Happy birthday to Dmitri Shostakovich! Did you know that despite facing immense political pressure in the Soviet Union, Shostakovich often embedded subtle critiques of the regime in his music? His Fifth Symphony, for instance, celebrated as a “Soviet artist’s response to just criticism,” is widely thought to contain hidden commentary on the political climate. Here is his iconic Waltz No. 2 performed by the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra!

Happy Birthday to Antonín Dvořák! Did you know that Dvorak worked as a butcher and joined the local band where his father played the zither before becoming a renowned composer? Those early folk influences influenced his compositional style. Enjoy this clip of the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra performing his iconic Slavonic Dance #8.

We looking forward to seeing you at our Summer Festival of Soloists!

Please join us in celebrating Jacques Ibert’s birthday with an exciting performance of the 3rd movement of his Flute Concerto, featuring Pacific Academy Foundation scholarship recipient Elvin Schlanger! Did you know Ibert was not only a celebrated composer but also a passionate sailor? His love for the sea influenced the lively and rhythmic qualities found in many of his works!

Celebrating Cécile Chaminade’s birthday (August 8, 1857- April 14, 1944) with a beautiful performance of her Flute Concertino with Pacific Academy Foundation Scholarship recipient, Shuin-He Tsou!

Celebrating Henryk Wieniawski's Birthday!

Please join us for our Finale Concert this Sunday, June 7th! We will be showcasing our hardworking orchestras and choir with a diverse and exciting repertoire. We hope to see you there!

Today we are celebrating Richard Strauss’s birthday! 🎶 Please enjoy clips from his Horn Concerto No. 1, featuring 3-time Pacific Academy Foundation scholarship recipient, Gabriela Sá, accompanied by the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra!

Join us for the first two concerts in our Festival of Soloists series this weekend!

Description goes hereCelebrating Mikhail Glinka’s 167th birthday with his Ruslan and Ludmila overture, featuring the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra!

Congratulations to all winners of the MTAC Concerto Competition! We look forward to hearing their performances this Sunday — May 19th — with the MTAC Concerto Orchestra, conducted by Jorge Luis Uzcátegui!

José Antonio Abreu (May 7, 1939 – March 24, 2018) was a Venezuelan orchestra conductor, pianist, economist, educator, activist, politician, and founder of the El Sistema, which has transformed the lives of millions of Venezuelan children — as well as children across the world — through the power of music. Today (his birthday) and every day, we celebrate Jose Antonio by continuing his legacy through our organization, Music to Save Humanity.

On the same day — May 7th —, we also celebrate the birthday of Johannes Brahms with a segment of his Hungarian Dance No. 5!

Today, May 7th, we celebrate Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s birthday with selections from his famous Nutcracker ballet, featuring the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra!

Please join us this Sunday, April 28th, for an exciting repertoire featuring young soloists and Pacific Academy Foundation scholarship recipients!

To honor Alberto Ginastera’s birthday today, here is a short clip of the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra performing his Estancia Suite. The orchestra was so excited to celebrate his birthday that they could not resist standing up and dancing while they performed his Malambo!

Congratulations to Myles Blakemore for joining the UMD School of Music faculty as an Assistant Professor of Trombone! 🎶

Honoring Bela Bartok’s birthday with a clip of his masterful Romanian Folk Dances performed by all of the PAFO ensembles including our beginner orchestra with musicians as young as 6 years old!

We are saddened by the passing of a legend, Maurizio Pollini who graced audiences with his brilliant playing for decades. In this photo Maestro Pollini is joined by MTSH Seminar Series professor Ana María Otamendi and Artistic Director Jorge Luis Uzcátegui. Rest in peace, Maestro Pollini, your artistry will live on forever.

Today, we continue our celebration of Modest Mussorgsky on his second historically disputed birthday, March 21st, 1839. Please enjoy Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition with the Francisco de Miranda Symphony of Venezuela, featuring our artistic director, Jorge Luis Uzcátegui, as the conductor and soloist!

