Southampton - Southampton Cultural Center will host the second season of the Southampton Arts Festival, an international music festival featuring today's leading musicians and promising young students. Scheduled for August 15 to August 27, the Festival will showcase more than 12 internationally acclaimed artists, with seven performances at the Southampton Cultural Center's beautiful Levitas Center for the Arts.

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.

Southampton Cultural Center will host the second season of the Southampton Arts Festival. (Courtesy Photo: Southampton Arts Festival)

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."

The Dates For The Faculty/Guest Artist Concerts Are:

 • Thursday, August 18, 7 p.m.: Faculty/Guest Artist Concert, Chamber works by Tchaikovsky and Brahms.

 • Saturday, August 20, 12:30 p.m.: Student Concert, 5:30 p.m., Faculty/Guest artist concert, Tchaikovsky String sextet Souvenir de Florence, Mozart Piano Quartet in g-minor.

 • Monday, August 22, 3 p.m.: Student Concert, 7 p.m., Facuty/Guest Artist Concert, MusicScapes - Artist Showcase - virtuoso show pieces for piano, violin and cello. Photography exhibition by Katya Chiligiri inspired by music and musical instruments.

 • Thursday, August 25, 7 p.m.: Faculty/Guest Artist Concert, Brahms trio in B-major, Schumann Piano Quintet.

Student performances are free; Faculty concerts are $20.

The complete schedule of the 2011 Southampton Arts Festival is available at the Festival's web site. Tickets for the Festival are on sale now at the Southampton Cultural Center's website. The Southampton Arts Festival is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization.