Search - Alaska Pro Musica :: Stravinsky: Suite from L'Histoire du Soldat; Bartok, Benshoof & Coray

Alaska Pro Musica is a faculty ensemble from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). The musicians, violinist Walter Olivares, pianist Timothy Smith, and clarinetist Mark Wolbers, were each selected through national searches by the University for their unique combination of exceptional performance and educational skills. Alaska Pro Musica has captivated audiences with performances since the trio s founding in 1994, and has performed on three tours to Chile, South America. A review of their performance at the Semanas Musicales international music festival in Frutillar, Chile, declared that it was the best concert of the chamber music series. Clarinetist Mark Wolbers received his early instruction with the late Evelyn Angerman, and later with Fred Ormand and John Mohler. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet performance was earned from the University of Michigan where he also served as Associate Conductor of the U of M Youth Band and Wind Ensemble under the mentorship of Larry Rachleff. As a chamber musician, Wolbers has performed with the Fontana Ensemble, Sitka Music Festival, Cross Sound, DeVere and Southwest String Quartets and performs annually at the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Summer Music Festival. He is conductor of the University of Alaska Anchorage Wind Ensemble, and is a frequent guest artist, adjudicator and clinician for honor bands and festivals. Violinist Walter Olivares has been hailed by the press in the United States and abroad as a musician who can do anything with the violin, erotic, caressing tone. A native of Chile, Mr. Olivares gave his solo debut at the age of 15. A protégé of maestro Zoltan Fischer, he finished the seven-year harmony, solfège and counterpoint program at an early age and was awarded a full scholarship by a member of the Peace Corp to study with Dr. James Barber, Ivan Galamian and Raphael Bronstein in the United States. His debut at Carnegie Recital Hall was described by Tim Page of The New York Times as the last word in refinement, lean dark tone. Olivares students perform and teach in the United States, Italy and the Czech Republic. Pianist Timothy Smith has studied with Bela Siki and Martin Canin. In his youth, he was accepted for entry into and attended the pre-college division of the Juilliard School in New York City. He holds degrees from the University of Washington (BA, BM), the Juilliard School (MM), and S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook (DMA). A winner of major prizes in international competitions, including the Robert Casadesus, Gina Bachauer and others, Smith has performed across the United States and toured Asia on many occasions, including nearly 50 concerts in Japan and Korea, a concert tour across northern China, a recital in the large concert hall in Beijing's Forbidden City, and a performance with the China National Symphony Orchestra in Beijing that was broadcast nationally over China Central Television. Timothy Smith is a Steinway concert artist.