If You Are Chosen As A Winner

Jonathan Beyer, baritoneJasper QuartetLidia Kaminska, accordion

Winners of Astral’s National Auditions are invited to become members of the roster of Astral Artists. Roster artists receive invaluable career services and support during their affiliation with Astral. All of Astral’s services are free of charge to the members of its roster, and artists are paid for all performances that Astral presents or obtains on their behalf.

Extraordinary benefits of being a member of Astral’s artist roster include the following:

• During the 2010-2011 season, Astral secured over $100,000 in contracts for its roster of artists, for their participation on Astral’s acclaimed concert series and in numerous venues in the U.S. and abroad, including New York City’s Merkin Concert Hall and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Asheville Symphony, Princeton Symphony, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Asociación de Conciertos Panama, Bach Festival of Montreal, Sanibel Festival, Puerto Rico’s Pro Arte Musical, and the Seefeld Series in Germany.

• Roster artists have the opportunity to audition for and network with major managers, presenters, and conductors including,
Columbia Artists Management, IMG Artists, Schwalbe & Partners, Barrett Vantage Management, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Marlboro Music Festival, Kingston Chamber Music Festival, Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Luis Biava, Rossen Milanov, and Emmanuel Plasson.

• Astral creates collaborations for its roster artists with professionals at the top of the classical music field. Distinguished artists presented on Astral’s concert series with Astral roster artists include soprano Julianne Baird; violinists Ida Kavafian, David Kim, Gidon Kremer, and Midori; violists Roberto Díaz and Steven Tenenbom; pianists Mikael Eliasen, Claude Frank, Radu Lupu, Garrick Ohlssohn, Danielle Orlando, and Wolfgang Sawallisch.

• Astral regularly commissions works for its roster artists, and has presented world premières by Kati Agócs, Andrea Clearfield, Jennifer Higdon, Aaron Jay Kernis, Gerald Levinson, David Ludwig, Jay Reise, Paul Schoenfield, Yevgeniy Sharlat, and many others.

• Astral’s artists participate in its acclaimed Education & Community Outreach program. The artists themselves determine the repertoire performed at these events and are encouraged to explore new repertoire of their choosing. These events provide artists with invaluable performance opportunities in safe venues prior to engagements in major, high-visibility concert halls. Astral’s roster artists are financially remunerated for all outreach events at a rate of $250-$350 per performance, and are provided with housing and transportation for these events. Over 160 Education & Community Outreach performances occur per year in carefully selected schools, private homes, hospitals, retirement communities, and community centers. Artists participate in these programs as their schedules permit. All events are managed by Astral, and a staff member is in attendance at every event to ensure quality and promote relationship building.

• In collaboration with members of its illustrious Board of Advisors, Astral’s staff meets regularly with its artists to discuss, evaluate, and strategize how best to meet their individual immediate and future career goals.