Ethos Percussion Group Brings International Rhythms To Decker Theatre Sunday, Nov. 4

EVENT POSTPONED by complications from Hurricane Sandy in New York. The Concert Series will be rescheduling this event.

CHESTERTOWN, MD—The 61st season of the Washington College Community Concert Series continues Sunday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. in Decker Theatre with a performance by the Ethos Percussion Group.

Founded in 1989, the energetic foursome – which currently includes Trey Files, Michael Lipsey, Eric Phinney and Yousif Sheronick – combines global influences with contemporary classical repertoire to perform with what The New York Times has described as “expert togetherness, sensitivity, and zest.”

In their 20-plus years of performance, Ethos has played in major concert venues throughout the United States and United Kingdom, including Carnegie Hall, the Bermuda Festival, and London’s Wigmore Hall. The Group has commissioned more than 25 works for percussion quartet from composers in the musical traditions of Argentina, China, Ghana, Indonesia, Palestine and more. It has released six albums since 1996.

The Nov. 4 concert will feature two works composed by Ethos members—Yousif Sheronick’s Duo 77, a 2002 piece based on South Indian rhythmic practices, and Michael Lipsey’s Lugmap, a 2007 composition with rhythms in a unique grouping of 27 beats. Also on the program are composers Steve Reich, Dafnis Prieto, John Hollenbeck and Trey Files.

Tickets ($15, or $5 for youth ages 18 and under) can be purchased at the door. Washington College students are admitted free with a valid ID. There are no reserved seats.

Decker Theatre is located in the Gibson Center for the Arts on the Washington College campus, 30 Washington Avenue, Chestertown. For more information on the Concert Series, visit http://www.washcoll.edu or contact series director Kate Bennett at 410-778-7839, kbennett2@washcoll.edu.

Russian Trio Opens 61st Washington College Community Concert Series on Saturday, October 6

CHESTERTOWN, MD—Three young Russian-born musicians will open the 61st Season of the Washington College Community Concert Series on Saturday evening October 6 with a program of Haydn, Brahms and Shostakovich. The concert by The Russian Trio will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Decker Theatre, in the Gibson Center for the Arts on the Washington College campus, 300 Washington Avenue.

            The Trio consists of pianist Katherine Harris Rick, violinist Nikita Borisevich and cellist Dmitry Volkov, all of whom earned early recognition for their musical talents, winning prestigious awards and competitions. They met as graduate students at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and formed the trio in 2011. The following summer they earned both the Silver Medal and the Audience Choice Award at the 2012 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition in Easton.

            Pianist Katherine Harris Rick made her debut at age 9 in her hometown of Yakutsk, Siberia, and never looked back. She earned honors and awards from the World Piano Competition, the Rachmaninoff Competition for Young Pianists, and the International Russian Music Piano Competition. Her musical education continued with a full scholarship to Azusa Pacific University at age 15 and a full graduate assistantship in accompanying at the Peabody Conservatory.

            Violinist Nikita Borisevich began studying the violin at age 5, first played with the Perm Opera Symphony Orchestra at 12, and won Russia’s “Magical Bow” national competition for violinists and cellists at 15. He was admitted on a full scholarship to the Moscow Conservatory.  An avid chamber musician as well as soloist, Nikita won a Grand Prix in the 2011 International Chamber Music Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, and this year made his debut at the Moscow Philharmonic Society.

            Cellist Dmitry Volkov has performed as a soloist with the National Symphony of Mexico, the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the Samara Symphony Orchestra, the Togliatti Symphony, and the Naberezhyne Chelny Symphony.  He has won numerous scholarships and awards, including the Stephen Kates Memorial Scholarship in Cello and the First Act Heifetz Institute Scholarship.

The October 6 program will include Haydn’s Trio in C Major, No. 43, Brahms’ Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8 and Shostakovich’s Trio in E Minor, Op. 67.

Tickets to the single concert are priced at $15 per adult, $5 for youth ages 18 and under, and free for Washington College students with a valid ID.  Both individual and season tickets ($50 for all five concerts) can be purchased at the door. There are no reserved seats. To purchase tickets in advance or become a Concert Series patron ($75 and up), please call 410-778-7839 or e-mail concert series director Kate Bennett at kbennett2@washcoll.edu.

For more on the 2012-13 season, visit http://news.washcoll.edu/concertseries.php.    

Gala Concert Features Mezzo-soprano with Flute, Piano and Visit from Featured Composer

Final Offering in 60th Season of Washington College Concert Series, Saturday, April 14

CHESTERTOWN, MD—Mezzo-soprano D’Anna Fortunato will close the 60th season of the Washington College Concert Series on Saturday, April 14, with a Gala Vocal Chamber Concert that will also feature flutist Peter H. Bloom and pianist Mary Jane Rupert. As a special treat, composer Elizabeth Vercoe will attend the concert to hear two of her works performed and chat with concertgoers afterward.

The performance will take place at 8 p.m. in Hotchkiss Recital Hall, Gibson Center for the Arts, on the College campus, 300 Washington Avenue. Tickets at $15 ($5 for youth ages 18 and under) can be purchased at the door. Washington College students are admitted free with valid ID. There are no reserved seats.

Elizabeth Vercoe has been described as one of the most inventive composers working in America today, and her work has been performed around the globe. Two of her compositions are on the April 14 program. First is “Kleemation,” five short movements inspired by line drawings by German artist Paul Klee. The second, “My Letter to the World,” is based on poems by Emily Dickinson.

In addition to Vercoe’s music, the program will include arias from Handel and Rossini, Franz Schubert’s “The Shepherd on the Rock,” three songs by Amy Cheney Beach, Daniel Pinkham’s 1993 piece “Vowels,” and “Nga Whetu e Whitu,” a piece for flute and piano by New Zealand composer Gareth Farr.

D’Anna Fortunato, a 2006 Grammy nominee in three categories, has been featured as a soloist with many of America’s best orchestras. She has worked with companies that include the New York City Opera, Glimmerglass, and Opera San Jose, made numerous appearances at international music festivals, and recorded 40 CDs.

A Noah Greenberg Award winner, Peter H. Bloom has appeared on 30 recordings from such prestigious labels as Sony Classical, Dorian, Leo Records, and Newport Classic. He has given concerts everywhere from Boston to Bangkok and is both a distinguished classical artist and a noted jazz player.

As a pianist and harpist, Mary Jane Rupert has performed solo recitals internationally, from Carnegie Hall to Beijing Concert Hall, and appeared with symphonies and chamber ensembles throughout the United States. She is a member of the music faculties of Tufts University and Boston College.

For more information, please call 410-778-7839 or e-mail concert series director Kate Bennett at kbennett2@washcoll.edu.