The 42nd annual Kent/Blossom Music festival is coming to Kent State University this summer. The 2009 season brings 40 young artists from 18 states and eight countries to the university campus. Participants are selected from more than 200 auditionees who, together with principal members of The Cleveland Orchestra and other major artists, engage in six weeks of intensive chamber music study and performance at the professional level.

The festival features four free public chamber music concerts by award-winning professional performers, including the Emerson String quartet (winners of eight Grammys) the Miami String Quartet (Fischoff Chamber Music Competition Grand Prize), violinist Soovin Kim (Paganini Competition Grand prize), pianist Spencer Myer (New Orleans Piano Competition First Prize) in addition to members of The Cleveland Orchestra and faculty of the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State.

“We are celebrating the 200th birthday of composer Felix Mendelssohn and will be highlighting the best of his chamber music along with recognizing the Centennial of Kent State University,” said Jerome LaCorte, Kent/Blossom Music program director. “Amazingly even with the lineup of talent we are offering, the Concert Series is free of charge.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come and enjoy some of the country’s best chamber musicians.”  

The Kent/Blossom Music program brings together classical music students and professional musicians from all over the world to recreate the timeless pieces of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Dvorak and other legendary composers.

All concerts are free and feature pre-professional student musicians between June 28 and Aug. 9 (please see Web site for current details). Contributions are more appreciated than ever and will augment generous support from the Kulas Foundation. Locations are: Ludwig Recital Hall in the Music and Speech Center on the campus of Kent State University, the Murphy Auditorium at the KSU Museum, as well as the Federated Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio as part of the Chagrin Arts Summer Series.

Kent/Blossom kicks off the series with its first “Miami String Quartet” concert, Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Ludwig Recital Hall at Kent State University. The Quartet will share the stage with pianist Spencer Myer. An Ohio native, Myer is the New Orleans Piano Competition 2008 First Prize winner. They usher in the series in salute to Felix Mendelssohn with his sparkling Piano Trio in C minor, No. 2, Op. 66 and round out the evening with the dynamic Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 by Anton Dvorak.

The festival runs through August 9. Early arrival is recommended for general seating. For additional information visit http://dept.kent.edu/blossom or call 330-672-2613.

We also encourage you to attend some of our wonderful master classes and open rehearsals.  These events are free of charge.  Visit the Add-On Series link for a complete list of opportunities.

About Kent/Blossom Music:

The Kent/Blossom Music program brings music students from all over the world to Kent State University each summer to study alongside The Cleveland Orchestra for six weeks. The program features a professional concert series as well as twelve free concerts featuring the Kent/Blossom Chamber Players. This series is produced by Kent/Blossom Music in cooperation with the Musical Arts Association.  Kent/Blossom Music presents these concerts with the support of the Kulas Foundation.  For more information visit: DEPT.KENT.EDU/BLOSSOM

 

CALENDAR LISTING:

All concerts FREE and in Ludwig Recital Hall unless otherwise noted.  Ludwig Recital Hall is locatedin the Music and Speech Center at Kent State University (Kent campus).

** Concert at the Kent State Museum's Murphy Auditorium (“Museum Matinee”).

## Concert at Chagrin Arts Summer Series Federated Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Session         1

FRIDAY, July 10, at 3:30 pm,       Museum Matinee **

  NIELSEN Woodwind Quintet, Op. 43

  MENDELSSOHN String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13

  GINASTERA String Quartet No. 1, Op. 20

  SCHUMANN Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44

SATURDAY, July 11, at 2:30 pm

  MENDELSSOHN Concert Pieces No. 1, Op. 113 & No. 2, Op. 114

  HERZOGENBERG Trio for Piano, Oboe and Horn, Op. 61

  ELGAR Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84

SUNDAY, July 12, at 2:30 pm

  HINDEMITH Woodwind Quintet, Op. 24, No. 2

  GARFIELD Quartet for Bassoon and Strings

  SCHUBERT Cello Quintet in C Major, Op. 163

SUNDAY, July 12, at 7:30 pm

  JANACEK Mladi (Youth) Suite

  BEETHOVEN String Quartet in F minor, Op. 95, "Serioso"

  SCHUBERT Quintet in A Major, Op. 114, "The Trout"

Session     2

FRIDAY, July 24, at 3:30 pm      Museum Matinee ** 

  VIVALDI Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Bassoon in G minor, No. 25, R.V. 103

  BEETHOVEN Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat Major, Op. 16

  SCHUMANN Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47

SATURDAY, July 25, at 2:30 pm           

  BOCCHERINI Sextet in E-flat Major, Op. 42, No. 2, G. 467

  LOEFFLER Two Rhapsodies

  BARTOK Contrasts

SATURDAY, July 25, at 7:30 pm           

  COPLAND Threnodies I and II

  SCHULHOFF Concertino for Flute, Viola, and Double Bass

  POULENC Sextet for Piano, Horn, and Winds

  DVOŘÁK Viola Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 97

 

SUNDAY, July 26, at 2:30 pm
Sunday Mozart Matinee   
  MOZART Flute Quartet in G Major, K. 285a

  MOZART Horn Quintet in E-flat Major, K. 407

  MOZART Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581

 

TUESDAY, July 28, at 6:00 pm   Chagrin Falls Series ##
   WEBER Clarinet Quintet in B-flat Major, Op. 34

   SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet in F Major No. 3, Op. 73

 

Session      3

FRIDAY, Aug 7, at 3:30 pm        Museum Matinee **  

  POULENC Trio for Piano, Oboe and Bassoon

  BLISS Quintet for Oboe and Strings

  DVOŘÁK String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77

 

SATURDAY, Aug 8, at 2:30 pm  

  MOZART Flute Quartet in C Major, K. 285b
  BARBER Summer Music for Woodwind Quintet

  BRAHMS Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

 

SATURDAY, Aug 8, at 7:30 pm  

  DEVIENNE Quartet for Bassoon and Strings in C Major, Op. 73, No. 1

 RATHBUN Woodwind Quintet

 BRAHMS Piano Quartet in A Major, No. 2, Op. 26

 

SUNDAY, Aug 9, at 2:30 pm       

  MOZART Wind Serenade in E-flat Major, No. 11, K. 375

  DOHNÁNYI Sextet in C Major, Op. 37

  MENDELSSOHN Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20

Media Contact: Jerome LaCorte,330-672-2613,kbm@kent.edu