Harmonic Convergence Festival
From Bach to Hip-Hop
All concerts take place at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. There will be a 15% discount on the purchase of three or more concerts.
Quartet for the End of Time
Tuesday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.
$8.50/7/4
Buy ticketsOutstanding faculty members from four of America's finest music schools converge for a special performance of Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time." Featured artists include Steven Cohen, clarinet (Associate Professor, Northwestern University); J. Patrick Rafferty, violin (Associate Professor of Violin, University of Louisville); Carlton McCreery, cello (Professor of Cello, University of Alabama); and James Howsmon, piano (Associate Professor of Instrumental Accompanying, Oberlin Conservatory of Music).
La Guitara
Sharon Isbin, Kaki King, Patty Larkin
Thursday, March 30, 7:30p.m.
$25/21/10
Buy ticketsThree renowned guitarists celebrate the contributions of women to the evolution of modern guitar playing. The trio features Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Sharon Isbin along with the innovative playing of 25-year-old Kaki King and guitar/singer-songwriter legend Patty Larkin.
Harmonica Convergence
Friday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
$14/10/5.50
Buy ticketsA grand concert celebrating Chicago's historical connection to popular, classical, jazz, and blues harmonica styles, featuring Grammy Award-winning jazz/world music great Howard Levy; Austrian classical virtuoso Franz Chmel; traditional master Joe Filisko; the Harmonicats-inspired Windy City Harmonica Trio; and legendary blues master Billy Branch and his band The Sons of Blues.
A Monster Saxophone Concert
Saturday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.
$14/10/5.50
Buy ticketsA spectacular program featuring a forty-piece saxophone orchestra (including School of Music faculty, students and alumni) performing excerpts from Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra;" Demersseman's "Carnival of Venice" featuring saxophone soloist Frederick Hemke; Gershwin's complete "Rhapsody In Blue," transcribed for saxophone orchestra and featuring Naumburg Award-winning pianist Anthony Molinaro; saxophonist Jim Gailloreto performing with a jazz string quartet; the world's largest saxophone (the 6'8" contrabass sax), Bernstein's "Candide Overture," and much more.
"24 Bits: Hip Hop Studies And Etudes, Book 1" featuring DBR & THE MISSION
Thursday, April 6, 7:30 p.m.
$14/10/5.50
Buy ticketsThirty-two year old composer, performer and champion of merging modern and classical idioms, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) has performed with Philip Glass, Dizzy Gillespie, Cassandra Wilson and Savion Glover. His compositions have been commissioned or performed by The St. Louis and San Antonio Symphonies as well as the American Composers Orchestra. He has also composed numerous chamber works and music for the Bill T. Jones Dance Company. The New York Times called his 2003 concert "one of the top classical moments of the year."
To perform his "24 Bits: Hip Hop Studies and Etudes," DBR will by joined by The Mission, eight young multi-cultural musicians from diverse musical backgrounds, including an amplified string quartet, a drum kit, keyboardist, vocalist, bassist, DJ and laptopist.
Paul Wertico and the Chicago Percussion All-Stars
Friday, April 7, 8 p.m.
$14/10/5.50
Buy ticketsDrummer extraordinaire and seven-time Grammy Award-winner Paul Wertico (of the Pat Metheny Group) leads an ensemble of master percussionists from Brazil, India and Chicago in an adventurous and diverse celebration of rhythm and music. Musicians include Brazilian percussion virtuoso Dede Sampaio, tabla master Kalyan Pathak, vibe and percussion guru Ed Harrison from the CSO, as well as John Moulder on guitar and Brian Peters on bass.
Clair Musser's Legendary 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair Marimba Extravaganza
Gordon Stout and Michael Burritt, conductors
Saturday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.
$14/10/5.50
Buy ticketsClair Musser, world-famous marimba virtuoso and former School of Music faculty member, performed with his 100-member marimba orchestra in one of the most famous concerts of the 1933-34 "A Century of Progress" Chicago World's Fair. A monumental marimba orchestra has been assembled to celebrate and recreate this historical concert's arrangements of classical orchestral masterpieces. Also featuring additional works performed by marimba and xylophone virtuosi Bob Becker, Michael Burritt, Gordon Stout, Leigh Stevens and She-e Wu. Vintage footage of Clair Musser will also be screened.
This event is presented with the generous support of Malletech.
Master Classes
Guitar Master Class with Sharon Isbin
Wednesday, March 29, 7-9 p.m.
Regenstein Recital Hall, free
Grammy-winning classical guitarist Sharon Isbin presents a master class in conjunction with her festival appearance with La Guitara.
Harmonica Master Class
Friday, March 31, 4-5:30 p.m.
Regenstein Recital Hall, free
An exploration of harmoinca styles and a historical overview with legendary performers/instrument makers Howard Levy, Joe Filisko, and Franz Chmel.
Clair Musser: A Historical Perspective
Saturday, April 8, 9-10 a.m.
Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room, free
A lecture by Musser historian Dana Kimble.
Percussion Master Class
Saturday, April 8, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room, free
A master class with marimba and percussion artists Leigh Howard Stevens, Gordon Stout, She-e Wu, and Bob Becker.
