MUSIC

The Immanuel and Helen Olshan TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL (TMF) announces its 22nd season, Made in America, with performances by the Festival Orchestra (Orchestra Series), faculty artists (PERSPECTIVES Series: Chamber Music and Jazz), institute participants (jazz, piano, voice), and the Classical Minds Guitar Festival and Competition.

Covering a spectrum ranging from jazz to music by 20th and 21st century American classical composers, each Orchestra and Perspectives Series examines music “Made In America” and its connections to the wider world. The Festival theme also presents important Romantic works inspired by visions of the New World as seen through the eyes of Antonin Dvorak. Based at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, the Festival, June 6 through July 2, presents nearly 50 public performances, master classes, and seminars in venues throughout the Houston area and at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Texas Music Festival PERSPECTIVES Series:
The best in chamber music curated and performed by festival faculty and guests. The 2011 PERSPECTIVES Series examines music “Made In America” and its connections to the wider world. Covering a spectrum ranging from jazz to music by 20th and 21st century American classical composers, the series also explores Romantic works inspired by visions of America as well as favorites by Brahms and Spohr.

Monday, June 6, 2011, Presidential Conference Center, Texas A&M University, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011, Moores Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
PERSPECTIVES 1: TMF Jazz Project
"Distinctly American"
The TMF Jazz Project is an all-star jazz orchestra composed of our state’s finest musicians. Led by director/trumpeter Noe Marmolejo, the program features the best in what’s hot in America’s native musical idiom.

Monday, June 13, 2011, Presidential Conference Center, Texas A&M University, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011, Moores Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
PERSPECTIVES 2: Faculty Artist Chamber Music
"New World Visions"
Antonin Dvorak’s time in America (1892-95) generated some of his most beloved works, including the String Quintet in E-flat, Op. 95 and his Sonatina for Violin, Op. 100, both featured on this program, which also includes Robert Sirota’s Birds of Paradise and Copland’s El salon Mexico in the version for two pianos.

Performers include:
Webster Trio: Leone Buyse, flute; Michael Webster, clarinet; Robert Moeling, piano
Andrzej Grabiec, Kyung Sun Lee, Lucie Robert, violin
Wayne Brooks, James Dunham, viola
Brinton Smith, cello
Jeffrey Cohen, Timothy Hester, piano

Monday, June 20, 2011, Presidential Conference Center, Texas A&M University, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011, Moores Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
PERSPECTIVES 3: Faculty Artist Chamber Music
"Sensuous Perfume"
A world premiere of David Ashley White’s new rhapsody for mezzo-soprano and piano, “As you set out for Ithaca,” virtuoso violin works by Gershwin and Vieuxtemps, and a Romantic favorite, Brahms’s Piano Quartet, Op. 25, form the pillars of this dramatic and virtuosic program, which also includes Paul Hindemith’s Cello Sonata, Op. 11.

Performers include:
Melanie Sonnenberg, mezzo-soprano
Lucie Robert, Zuo Jun, violin
Rita Porfiris, viola
Kevin Dvorak,Vagram Saradjian, cello
Timothy Hester, piano

Monday, June 27, 2011, Presidential Conference Center, Texas A&M University, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011, Moores Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
PERSPECTIVES 4: Faculty Artist Chamber Music
"Grand Finale"
In their day, Ludwig Spohr and Beethoven were regarded as compositional equals. Spohr's seminal Grand Nonetto for Winds and Strings reignites the debate. Descending from the traditions of Dvorak and Brahms, Arthur Foote's luscious Romantic Piano Quintet (1897) and Kent Kennan's Trumpet Sonata demonstrate the evolution of American music.

Performers include:
Aralee Dorough, flute
Randall Griffin, clarinet
Richard Beene, bassoon
Roger Kaza, French horn
Jim Vassallo, trumpet
Andrzej Grabiec, Frank Huang, violin
Wayne Brooks, Rita Porfiris, viola
Kevin Dvorak, cello
Dennis Whittaker, double bass

Pictured above:  Ludwig Spohr.