Lara Downes, pianist: Education

"Your performance was a highlight of this year and the entire history of our performance series.

We so appreciate your genuine “teaching” approach to classical music and the arts, and your obvious dedication to making them accessible and approachable for young people. You brought us absolutely the best of both worlds – performance and education!"

-Lois Jaeger: Bethany Lutheran College, MN

Lara has been active in the creation of innovative music education programs throughout her career, working with thousands of students in both urban and rural schools throughout the US.

As Artist-in-Residence at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the UC Davis, Lara has created an innovative residency program that encompasses audience development, performance enhancement, campus engagement, and K-12 outreach.

Lara is the founder and artistic director of Rising Stars of California, a statewide performance and education initiative that introduces community audiences to California's most gifted young musicians. 

Lara is strongly committed to introducing classical music to students of all ages, presenting a full range of outreach activities ranging from advanced master classes to introductory K-12 programs in conjunction with her concert appearances.

Lara is the founder and director of the 88 KEYS Foundation, fostering opportunities for music experiences and learning in America’s classrooms by providing pianos for use in public K-12 schools.

www.californiarisingstars.org

In Rising Stars of California concerts, Lara performs solo piano works and collaborates with talented young musicians, sharing their inspiring personal stories from the stage in an entertaining interview/conversation format, showcasing their artistry in charming and memorable chamber music performances.  The program also includes a unique K-12 education component that brings Lara and Rising Stars musicians into school classrooms as artistic ambassadors, with concerts/demonstrations, master classes, student coachings, and other fun and innovative education activities. These experiences inspire student audiences, and enable Rising Stars artists to articulate and share their unique talents and perspectives, and impact their communities empowered as cultural leaders. 

MUDPIES AND LULLABIES

Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis: April 25, 2010

Lara's family programming mixes the nostalgic and the new to delight both children and their parents.

Lara founded the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition in 2004, and serves as its Artistic Director. The YAC attracts pre-professional young musicians at the highest level from throughout California, offering scholarships and performance opportunities for pianists, instrumentalists, chamber ensembles and vocalists in grades 4-12.

PRESS and VIDEO