Congratulations to Aby Machado for becoming a Firebird Fellow with the Academy for Impact through Music, representing NEOJIBA! 🎶

Join us for a special chamber concert on Sunday, March 17th, featuring our most advanced PAFO students performing alongside esteemed professionals, who have worked very hard on bringing this challenging and exciting repertoire to life!

As we welcome the sprouting of spring and the changes it brings to the world around us, our theme for this concert revolves around the seasons — specifically Winter, the one we leave behind, and Summer, the one we await. We will be performing Winter and Summer movements from The Four Seasons by both Antonio Vivaldi and Astor Piazzolla, highlighting dialogues and thematic connections between them. Additionally, we will be sharing a special treat by Venezuelan composer Aldemaro Romero — “Fuga con Pajarillo,” a fugue that weaves folk elements with classical techniques.

Today, we celebrate the birthday of renowned Argentinian composer, Astor Piazzolla, with renditions of his masterpieces, “Oblivion” and “Libertango,” performed by Grammy Nominated conductor and bassist Enrico Fagone, our artistic director violinist Erica UzCa, and our resident youth orchestra, the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra. Please enjoy short snip-its of improvisation by Enrico and Erica! The complete performance can be found on our website under “Ensembles.”

Did you know that Modest Mussorgsky's birthday is in historical dispute? Today, we celebrate one of his birthdays with scenes from Ravel's iconic orchestration of Mussorgsky's piano masterpiece, performed by the Francisco de Miranda Symphony of Venezuela, conducted by MTSH artistic director, Jorge Luis Uzcátegui.

Introducing the Symphony of Voices, a choir that transcends boundaries and bridges cultures, generations, and communities. 🌍🎶 Join our choir to be a part of a harmonious fusion of voices, celebrating diversity and illuminating our communities with unity and harmony!

Today March 4, we celebrate Vivaldi's 346th birthday! Here are a few clips from our Artistic Director, Erica UzCa, with the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, performing Winter from Vivaldi's iconic Four Seasons!

Wishing Gioachino Rossini a very happy 58th birthday, despite being born 232 years ago, since today February 29 (leap year), is his real birthday!

Our resident youth orchestra, the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, celebrates Rossini with his genius Barber of Seville Overture.

Raise a glass and enjoy his timeless music! 🇮🇹

Honoring Mozart’s birthday, here is a small clip of our resident youth orchestra, the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, featuring Mozart Symphony No. 40 and Mozart Flute Concerto in G Major with Shuin-He Tsou and Elvin Schlanger as soloists! Incredible how beautiful Mozart’s flute concerto is, despite his witty quote, “What's even worse than a flute? - Two flutes!”

Happy Birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! On a day like today, January 27, 1756, a musical genius was born, and 267 years later, his music continues to inspire and move us with its transcendent and sublime that is so human, yet full of grace.

Feliz cumpleaños Maestro Dudamel ~ wishing you a happy birthday and the best on this new year of life!

Remembering this inspiring message Gustavo sent to our Music Innovates students a few years back. Thank you so much for all the inspiring work you do for classical music, children, and the world!

Congratulations to cellist Luka Coetzee, #MTSHMasterclass alumna, on joining the Sheldon Artists roster! We can't wait to see your career soar!

Enjoy some great advice from master violist, David Harding, on sound production! Stay tuned for more master tips from our Masterclass Series!

We celebrate Myles Blakemore new album Bach-ish, and we invite you to listen to it scanning the QR code.

Huge congratulations to Polina Tarasenko for winning the 2023 Aeolus Competition in Dusseldorf, Germany! As a Music to Save Humanity Masterclass participant, we would like to celebrate her many outstanding achievements and wish her all the best for her promising career.

Preparing for orchestra auditions? Listen to some excellent tips by MTSH Masterclass, Jennise Hwang!

Thank you to Martin Chalifour for a great masterclass with invaluable tips for our impressive violinists from all around the world!

Thank you to Stephen Williamson who gave our first clarinet masterclass for MTSH! What great memories from an awesome class, with excellent clarinetists from all over the world.

Enjoy some great tips by Aimee Kreston for Concertmaster Solos! This is from our MTSH Masterclass Series. Stay tuned for more!

