Oskar Espina Ruiz, Artistic Director


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AMF News

For Release: February 3. 2024

POULENC TRIO TO PLAY IN CONCERT WITH OSKAR ESPINA RUIZ, CLARINET

On Saturday, March 2 at 7:00 PM, the American Music Festival presents the Poulenc Trio and Oskar Espina Ruiz in concert at the First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC.

Praised by The Washington Post for their “convincing elegance, near effortless lightness and grace," the Poulenc Trio has redefined piano-wind chamber music for the 21st century. Since its founding, the Trio has greatly expanded the repertoire available for the oboe, bassoon and piano, with more than 20 new works written or arranged for the group, including three triple concertos for Trio and full orchestra. The Trio has also made a commitment to explore and promote music that reflect its members’ African, Asian, Eastern European and Jewish roots. Their lively and eclectic program will include two works with AMF artistic director, Oskar Espina Ruiz, clarinet.

Program:

POULENC, Trio for piano, oboe and bassoon
POULENC, Selected Songs (pn, ob, bssn)
VIET CUONG, Trains of Thought (pn, ob, bssn)
GLINKA, Trio pathétique in D Minor for clarinet, bassoon and piano
IBERT, Five Pieces for oboe, clarinet and bassoon
ROSSINI, Fantasy on L'Italiana in Algieri (pn, ob, bssn)

Tickets:

Tickets for individual concerts are $32 each; they may be purchased online through Eventbrite and they are available at the door on the evening of the concert (using cash, check, or credit card). Tickets for students and active-duty military are free and are available at the door. Students 18 and under and one adult chaperone may reserve free tickets on-line.

More Information:

For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 34 years. A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beaufort Ole Town Rotary and Cultural Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: December 17, 2023

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE DALI QUARTET

The Dalí Quartet will perform at 7:00 PM on January 13, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC.

Acclaimed for bringing Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing alongside the Classical and Romantic canon, the award-winning Dali Quartet's fresh approach has been sought out by distinguished series in New York, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Juan and countless communities beyond. Trained by world-renowned artists, members of the Dalí Quartet are from Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the US, and have degrees from esteemed institutions including the New England Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Juilliard, Indiana University Bloomington, and the Simón Bolivar Conservatory in Caracas, Venezuela.

Program:

ARRIAGA, String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor
PIAZZOLLA, Tango Ballet
BEETHOVEN, String Quartet in C Major, Op. 59/3 “Rasumovsky”

Tickets:

Tickets for individual concerts are $32 each; they may be purchased online through Eventbrite and they are available at the door on the evening of the concert (using cash, check, or credit card). Tickets for students and active-duty military are free and are available at the door. Students 18 and under and one adult chaperone may reserve free tickets on-line.

More Information:

For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 34 years. A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beaufort Ole Town Rotary and Cultural Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: October 9, 2023

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE LYSANDER PIANO TRIO

The Lysander Piano Trio will perform at 7:00 PM on November 4, 2023 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC.

The Lysander Piano Trio has been praised by The Strad for its “incredible ensemble, passionate playing, articulate and imaginative ideas and wide palette of colors” and by The Washington Post for “an uncommon degree of heart-on-the-sleeve emotional frankness.” Their program brings together three works by composers from distinct backgrounds, presenting their joint interest in the spiritual. The newest work on the program, James Lee III's “Temple Visions,” is a musical commentary on scenes from the biblical book of Revelation. Battles in the heavens and on earth, distant galaxies, and a mourning city, are depicted brilliantly in this dramatic and captivating score.

Program:

RACHMANINOFF, Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G Minor
LEE, Piano Trio No. 2, “Temple Visions”
BEETHOVEN, Piano Trio in B Flat Major, Op. 97, “Archduke”

Tickets:

Tickets for individual concerts are $32 each; they may be purchased online through Eventbrite and they are available at the door on the evening of the concert (using cash, check, or credit card). Tickets for students and active-duty military are free and are available at the door. Students 18 and under and one adult chaperone may reserve free tickets on-line.

