PianoSonoma festival returns to Green Music Center

PianoSonoma, a classical music festival that launched in Sonoma County in 2011, will return to the Green Music Center July 26 to Aug. 8 with a series of concerts and master classes in Schroeder Hall and Weill Hall.

Artistic Directors Jessica and Michael Shinn, who met as students at The Juilliard School in New York City, were inspired to create the summer music festival in Sonoma County after spending time in the wine region of California.

The festival launched its Young Artist program in 2012, and has evolved into a prestigious Artist in Residence program, bringing the next generation of professional musicians to the area to collaborate with PianoSonoma’s adult participants.

This year’s Artists in Residence program includes the piano trio Longleash, featuring Pala Garcia on violin, John Popham on cello and Renate Rohlfing on piano. Other Artists in Residence include pianist Peter Dugan, flutist Emi Ferguson, composer Paul Frucht and mezzo-soprano Kara Sainz,

Longleash will kick off the festival with a concert at 6 p.m. July 28 at Schroeder Hall featuring a fun, interactive exploration of the Charles Ives’ Piano Trio, culminating in a performance of the entire work. A wine tasting precedes the concert at 5:30 p.m.

Father/son team Ronald and Michael Shinn will give a master class at 1:15 p.m. July 29 at Schroeder Hall.

Mezzo-soprano Kara Sainz and pianist Peter Dugan will present a program entitled “Mysticism” at 6 p.m. July 30 in Schroeder Hall. A wine tasting will be held before the concert at 5:30 p.m.

Longleash, Sainz, Dugan and Ferguson will give a special concert at 3 p.m. Aug. 2 in Weill Hall. Tickets are $10. To reserve, go to gmc.sonoma.edu.

Frucht will introduce his musical compositions during an interactive concert and a Q & A at 6 p.m. Aug. 4 in Schroeder Hall.

Father/son team Ronald and Michael Shinn will give another public master class at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 5 in Schroeder Hall.

A flute and piano concert by Ferguson, Dugan and Rohlfing will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 in Schroeder Hall.

Celebrated pianist Anne-Marie McDermott of Denver will give a master class at 3 p.m. Aug. 8 in Schroeder Hall, using Yamaha’s RemoteLesson technology.

All events, except for the Weill Hall concert on Aug. 2, are free. Both Schroeder Hall and Weill Hall are located at the Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park. For more information, go to pianosonoma.org.