I’m excited to announce the CGI Concert and lecture schedule, all free and open to the public. All concerts take place at the Aalto Library Auditorium at the Mount Angel Abbey in Mt. Angel, Oregon.

Maria Shim cello, Scott Kritzer, guitar on Tuesday, June 25th @ 7:30 pm in the Aalto Library Auditorium

Maria will perform Bach’s 1st Cello Suite, often performed on the guitar. Scott will join Maria for works by Casseus, Paganini and Schubert.

 Maria Shim is a sought-after cellist deeply rooted in the tradition of proven cello technique. Her musical journey began at age four with cellist Anne Grabe when she embraced both the piano and cello. By age six, she decided to focus solely on cello and had lessons with Irene Sharp, following the acclaimed Margaret Rowell’s curriculum, which now shapes her approach to teaching. She later had lessons with Ken Finch and Steven Pologe. 

Maria’s remarkable talent shone early in her career, making her solo debut with the Oregon Symphony, where she delivered a soulful interpretation of Elgar’s Cello Concerto after triumphing in the Young Artist MetroArts Concerto Competition. 

In 2013, Maria embarked on her studies at the Juilliard School of Music, where she trained under the guidance of Fred Sherry for seven transformative years. Along her musical journey, she received valuable lessons and coaching from esteemed mentors, including Ralph Kirshbaum, Frans Helmerson, Astrid Schween, Amit Peled, Lara Lev, Jeffrey Solow, Paul Neubauer, and Daniel Philips. Currently based in Portland, Oregon, Maria leads a vibrant teaching studio, extending her influence to the East Coast. Her students have achieved remarkable success, securing principal chairs in youth symphonies, earning top honors in state and national competitions, and debuting with renowned orchestras, including the Oregon Symphony and Eugene Symphony. 

Madeline Okano, guitar on Friday, June 28th @ 7:30 pm in the Aalto Library Auditorium

Madeline will perform works by Bach, Johanson, Brouwer and others.

Madeline Okano is a multi-instrumentalist and began playing classical guitar at  the early age of five and the violin from age nine.  Madeline studied the Suzuki method in depth using it as a strong foundation for her development.  When she moved to Portland as a teenager, Madeline was accepted into the prestigious Portland Youth Philharmonic and developed a deep appreciation for music performance and has been performing ever since.   

Madeline holds a Bachelor’s degree of Music in Guitar Performance from Portland State University.  She studied under notable guitarists Mario Diaz, and Scott Kritzer. In addition, she also has studied music composition with pedagogue Lisa Neher.  

Madeline has performed in masterclasses for world renowned classical guitarists including  Sharon Isbin, Odair Assad, Martha Masters and Raphael Fuillatre. 

CGI Student Recital on Saturday, June 29th @ 7:30 pm in the Aalto Library Auditorium

Works to be performed by Villa-Lobos, Torroba, Satie, Walton, Llobet and others! The CGI students will have been working on week on final preparations. The program is fun and varied and always a local favorite!.

Lecture – Learning an Instrument and Memorization as an Adult, Tom Page in the Westminster Meeting Room

This lecture delves into the recent research in brain development as it relates to practice and memorization. The lecture is open to the public.