More Information:

For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 34 years. A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beaufort Ole Town Rotary and Cultural Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: August 26, 2023

PENDERECKI STRING QUARTET AND OSKAR ESPINA RUIZ, CLARINET, TO PERFORM IN CONCERT

On Saturday, September 30, The Penderecki String Quartet and Oskar Espina Ruiz will perform at the First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC.

Penderecki, "an ensemble of formidable power and keen musical sensitivity" (Fanfare Magazine), and AMF Artistic Director Oskar Espina Ruiz, clarinet, join forces to present two major clarinet quintets: Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, an audience favorite, and Coleridge-Taylor’s Romantic gem for the same ensemble, inspired by Dvorak and Brahms. Erwin Schulhoff’s Five Pieces for String Quartet, a neoclassical work that glances back to the Baroque era, completes the program with elements of Czech folk music, tango, and a relentless rhythmic drive.

Program:

MOZART, Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581
SCHULHOFF, Five Pieces for String Quartet
COLERIDGE-TAYLOR, Clarinet Quintet in F Sharp Minor, Op. 10

Tickets:

Tickets for individual concerts are $32 each, plus sales tax; they may be purchased online and are available at the door on the evening of the concert (using cash, check, or credit card.) Season passes are $120.00, plus tax. Tickets for students and active-duty military are $16 each, plus $1.22 tax and are available at the door. Students 18 and under and one adult chaperone may reserve free tickets on-line.  Tickets may be obtained online through Eventbrite at: https://amf1.eventbrite.com

More Information:

Visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org or call 252-342-5034. For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 30 years. A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beaufort Ole Town Rotary and Cultural Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: October 20, 2022

THE MERZ TRIO TO PLAY IN CONCERT WITH OSKAR ESPINA RUIZ

The American Music Festival (AMF) presents the Merz Trio in concert Saturday, November 5, 2022. The award-winning Merz Trio is known for their passionate, original playing and uniquely artistic programming style. The group made a sweep of recent chamber awards, taking top prizes at the 2021 Naumburg, 2019 Concert Artists Guild, 2019 Fischoff, and 2018 Chesapeake Competitions.

AMF (and Chamber Music Wilmington) artistic director Oskar Espina-Ruiz, clarinet, joins forces with Merz Trio to present Messiaen's iconic Quartet for the end of time, considered to be one the most important of all twentieth-century chamber music compositions.

“Riveting…stunning virtuosity and ensemble work.”  — Reading Eagle

Program: Works of Korngold, Britten, Shostakovich and Messiaen

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets ($32) can be purchased at the door or on-line. Tickets for students or active-duty military ($16) are available at the door. Students 18 and under and one accompanying adult chaperone may reserve free tickets by calling 252-342-5034. For more information and tickets, visit WWW.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

COVID-19 Procedures in Effect

At the time of each concert, there will be masking and seating requirements based on CDC recommendations. Masks will be made available at the concerts.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been presenting classical music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 31 years. A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beaufort Ole Town Rotary and Cultural Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: September 9, 2022

THE BALOURDET STRING QUARTET TO PERFORM IN MOREHEAD CITY

The American Music Festival presents the Balourdet String Quartet in the first of four concerts of the 2022-23 music season on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM.

The Balourdet Quartet is currently in residence at the New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program in Boston, MA. The quartet received the Gold Medal in the 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Second Prize in the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition, and, most recently, top prize at the Borciani Competition in Italy.

