SACO RIVER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 610
PARSONSFIELD, MAINE 04047
 srfa@psouth.net

2006  MUSIC PROGRAMME

Friday, March 17^th, 2006, 7:30 PM

Castlebay

Sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank

Location: Pike Hall – Cornish, ME 

On Friday, March 17th, 2006 at 7:30 p.m., Maine’s own internationally-known duo, Castlebay, will perform at a St. Patrick’s Day Celtic benefit concert at Pike Hall in Cornish, Maine to help raise funds to support Saco River Festival Association’s children music programming activities for local schools.

Fred Gosbee and Julia Lane, both natives of Maine, are known for their intelligent arrangements of traditional music and have received critical praise for their evocative original compositions. In concert, Castlebay treats the audience to a musical journey which weaves together the timeless traditions of Maine’s nautical legacy and its poignant Scottish and Irish heritage with Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle and whistles. 

Their work is reminiscent of music of their Celtic ancestors. Julia Lane, also an exceptional vocalist, is “one of the Maine coast’s foremost voices”, whose voice has been called “lovely, vibrant”, reminiscent of Jean Redpath”, and compared favorably with Loreena McKennitt, Triona ni Dhonaill, and Judy Collins. Gosbee’s finely crafted narrative ballads have since been recorded by other artists and have garnered him invitations to international festivals including the International Festival of the Sea in England.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 9th, 2006 to hear the Blue Hill Brass Quartet perform in Freedom, New Hampshire at the Freedom Elementary School. For over 20 years, the Quartet has been delighting audiences with their unique blend of music and entertainment. Music lovers will be treated to an afternoon of entertainment by five of Maine’s most prominent and active musicians, Curt Brossmer and Allen Graffam (trumpets), John Wheeler (horn), Stephen Norris (trombone), and Paul Greenstone (tuba). The Quintet regularly performs with the foremost musical ensembles in Maine including the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the Al Corey Orchestra, and the Maine Chamber Ensemble. Many may recognize the Blue Hill Brass Quintet who play regularly at the annual Fryeburg fair. 

The performance, hosted by the Saco River Festival Association, is featured as part of the Festival’s 2006 goal to expand performing arts programs to music lovers and K-12 school students in New Hampshire. Founded in 1976 by Frank and Ruth Glazer, the Saco River Festival Association has earned a respected reputation in Southern Maine with its mission to present the best in music through performances by major artists, encourage and nurture community participation of the arts, and develop the musical interests of school-age children through meaningful educational programs. 

This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Come join the Quintet and the Saco River Festival Association for an afternoon that will be memorable and fun. The concert will start at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can either be purchased in advance (recommended) or sold at the door for $10 for adults; children 18 and years and under accompanied by an adult are free of charge. 

Mozart: Kegelstatt (clarinet, viola, piano)

Milhaud: Sonata #1 for Viola and Piano

Schumann: Marchenerzalungen (clarinet, viola, piano)

Bernstein: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano

Bruch: Pieces for clarinet, viola, piano

On Saturday, July 8, 1005 at 7:00 p.m., the Saco River Festival Association will be presenting a distinguished trio of performing artists for an evening of memorable music as part of its 31st gala season in Cornish, Maine. Featured artists will be Dimitri Ashkenazy (clarinet), Delores Stevens (piano), and Scott Woolweaver (viola) who will perform works by Mozart, Schumann, Bruch, and Milhaud. 

Ashkenazy has a celebrated career performing with the Kodaly and Brodsky Quartets and with partners such as Edita Gruberova, Barbara Bonney, David Golub, Ariane Haering, and Maria Joao Pires. The son of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Dimitri has performed widely, both as a soloist and chamber musician and has made numerous CD, radio, and television recordings. Pianist Delores Stevens achieved early success in her field by winning the coveted Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Pasadena, California. She has received many accolades for her inspired performances of contemporary music and has recorded for 16 different labels in all genres of music. Like Ashkenazy, Stevens has toured extensively internationally and is also co-founder and co-artistic director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society. Scott Woolweaver, who also serves as the Saco River Festival Association’s artistic advisor, is a founding member of the Boston Composers String Quartet and has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He is violist of the award-winning New England Piano Quartette, Boston's Handel and Haydn Society and Boston Baroque.

