2009 Spotlight Concert Series and Mepkin Abbey Special Events

Songs My Father Taught Me

Friday, May 22 at  3pm

Critically-acclaimed violinist Lee-Chin Siow and award winning
pianist Enrique Graf, both professors at the College of Charleston, perform Beethoven’s Sonata in D Major and works from Lee-Chin’s debut album “Songs My Father Taught Me.”
 

Simons Center for the Arts Recital Hall, 54 St. Philip St.

Admission:  $10

Trombones!

Friday, May 22 at 6pm

Palmetto Posaunen, a trombone choir of approximately 40 trombone players, presents a free concert, including selections from Baroque and Classical literature as well as Broadway tunes, jazz, and yes, of course, “76 Trombones” from The Music Man.

U.S. Custom House, East Bay Plaza

Admission:  Free

Joseph Rackers, Piano

Saturday, May 23 at 3pm

Internationally acclaimed pianist Joseph Rackers, performs music by Bach, Corigliano, Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Ravel in the beautiful setting of the City Gallery at Waterfront Park. The exhibition, Contemporary Charleston 2009: Revelation of Process is a perfect pairing with the music. 

City Gallery at Waterfront Park, 34 Prioleau St.

Admission:  $10

A Tribute to Miss Marian Anderson!

Sunday, May 24 at 6pm

New Orleans based duo Wilfred Delphin, piano, and Valerie Francis, soprano, perform a recital of arias, songs and spirituals.
 

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 Anson St.

Admission:  $10

The Ensemble of St. Clare at Mepkin Abbey

Monday, May 25 at 4pm

The Ensemble of St. Clare at Mepkin
Abbey performs Vita Nova by Gavin Bryars, Marcello Concerto in d minor for oboe and strings and Brahms Horn Trio. Featured soloists include John Cunningham, countertenor; Mark Gainer, oboe; Brandon Nichols, horn; Yuriy Bekker, violin and Andrew Armstrong, piano. The Ensemble of St. Clare at Mepkin Abbey is comprised of the Lowcountry’s leading Chamber musicians, many of whom are members of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner

Admission: $35

A World of Jewish Culture

Tuesday, May 26 at 6pm 

Charleston Symphony Orchestra concertmaster, Yuriy Bekker, violin and Caramoor Virtuosi pianist Andrew Armstrong present a program of music by 19th and 20th century composers with Jewish roots including Rubinstein, Bernstein and Schoenfeld’s Trio, joined by CSO principal clarinetist Charles Messersmith.

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 90 Hasell St.
Admission: $10

CSO Wind Quintet

Wednesday, May 27 at 6pm

The CSO Wind Quintet offers a varied program, including Carl Nielsen’s masterwork, Quintet for Winds, Op. 43 plus two modern pieces by Jan Bach and paquito d’Rivera (multi-media event). 

Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St.

Admission: $10

Musical Impressions

Thursday, May 28 at 6pm

Debussy Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp is the featured work in this program that showcases three stars among CSO principal players: Jessica Hull-Dambaugh, flute; Jan-Marie Joyce, viola and Kathleen Wilson, harp.

Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St.

Admission: $10

Beethoven:  His Women and His Music

May 30 & 31 at 8pm

The wildly romantic heart and soul of Ludwig van Beethoven is celebrated in this evening of words and music. This unique collaboration between the Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina and Chamber Music Charleston captures the maestro in a new light, revealing secrets from his journals.
 
Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St.
Admission: $20

The Soldier’s Tale

Monday, June 1 at 6pm 

This unique program shines the spotlight on the awesome talents of
musicians from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Part I features contemporary music for bassoon and piano, featuring Chris Sales and Ghadi Shayban. Part II is Stravinsky’s captivating masterpiece, L’Histoire du Soldat.
 

Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. 

Admission: $10

A Bicentennial Tribute to Mendelssohn

Tuesday, June 2 at 6pm 

Favorite opera arias featuring the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Donald Portnoy, with soloists Jennifer Luiken, mezzo soprano and Jill Tehaar Lewis, soprano.

 
Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. 

Admission: $10

Ensemble Argos

Wednesday, June 3 at 6pm

This Greenville-based piano quartet performs works by Mahler, Mozart and Schuman. These stellar concert artists have appeared in solo and chamber music performances across the world.
 
Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St.
Admission: $10

Charleston Chamber Opera

Thursday, June 4 at 6pm 

Presents Mothers, Sisters and Adversaries, a program of opera favorites highlighting the roles of women throughout the history of opera: PatriceTiedemann, soprano and Lara Wilson, mezzo soprano.
 
First Baptist Church, 61 Church St.
Admission: $10

Music of Bloch and Paulus

Friday, June 5 at 4pm

The deeply prophetic voice of The Old Testament is realized in four works by Ernest Bloch: Tacy Edwards performs Suite Modale for flute and chamber orchestra; Suite Hebraique for violin and orchestra is performed by Amos Lawrence; Norbert Lewandowski, cello plays Songs from Jewish Life; and Bill Zehfuss, trombone performs the Trombone Symphony, one of Bloch’s later works. The second half of this compelling and highly spiritual concert is the Stephen Paulus Mass performed by the Taylor Music Festival Choir and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra. Composer Stephen Paulus will be present at the performance. Choir prepared by Robert Taylor, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra conducted by Donald Portnoy.
 
Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner
Admission: $35