The University of North Carolina Wilmington Office of Cultural Arts, in partnership with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, presents "Bach at the Beach," a new summer music festival celebrating the incomparable genius of J.S. Bach. The two-day series features stellar performances by acclaimed regional artists as well as special guests of national prominence.
This summer's celebration opens Thursday, June 19 with an All Bach Chamber Recital at UNCW's Kenan Auditorium. The program features a performance of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 by the North Carolina Guitar Quartet, as well as performances by UNC Wilmington music faculty Nancy King (soprano), Barry David Salwen (piano), Mary Jo White (flute) and Elizabeth Loparits (piano). Guest soloist Norman Bemelmans (piano) will close the evening with Bach's massive Organ Prelude and Fugue in D Major, in Busoni's concert transcription for solo piano
On Saturday, June 21, the Wilmington Symphony Select (Steven Errante, conductor) joins special guests the Vanguard Voices, an award-winning, 40-voice choir from Dearborn, Mich., for a performance of Bach's monumental Mass in b minor.
"The music of Bach has an appeal nothing short of universal," said Director of Cultural Arts Norman Bemelmans. "All of us have an immediate and direct response to his music so exuberantly celebrating the joy of artistic creation. Bach's musical world is one that musicians and non-musicians alike both share and savor. And the great b minor Mass represents one of the towering achievements in the classical music tradition, seldom heard in its entirety. We're extremely pleased to share this extraordinary opportunity with our community."
Performances take place at 8 p.m., Thursday, June 19 and Saturday, June 21 in Kenan Auditorium. Tickets are $15 for the June 19 chamber recital and $18 for the June 21 performance
Tickets and information are available at the Kenan Auditorium Box Office, Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. or by phone at 910.962.3500 or toll free 800.732.3643.
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VANGUARD VOICES, Special Guest Artists
G. Kevin Dewey, Artistic Director
Vanguard Voices, established in 1992, is dedicated to seeking out and performing the best in traditional and contemporary choral music. Its members enjoy the challenge of singing a cappella, with the Vanguard Brass Ensemble, and with symphony orchestras. The ensemble was a prize winner at the 2001 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in North Wales. Their most recent CDs are Vanguard Voices & Brass, featuring Rutter's Gloria and Dello Joio's Mass, and Vanguard Premieres, featuring live premiere performances of 14 new choral compositions.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Courtney Reilly, UNCW Office of Cultural Arts, 910.962-2082 or reillyce@uncw.edu
