Saturday, April 17 kicks off the Peabody Institute's Festival Week. Running until April 25, the music conservatory presents different musicians, discussions and celebrations every day and night.
Because the week is intended to showcase the talents present at Peabody, a wide variety of instrumentalists and musicians will perform in order to expose audiences to all the conservatory has to offer. Thus, something is bound to catch your fancy, plus you may even see some of your fellow Hopkins students performing.
Opening the week are the pre-concert festivities, which include half hour performances by preparatory students, beginning at 3:30 p.m. and continuing at 4:15 p.m. and 5 p.m. Shortly after, at 6:30 p.m., the brass ensemble will entertain.
On Saturday night at 7 p.m., the Peabody violin choir will perform pieces by Shostakovich, Benjamin and Monti. This will be followed by the harmonious sounds of the Children's Chorus, singing pieces from their upcoming July 2004 tour to the Tuscany International Children's Chorus Festival.
Sunday is entitled "Sax and Celebrations with Peabody Wind Ensemble." Beginning at 2 p.m., a three person collaborative will play pieces composed by Creston, Grainger and more.
"A Sonic Spectacular for Organ, Brass, Chorus and Percussion" sounding off at 5 p.m., concludes Sunday night. A group comprised of an organ, the brass ensemble, concert singers and a marimba -- a rose wood keyboard with brass pipe resonators -- executes a number of pieces with a myriad of different sounds.
Monday's "Peabody Chamber Percussion Ensemble" involves the percussionists performing pieces by Reich, Xenakis and Lang.
Tuesday premiers Peabody's chamber orchestra, composed of 11 students and alumni, with "A Star-Studded Night of Chamber Music," at 8 p.m. Additionally, a trio and a quintet will play Shubert, Beethoven and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy amongst others comprising their repertoire melodiously to the delight of the listeners.
A pre-concert discussion begins Wednesday night examining Carmina Burana. At 7:45 p.m. the concert will be preceded by pieces from the Orff-Schulwerk, creator of Carmina Burana. Subsequently, the Peabody Concert Orchestra and Choruses perform.
Thursday kicks off the weekend with a series of night performances, providing a change of tempo with the sounds of the jazz orchestra. A five man group performs the music of Thad Jones and Jim McNeely. Friday features flute virtuoso Marina Piccinini.
Saturday, the Grand Celebration Evening, begins with an official grand re-opening of Peabody. The night culminates with performances by the symphony orchestra and a post concert reception.
The week concludes with an open house at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Free performances by the jazz orchestra and other major ensembles take place throughout the campus in addition to a faculty recital and an organ and brass concert. The multiple groups coincide with dance pieces which wrap up what is sure to be a fantastic week of music.
For more information, visit http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/index.php?pageID=505. To order tickets for any event, which range in price from $8 to $12 save for the last night, contact boxoffice@jhmi.edu or call (410) 659-8100, ext. 2.
