Celebrate 50 Years of Beautiful Music with the Eastern Music Festival! Join EMF and Music Director Gerard Schwarz for five weeks filled with more than 100 music-related events. Enjoy great music every night of the week during June 25 – July 30, 2011! 200 young artists and 80 faculty musicians return to Eastern Music Festival (EMF) to study, enjoy and share classical music with the community.
“These are exciting times for Eastern Music Festival & School,” says Stephanie Cordick, Executive Director of EMF. “The 2011 season will mark the golden anniversary of EMF, now a vibrant presence in Greensboro. We are planning a wide variety of quality musical offerings for every taste and style…commissioning new music and celebrating our renowned Music Director Gerard Schwarz and the extraordinary talent represented by our faculty and students who comprise EMF’s three orchestras. We thank the community of Greensboro for its continued support!”
Exceptional guest artists joining EMF for their 50th Anniversary include Grammy winner and EMF alumnus Wynton Marsalis, trumpet, Metropolitan Opera star Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano, EMF favorites Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin and André Watts, piano, the dynamic violinist Stefan Jackiw, and young talents Julian Schwarz, cello, and Caroline Goulding, violin. A post-concert fireworks display will immediately follow the opening Saturday night concert on July 2 featuring Susan Graham. Other special events include the first annual EMF Alumni Weekend during July 8-9, the Second Annual Piano Competition and performance at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and the EMFkids collaboration with the Greensboro Ballet on the Saint-Saëns masterpiece “The Carnival of the Animals.”
To purchase tickets to any EMF event, visit our website at www.EasternMusicFestival.orgor contact the Eastern Music Festival Box Office at Triad Stage by calling 866.579.TIXX or 336.274.0160.
Season tickets are currently on sale; single tickets for all events go on sale on June 1, 2011 at 10:00am. Triad Stage service fees will apply to all ticket purchases made via phone or online. For a list of detailed prices and more information on tickets, including discounted and group specials, visit www.EasternMusicFestival.org.
An Evening with Wynton Marsalis
Eastern Music Festival is excited to present An Evening with Wynton Marsalis on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 8:00pm in Dana Auditorium. Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform this special event concert to kickoff the EMF 50th Anniversary season. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 11 at 10:00am. Visit www.EasternMusicFestival.orgfor additional information.
Saturday Festival Orchestra Series
Susan Graham, mezzo soprano, will open the season with an evening of beautiful opera followed by a post-concert fireworks display at Dana Auditorium on July 2. Repertoire for the evening includes Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte Overture, K.620 and “Parto, ma tu bene mio” from La Clemenza di Tito; Bizet’s “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Habañera) and Carmen: Suite No. 1; Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, op.73 and various other favorites. As one of the world’s foremost stars of opera and recital, she is both compelling and a versatile singing actress. She has sung leading roles in the great opera houses of the world, including The Metropolitan Opera, Milan’s La Scala, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, Opéra national de Paris, Dresden’s Semperoper, and the Salzburg Festival. Dubbed “America’s favorite mezzo” by Gramophone magazine, Graham’s recital with the Eastern Festival Orchestra is not to be missed.
Returning for her second guest appearance at EMF on July 9 is Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin. Salerno-Sonnenberg will perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op.26. Born in Rome, she moved to the United States to study at The Curtis Institute of Music at age eight. Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg’s exceptional artistry is paired with great musical intelligence which, along with her unique personality, has served her well in numerous environments. EMF is excited to welcome her back for another season.
On July 16, André Watts, piano, will perform the Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, op.73 (Emperor) by Beethoven as part of the Saturday night series. A perennial favorite with orchestras throughout the US, André Watts burst upon the music world at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People’s Concerts. One of Mr. Watts’ most recent television appearances includes a performance of the Brahms Concerto No.2 with the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting, for PBS.
Visiting EMF for the first time on July 23, Stefan Jackiw, violin, is one of his generation’s most significant artists, captivating audiences with playing that combines poetry and purity with an impeccable technique. The Seattle Times describes Jackiw as “a young star of astonishing gifts, whose musicality and technical finesse place him at the top of his peers.” He will join the EFO to perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, op.47.
Rounding out the Saturday Festival Orchestra Series on July 30 are Caroline Goulding, violin and Julian Schwarz, cello. Performing Brahms Concerto for Violin and Violoncello in A minor, op.102 (Brahms Double), these two young musicians are examples of impressive polish and musical maturity. Schwarz, an EMF alumnus, has performed with numerous music festivals and orchestras, including the Seattle Symphony and the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, as assistant conductor. He currently attends The Colburn School in Los Angeles. Described as a “brilliant talent…destined for greatness,” Goulding makes her first appearance with EMF. She recently performed with the Charlotte Symphony, wowing the audience with her fantastic flair and extraordinary virtuosity. Still in her teens, she attends The Cleveland Institute of Music where she studies under Joel Smirnoff.
All Festival Orchestra Series performances are on Saturday evenings at 8:00pm in Dana Auditorium, on the campus of Guilford College. Be sure to come early for our Concert Preludes on the Dana Lawn at 7:15pm each week! For more information on our guest artists as well as each evening’s performances, please visit our website at www.EasternMusicFestival.org/Schedule-2011.php.
Thursday and Friday Young Artists Series
The Young Artists Orchestras are compromised of EMF’s outstanding pre-professional musicians. These gifted students, aged 14-22, come from around the world to study and perform in Greensboro. Each week, you will hear them rise to the challenge of an increasingly demanding repertoire. During the final week of the festival, young artists are the featured soloists in our Concerto Competition Winners concerts. All concerts are held at 8:00pm in Dana Auditorium at Guilford College.
