Santa Cruz Baroque Music Festival

Ruri and their ensemble "The CSMA Early Music Minstrels" won the Grand prize for the young musicians competition, and performed at the concert. It was their first time to perform in front of paying audience, and they had a lot of applause, so much so that we thought they were preparing for an encore after the audience stop clapping and they seem to be preparing something. They took the brief pause and concentration of the audience to announce that they want to invite their teacher back on stage, and to present her a flower bouquet. That was a master stroke...more applause.

"The evening's program opened with a performance by the Early Music Minstrels, from the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View. This ensemble: Ruri Wen-Matsui, recorders; Kyle Liu, bassoon; Clark Wu harpsichord; and Lauren Biglow, voice and cello; won first place in the Festival's Youth Chamber Music Competition. Their own arrangement of a 13th-century song, "Cantiga de Santa Maria No.100" showed understanding of medieval musical practice as well as excellent interpretive and technical skills. Vivaldi's "Sonata in A-minor for Recorder, Bassoon, and Continuo" displayed precision and sprightly energy."

Here is the link to the Santa Cruz Sentinel article:


Here is a few photos of them practicing and performing. And the local newspaper had a nice review of their concert.