“…an exceptionally talented group…With bows flying and notes swirling, this quartet has a bright future ahead.”  — Ponca City News

Program: Works of Wolf, Debussy and Brahms

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets are $32.00, and can be purchased on-line or at the door. Tickets for students or active-duty military are $16 and are available at the door. Students 18 and under and one accompanying adult chaperone may reserve free tickets by calling 252-342-5034. For more information and tickets, visit WWW.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

COVID-19 Procedures in Effect

At the time of each concert, there will be masking and seating requirements based on CDC recommendations. Masks will be made available at the concerts.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been presenting classical music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 31 years. A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Beaufort Ole Town Rotary and Cultural Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: March 7, 2022

EXPERIENCE GREAT LIVE MUSIC WITH THE AKROPOLIS QUINTET

The American Music Festival presents the Akropolis Quintet at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Winner of seven national chamber music prizes including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal, and celebrating their 13th year making music with “faultless detail and refreshing artistry” (I Care if You Listen), Akropolis has “taken the chamber music world by storm” (Fanfare). As the first reed quintet to grace the Billboard Charts (May 2021), the untamed band of five reed players and entrepreneurs are united by a shared passion: to make music that sparks joy and wonder.

The Akropolis concert will feature works by Shostakovich: Jazz Suite No. 1; Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Bernstein: Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs; Cunningham: Harlem Suite (selection); and Gershwin: An American in Paris.

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets are $32.00, and may be purchased on-line or at the door. Tickets for students or active–duty military are $16 and are available at the door. A limited number of free tickets for music students are available. For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

COVID-19 Procedures in Effect

At the time of each concert, there will be masking and seating requirements based on CDC recommendations, First Presbyterian church policies and the level of COVID-19 community transmission in Carteret County. Masks will be made available at the concerts.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been presenting classical music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 31 years. Join your friends and neighbors in experiencing top-notch classical music from national and internationally acclaimed artists.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and Classical Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: October 10, 2021

EXPERIENCE TOP-NOTCH CLASSICAL MUSIC LIVE WITH THE ULYSSES QUARTET

Presented by the American Music Festival (AMF) at 7:30 pm on Saturday, November 9. The Ulysses Quartet, resident quartet at the Juilliard School of Music, is praised for their “textural versatility,” “grave beauty” and “the kind of chemistry many quartets long for, but rarely achieve” (The Strad).

Ulysses will join forces with Oskar Espina-Ruiz, Chamber Music Wilmington’s newly appointed artistic director — and virtuoso clarinetist — to perform the beloved Brahms Clarinet Quintet. Beethoven’s “Harp” Quartet and exotic dances from Azerbaijani composer Ali-Zadeh will also be performed.

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets are $32.00, and may be purchased on-line or at the door. Tickets for students or active–duty military are $16 and are available at the door. For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

COVID-19 Procedures in Effect

At the time of each concert, there will be masking and seating requirements based on CDC recommendations, First Presbyterian church policies and the level of COVID-19 community transmission in Carteret County. Masks will be made available at the concerts.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival has been presenting classical music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 31 years. Join your friends and neighbors in experiencing top-notch classical music from national and internationally acclaimed artists.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

AMF is supported by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the NC Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and Classical Voice of North Carolina.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: January 12, 2020

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS VOLANTE WINDS IN CONCERT

“Clear, light and refined playing.”  — Fischoff Competition

The American Music Festival of Carteret County presents VOLANTE WINDS in concert on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 7:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City, North Carolina.

Personality, personality, personality! With their intoxicating stage presence and joyful music making, this vivacious ensemble from Indiana University’s famous Jacobs School of Music has already secured international residencies in South Korea, Japan, and Spain and won national awards.

Their program includes:
Eugène Bozza — Scherzo (1944); Paul Hindemith — Kleine Kammermusik (1922); Paul Taffanel — Quintet for Winds (1876); Nino Rota — Piccola Offerta Musicale (1943); Frigyes Hidas — Lo svago (Quintet No. 2) (1969); Giulio Briccialdi — Potpourri fantastico sul Barbieri di Siviglia del Mo. Rossini

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets are $32.00, which can be purchased on-line or at the door. Tickets for students or active–duty military are $16 and are available at the door. For more information and tickets, visit www.americanmusicfestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 29 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it’s right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

The American Music Festival is supported in part by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council (a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Public Radio East.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: October 23, 2019

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS QUARTETTO DI CREMONA IN CONCERT

“Nothing less than life-affirming.”  — Gramophone

The American Music Festival of Carteret County presents the QUARTETTO DI CREMONA in concert on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the North Carolina Maritime Museum, in Beaufort North Carolina.

