Winter 2009 eNews: InterNetzo
Musicians Converge in Dublin, New Hampshire

What do an old-time string band, composer and teacher Joan Tower, alumnus and organist John Weaver, and New York City-based contemporary music performers all have in common? They will all participate in Walden’s 2009 Concert Series and artist residency program. With the start of Walden’s summer season just months away, we have lined up a nearly complete roster of exciting concert performers and resident artists to participate in Walden’s 2009 programs. We are pleased that we have already been able to assemble such an accomplished and varied group of musical artists.

The season kicks off with performances during the 4th of July weekend by M Shanghai String Band. Having had the pleasure of hearing the group on several occasions, I can attest to the band’s musicianship and energy, and their songwriting and stage presence are first rate. In addition to playing a concert, the group will join us as our dance musicians for our weekend dance.

On July 10th, the New York City-based Wet Ink will perform a concert of world premiere pieces written by Walden faculty especially for this new music ensemble’s performance at Walden. Wet Ink will be in residence during the week prior to their concert and will present open rehearsals of the new works, providing students, faculty and community members a fascinating glimpse into the process of readying new works for live performance.

In addition to brand new pieces by Walden faculty members, the Wet Ink concert will also feature the music of Joan Tower – one of America’s preeminent composers. Ms. Tower will be in residence at Walden from July 6-10, and will moderate a Composers Forum and give a public presentation of her music and career. The New Yorker calls Tower “one of the most successful women composers of all time.”

The following Friday, July 17th, will feature an organ recital by John Weaver at All Saints Episcopal Church in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Dr. Weaver is an alumnus and former faculty member of the Junior Conservatory Camp, Walden’s predecessor program, and is the former head of both the Juilliard and Curtis organ departments. His concert will be certain to delight and engage the Walden and Monadnock region communities.

On July 24th, The Walden School Players, some of the finest contemporary music players working today, will perform a concert of classics from the 20th century, as well as more recent works. This septet of violin, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano and percussion always performs an ear-stretching and high-energy program for the Walden School community; this concert is a favorite among students, faculty and community members alike.

And on July 31st, the Walden School Chorus, under the leadership of Leo Wanenchak, choral director, will perform for the community (at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Peterborough) a concert featuring the works of Benjamin Britten, among others. This concert has become a beloved tradition in the Monadnock Region, and is the culmination of five weeks of music making at Walden’s Young Musicians Program.

In addition to these concert performances, The Walden School offers six Composers Forums that are open to the public. These evenings of new music feature performances of and dialogue about works-in-progress, improvisations and finished compositions by Waldens 50 young musicians. Part discussion, part concert performance, each Composers Forum is moderated by either faculty composers or visiting artists, and are sure to delight, intrigue, edify and amaze. Performers are drawn from the Walden community of student, faculty and staff performers, as well as by visiting professional performers. Dates for the 2009 season are June 30, July 7, July 14, and July 27-29 – during Festival Week.

An additional concert on August 7, occurring as part of the School’s Teacher Training Institute, will be announced shortly, as will the Composer-in-Residence who will moderate the Festival Week Composers Forums (July 27-29). All Walden School Concerts Series performances and Composers Forums are free and open to the public and take place on the campus of the Dublin School in the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall, unless otherwise noted. All concerts begin at 7:30 pm. Stay tuned for updates, and we hope to see you at a concert this summer in Dublin!

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