Top soloists to join Youth Camerata Orchestra

By Kristen Peterson (contact)

Thursday, April 22, 2004 | 8:21 a.m.

Over the past 18 years Oscar Carrescia has introduced names and music from all over the world to his young performers in the Las Vegas Youth Camerata Orchestra.

Luis Grinhauz, concert master of the Montreal Symphony, has performed with the group.

Ruben Gonzales, co-concert master of the Chicago Symphony, and Argentine Pianist Lita Martinez have also been guest soloists.

On Friday violinist Daniel Shindaryov, formerly concert master of Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Theatre Orchestra, and Argentinian-born violinist Juan Rostagno will perform as featured soloists with the orchestra.

The concert, at Winchester Cultural Center, will include music for string quartets by Argentinian composers Louis Gianneo and Carlos Guastavino, along with Handel's "Concerto Grosso No. 3" with full orchestra, featuring youth violinists Leah Woods and Michelle Lee and cellist Elena Kabytina from Russia.

In addition to four solo pieces with piano, Rostagno and Shindaryov will perform Bach's "Concerto For Two violins," accompanied by the orchestra.

"We're lucky to have both of them here," Carrescia said.

Known for his virtuoso style, Shindaryov performed with the Moscow Philharmonic (in addition to his years with the Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Theatre Orchestra). He moved to the United States in 1975 and performs mostly in Los Angeles. Friday's performance will be Shindaryov's first appearance with the Camerata Orchestra. This will be Rostagno's fourth performance with the orchestra.

Carrescia formed the Youth Camerata Orchestra in 1986 as a way to nurture local musicians under the age of 21, some of whom are pursuing degrees in music. Carrescia teaches some of the students privately at his music store on East Vegas Valley Drive.

Carrescia himself started as a violinist in a youth orchestra in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and studied with German conductor Teodoro Fuchs.

Still very connected to his Latin-American past, Carrescia often incorporates music from Argentine composers into the Camerata's repertoire, especially music not often performed in the United States.

"Gianneo was one of my teachers," Carrescia said of the composer. "He was the conductor of the youth orchestra that I belonged to in Argentina. It brings back a lot of memories."

Guastavino was one of Argentina's most prolific Argentine composers, who created music mostly for piano and voice (rooted in Argentine folk music). Gianneo also created music with folk elements and was noted for his efforts to create contemporary national music.