May 20, 2011
'Bach to the Classics' is theme of music festival
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The month of June belongs to lovers of classical and jazz music in Southern Illinois.
The School of Music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale presents the seventh annual Southern Illinois Music Festival, under the creative guidance of Edward Benyas, artistic director for the festival and conductor for Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Benyas is a professor of music at SIUC.
The annual month-long musical event claims SIUC as its home-base, but the festival is very much a multi-venue affair. Benyas said bringing classical and jazz music to the Southern Illinois region by presenting concerts in some of the area’s small towns is part of the community outreach that is part of the mission of the School of Music and the University. This year, the Chicago Tribune gave the festival top billing in its listing of Midwestern summer festivals.
The festival includes orchestra music, chamber music, jazz, ballet, opera and performances especially formulated for young listeners. The festival overlaps the School of Music camps, giving high school-age camp participants a chance to hear and work with professional musicians from the United States and abroad, and to learn from some of the best performers in today’s classical and jazz music scenes.
This year’s theme is “Bach to the Classics.” As one might expect, Bach’s works, including selections from his celebrated Brandenburg Concertos, are a central part of the festival. So also are works by Mozart and Brahms, the ballet “Giselle,” and the opera “Cavalleria Rusticana.” Also, performances by the New Arts Jazztet remind listeners of musicality of that most American of musical forms, jazz.
A special opportunity this year is the Chamber Soiree, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on June 11 at the home of SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng. Tickets for this event are $50, and tickets are limited to 50 total. Tickets are available in advance only. For more information, call 315/481-9901or email goodma20@siu.edu.
In keeping with the community focus for this festival, most performances are free and casual dress is welcome. In the schedule below, performances are free unless otherwise noted.
For full information, including performer biographies and driving directions, visit the music festival website at www.sifest.com .
Here is a full schedule, by city:
CARBONDALE
June 5 -- Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 214 W. Main St., “It’s Good to be Bach,” featuring the music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, with SIUC’s collaborative pianist David Lyons. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students.
June 9 -- Guitar Ensemble Performance, 7:30 p.m., Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall, SIUC campus, Joseph Breznikar, director.
June 10 -- Jive with Jazz, 10 a.m., Carbondale Boys and Girls Club, 250 N. Springer St., interactive program for young listeners.
June 12 -- Chamber Music Concert, 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, featuring Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 2,” as well as music from Brahms and Mozart. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students.
• Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall, featuring the music of Schubert and Liszt with performances by David Dillard, baritone, and Junghwa Lee, piano.
June 14 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale.
• Orchestra Concert: Bach to Beethoven, 7:30 p.m., Carbondale Community High School, featuring music composed by Bach, Hummel, Haydn and Beethoven, and with performances by Amber Williamson, flute, Edward Benyas, oboe, Michael Barta, violin, and Martha Stiehl, harpsichord.
June 17 -- Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, featuring music composed by Bach and Tchaikovsky. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students.
June 18 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., University Mall, Carbondale.
• Orchestra Concert: Bach to Brahms, 7:30 p.m., Carbondale Community High School, featuring music composed by Bach, Mozart, Handel, Mozart, Rossini and Brahms, with performances by Boja Kragulj, clarinet, and Emily Fons, mezzo-soprano. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $10 for students.
June 19 -- Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall.
June 21 -- Orchestra Concert: Mozart to Beethoven and More, 7:30 p.m., Carbondale Community High School, featuring music composed by Mozart, Strauss, Martinu and Beethoven, with performances by Michael Barta, violin, Eric Lenz, cello, James Ryon, oboe, Boja Kragulj, clarinet, and Karl Rsaza, bassoon.
• June 23 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Altgeld Hall, SIUC campus.
• June 24 -- Music Camp Concert, 5 p.m., Shryock Auditorium, SIUC campus.
• Chamber Music Concert, 6 p.m., University Mall, featuring music from Bach, Haydn, Schubert and more.
AVA
• June 25 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., First Baptist Church, 208 S. Russell St.
CAIRO
• June 16 -- Jive with Jazz, 10 a.m., Cairo Public Library, 1609 Washington Ave.
• Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Cairo Public Library, featuring music composed by Bach, Haydn and Schubert.
• June 23 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Cairo Public Library.
CARTERVILLE
• June 14 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Carterville Community Center.
COBDEN
• June 15 -- New Arts Jazztet, 7:30 p.m., Star View Vineyards.
• June 21 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Old Feed Store, 111 N. Appleknocker St.
• June 22 -- New Arts Jazztet, 7:30 p.m., Rustle Hill Winery.
• June 24 -- Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Rustle Hill Winery.
DU QUOIN
• June 9 -- Jive with Jazz, 10 a.m., Du Quoin Middle School.
HERRIN
• June 23 -- Jive with Jazz, 10 a.m., Herrin Civic Center.
• Opera: Cavalleria Rusticana, 7:30 p.m., Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 316 W. Monroe St.
MAKANDA
• June 25 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Renascence House.
MARION
• June 10 -- Ballet: Giselle, 7:30 p.m., Marion Civic Center. Tickets are $25 for premium seating, $15 for general admission (assigned seating) and $10 for students.
• June 11 -- Klassics for Kids, 11 a.m., featuring special guest Angelina Ballerina, presented by WSIU, Marion Civic Center.
• Pre-concert lecture by David Tuttle, Marion Civic Center lobby.
• Ballet: Giselle, 2 p.m., Marion Civic Center. Tickets are $25 for premium seating, $15 for general admission and $10 for students.
McLEANSBORO
• June 22 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., McLeansboro Town Square Gazebo.
MURPHYSBORO
• June 15 -- Chamber Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Liberty Theater, featuring music composed by Bach, Raff, Vivaldi, and Schubert. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students.
• June 21 -- Klassics for Kids, 10 a.m., Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center.
• June 25 -- Opera: Cavalleria Rusticana, 7:30 p.m., St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 724 Mulberry St., post-concert reception. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $10 for students.
SESSER
• June 11 -- Jive with Jazz, 10 a.m., Sesser Opera House.