Sonata in D. K.284 (205b)                                    Duncan Cumming

Fantasie in C minor, K. 475

Sonata in C minor, K. 457                                     Frank Glazer

Sonata in C. K. 521 [4 Hands]   Frank Glazer & Duncan Cumming

On Saturday, July 15, 1005 at 7:00 p.m., the Saco River Festival Association is proud to present two stunning pianists, Frank Glazer and Duncan Cumming, as part of its 31st gala season. The evening will feature music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in recognition of Mozart’s 250th birthday and should prove to be festive and memorable. Selected pieces will include Sonata in D., Fantasie in C minor, Sonata in C minor, and Sonata in C.

Internationally renowned pianist and recording artist Frank Glazer has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and around the globe as recitalist, chamber music player, and soloist with orchestra. He has appeared on NBC and CBS TV networks and has recorded for Vox, Candide, Everest, Concert Disc, and Musical Heritage. Throughout a distinguished performing career, Glazer has played with most of the major orchestras including the Boston and Chicago Symphonies, the New York Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and the Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris. He has lectured at universities in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the United States, conducted seminars and master classes where he has concertized, and given free concerts for school-age children throughout the United States and Europe.

Duncan Cumming, who is currently on faculty at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA where he is employed as a performer and teacher, has performed in Europe and across the United States as both concerto soloist and recitalist. A native of Maine, Cumming is known for his innovative and carefully constructed programs. He graduated with Bates College in 1993 where he studied with pianist, Frank Glazer, and has studied at the European Mozart Academy, New England Conservatory, and Boston University. He has been a frequent guest on Maine Public Radio’s “Live at 11” program.

 On Saturday, July 8, 1005 at 7:00 p.m., the Saco River Festival Association will present the Ives Quartet as part of its 31st gala season in Cornish, Maine.

The Ives Quartet has captivated audiences from San Francisco to New York, Taiwan to London. Committed to presenting the full scope of the string quartet literature, the Ives Quartet continues to earn critical and popular acclaim for the depth and diversity of its programming, with repertoire ranging from recognized classics and neglected master-pieces of the past to new commissions and distinctive collaborations with guest artists.

Formerly in residence at Stanford University as the Stanford String Quartet from 1983-98, the Quartet departed the university to seek greater artistic independence. A fully-independent touring and recording ensemble, the Ives now performs home season concert series in San Francisco, San Jose, and on the Peninsula and appears on noted chamber music series and festivals nationwide. In addition, the Quartet devotes time to a wide range of educational projects, from performing for school-aged children to visiting Trinity College for annual residency activities.

On Sunday, August 6, 2006, the Saco River Festival Association presents a unique trio of viola, piano, and vocalist to end another successful season of bringing distinguished artists to perform in Cornish, Maine. John McDonald (piano), Elizabeth Anker (contralto), and Scott Woolweaver (viola) will be performing Brahms Two Songs, Op. 91 and numerous new works for contralto, viola and piano.

John McDonald, who has earned international acclaim as a musician, has performed extensively on four continents. In his performing capacity, John’s recent honors include a Duo Recitalists’ Grant from the NEA, an Artistic Ambassadorship to Asia, and an Artists’ Residency at M.I.T. with soprano Karol Bennett, as well as invitations to perform at conferences in Amsterdam, Budapest, Havana, Montreal, Shanghai, and St. Petersburg. Elizabeth Anker regularly sings recitals and chamber music. Her wide repertoire spans from medieval chant to contemporary pieces written for her beautiful and unique voice. She has performed with the San Francisco’s Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque, Handel and Hayden Society, Boston Boch Ensemble, Boston Cecilia, and at Bach festivals in San Francisco and France. Scott Woolweaver, who also serves as the Saco River Festival Association’s artistic advisor, is a founding member of the Boston Composers String Quartet and has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He is violist of the award-winning New England Piano Quartette, Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society and Boston Baroque.