FESTIVAL HISTORY

The Beverly Hills International Music Festival was founded in 2004 to bring the best of classical chamber music to a city generally known for its array of elegant houses, luxury car show rooms, world class retail shops, and renowned restaurants. Since the first Festival that impression of Beverly Hills has changed. Listen to the words of the he music critic of the Santa Monica Observer: "Cherninsky designed the festival to provide an opportunity for young, talented musicians from all across the world to study with some of the world's most internationally acclaimed artists and teachers to further develop their skills and abilities." One member of the audience observed: "If given the opportunity to hear Gregory and his students performing, I would be sure to attend concerts at the festival again. Cherninsky's arrangements are fresh and beautifully blended to expose the rich sounds of each section in the ensemble." The 10-day festival involves 7 separate concerts each themed to a different classical repertoire.

The Second Beverly Hills International Music Festival, 2005 - proved even more successful than its inaugural season in 2004. Among the Festival's 2005 highlights:
• Student enrollment in the Master Classes increased by 20% between 2004 and 2005; ticket sales grew by 15% in 2005 compared to the previous year.
• Themed concerts each evening linked the music performed to the interest of supporters, including the Consulate General of Austria, the City of West Hollywood, the Music Department of UCLA, the Jewish Music Commission in Los Angeles, and the Kawai America Corporation.
• In addition the 29 musicians in Festival Chamber Orchestra were incorporated into the 41 voices from the Angel City Chorus, Choral Society of Southern California, and the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale into the final concert.

The Third Beverly Hills International Music Festival, August 4 - 14, 2006, was our best ever – in terms of the number of participants, the variety of master musicians teaching the students, the number of venues for our concerts, the number of sponsors participating, the number of countries represented, and most importantly in the size of our audiences. Among the Festival's 2006 highlights:
• Number of Students Participating: 63
Violins - 15; Violas - 6; Cellos - 8; D. Bass – 1; Flute - 5; Oboe - 1; Clarinet - 2; Bassoon – 2; Horn - 1; Piano - 16; Vocal - 6
• Number of Auditors: 7
• Number of Master Musicians Participating: 21
• Important Supporters: 20
Los Angeles County Art Commission; Kawai America Corporation; Wells Fargo Bank; Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church; Choral Society of Southern California; Ford Amphitheatre; Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills; KUSC fm 91.5; Rogers & Harris; Studio City Music, Inc.; Weinstein Art Management, Inc.; City of West Hollywood; Austrian Consulate General; Cantus Quercus Press; Da Vinci Experience Exhibit; Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles; Mexican Consulate General; Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills; Panorama Media Group.
• Audiences: 2200
The audience in 2006 represented a 10% increase over the 2005 attendance figures and 26% more than attended the inaugural year in 2004.
Because the level of student talent was very high this year, not all qualified students could perform in the public performances. As a result, two student concerts - one on Saturday, August 12 at 2:00 and another on Sunday, August 13, at 1:00 - were scheduled to allow them to perform in public for an audience comprised of students, parents, teachers, and friends.

The Fourth Beverly Hills International Music Festival, 2007 - proved even more successful than its inaugural season in 2004 and seasons – 2005, 2006. Among the Festival's 2007 highlights:
• Student enrollment in the Master Classes increased by 50% between 2004 and 2006; ticket sales grew by 15% in 2007 compared to the previous years.
• Themed concerts each evening linked the music performed to the interest of supporters, including Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Wells Fargo Bank, the Consulate General of Austria, City of West Hollywood, KUSC Classical FM 91.5, the Jewish Music Commission in Los Angeles, Cantus Quercus Press, Mercedes- Benz of Beverly Hills and the Kawai America Corporation.
• For the Final concert the 39 musicians of the Festival Chamber Orchestra were joined by 41 voices from the Choral Society of Southern California, and the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale.

August 1st - 11th, 2008, we celebrated out first big anniversary: the Fifth Season of Beverly Hills International Music Festival.

The Festival program has a substantial chamber music component. Over the past five years we have had string, woodwind, and vocal ensembles. Over the course of the Festival students are coached by our excellent faculty and selected student groups perform in the student recitals. Because the level of student talent was very high this year, not all qualified students could perform in the schedule public performances.

As a result, two additional student concerts: Saturday, August 9 at 2:00 pm and another - Monday, August 4 at 8:00 pm in the Jazz Bakery.

18 Chamber Music Ensembles were chosen for the public performances, featuring the music of: J. S. Bach, G. Telemann, A. Vivaldi, J. Quantz, W.A. Mozart, C.M. Weber, L. van. Beethoven, A, Dvorák, C. Gounod, C. Reinecke, C. Nielsen, B. Britten, E. Bozza, J. Gordon, M. Dring, S. Prokofiev and G. Gershwin.