Southampton - Southampton Cultural Center will host the inaugural Southampton Arts Festival, an international music festival featuring today's leading musicians and promising young students. Scheduled through August 29, the Festival will showcase more than 12 internationally acclaimed artists, with eight performances at the beautiful Southampton Cultural Center's Levitas Center for the Arts and a special Fund raising Gala concert hosted by David and Julia Koch at their Southampton residence.

The festival's international faculty and artists include winners of the Tchaikovsky, William Kapell, Montreal, Paganini, Young Concert Artist, and Queen Elizabeth International competitions, as well as musicians from The New York Philharmonic, The Boston Symphony, The Cincinnati Symphony and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva, among others. The International Chamber Soloists is the String Orchestra in Residence.

This year's festival participants include students from Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Michigan State University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Duke University, Peabody Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, and London Guildhall University. Some participating students are already winners of international competitions. In addition to receiving individual instruction, students will have the opportunity to perform in student concerts and participate in open-to-the-public master classes. The festival will also offer a children's program, with individual instruction as well as creative workshops focusing on developing children's creativity and curiosity for the Arts.

Elena Baksht, the Festival's founder and executive director, said, "It is the festival's goal to combine world-class performances with an extensive learning program, creating an environment ideal for sharing ideas and talents. Over a span of two weeks, we will offer chamber music concerts featuring distinguished faculty and guest artists, private and chamber music lessons for professional music students, and master classes open to the public. In our inaugural year, it is especially important to engage the local community and enhance the Hamptons family experience by presenting multidisciplinary classes and workshops for children. We believe the Southampton Arts Festival will become an indispensable part of the Hamptons' rich cultural life - something to savor while enjoying the area's famous beaches and seacoast."

Dates for Faculty/Guest Artist Concerts

 • Saturday, August 21 - 5:30 p.m.
International Chamber Soloists String Orchestra in concert; a solo work showcase.

 • Wednesday, August 25 - 7 p.m.
Russian music - Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Shostakovich
A photography exhibit devoted to the composers' lives and their families. Members of the Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff families will be attending the performance, and will be available to meet with the public during the pre-concert exhibit

 • Friday, August 27 - 7 p.m.
Fund Raising Gala to be hosted at the residence of David and Julia Koch.

 • Saturday, August 28 - 5:30 p.m.
Closing concert

All concerts are $15 and tickets are available online at www.scc-arts.org, or at the box office at the day of the performance.

Student concerts and master classes will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 12 noon and 3 p.m.

The complete schedule of the 2010 Southampton Arts Festival is available at the Festival's website at www.southamptonartsfestival.org.

The Southampton Arts Festival is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.