UCLA Songest ’96 whets every musical appetite

By Sona Stepanian

Summer Bruin Contributor

This summer, UCLA offers not only classes and extremely sociable
squirrels, but also the Vocal Art Institute and Summer Songfest
’96, a three-week presentation of free concerts and recital
series.

"The music department kind of shuts down during the summer time
and this program is offered through summer sessions," says John
Hall, director of the music theater workshop at UCLA.

"I went down to summer sessions and said, ‘You know, we’ve got
terrific facilities here, the campus is gorgeous, it’s one of the
nicest places to be in the summer and we don’t do anything’. So I
came up with this proposal and it’s turning out to be a great
success," Hall adds.

Summer Songfest ’96, which began on July 8 and continues until
July 27, aims to please a number of different musical appetites by
presenting a collection of both international and American
songs.

"Canciones to Chansons," highlights the international flavor of
summer campus life, featuring Spanish, Latin American and French
songs under the direction of Master Teacher Martin Katz.

"The American Recitalist," running during the second week of the
festival, focuses on recitals of American songs. UCLA alumna and
soprano Ruth Golden is accompanied by fellow alumnus, pianist Jake
Heggie; together, they tackle classics from Cole Porter to Aaron
Copland.

"The biggest music publisher in America, G. Schirmer, had a
contest for new American art songs last year and we are premiering
the new volume of nine of these young composers that won the
prize," Hall says. "One of them was won by Jake Heggie, and it will
be the first time that all of the songs will be sung at one
time."

High school students will also showcase their talents during the
"High School Vocal Camp," which runs the third week of Summer
Songfest ’96.

"The third week will give high school juniors and seniors a
taste of what it’s like at the university," Hall said.

"They will be putting on scenes from Mozart operas."

The display of young talent in Songfest is drawing much
widespread attention, and Hall is hopeful that UCLA students will
also take advantage of the myriad of concerts and recitals being
staged.

"I had no idea that we were going to attract people from Canada,
New York and West Virginia. A lot of people are coming to take a
look at UCLA. I thought UCLA students would come but they are all
outlanders," Hall says. "All our concerts are free and I hope all
in summer school come up and take a look."