"I really have never loved music as much as when I was listening to Blake sing. I think the programming of the two recitals I heard was as interesting, unique and as beautiful as Blake's singing. They really were perfect."

For years the RSI has been fortunate to have participants and faculty willing to share their talents with the community at evening coffee houses and artistic presentations.

Recently, we have established an Artist-In-Residence program, where we invite artists to the Institute specifically to prepare evenings of music or dramatic presentations.

Last summer, Shana Blake Hill and Gili Melamed-Lev shared that position. Blake is a powerful opera singer, profiled in the Los Angeles Times as "an intense young soprano . . . a standout," and hailed by The Forum as "a future opera superstar." She has also appeared as a principal artist with numerous companies. Blake is a long-time friend of the RSI and we are thrilled that she can take a few weeks from her busy schedule to be at the Institute. She and Gili Melamed-Lev will perform in concert at the Institute. Read more about Blake.

Gili, a wonderful and sensitive pianist, was born and raised in Israel. After graduating from the Juilliard School, she taught music at Sunbridge College in New York and was artist in residence for Eurythmy Spring Valley. She has performed extensively throughout the United States, Israel, and Europe. This year she is working on her second CD with music for two pianos in collaboration with Albert Lotto. She lives with her family in Harlemville, New York, where she teaches and coaches chamber music and vocalists.