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June Issue 2003
An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone, NC, Unveils 2003 Season Line-Up
In Boone, NC, Appalachian State University's month-long celebration of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts-otherwise known as An Appalachian Summer Festival features many of the world-renowned artists one might see at Tanglewood, Wolf Trap or Spoleto.
This nineteen year-old summer festival, based in the mountains of Western North Carolina (two hours northwest of Charlotte) also prides itself on presenting the stars of tomorrow, by supporting emerging artists who will one day become "household names." In addition, the festival has gained stature for embracing new approaches to traditional art forms, and commissioning/developing new works, which have gone on to enjoy New York premieres. In doing so, An Appalachian Summer Festival is proving to be fertile ground for some of the nation's most innovative arts programming.
The disciplines of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts comprise this unique festival, named for many years as "one of the top twenty events in the southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society. The festival's 2003 season is scheduled for June 27 through July 26, 2003.
Musical offerings will range from symphony and chamber music to major names in the world of jazz and pop. The North Carolina Symphony (under the baton of William Henry Curry), and two performances by the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra (featuring guest conductors Christof Perick and Gerard Schwartz) comprise the symphony component, with violinist Leila Josefowicz and soprano Twyla Robinson (Metropolitan Opera auditions winner) performing as guest artists. The classical music menu also includes recitals by internationally renowned guitarist Sharon Isbin and violinist Gil Morgenstern, as well as musicians of the university's highly acclaimed Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music, with conductors William A. Gora and Francis T. Borkowski (the university's chancellor, who is trained as a conductor and clarinetist). The enormously popular Broyhill Chamber Ensemble (in residence at the festival), will present four concerts, featuring a variety of distinguished guest artists from the world of classical music.
Jazz pianist Bill Charlap and tenor saxophonist Harry Allen will offer an informal evening of coffeehouse jazz, and the famous Mingus Big Band (cited by The New York Times as "the greatest repertoire project in jazz history") will also perform. Violinist/fiddler Mark O'Connor (hailed by The New York Times as "one of the most gifted composers in America and surely one of the brightest talents of his generation") will perform with Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster. America's most popular Cajun ensemble, BeauSoleil, will bring the audience to its feet with the joyous and high-spirited sounds of the Bayou. The much-anticipated Outdoor Fireworks Concert, which concludes every festival season, will feature Lee Ann Womack (I Hope You Dance) in an event filled with great music, fireworks, and fun.
The world of dance will be represented by three stellar companies. Direct from Spain, Noche Flamenca will convey the passion, mystery and complexity of the flamenco dance form, while Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble ("the Bolshoi of barn dancing"- The Washington Post) combines a string band with clogging and flatfooting. Back by popular demand, one of the hottest tickets in contemporary dance, Parsons Dance Company, will delight festival audiences with its powerful mix of artistry and athleticism.
Wear your jeans... and enjoy a remarkable, intimate and informal exploration into the creative process, highlighted by performances of four "works in progress" showcasing the extraordinary talents of some of the country's leading playwrights, directors, composers, choreographers, dancers, actors and musicians. This special evening, part of the festival's "Works in Progress Series," is entitled From Page to Stage: Journey into the Artist's World, and begins with an interactive panel discussion, led by the works' creative artists and scholars from the Appalachian State University faculty who will provide background and context for each of the works to be presented. Participants will then be invited onto the stage of Farthing Auditorium for a one-of-a-kind, "theatre in the round" artistic experience in which the lines between the audience and artist are intentionally blurred.
Another theatre offering, Flight, by playwright Garth Wingfied, is a new play about Charles Lindbergh which explores the effects the media and notoriety have on our heroes.
An Appalachian Summer Festival has always presented a strong and dynamic visual arts component, and the 2003 season is no exception. At the centerpiece of the program are two national, juried competitions, The 7th Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition (with juror Glen Gentele) and the Halpert Biennial Visual Arts Competition (with juror Jeff Fleming). Both competitions offer talks by the jurors, providing the festival audience with a fascinating perspective and "behind the scenes" glimpse into the visual arts. Appalachian's new regional visual arts center in Boone, The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, will celebrate its inaugural season in 2003, and its opening exhibition in The Martin and Doris Rosen Galleries will be on display throughout the festival. Go Figure! Manifestations of the Human Form in Contemporary Art, features a mix of monumental names in the world of the visual arts, as well as some of the most exciting emerging artists of today, each exploring the theme of the human figure. Every Wednesday throughout the festival, a free "Lunch and Learn" lecture will explore the exhibits' featured works.
Several additional educational events will be offered during the festival. A dynamic Visual Arts Workshop Series offers a variety of art workshops for adults and children. "An Appalachian Seminar" is a new program, celebrating Appalachian culture, humor, history and natural history, through presentations by well-known, retired members of the Appalachian faculty. The Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Lecture Series will present author Nicholas Basbanes, well-known for writing about books and bibliophiles.
Two special events, a Wine Tasting & Auction, and the festival's Annual Gala Celebration, round out the festival season by bringing arts supporters together for two evenings of fun, which also serve as benefit fundraisers for the festival.
For out-of-town visitors to Boone, the festival offers "Mountain Festival Getaway" packages consisting of lodging, discounted festival tickets, and discount coupons for area attractions. Packages are offered by Blowing Rock's Chetola Resort and by the Best Western - Blue Ridge Plaza and Broyhill Inn & Conference Center in Boone.
The festival's 2003 corporate sponsors include Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, SkyBest Communications (a subsidiary of Skyline Telephone Membership Corporation), Ford Motor Company, Best Western - Blue Ridge Plaza, Peabody's Wine & Beer Merchants, Mast General Store, Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, and Footsloggers. Additional sponsors in 2003 include "Bankers Invested in the Arts," a consortium of area banks, including High Country Bank, Highlands Union Bank, Appalachian First Bank, Avery County Bank, BB&T, Bank of America, First Citizens Bank, Piedmont Federal Savings & Loan Association, RBC Centura, Wachovia Corporation, and Yadkin Valley Bank.
Media sponsors include The Mountain Times, Watauga Democrat, Winston Salem Journal, Mountain Television Network (MTN), Charter Communications, WECR/NewsTatk 1200, WATA/High Country 100.7 f.m., WFDD Public Radio, WDAV 89.9 f.m., WNCW FM, and WETS-FM.
For festival tickets,
to request a season brochure, or for details on overnight packages,
call the Festival Box Office at 800/841-2787 (or 828/262-4046
in the Boone area). Tickets are also available online at (www.appsummer.org).
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