Nine of the world’s most gifted young musicians are set to dazzle Toronto audiences, when Show One Productions proudly presents YOUNG STARS OF THE YOUNG CENTURY: The Second Annual International Gala Concert. The event – featuring virtuoso players and singers between 7 and 20 – takes place:

TORONTO – Saturday , March 4, 2006, 7 p.m. at the George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge Street. Tickets, $30-$50, are available from Ticketmaster, 416-870-8000 or www.ticketmaster.ca, or from the Toronto Centre for the Arts box office.

For information please call 416-737-6785.

Schools and organizations wishing to host a full main stage recital or a mini-concert are invited to contact Show One Productions at info@showoneproductions.com or 416-737-6785.

Most of the prodigies come from the far corners of the former Soviet Union. All were winners of national and international competitions, and chosen by the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation. Two Toronto-area soloists are also featured – singer Kaylah Nicole (born 1998), who at seven recorded her debut CD; and violinist David Lakirovich (born 1989), who began violin at three and has already given concerts in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Joining them is the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, conducted by Ann Cooper Gay ( www.canadianchildrensopera.com )

The evening is a vibrant mix of operatic choruses and breathtaking solos by Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt and Mozart, among others. For the finale, the soloists and CCOC unite on stage to perform a favourite song, in Russian.

Coming from Eastern Europe are:

Luka Okrostvaridze, 1991 – Tbilissi, Georgia,
Piano
An award-winner of several international competitions. Participant of the Music Festival in Kolmar (France, 2000). President Putin Award (1998), Spivakov International Charity Foundation grant holder. Recorded on CD

Arsen Stepanyan, 1991 – Erevan, Armenia
Tenor
Grant holder of the Spivakov International Charity Foundation, Grand-Prize in the “Golden Note” vocal competition in 2003 and 2005, participant of numerous International concerts and festivals.

Vladislav Ivanov, 1991, Russia
Piano
First prize of the International Competitions: “Valessia Musica”, (Italy, 2001), “Amadeus” (Czech Republic, 2002), Tchaikovsky Open Piano Competition (2005), Grand Prize winner of the international open virtuoso competition in Moscow (2005). Recorded on CD

Alexander Vetuh, 1987, Moscow, Russia
Trumpet
An award-winner of several International Competitions. Performed on renowned stages of Russia, Japan (2003, 2004), Greece (2003), Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain (2005). Recorded on CD

Evgeny Skolchenkov, 1992, Bryansk, Russia
Domra
Grant holder of the Spivakov International Charity Foundation. Tours extensively across the world. An award-winner of several national competitions in 2001- 2003 in Moscow. Recorded on CD

Svetlana Konovalova, 1988, Sverdlovsk, Russia
Violin
An award-winner of several international competitions. Performed on the renowned stages in Russia, Spain, Lithuania, USA and Italy. Svetlana plays on the bow that was given to her by the Spivakov Foundation.

Savelyeva Anastasia, 1989, Moscow, Russia
Flute
Spivakov Foundation and Government of Moscow grant holder (2001-2004). Performed as a soloist with renowned chamber orchestras of Russia. Anastasia also plays organ, studies Conducting, plays in a Quartet and rearranges music. Anastasia is extensively touring with Spivakov Foundation across the world.

The Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation (www.spivakov.ru -> English) was established in 1994 and is headed by celebrated Russian violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov, conductor of the famed Moscow Virtuosi and the recently-formed National Philharmonic of Russia. The Foundation participates in the UNESCO project “In Support of the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence.” Since its inception, it has granted scholarships to more than 800 young talents . Maestro Spivakov, who is touring the U.S. in February, is expected to attend the March 4 Toronto performance.

Part of the Foundation’s mandate is to raise funds for critically ill children. Through the generous financial contribution of Alex and Simona Shnaider, proceeds from the March 4 Gala will benefit Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

Show One Productions first presented Young Stars of the Young Century in February 2005. It was a spectacular sell-out. Toronto impresario Svetlana Dvoretskaia of Show One, who represents the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation in North America, expects the second annual Gala, on March 4, 2006, to be even more exciting. “Rarely will you find such a sublime collection of young artists from Eastern Europe and Canada under one roof. We are so fortunate to have them all together before they go on to international celebrity as individuals.”