Recipient (2019) of the “Franco Buitoni Award” and the true heir of the great Quartetto Italiano, the Quartetto di Cremona performs on major world stages from Milan, Berlin and Amsterdam to New York and Hong Kong. They are the first Italian string quartet to perform on Paganini’s famous matched set of Stradivarius instruments.

Their program includes Romantic Italia — works of Respighi, Verdi and Puccini.

For this concert only, the concert will be held at the North Carolina Maritime Museum located at 315 Front Street, in Beaufort, NC. Parking is free. Tickets are $32.00 for adults and $16.00 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or on-line. For more information and tickets, visit www.americanmusicfestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 29 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it’s right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

The American Music Festival is supported in part by the Arts Council of Carteret County, the North Carolina Arts Council (a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Public Radio East.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: September 2, 2019

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS ACRONYM IN CONCERT: “A CABINET OF CURIOSITIES”

For the opening concert of our 30th Anniversary Season, the American Music Festival of Carteret County presents ACRONYM in concert on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City, North Carolina.

This first-rate band brings baroque music alive like no other with their vivid imagination, fancy fiddling and musical humor. To quote Early Music America, “Acronym has fun!” They return by popular demand, having astonished our audiences with their wit and spine-tingling charisma.

Their program is titled a “Cabinet of Curiosities — Baroque beyond Handel and Correlli”

In seventeenth-century Germany, a Wunderkammer (typically translated as “cabinet of curiosities”) was a type of private museum collection in the home of an aristocrat. Always in search of the most fascinating music from this era, ACRONYM has unearthed a large number of previously unrecorded manuscript sonatas written by long-forgotten composers. Many of these composers’ works will surprise the listener with their innovative rhythms and harmonics — extraordinary for their time.

The concert will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets are $32.00, and can be purchased on-line or at the door. Tickets for students are $16 and are available at the door. Call 252-342-5034 for reservations. For more information and tickets, visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

About AMF

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 29 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it’s right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

The American Music Festival is supported in part by the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council (a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Public Radio East.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: February 26, 2019

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS CAROLINE SHAW AND THE JASPER STRING QUARTET

On March 9, 2019, at 8:00 PM the American Music Festival (AMF) will present Caroline Shaw and the Jasper String Quartet. The concert will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. This event is part of the North Carolina Arts Council's 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Caroline Shaw has astonished the pop and classical music worlds for her celebrated collaborations with Kanye West and is in continuous demand for new works by leading artists and ensembles. International acclaim has led to residencies and commissions by major performance organizations including the Guggenheim, Dumbarton Oaks, Kennedy Center, Baltimore Symphony, Los Angeles Symphony, and the North Carolina Symphony to name a few. Shaw is also a familiar violin and viola soloist with major orchestras, and has performed at renowned concert venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ms. Shaw, composer, string musician and vocalist, was born in Greenville, NC in 1982 and landed in the national spotlight after receiving the Pulitzer Prize in music for her a cappella piece "Partita for 8 Voices." At 30 years old, she was the youngest composer ever to be awarded the Pulitzer.

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets at the door are only $32.00. Call 252-342-5034 for reservations. For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034.

Background on Caroline Shaw and the Jasper String Quartet

For more on composer Caroline Shaw and her connection with the Jasper String Quartet, follow this link.

About AMF

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 29 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

The American Music Festival is supported in part by the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Public Radio East.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: February 3, 2019

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS AN EVENING OF BRAHMS AND SCHUMANN

The American Music Festival of Carteret County presents the Ciompi Quartet, Barbara McKenzie and Allen Ware in concert on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 8:00 PM.

