Students, professionals team for Las Vegas Music Festival

Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 | 8:38 a.m.

The annual Las Vegas Music Festival begins today at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and continues through Aug. 18.

The event brings together top professional musicians from around the world and some of the top high school and college music students in the nation for almost two weeks of studying and performing for the public.

Students who participate in the festival are 15 to 28 years of age.

George Stelluto, music director of the festival, said the goal of the event is to provide world-class musical training and performing opportunities for high school and college musicians at low cost and to produce professional performances for the "cultural enrichment of Las Vegas."

The 2002 festival will have several components. The Instrumental Program will consist of orchestral, chamber music, and solo sessions during which students rehearse, study privately with faculty and attend seminars and master classes. There also is a Piano Institute at the Festival, which was created in 1990 as the Las Vegas Summer Orchestra.

Thirty world-class musicians will teach and perform.

"When you have the opportunity to work with artists of this caliber, you jump on it," said George Stelluto, director of the festival and a member of the UNLV faculty. "When you have the opportunity to work with deserving young talents, you welcome it."

Jack Rappaport, president of the festival, said: "Being able to present such high quality concerts at prices that anyone can afford is an important part of the festival's mission."