Head to Preston Hall April 25 for Radford University’s 2008 Gala Concert featuring the 2007 IBLA International Grand Prize Winners. The 15th edition of the Ibla International Grand Prize was held June 28 through July 8, 2007 in Ragusa Ibla, Italy. The winners of the competition will perform in New York City and throughout the United States, in addition to Radford. The outstanding artists are literally from around the globe, representing Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, and Poland.

One such performer is Hungarian soprano Adrienn Miksch. Her repertoire for the evening will feature a variety of music ranging from bel-canto composer Bellini to Russian master Dmitri Shostakovich. Anna Rutkowska-Schock, a chamber music expert who has performed in her home of Poland as well as abroad, will perform solo works as well as accompany violinist Esther Muradov (USA) in a variety of pieces from the Baroque and Classical periods. Anticipation is high for a performance by Japanese/American Elena Kawazu, a violin virtuoso who won the unanimous vote of the International Jury last year. (By the way…she is 9 years old!)

A solo piano performance by Italian pianist Alessio Quaresima is also scheduled, showcasing an impressive arrangement of Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini.” Additionally, the 2007 Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev Winner Martinia Filjak will perform. The Croatian pianist is said to be a standout performer, even among the previous winners of the prestigious competition. Closing the evening will be pianist and IBLA Grand Prize Music Director Salvatore Moltisanti, continuing the centennial celebration with a work by Oliver Messiaen.

This free concert requires tickets, available in advance by calling the Department of Music office at 540.831.5177. The event starts at 8 p.m. in the Ken Bondurant Auditorium, Preston Hall, Radford University.

C.R. Kasprzyk regrets that he will have to miss this great performance because he will be performing in California April 26, 29, and 30. Visit www.crkasprzyk.com for details.