The concert will feature Duke University's Ciompi Quartet, a long time AMF favorite, pianist Barbara McKenzie and clarinetist Allan Ware from Hamburg. The Ciompi will be introducing their new cellist on this concert.

They will perform Music of the Romantic including Brahms' clarinet quintet and a selection of piano Intermezzos along with Schumann's delightful Piano Quartet.

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets at the door are only $32.00. Call 252-342-5034 for reservations. For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 29 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: January 11, 2019

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE AIZURI QUARTET IN CONCERT

The American Music Festival of Carteret County presents the AIZURI QUARTET in concert on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 8:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City, North Carolina.

As the Quartet-in-Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Aizuri is noted for their "genuinely exciting" programs and "captivating" performances. They have won prestigious awards and fans around the world, most recently acclaimed for their newly released debut album of new voices in American music.

"Every note is lovingly crafted and savored..." -- Washington Post

In this concert, Aizuri will perform:

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets at the door are only $32.00. Call 252-342-5034 for reservations. For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 29 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: October 26, 2018

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS TRIO KARÉNINE IN CONCERT

Coming directly from Paris for their first US tour at the invitation of the American Music Festival and Chamber Music Wilmington, Trio Karénine, recent grand prize winners of the ARD-Munich Competition, will open the 2018-19 season. Trio Karénine will be performing works by Schumann, Ravel and Shostakovitch.

One of the most promising piano trios of its generation, the young ensemble bears the name of Tolstoy’s beautiful and emotionally honest heroine, Anna Karenina. Lauded for its musical integrity and joie de vivre, the trio won the ARD Munich international competition in 2013 and has since performed in major halls around the world including London’s Wigmore Hall, and the Salle Pleyel and Louvre in Paris. Founded in 2009, they began their studies under the guidance of the Ysaÿe Quartet, Menahem Pressler and Jean-Claude Pennetier.

In addition to their first American tour, upcoming highlights include debuts at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and New York’s Frick Collection.

Schumann will be featured on the AMF concert and their newly released Schumann recording garnered top accolades from the official German Classical Music Critics’ Choice association, as well as five Diapasons and Gold Stars from Europe’s Classica magazine. You won't want to miss this concert!

Season Update: CAROLINE SHAW RESCHEDULED!

Although Hurricane Florence delayed the start of the season, we are happy to report that the originally scheduled Caroline Shaw/Jasper String Quartet concert will be heard March 9, 2019. Mark your calendars!

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets at the door are only $32.00. Call 252-728-6152 for reservations. For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034.

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 28 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: September 8, 2018

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL OFFERS A FREE STRING MASTERCLASS AND OPEN REHEARSAL

In the afternoon of its September 22nd evening concert with Caroline Shaw and the Jasper String Quartet, the American Music Festival invites the general public to a free String Masterclass and Open Rehearsal from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM, at the First Presbyterian Church. No tickets are needed for the afternoon. Learn more about the music, meet the artists and hear Shaw talk about her contemporary music techniques.

Caroline Shaw has astonished the pop and classical music worlds for her celebrated collaborations with Kanye West and is in continuous demand for new works by leading artists and ensembles. International acclaim has led to residencies and commissions by major performance organizations including the Guggenheim, Dumbarton Oaks, Kennedy Center, Baltimore Symphony, Los Angeles Symphony, and the North Carolina Symphony to name a few. Shaw is also a familiar violin and viola soloist with major orchestras, and has performed at such renowned concert venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ms. Shaw, composer, string musician and vocalist, was born in Greenville, NC in 1982 and landed in the national spotlight after receiving the Pulitzer Prize in music for her a cappella piece "Partita for 8 Voices." At 30 years old, she was the youngest composer ever to be awarded the Pulitzer.

This event is part of the NC Arts Council 50th Anniversary Celebration. The American Music Festival is supported in part by the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts/Art Works, and Public Radio East.

The evening concert with Caroline Shaw and the Jasper String Quartet, starting at 8:00 PM, is a ticketed event.

