Two CWU music students selected to attend world-renowned festival

Two Central Washington University music students are looking forward to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this summer when they travel to Italy to participate in the Zephyr International Chamber Music Course and Festival.

From July 21 to August 5, CWU Assistant Professor of Music Yerin Kim will accompany piano performance majors Elliot Matteson and Ella Melin to Italy, where they will spend the first week rehearsing alongside world-renowned musicians at a mountain villa in Frabrosa Soprana.

After a week of intensive musical instruction, Kim, Matteson, and Melin will join the other students and professional musicians for a series of concerts in the Provinces of Cuneo (July 25-29) and Mongelia (July 30-August 4).

“It’s such an amazing experience,” said Kim, who has attended the Zephyr Music Festival twice as a student and twice as an instructor. “The students learn from some of the best musicians in the world, and then they get to perform in front of audiences that show them a level of appreciation they have never seen before. It’s very touching.”

Matteson and Melin were among just 12 students from around the world who were selected to attend the festival, where they will be learning from and playing alongside accomplished musical instructors from Europe, Asia, and North America.

Kim explained that being invited to Zephyr is a tremendous honor, and she couldn’t be more proud of her students. She noted that this year represents the first time two CWU students have been selected at the same time. Junior violin performance major Jordan Taylor was invited to the festival last year.

“They were up against students from around the world, and I made it clear to them that I was not involved in the judging. They did this on their own,” Kim said. “Their selections speak to their individual talent, as well as the strength of CWU’s music program. We are not a conservatory, but we value music education and performance equally. It’s very gratifying to see our students recognized in this way.”

Aside from learning from world-class instructors, the festival also offers students a glimpse into what the life of a traveling musician might look like. As Kim experienced twice during her college years, having an experience like this at a young age can be very eye-opening.

“There’s a concert every day after we’ve prepared together for a week, which offers them a window into what a performing artist’s life is like,” she said. “You think you want that life, but you don’t know until you actually do it. That’s one reason why I love this festival so much.” 

Kim’s husband, Brendan Shea — a visiting professor of violin at CWU — will join her in Italy as faculty for the third straight year. Kim expects her students to return home with a new level of confidence in their budding musical talents, just like Taylor did a year ago.

“Playing alongside professionals really elevates their performance,” she said. “I’m so excited that they are going to have this life-changing opportunity.”

Matteson and Melin both received financial support from CWU Career Services, which covered the cost of their registrations, but they are hoping to find additional donors to help fund the trip, which costs about $4,000 per person.

If you would like to make a gift to support them on this overseas adventure, visit the CWU Music webpage. Once there, select “other” as the designation and type in “Music Department, Zephyr Music Festival Support” to ensure your contribution goes directly to this opportunity. Your generosity will help cover travel, lodging, and other essential expenses for our talented student musicians.

If you have any questions about making a donation, contact Miga McCurdy in University Advancement at miga.mccurdy@cwu.edu or 509-963-2885.