the third video).

The majority of the proceeds from this concert will go to benefit Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. There is a $10 minimum donation but you are welcome to donate more! Both cash and check will be accepted for this concert, with checks made payable to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. These two are really fantastic players and it's a great chance to see them on their inevitable climb up! More info on both below.

For more info on Camp please visit: http://www.campronaldmcdonald.org/

Bios:

Jennifer Kim:

Hailed by Pepe Romero as a "wonderful musician and guitarist" who he believes will "grow into a great artist," Jennifer Kim is already developing an international reputation at the young age of eleven.  Invited to perform at the December 2009 Masterclass of Mr. Romero sponsored by the Orange County High School for the Arts, Jennifer began classical guitar studies with her father when she was eight, and since June of 2008 has studied with Jack Sanders.

Co-winner of the Pacific Arts Guitar competition in April, 2009, Jennifer has since won the American String Teachers Association California State and Regional Junior competitions.  She has been featured on Korean American Guitar Society concerts, the 2009 Loyola Marymount University Young Artists Showcase Concert, and has several videos on Youtube.  Jennifer has also performed for Radio Korea JBC 1230 AM and was a guest performer for the Choon Chen Guitar Ensemble annual concert in Korea.

Jennifer will appear at the Orange County Guitar Circle Showcase concert in April and will enter the Guitar Foundation of America Junior Competition in Austin, Texas.

Youtube videos:

Tarrega: Capricio Arabe

Sor: Op. 9 Mozart Variations

Villa-Lobos: Mazurka

Ben Pila:

Benjamin Pila is the only classical guitarist that has been chosen to be a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Mr. Pila has performed in Alice Tully Hall, Avery-Fisher Hall and the Kaplan Penthouse in New York City's Lincoln Center, at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and in Harris Concert Hall in Aspen, Colorado. He has played alongside Bonita Boyd of the Eastman School of Music and Grammy® Award winning artists David and Philip Ying. Mr. Pila was also invited to perform at the 2007 and 2008 September 11th Commemoration Ceremonies at Ground Zero in New York City.

Mr. Pila's playing has been featured on the Today Show on NBC as well as on the National Public Radio program From the Top. He was awarded ASCAP's Best Performance of a Contemporary Work and was the Young Artist of the Year in the Florida Chapter of the American String Teacher's Association. Mr. Pila was the grand prize winner of the Tampa Bay Symphony's Concerto Competition and has won prizes in the ASTA National Solo Competition, the NFAA youngARTS Competition, and the National Guitar Workshop Solo Competition. In 2002, he was the first guitarist to receive the Ruth Eckerd Hall Scholarship in the Performing Arts.

Benjamin received his Master's degree from The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Sharon Isbin, and his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University studying under Bruce Holzman. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California under Scott Tennant of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

Videos:
Sunburst by Andrew York