The Walden School 2008 Concert Series

2008’s Summer Concert Series will feature a rich variety of new, contemporary American music, improvisations by acclaimed alumni, world premiers, and a community chorus concert. This will be perhaps one of the most diverse sets of concerts the School has ever presented, and we are excited about a series that is sure to offer something for everyone – students, parents, faculty, and Monadnock community members.

All concerts (except the August 1st Choral Concert) are presented in the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School at 18 Lehmann Way in Dublin, New Hampshire.

All events are free and open to the public.

Sunday, July 6, 7:30 pm
Guest Artist Concert - Michèle Sharik, handbells and Marshall Bessières, piano
One of the leading handbell players and teachers in the United States, Ms. Sharik (www.thegoldendance.com) will be in residence for several days at the Walden School and then play a solo concert of familiar music arranged for solo handbells, as well as newly commissioned works for her. Several faculty & staff members of the Walden School will also collaborate with her in showcasing some of the evening’s music. Ms. Sharik will present several handbell workshops for interested students, staff and faculty of the Walden School on campus, and she will participate in several community outreach events in the Monadnock region (possibly including Keene Public Library, Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, RiverMead Retirement Community, Brantwood YMCA Camp, among others).

In 2006, at the instigation of several Walden School Young Musicians Program students, the School began borrowing a handbell set from the local New Hampshire community. Each year, 10-15 students have become involved with the handbell choir and have performed at Emmanuel Church, on the choral concert and for the Walden community. Ms. Sharik’s residency is designed to support this student-led initiative and expand the community’s understanding and knowledge of handbells.

Friday, July 11, 8:00 pm
Guest Ensemble Concert - Melody of China, traditional Chinese instruments
Various Faculty & Staff Performers
Five Walden School faculty members – Eliza Brown, Caroline Mallonée, Ted Masur, Loretta Notareschi and Sam Pluta – will write original music for Melody of China (www.melodyofchina.org) musicians playing pipa, suona, xiao, sheng, erhu, and guanzi, all traditional Chinese instruments seldom heard in concert in the United States. Several members of the faculty will collaborate in playing flute, cello, viola da gamba, piano, computer, and saxophone as part of the ensemble’s five-day residency and concert. In addition, members of Melody of China will perform some of their group’s traditional repertoire.

Friday, July 18, 8:00 pm
Issachah Savage, tenor, and Matthew Bachman, piano
A rising vocal star, Mr. Savage will perform a wide range of music, including works by Quilter, Wolff, Ravel and more.

Friday, July 25, 8:00 pm
Ensemble-in-Residence Concert - The Walden School Players
Walden’s Ensemble-in-Residence performs a program of its own choosing. The septet featuring violin, percussion, cello, clarinet, flute, trumpet and piano, and in residence at The Walden School for two weeks, comprises members of world-class ensembles such as Flux Quartet, Antares, International Contemporary Ensemble, Sequitur, and Da Capo Chamber Players. This concert will also feature a work composed by Walden’s 2008 Composer-in-Residence, Christopher Theofanidis.

Friday, August 8, 8:00 pm
Guest Artist Concert - Marilyn Crispell, piano
Returning to Walden for a second performance in five years, this time during the School’s Teacher Training Institute program, Ms. Crispell (www.marilyncrispell.com) will dazzle audience members with an entirely improvised piano concert. The New York Times describes her as “one of a very few pianists who rise to the challenge of free jazz.” Her concert will astonish, move and inspire our creative music teachers and will delight all members of the audience.

Composers Forums

Tuesday, July 1, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, July 8, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, July 15, 7:30 pm
These three programs feature guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers and the audience.

Festival Week

Sunday, July 27, 8:00 pm
Opening Presentation - Christopher Theofanidis, Composer-in-Residence
Christopher Theofanidis (pcm.peabody.jhu.edu/~theofanidis), professor of music and composition at the Peabody Conservatory, will spend 7-10 days at the School as a resident composer and teacher. During the opening presentation of Festival Week, Mr. Theofanidis will present scores, recordings and live performances of some of his own music, as a way to familiarize the community with his artistry and give the students, parents, faculty and general public an opportunity to learn from this accomplished American composer.

Monday, July 28, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, July 29, 7:30 pm
Wednesday, July 30, 7:30 pm
Festival Week Composers Forums - The Walden School Players and Guest Performers
These three programs feature the world premieres of works by many of the School’s 50 Young Musicians Program participants; performers include members of The Walden School Players, other visiting artists, faculty, staff and advanced student instrumentalists. Forums include a concert-quality performance of the new work as well as moderated discussions between Composer-in-Residence, student musicians, faculty and members of the general public.

Friday, August 1, 8:00pm
The Walden School Choral Concert - Leo Wanenchak, Director
One of the most popular concerts on our annual summer series, local residents turn out in droves to hear a huge variety of choral music sung by full chorus as well as treble choir, women’s chorus, men’s choir, and teen choir. This summer’s concert will feature a major choral work by J.S. Bach.
Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 44 West Street, Keene, NH

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