This demonstration is sponsored by Arts Without Boundaries, a non-profit organization, as part of their guest artist series.  Arts Without Boundaries facilitates and enhances art education in and out of the classroom.  It supports professional development for teachers and provides educational opportunities and encouragement for student participation in the arts.  The goal of Arts Without Boundaries is to provide all students with an interest in the arts, the opportunity to participate in a quality arts program, regardless of their financial capability.

www.ClydeAspevig.com

Please contact Darell Tunnicliff 406.294.5677 or Darell@ClydeAspevig.com if you plan to attend or for additional information.

The student benefit concert, starts at 7 p.m. Performing with Aaberg and Anger are two local students, Nicole Ficek, a senior violinist at West High School, and Lewis Rawlinson, a senior cellist at Skyview High School.

This concert is the first in a series of guest artist programs that create opportunities for students to experience concerts and classroom instruction by nationally recognized artists.

As part of the program, Aaberg and Anger will spend Monday and Tuesday mentoring Billings students, teaching improv and technique and performing at schoolwide assemblies.

Philip Aaberg
Composer Philip Aaberg writes music that connects a global audience to the sweeping landscape of the West. Although classically trained, Philip celebrates many traditions in his singular sound.  He weaves strains of blues and bluegrass as well as rock and new music throughout his compositions. Besides performing with the Boston Pops and in concert halls around the world, Philip has appeared with Peter Gabriel, Elvin Bishop, and on numerous film soundtracks. He has cut eight solo albums including Live From Montana, which received a 2002 Grammy nomination. Philip is the recipient of two Emmy nominations, most recently for the original score to Class C: The Only Game in Town. His monthly radio program Of the West: Creativity & Sense of Place can be heard across Montana.  www.ofthewest.net  He and Darol Anger most recently collaborated on the 2008 recording ‘Cross Time, released on Philip’s record label Sweetgrass Music.   www.sweetgrassmusic.com

Darol Anger
Exceptional among modern fiddlers for his versatility and depth, Darol Anger has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as his Republic Of Strings, the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, Montreux, the Duo and other ensembles. Today Darol can be heard on NPR’s “Car Talk” theme every week, along with Earl Scruggs, David Grisman and Tony Rice. He has recorded and produced scores of important recordings since 1977, is a MacDowell and UCross Fellow, and has received numerous composers’ residencies and grants. He is a featured soloist on dozens of recordings and motion picture soundtracks.   www.darolanger.com

Nicole Ficek, seventeen and a senior at West High School, began her musical journey as a pianist at the age of four; at age eight she took up the violin. At age 11 she had her first major solo piano recital, at 13 soloing with the Billings Community Orchestra, and at 15 performing the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Billings Symphony. On violin she has been selected concertmaster for Montana’s All-State Orchestra, the Billings Youth Orchestra, and the Billings West High School Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a past-participant of the All-Northwest Orchestra and a four-year member of the Billings Symphony, with whom she soloed in October 2009.

Lewis Rawlinson, Skyview High School senior, began playing cello at age 10 and quickly excelled, becoming principal cellist in his school orchestras, Honor and Honor Chamber Orchestra, High School Honor Chamber Orchestra, Billings Youth Orchestra, and All-State Orchestra.  For four years he has received the Outstanding Cellist award at the Red Lodge Music Festival and he has been a member of the Billings Symphony since age 15.  He as also performed with the All-Northwest Orchestra and the Seattle Symphony.  At age 13 he joined the MSU Cello Ensemble on their tour of China, and recently he placed as a finalist in the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Concerto Competition.  This summer he toured Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore with the MSU-Bozeman Symphony.  He has recorded two CDs, one at age 13 and one this spring.  His teachers have included Peter Landeen, Ilse-Mari Lee, and David Heinzen, his current teacher.  He plays a Montagana cello, a tracing of Yo Yo Ma’s instrument, and plans a career in cello.