We were honored to host world-renowned violinist Augustin Hadelich for some of our very first masterclasses. What a joy and privilege for everyone to witness inspired teaching to fantastic violinists from all around the world, bringing cultures together through the shared love of music.

Today we would like to share an Ambassador Program from our Masterclass alumnus, Daniel Villarreal project: Music for Them.

Sharing masterclass alumnus Alfonso Aldeanueva’s album Dal Segno: Estractos Orquestales. Take a look by scanning this QR code that takes you to his Spotify Album.

Learn about breath from our MTSH Masterclass teacher Lorna McGhee!

Announcing a new collaboration with Venezuela’s El Sistema.

Join us for a the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra’s Benefit Concert on April 30 at Shepherd’s Grove Church. PAFO is MTSH’s Resident youth orchestra and proceeds will support underserved youth.

Join us for our Gala Concert with Enrico Fagone, February 11 at 8:00 PM!

Congratulations to MTSH alum, Luis Celis for winning the Cincinnati Symphony Audition! Well deserved, Luis!

Congratulations to our MTSH Seminar Speaker Maestro James Blachly on his New York Philharmonic debut in Alice Tully Hall!

Sending a big congratulations to Myles Blakemore, MTSH Masterclass alum, on his new position with the Navy Concert Ceremonial Band! Wishing you all the best in your new position!

Congratulations to MTSH Masterclass alumnus Nikka Gershman-Pepper for becoming a Haynes Young Artist!

Congratulations to Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony for their outstanding recording of music by John Adams which received a Grammy Nomination for Best Orchestral Performance! Enjoy “My Father Knew Charles Ives” here:

Congratulations to Jesus David Milano, MTSH Masterclass alumnus, as he begins his appointment with Opernhaus Zürich!

Enjoy this wonderful performance of Pablo de Sarasate Zigeunerweisen Op. 20, by MTSH Cello Masterclass alumnus Luke Coetzee! Beautiful playing, Luka!

Congratulations to Victoria Chung, MTSH Masterclass alumnus on her recent appointment as Principal Oboe of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra!

Enjoy this rendition of Elgar’s La Capricieuse by MTSH Masterclass Alumnus, Yvette Kraft. Congratulations, Yvette on your wonderful performance!

Enjoy this beautiful recording of the Oboe Concerto by Ralph Vaughan Williams played by MTSH masterclass Alumnus Sigurd Greve, oboe soloist and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Edward Gardner

Congratulations to masterclass alumnus, Gyungsun Im for winning a position with the Boulder Philharmonic!

Congratulations to masterclass alumni Alexis Pelayo for winning first place in the IV Concurso Nacional de Trombón! Wonderful job!

Congratulations to our Masterclass Alumni, Jorge Vera, for winning 1st prize in the Golden State International Music Competition Strings & Piano. Great job!

We invite you to live-stream the faculty recital by esteemed pianist Marina Lomazov where she will be playing Schumann Kreisleriana, the world premiere of Three Rhapsodies by Carter Pann, and showpieces by Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Bolcom. Don’t miss this marvelous evening of music!

Enjoy a gorgeous Oboe Recital by our illustrious Masterclass Teaching Artist, Alex Klein, with music by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach and Patricia Morehead, for the Amadeus Society of the Calgary Philharmonic.

Enjoy this compelling performance by MTSH ambassadors and alumni, violinist Ilana Zaks, and pianist Anthony Ratinov. They perform “The End Of Seasons” by composer Lila Meretzky, a new piece commissioned for this event with the Jewish Arts Collective. Congratulations on your wonderful performance!

Tubist extraordinaire and MTSH Masterclass teacher Aubrey Foard showing us all how best to take care of our health as musicians, and make those tuba phrases really sing! Congratulations on completing the Baltimore half marathon!!

Join us in supporting our wonderful Masterclass Artist, Maitane Sebastián in her upcoming performance of Haydn with the l'Orchestre Concertante!

Congratulations to Master Class Alumni Christina Mateo Saez on her appointment as section leader to the Royal Northern Sinfonia!

