CSUB hosting Bakersfield International Music Festival

Ten-day chamber music program includes coaching sessions, concerts

By California State University, Bakersfield

July 15^th, 2022

Chamber music students from Kern County and beyond are getting the chance to learn from expert musicians this month.

California State University, Bakersfield is hosting the Bakersfield International Music Festival through July 22. As part of the 10-day program, students in seventh grade and higher can participate in coaching sessions and rehearsals led by professional musicians as well as perform with them and their fellow students in a series of concerts.

“The mission of BIMF is to inspire young musicians with classical music by providing an opportunity to study with professional artists and to increase awareness of chamber music among community audiences,” said Dr. Soo-Yeon Park, director of the program.

Around 25 students are participating in the festival this year, Dr. Park said. Students are grouped together based on their age groups, skill levels and instruments.

This year’s faculty members for the festival are celloist Jonathan Flaksman from Santa Barbara University and violinists Julia Haney from the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, Elbert Tsai from the San Francisco Conservatory and Daniel Lee from Yale University.

In addition, violinist Kowoon Yang from Hyunghee University in Korea will be providing a presentation during the festival via Zoom.

“Our faculty try to do their best to provide students valuable experiences in their learning process, and we enjoy watching our students grow,” Dr. Park said. “The program is very intensive, but very rewarding as well.”

Three free concerts will be held as part of the festival. They are all open to the public and will be held at 7 p.m. in the Dorè Theatre. There will be free parking in lots B and C.

The first concert takes place tonight, July 15, and will feature a mix of students and faculty members. The second concert will take place on July 19 and will feature faculty members only. All participating students will be performing during the last concert on July 22.

“We are all looking forward to making music together,” Dr. Park said.

One of the festival participants this year is Sara Kiani, a sophomore from Stockdale High School who plays the piano. This is her first time doing the program.

“It’s a great opportunity,” she said. “Chamber music has always been one of my favorite things. I love playing in an ensemble, so it’s been nice being able to play with people.”

Kiani is a little nervous about performing in Friday’s concert and hopes to get a lot of practice in beforehand so that she will be well-prepared.

“I need more time to rehearse with my groups, but I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.

Ian Kim, who currently attends Brown University, participated in the festival during his time at Stockdale High and is returning to the festival this year as a college student. He said the program has been an amazing experience.

“The festival is a great opportunity to learn under big-name professors you wouldn’t normally be able to get instruction from. It’s nice to have something like this in your local community,” he said. “It’s also just a lot of fun to play with friends and get to know new people.”

Kim, who plays the violin, said the instruction he has received at the festival has helped him grow as a musician over the past few years.

“It was instrumental in helping me develop my skills and improve certain parts of my playing ability. It really helped me mature as a musician,” he said.