José-Luis Novo, conductor, leads the students through their musical journey and performances; in addition they perform under the baton of Gerard Schwarz, Eric Garcia, Chelsea Tipton II, andMaximiano Valdés. Repertoire highlights for the Young Artists Series include Kodály: Háry János: Suite; Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major (Titan); Stravinsky: Petrushka; Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, op.100, and Respighi:Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome).
Performing alongside our Young Artists are notable guest artists Jon Nakamatsu, piano (July 7); Jeffrey Multer, violin (July 8); Misha Dichter, piano (July 15); and Robert Vernon, viola (July 29).
For a complete listing of Young Artists Series dates and repertoire, visit our website at www.EasternMusicFestival.com/Schedule-2011.php.
Wednesday Friends & Great Performers Series
From pianos to organs to concertos and operas, the Friends & Great Performers Series showcases a range of diverse events in distinctive settings. Kicking off the series is the Concert Organ Gala on June 29 at 8:00pm at Christ United Methodist Church (410 N Holden Road, Greensboro). Performing alongside members of the Eastern Festival Orchestra are organists John Alexander, Susan Bates, Edie Johnson, and André Lash.
Join us for the annual Steinway Piano Gala on July 6 at 8:00pm at Dana Auditorium. We present An Evening with Bach on July 13 at First Presbyterian Church (617 N Elm Street, Greensboro). EMF joins with the Greensboro Opera for the fourth collaboration of summer cabaret fun on Tuesday, July 19 and Wednesday, July 20 at 8:00pm Temple Emanuel (1129 Jefferson Road). The program, Celebrating Anniversaries: An American Songbook highlights 50 years of Eastern Music Festival and 30 years of the Greensboro Opera. Rounding out the Friends & Great Performers series on July 27 is Pianopalooza, an evening of the best young pianists performing a variety of solos, duets and more.
UNCG and Carnegie Chamber Series’
The Monday evening UNCG Chamber Series presents thoughtfully selected repertoire performed by our talented professional musicians and faculty members. Join us each week when the EMF faculty perform chamber selections alongside our outstanding guest artists including Jon Nakamatsu, piano and Misha Dichter, piano. Concert dates are June 27, July 4, July 11, July 18, and July 25 at 8:00pm in the UNCG School of Music Recital Hall.
For even more chamber music, join EMF each Tuesday in the Andrew Carnegie Room of the Guilford College Hege Library at 8:00pm for our Carnegie Chamber Series. Concert dates are June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, and July 26. Our talented faculty members perform “the music of friends” in this intimate setting. Guest artists TBA.
Bonus Concerts and Special Events
EMF is excited to welcome back our talented alumni for the first ever EMF Alumni Weekend, July 8-9, 2011. Former EMF students and faculty will presentThe Gift of Music, a concert featuring the EMF 50th Alumni Orchestra, will take place on Saturday, July 9 at 4:00pm the Alumni Orchestra will perform Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op.95 (New World) on the Lawn and Dana Auditorium. For more Alumni Weekend information, visit the Alumni page on the EMF website. Dates and events are subject to change.
EMFkidsand the Greensboro Ballet present Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals on Saturday, July 16at 1:30pm. The musical suite, comprised of 14 movements, represents different animals through various instruments and tempos. Families can experience animals such as lions, roosters, tortoises, elephants, kangaroos and more all while learning about the orchestra. A great way to introduce young children and adults alike to ballet and the orchestra! Tickets: $10/Adults, $6/Children, $25/Family Four Pack.
This year’s annual EMF Piano Competition Winners performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC will take place on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. For more information on the EMF Piano program, visit www.easternmusicfestival.org/piano.php.
The Young Artists Orchestra Pops Concert will be held on Sunday, July 10 at 6:30pm on the lawn at Dana Auditorium, in conjunction with the Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park 2011 series. The performance will be repeated on Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30pm in the Hayworth Fine Arts Center on the campus of High Point University.
For the most up-to-date Festival information, be sure to follow us Facebook(Eastern Music-Festival) and Twitter(EMFGreensboro).
Tickets
To purchase tickets to any EMF event, visit our website at www.EasternMusicFestival.orgor contact the Eastern Music Festival Box Office at Triad Stage (232 S Elm Street) by calling 866.579.TIXX or 336.274.0160.
Season tickets are currently on sale; single tickets for all events go on sale on June 1, 2011 at 10:00am. Triad Stage service fees will apply to all ticket purchases made via phone or online. For a list of detailed prices and more information on tickets, including discounted and group specials, visit www.EasternMusicFestival.org.
About Eastern Music Festival
The Eastern Music Festival’s mission is to promote musical enrichment, excellence, professional collaboration, innovation, and diversity through a nationally-recognized teaching program, music festival, concerts, and other programs which will enhance the quality of life, health, and vitality of our region.
The Eastern Music Festival and School, founded in 1961 in Greensboro, North Carolina by Sheldon Morgenstern, is an internationally-renowned classical music festival and institute for young musicians that runs for five weeks each summer. The institute accepts students ages 14 through 22 from around the country and the world. The EMF faculty consists of world-class performing artists selected from top orchestras and music schools nationally and internationally. Gerard Schwarz serves as the music director and principal conductor for the Festival, and also serves as music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. The upcoming 2011 season will mark Eastern Music Festival’s 50th anniversary in the Piedmont.
*Dates, programs, venues, and artists are subject to change.
For more information about the Eastern Music Festival & School, visit www.EasternMusicFestival.org.
EMF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Note: This season preview has been provided by the EMF.
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