Thank you and congratulations to our masterclass alumni Alex López Velarde for your wonderful work for Mexican composers and the community! Cheered by El Economista as “Mexican pride,” Alejandro's goal as a musician is to inspire people from different communities through music and create a positive impact in their lives. Alejandro also seeks to expand the trombone repertoire by Mexican composers. Enjoy video’s of two recent premiers, Mexican Sonatina by Antonio Salvador and Remembranzas by Jonathan Figueroa.

Mexican Sonatina by Antonio Salvador

Remembranzas by Jonathan Figueroa (ITF 2021)

Congratulations to Ana Maria Otamendi, our Seminar Series speaker for winning the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance Emerging Artist Award in Music!

Congratulations to our MTSH Ambassador and masterclass alumni, Gabriel Cruz-Ruiz for being chosen as a National Flute Association Mentorship Program Participant!

Join us in supporting our masterclass alumni, Galia Kastner and her Zelter Quartet, who were included in the Mason Home Concerts series. More info in link. Congratulations!

Congratulations to our masterclass alumni, Bence Temesvári for his recent success in the Allegra International Competition!

Congratulations to our masterclass alumni, Polina Tarasenko, on winning the Larry Wiehe Tenor Trombone Competition!

Congratulations to our masterclass alumni, Alex Lorca, for winning 2nd prize in the MAP International Music Competition!

A big congratulations to MTSH Masterclass Alumni and MTSH Ambassador, Nathaniel De la Cruz, for his recent Appointment as Principal Bass of the Musica Nova Orchestra!

Congratulations to our Masterclass Alumni, Eugenio Carreño, for winning Concurso Tocar y Luchar!

Congratulations to Anton Moiseyenko and Елена Мойсеенко for some wonderful upcoming events and the season opening of the SoundOut Foundation!

The new acclaimed movie CODA, starring Academy Award Winning Actor, Marlee Matlin, is a fictional account of a young aspiring classical singer that is a “Child of Deaf Adults”, i.e. CODA. MTSH Ambassador and Masterclass Alumni, @alexanderpinatto , is a young classical violinist living out this reality and giving back to the deaf community with his innovative program: Stay tuned for updates on Alexandre's project! Watch CODA: apple.co/coda

Congratulations to our alumni, @Guido Felipe santa Anna on winning the Osesp Young Soloists Competition! Good luck in the winners concert today, Guido!

Congratulations to our wonderful alumni, @Fedor Chernyshov and @joiflute for passing to the second round of the Kobe International Flute Competition!

Congratulations to @paolarincones for her new album, “Notas a Paola”, and its recent nomination in the Premios Pepsi Music Awards, in the Traditional Venezuelan Music Category. Good luck, we are so proud of you!

“Give a kid an instrument, and that violin, or that horn, that mallet, gives them a voice- it gives them power.”

Listen to 6-time Grammy Award winning conductor Giancarlo Guerrero inspirational story from the League of American Orchestras Conference here: https://youtu.be/qTDxo3w_DSk.

It was such an honor to have you open our Music to Save Humanity Seminar Series last season!

Listen to our masterclass alumni, Achille Fait in this beautiful and cinematic performance. Congratulations, Achille!

Schumann, Adagio e Allegro, Achille Fait e Virginia Benini

A big congratulations to our masterclass alumni, Magdalena Steinbauer, for recent first prizes in both the ′′International Music Competition OPUS′′ and at the ′′ World Open Music Competition”! Wonderful job!

Congratulations to our illustrious masterclass alumni Joidy Blanco, Gabriel Cruz Ruiz and Mariaceli Navarro Salerno who will be featured artists on the Puerto Rico Flute Symposium Series! Follow their events here: @prflutesymposium

Join us in supporting our MTSH Program Ambassador, Allison Lovera, on her wonderful new initiative, the GMC Recital Series, highlighting the music of underrepresented composers. Their season kickoff will be broadcast live: www.facebook.com/Global-Music-Collective-Recital-Series-104619275272247/. @gmcrecitalseries