June 04, 2010
Music Festival events set in Williamson County
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Edward Benyas, professor of oboe, music director of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director of the Southern Illinois Music Festival, takes seriously his mission to bring classical music to the Southern Illinois region.
SIUC is home base for the festival, but concerts pour into the greater Southern Illinois region, filling the area with music for nearly a month.
This year, romance as well as music is in the air, as performances of Romeo and Juliet, both as a ballet and as an opera, hold feature spots in the concert series. The ballet, in two performances, shows exclusively at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center this year.
Here is a complete list of what is coming to Williamson County during the Southern Illinois Music Festival.
FEATURE PERFORMANCE: Romeo and Juliet Ballet -- 7:30 p.m. June 11 and 2 p.m. June 12, Marion Cultural and Civic Center
Dancers from the Atlanta Ballet and from Ballet Austin join area dancers from the 50-member Southern Illinois Music Festival Dance Company to present this three-act ballet. Sydelle Fulk, well known among dancers in the area, choreographs. Edward Benyas conducts the Southern Illinois Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, the public may attend a free pre-performance lecture beginning at 1:15 p.m. in the Marion Civic Center lobby.
Premium seating is available at $20 and $10 for students. General admission is $18 and $6 for students.
Klassics for Kids -- 10 a.m. June 11, Marion Cultural and Civic Center
This free performance features harp music, presented in an interactive format for the youngest listeners. Klassics for Kids performances take place throughout the year, but hold a special place in the Festival lineup. Though anyone may attend, this performance targets children from newborn to pre-school age.
Angelina Ballerina -- 11 a.m. June 12, Marion Cultural and Civic Center
This free special presentation from Friends of WSIU brings the popular PBS-Kids character Angelina Ballerina to Marion for a live appearance. Angelina Ballerina is a mouse and a dancer. She is the star of a book series by Katharine Holabird, illustrated by Helen Craig. She is also the star of her very own PBS-TV show. Come and meet the charming Angelina and learn from her about the importance of working hard to achieve goals and the necessity of learning from mistakes.
Klassics for Kids -- 10 a.m., June 17, Carterville Community Center
This free performance features a string quartet, presenting a musical performance meant to engage young listeners, helping them learn to listen to music, identify instruments and have fun.
Jive with Jazz -- 10 a.m., June 22, Herrin Civic Center
A program closely related to Klassics for Kids, Jive with Jazz brings the complexities and improvisation and musical patterns of jazz to young listeners. The performance is free.
New Arts Jazztet -- 7:30 p.m., June 22, Herrin Civic Center
The premier jazz group of Southern Illinois, the New Arts Jazztet is “forged in the energy of neo-bop and the eclecticism of contemporary jazz.” A staple of the Southern Illinois Music Festival, the group brings a strong jazz repertoire and original music to its performances. The New Arts Jazztet is: founding member Bob Allison (trumpet), Phil Brown (bass), Ron Coulter (drums), Mel Goot (piano), Dick Kelley (reeds) and Tim Pitchford (trombone).
Tickets are $10 for general admission, $4 for students.
Klassics for Kids -- 10 a.m., June 23, First United Methodist Church, Johnston City
This Klassics for Kids performance features a wind quintet, and, like all Klassics for Kids programs, is free.
Chamber Music for Winds and Strings -- 7:30 p.m., June 23, First United Methodist Church, Johnston City
Chamber music performances -- that is, music performed with fewer instruments than a symphony and intended for a smaller, more intimate audience -- is an important Southern Illinois Music Festival tradition. This year, special guests, the Acadian New Music Ensemble, join the festival for chamber music concerts.
Chamber Music -- 4 p.m., June 24, Bank of Herrin
This reception for the music festival is free, and features chamber music in a small setting.