April Issue 2001
An Appalachian Summer Festival Taking Place in Boone, NC, Unveils 2001 Season Line-Up
An Appalachian Summer Festival has announced its 2001 line-up, promising a season filled with performing and visual artists at the top of their respective professions. Appalachian State University's annual celebration of the fine arts, named for many years as one of the "top twenty events in the Southeast" (by the Southeast Tourism Society) will run from June 29 - July 28, in Boone, NC, with events held on and around the university campus.
In the musical arena, recitals by the world renowned soprano Dawn Upshaw, regarded by many as America's most versatile and important singer, and internationally acclaimed pianist Garrick Ohlsson, whose playing is marked by "expressive power, a sure grasp of musical architecture and a gigantic Sweep" are not to be missed. The extraordinary Ford Motor Company Chamber Music Series (featuring the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble), as well as a performance by organist (and School of Music faculty member) Brian Bailey, and a duo recital by violinist (and Artistic Director) Gil Morgenstern and pianist André-Michel Schub round out the festival's exciting recital and chamber offerings.
The festival's symphony program continues its popular tradition of showcasing the North Carolina Symphony Pops under the baton of William Henry Curry - while introducing the celebrated Eastern Music Festival Orchestra (EMF), comprised of outstanding musicians selected from leading symphony orchestras and music schools across the nation, who also serve on the faculty of EMF's training program for young musicians. Founded in 1962 and based in Greensboro, NC, the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) combines a five-week professional concert series with an intensive training program in piano and orchestral studies for 200 exceptionally talented students. The EMF Orchestra will perform twice during "An Appalachian Summer Festival", and will feature guest artists Gary Hoffman, cello, Cho-Liang Lin, violin, as well as Eastern Music Festival Artistic Director and pianist André-Michel Schub.
Jazz, an increasingly popular component of the festival, is well represented in this season's line-up, both by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the jazz orchestra in residence at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History which has been called "the best jazz repertory band in the country" by The New Yorker - and by prodigiously talented jazz singer Wesla Whitfield, hailed by critics everywhere - and referred to by Tony Bennett as "this wonderful singer who thrills me when I hear her."
Three "greats" from the world of acoustic string instrumental music will further enliven the festival: the world renowned David Grisman Quintet (hailed as "the Paganini of the Mandolin" by the New York Times), performing with American folk music legend (and Deep Gap's own) Doc Watson (sponsored by SkyBest Communications), as well as master fiddler and old-time banjo player Dirk Powell, sharing the stage with the pre-eminent Cajun ensemble Balfo Toujours.
An innovative family performance entitled Junk Man/Junk Music features percussion music made from "junk." Otherwise known as "Junk Man," Donald Knaack was a Grammy finalist in the Best Classical category for his 1998 CD entitled Junk Music, and is a former symphony player who performs with a variety of jazz artists nationwide.
Rising country star Jo Dee Messina, whose eponymous 1996 album established the vocalist as one of the most popular new female country singers performing today, headlines the festival's enormously popular Outdoor Fireworks Concert (which closes the festival) on July 28, with special guest Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. By the age of ten, Skaggs was performing with artists considered the triumvirate at bluegrass: Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers. The Outdoor Concert, a celebration of both music and community spirit, has become an annual tradition in the High Country, for thousands who anticipate its unique combination of music, picnics, fireworks, and fun! Blue Ridge Electric once again serves as the sponsor for this major event.
Two of the nation's stellar contemporary dance companies provide the basis for a memorable festival dance program this season. Both the dazzling Ballet Hispanico - recognized worldwide as the foremost dance interpreter of Latino culture in the United States, and Philadelphia-based Philadanco - termed a "miracle of skill and energy, representing the possibilities of the human spirit through dance" by Dance Magazine - are sure to inspire.
The visual arts, a prominent and dynamic part of every festival season, will be represented by the national "15th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition" with juror (and internationally renowned sculptor) Richard Hunt. Two-dimensional works by some of the nation's finest established and emerging artists will be on display at the Catherine Smith Gallery, as part of the highly acclaimed Halpert Biennial Visual Arts Exhibition, with juror Alan Eaker. A series of exciting Visual Arts Workshops (for both adults and children) will also be offered, including Comics and Kids (for Children 5-12); Artist or Writer: Why Not Both?; Study the 3Ds: Dimension, Depth and Dog-Gone Fun! and Jewelry.Making. In addition, a creative writing workshop series for young people will be offered.
North Carolina-based performer and storyteller Milbre Burch will provide a delightful addition to the festival's family offerings, in a matinee program entitled The World Is the Storyteller's Village, featuring fables and folktales from around the world. Burch recently won a Parents' Award for her oral interpretations for children.
Theatre readings, based on cutting-edge collaborations among some of the country's finest playwrights, musicians, choreographers, composers, and directors, are increasingly drawing national attention for the festival. This season, the festival continues its partnership with artists of New York's 92nd St. Y and 9 Circles Chamber Theatre, in two staged readings. Set during Stalin's Reign of Terror, with an unusual love story at its core, Guest From the Future explores the 20th century's struggle between the world of the heart and the world of the mind, the world of art and the world of politics. The second reading is entitled Wolfpit and is based on English poet Glyn Maxwell's verse play, directed by Mark Lord. Maxwell's play concerns the discovery, in a Suffolk peasant village, of two children colored bright green, who seem to have arrived from a parallel, fairy tale universe. Their experience in the village becomes a parable of the passage from childhood to adulthood, even as the lives of the villagers are changed irrevocably by their encounter with the children.
Last but certainly not least, the festival's annual Gala Celebration, scheduled for June 30, will serve as an important (and fun) benefit fundraiser for An Appalachian Summer Festival.
The festival's season brochure is available as well as tickets for all events. To request a season brochure or additional information about the festival, call the Festival Box Office at 800/841-2787, or 828/262-4046 in the Boone area or on the web at (www.appsummer.org).
An Appalachian Summer Festival 2001 Schedule At-A-Glance:
Festival Gala (June 30, Chetola Resort)
Music
Duo Recital with Gil Morgenstern, violin and André-Michel
Schub, piano (June 29)
North Carolina Symphony Pops (July 1)
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble Concert Series (July 2, 5, 11, 17, 23,
27)
Brian Bailey, organist (July 3)
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (July 7)
Eastern Music Festival Orchestra with Gary Hoffman, cello and
Cho-Liang Lin, violin (July 8)
Dirk Powell and Balfa Toujours (July 13)
Junk Man/Junk Music (July 15-matinee)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano (July 20)
Jazz at the Tradewinds with Wesla Whitfield (July 21)
Eastern Music Festival Orchestra with André-Michel Schub,
piano (July 22)
David Grisman Quintet with Doc Watson (July 25)
Garrick Ohlsson, piano (July 26)
Outdoor Fireworks Concert: Jo Dee Messina with special guests
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (July 28)
Dance
Ballet Hispanico (July 10)
Philadanco (July 14)
Theatre
Staged Reading: Guest from the Future (July 6)
The World is the Storyteller's Village with storyteller
Milbre Burch (July 8 - matinee)
Staged Reading: Wolfpit (July 18)
Visual Arts
15th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition with
juror Richard Hunt (Sculpture Walk: July 28)
Halpert Biennial Visual Arts Exhibition (Gallery Talk:
July 21)
Visual Arts Workshop Series:
Comics and Kids (for Children 5-12)
Artist or Writer: Why Not Both?
Study the 3Ds: Dimension, Depth and Dog-Gone Fun!
Jewelry-Making
Other Workshops:
Creative Writing Series for Young People
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