News Release

American cellist Alisa Weilerstein will perform at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 29, as part of the 2003-2004 Shriver Hall Concert Series in Shriver Hall Auditorium on The Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus, 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore.

Since being hailed as a "teen prodigy" three years ago, Weilerstein has won increasing recognition and critical acclaim. The recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2000, she was selected for the prestigious European Concert Hall Organization's "Rising Stars" recital series and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's Chamber Music Society Two. The Sun's Tim Smith said of her 2001 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra debut in Haydn's D major Cello Concerto, "Weilerstein is already on the career fast track, thanks to a sure technique and a very strong musical personality. There wasn't a note in the cellist's performance that didn't have color and interpretive intent.. consistently warm and lyrical."

Born in 1982, Weilerstein began playing the cello at age 4 and performed her first public concert six months later. She made her Cleveland Orchestra debut in 1995 at 13 playing the Tchaikovsky "Rococo" Variations and her Carnegie Hall debut in 1997. She often performs with her parents Donald and Vivian Hornik Weilerstein as the Weilerstein Trio.

Weilerstein's Shriver Hall Concert Series program with piano accompanist Adam Neiman will include Beethoven's "Seven Variations on 'Bei Mannern,' from Mozart's 'The Magic Flute,'" Brahms' "Sonata in F major," De Falla's "Suite Populaire Espagnole" and Prokofiev's "Sonata in C Major." At 4:30 p.m. in the Shriver Hall Clipper Room, Paul Matthews of the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University will deliver a pre-concert lecture. Upcoming performances in the concert series include the sensational young pianist Lang Lang on March 21, the contemporary ensemble Continuum on April 4 and Eroica Trio on May 2.

Tickets are $33, $17 for students; 4:30 p.m. student rush, $8. For information, call 410-516-7164. Visit Shriver Hall Concert Series online at www.shriverconcerts.org/.