Washington Island Music Festival: August 2–19, 2010
A Note from the Artistic Director, Stephen Colburn
It’s Summer, my favorite time of the year. For many musicians summer means that the intense activity of the symphony orchestra season is over until September. There will be time to exhale, catch our breath and look forward to spending time with family, visiting distantly located children and precious grandchildren, and perhaps even catching up on long delayed projects of organizing, straightening up and cleaning. But what I love most about summer is that it means Washington Island Music Festival will once more be the focus of our musical activity for two very busy and exciting weeks. I often hear from our Festival Musicians that the two weeks of the Musicfest are “what we look forward to all year.”
Of course it’s a given that musicians love to play chamber music, taking upon themselves the responsibility for artistic decision making, working cooperatively to achieve ensemble precision, effective dynamics and balance, as well as individual practice and preparation which must occur well before the members of each ensemble convene for the first rehearsal. What makes performing chamber music even more attractive to musicians is the opportunity to renew and enhance existing musical friendships, as well as bringing new colleagues into the group. Challenging repertoire distributed among familiar composers, along with newly discovered or rarely heard works refreshes the musical palette for musicians and audiences alike. In the best sense, playing chamber music is simply making music with our friends. What makes the Island experience even more nourishing is making music with our friends and for our friends in the audience. A loyal and enthusiastic audience can never be underestimated!
Another essential component of our endeavor is the Island itself. There is something remarkable and seductive about the “escape” from the mainland to Washington Island. Driving onto the ferryboat, pulling away from Northport out onto the big lake, breathing the clear, fresh air, and traveling across the water toward the Island all contribute to the attraction of coming to this place to work, perform, and be renewed.
Finally, we take notice and appreciate the warmth and welcome from the people of the community. We are made to feel as returning friends, bringing the gift of sharing in music. It’s hard to imagine a better and more encouraging environment for classical music and musicians. It’s easy to understand why many of our festival musicians return each year to participate and be nourished by the music, the people, and the place. It’s summer on Washington Island!
Special thanks to our Chairman, Ham Rutledge, and our hard working Music Festival Committee, to the Art and Nature Center (Sandie Ziegler, President) and great appreciation to Festival Manager Gordon Jaeger for his effective leadership, creative ideas, and long-time devotion to developing and sustaining the Washington Island Music Festival. We’ll see you at the concerts!
Stephen Colburn
Artistic Director, Washington Island Music Festival
• • • • • • • • • •
19th ANNIVERSARY SEASON
August 2 –19, 2010
Performance Schedule
I. I’LL TAKE ROMANCE
Monday, August 2, 7:00 p.m.
Music by Farkas, Brahms, Klughardt, Schubert. Reception following the concert.
II. APPRECIATE MUSIC WITH SAMANTHA
August 4 & 13 at 10:00 am
August 6 at 2:00 pm
Informal discussion with Samantha George; insights on composers and their works performed at the Festival. Venue: Red Barn.
III. SEXTUOR APPEAL
Thursday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
Music by Handel, Weber, Schulhoff, Poulenc. Festival Musicians.
IV. OPEN REHEARSAL
Saturday, August 7, 10:00 a.m.
Beethoven: String Quartet in C, Op. 59, No. 3.
V. SCANDINAVIAN PLUS
Sunday, August 8, 4:30 p.m.
Music by Piston, Sibelius, Fernstrom, Beethoven. Festival Musicians.
VI. CHILDREN’S MUSIC CAMP
August 9-13
Led by Kari Gordon at Bethel Church; Call 920-847-3434 to register. Ages 5-7 at 9-11 :00 a.m., ages 8-12 at 10:30-1:00 p.m.
VII. TRES AMIGOS
Tuesday, Aug. 10, 10:00 a.m.
Lecture and music with Festival violinistsTim Klabunde, Michael Giacobassi, and Samantha George.
VIII. CHILDREN’S CONCERT
Wednesday, August 11 , 11 :00 a.m.
World premiere performance of Island Composer Dan Hansen’s Island Song Suite.
IX. GLORIA!
Friday, August 13, 7:30 p.m.
Music by Fine, Mozart, Vivaldi; Douglas Anderson, baritone, Jenny Gettel, soprano & Kathleen Sonnentag, alto; Festival Chorus & Musicians.
X. UNDER THE BIG TOP
Thursday, August 19, 7:30 p.m.
Island Musicians led by Julian Hagen & Cindra Hokkanen; Venue: School Grounds.
Pre-concert talk with Samantha George 30 minutes prior to performance.
Events will be held in the Washington Island Community Center unless otherwise noted. No charge for Children’s Concert, Open Rehearsal, Tres Amigos, Appreciate Music with Samantha, and Children’s Music Camp. Festival Concerts are $15, students under 18 are $6, children 12 and under are free.