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets at the door are only $32.00. Call 252-728-6152 for reservations. For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 28 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children. Last season's outreach featured flutist David Key and storyteller Barbara McKenzie presenting a musical adventure with a Native American genesis to more than 500 Carteret County school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: September 7, 2018

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL OPENING CONCERT FEATURES CAROLINE SHAW AND THE JASPER STRING QUARTET

The American Music Festival is honored to bring North Carolina native, CAROLINE SHAW, whose considerable genius is regarded by some to represent the future of classical music, to open the AMF 2018 - 2019 concert season on September 22, 2018 at 8:00 PM. She will be performing her music with the JASPER STRING QUARTET, in addition to music selections from HAYDN and BRAHMS.

All AMF concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free. Tickets at the door are only $32.00. Call 252-728-6152 for reservations. For more information and tickets visit www.AmericanMusicFestival.org or call 252-342-5034.

Meet the Artists: In addition to the 8:00 PM concert, there will be a free STRING MASTERCLASS and OPEN REHEARSAL for the general public on September 22, in the afternoon, from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM, at the First Presbyterian Church. No tickets are needed for the afternoon. Learn more about the music, meet the artists and hear Shaw talk about her contemporary music techniques.

Caroline Shaw has astonished the pop and classical music worlds for her celebrated collaborations with Kanye West and is in continuous demand for new works by leading artists and ensembles. International acclaim has led to residencies and commissions by major performance organizations including the Guggenheim, Dumbarton Oaks, Kennedy Center, Baltimore Symphony, Los Angeles Symphony, and the North Carolina Symphony to name a few. Shaw is also a familiar violin and viola soloist with major orchestras, and has performed at such renowned concert venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ms. Shaw, composer, string musician and vocalist, was born in Greenville, NC in 1982 and landed in the national spotlight after receiving the Pulitzer Prize in music for her a cappella piece "Partita for 8 Voices." At 30 years old, she was the youngest composer ever to be awarded the Pulitzer.

This event is part of the NC Arts Council 50th Anniversary Celebration. The American Music Festival is supported in part by the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts/Art Works, and Public Radio East.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 28 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children. Last season's outreach featured flutist David Key and storyteller Barbara McKenzie presenting a musical adventure with a Native American genesis to more than 500 Carteret County school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: March 23, 2018

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE CALIDORE QUARTET IN CONCERT

For its final concert of the 2017-2018 music season, the American Music Festival of Carteret County proudly presents the Calidore Quartet in concert on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 8:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City, North Carolina.

Selected by BBC Radio 3 as “New Generation Artists,” Calidore is emerging internationally as an exceptional young ensemble. Their passionate music making has garnered many fans and honors, including a plum residency at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Great music selections will be featured in this concert, including: the Mendelssohn Quartet in D Major, Op. 44, No. 1; Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte; Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 9 in E-flat Major, op. 117; and Beethoven’s Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1.

For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034. The First Presbyterian Church is located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free.

Background

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 28 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children. Last season's outreach featured flutist David Key and storyteller Barbara McKenzie presenting a musical adventure with a Native American genesis to more than 500 Carteret County school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: February 11, 2018

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS ACRONYM IN CONCERT

The American Music Festival of Carteret County proudly presents ACRONYM in concert, 8:00 PM Saturday, February 24, at First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. These gutsy troubadours seem more like a contemporary music group than a Baroque string band, so don't expect to hear anything stiff or artificial. Their sound is luxurious; their interpretations are expressive and warm and loaded with rhythmic surprises and unforgettable melodies.

Tickets at the door are only $30.00. For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034. First Presbyterian Church is located at 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free.

Please also mark the following future concert date on your calendar: April 7 — Calidore Quartet; at the First Presbyterian Church.

