A concert to celebrate the teaching legacy of Roland and Almita Vamos

July 15, 2013 at 4:56 PM

A little over a year ago at this time last summer, I was teaching a Suzuki Teacher Training course at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. One evening, I woke up in the middle of the night having had a very wonderful dream. I was at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, and I was listening to a concert by scores of violinists who had all been students of my teachers Roland and Almita Vamos.

The next morning, I couldn't stop thinking about the dream and kept thinking to myself, this should really happen. I visited with Almita and Roland at the Chautauqua Institute where they were teaching a few weeks later and asked what they thought of this idea.

They were very moved and welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with many former students and to have their students from different generations be able to meet and perform together.

Finding the date and venue was the next hurdle. Aimee Kreston, Concertmistress of the Pasadena Orchestra was one of the first Vamos students that I contacted. She had the brilliant idea to hold the concert over Labor Day Weekend. "So many of their former students are playing in orchestras around the country...the summer festivals will be over...and the fall season will not have yet begun." I also checked and found that Orchestra Hall was available.

Next came the task of contacting the hundreds of former students. Facebook was a huge help and using the website that was created by my assistant, Ryan Caparella, we have been able to reach so many people. Over 100 former students and friends will come together on September 1st to celebrate with Roland and Almita.

Vamos Celebration will celebrate the musical legacy of two of the world's most influential living pedagogues - Roland and Almita Vamos. Over the course of 45+ years, the Vamoses have shaped several generations of America's finest violinists and violists. This momentous occasion brings together countless former and current students of the Vamoses in a reunion of epic proportions.

Henry Fogel will be the master of ceremonies for the day and the concert will feature performances by Korey Konkel, Stephanie Arado, Christina Castelli, Sean Riley, Benny Kim, David Bowlin, Elisa Barston, Vincent Meklis, Matthew Lipman and many more. The concert will conclude with a huge string orchestra conducted by Roland Vamos performing the Waltz and Finale of the Tchaikovsky Serenade for strings. For additional information about the concert please visit vamoscelebration.com by following this link

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