Apogee Awards 22 Prizes and Grants to the Rising Stars of Russia's Music World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 20, 2006 -- New York (PRWEB) April 18, 2006 -- The Apogee Foundation has awarded prizes to more than 20 of Russia's most gifted young musicians at the Crescendo Festival in St. Petersburg. The Crescendo Festival is the nation's premier event demonstrating that the celebrated "Russian School of Performance" continues to thrive and produce world class musical talent among the country's younger generation. The awards were presented by Apogee President Kenneth Schneider on stage in St. Petersburg's Philharmonic Hall before a full audience on 13 April 2006.

Recognizing and supporting the stars of tomorrow today has been the core of Apogee's mission and activities around the world for nearly a decade. Each of these awards carry with it ongoing financial, educational and career support from The Apogee Foundation.

Immediately after the conclusion of the Crescendo Festival,, Mr. Schneider and Apogee's Regional Representative for the Russian Federation, Boris Egorov, also met with the administration and faculty of the Rimsky-Korsakov School: the leading institution of its kind in the St. Petersburg region. After touring the facilities, observing performances and consulting with the School's directors, the Foundation agreed to immediately begin implementation of its full program of Excellence Awards for the school's top students and instructors.

Valentina Fedoseyeva, Director of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory Music School said: "The Apogee Foundation's programs are a marvelous way of recognizing and assisting talented artists throughout their careers and enabling them to achieve their fullest potential. We welcome this collaboration and look forward to developing some of the world's finest artistic talent together."

Apogee President Kenneth Schneider said: "Our Foundation is privileged to have these opportunities to recognize and support such gifted individuals who represent such rich traditions of excellence. We are particularly honored to do so in collaboration with institutions of the caliber of the Rimsky-Korsakov School. Investing in these awesome talents and legacies is certain to create a better future not only for Russia but for the entire world."

For more information in English on Apogee's award programs, please see the Foundation's website: http://www.ApogeeFoundation.org/awards/index.php For information in Russian, please see: http://www.ApogeeFoundation.org/r_awards/r_index.php

The full length English and Russian language versions of this news release with photographic content, as well as printer friendly and PDF formats, can be found at: http://www.apogeefoundation.org/awareness/press/pr060418.php and http://www.ApogeeFoundation.org/r_awareness/r_press/r_pr060418.php

About The Apogee Foundation �

The Apogee Foundation began activities in Russia in 1997 and was incorporated in the United States in 2004 as a New York based not-for-profit corporation. Apogee is dedicated to the development of human excellence in the performing arts. It supports cultural institutions and individual artists, providing administrative, promotional, and financial support to help talented individuals achieve their full potential, and enabling this potential to be showcased to the world.