About the American Music Festival

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 28 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children. Last season's outreach featured flutist David Key and storyteller Barbara McKenzie presenting a musical adventure with a Native American genesis to more than 500 Carteret County school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: January 8, 2018

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL DUO FRANCAIS CONCERT WILL BE A REAL TREAT

The American Music Festival of Carteret County presents “An American in Paris” with Nicholas Duchamp, a leader in the great tradition of French flute playing and pianist Barbara McKenzie of Duo Français in a concert to be held at 8:00 PM on January 27 at the History Museum of Carteret County.

The program begins with an introduction to French musical style, starting with a charming “court” Sonata from Jean Marie LECLAIR (1697-1764) and continuing with music of Debussy, and Phillip Gaubert. The listener connects with the grace, refinement and ease in French music — an easily recognizable soundscape that mirrors one of the great Western cultural personalities.

The second half of the program presents a tone poem of Lilli Boulanger and exuberant Sonata from Aaron Copland to portray the influence French musicians had on the burgeoning, post-Germanic American sound and the influence American musical genres (Rag, Blues, Jazz, Appalachian Folk) had on French composers.

American composers, such as Aaron Copland, went to Paris to study in a time when great experimentation and creativity were the norm. They were encouraged by French musicians such as Nadia Boulanger to recognize and incorporate the kind of original “American” music heard in our Appalachian folk songs, and African rhythmic/musical influences.

Aaron Copland’s Sonata for Flute and Piano is a prime example of American compositional style and “the sound of America” which resulted from this musical synthesis. One hears the results of the development of an original American “sound” in a classical tradition. It uniquely represents the open spaces and fresh, youthful energy of the growing country and its cultural repository.

Tickets at the door are only $30.00. Call 252-728-6152 for reservations. Please also mark the following future concert dates on your calendar: February 24 — Acronym; April 7 — Calidore Quartet; both at the First Presbyterian Church.

For more information and tickets visit www.americanmusicfestival.org or call 252-342-5034. The History Museum of Carteret County (formerly The History Place) is located at 1008 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Parking is free.

About the American Music Festival

A local not-for-profit organization, the American Music Festival (AMF) has been “quietly” providing great music to Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina for the last 28 years. No need for music lovers to experience jammed airplanes, I-95 traffic, or wiggly trains to experience New York quality music. Now it's right here in Carteret County.

A portion of the ticket proceeds and donations to AMF go to provide music outreach programs for county school children. Last season's outreach featured flutist David Key and storyteller Barbara McKenzie presenting a musical adventure with a Native American genesis to more than 500 Carteret County school children.

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034
Media Contact:

Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034



AMF News

For Release: October 17, 2017

THE SCHUMANN QUARTET IN CONCERT

The American Music Festival’s second concert of the 2017-18 season will present the Schumann Quartet, on Saturday, November 4, at 8:00 PM. The Schumann Quartet hails from Germany, and are currently in a three-year residency at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (https://www.chambermusicsociety.org/). “Their youthful verve, audible enthusiasm, and breathtaking technical mastery creates a powerful musical experience altogether inspiring.”

The concert will present classical favorites, including Haydn’s Quartet in G Major, Op. 33, No. 5; Samuel Barber’s Op. 11 Quartet (including its famous Adagio), and Schubert’s beloved “Rosamunde” Quartet.

The November 4 concert will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. Four of this season’s concerts will be held in the Presbyterian Church. This Morehead City facility has excellent acoustics and ample space for the audience. Parking is free.

The January 27, 2018 concert with the DUO Français will be held at the History Museum of Carteret County (formerly known as “The History Place.”)

Tickets at the door are only $30.00. For more information, tickets and reservations visit www.americanmusicfestival.org, or call 252-342-5034.

Please also mark the following future concert dates on your calendar: January 27, 2018 Duo Français (at the History Place) February 24, 2018 Acronym (at the First Presbyterian Church) April 7, 2018 Calidore Quartet (at the First Presbyterian Church)

Media Contact:
Wouter Ketel
(252) 342-5034

American Music Festival

P.O. Box 1099
Beaufort, NC 28516
 
info@AmericanMusicFestival.org

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