The American Music Festival
CONCERT SERIES in BEAUFORT & MOREHEAD CITY, NC

Twenty-Second Season: 2011–2012

AMF News

For Release: November 6, 2011

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS
THE VIVALDI PROJECT & FRIENDS
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10, 2011

 “Music You Love”

The American Music Festival and the Carteret County Public Library present the second concert of AMF’s 22nd season on Saturday, December 10 at 8 PM at the Carteret County Public Library in Beaufort, NC.

The December 10 concert will feature the Vivaldi Project and Friends from Washington, DC. The program celebrates the composers whose music we delight in every year during the Christmas season — Handel, Pachelbel, Correlli, Torelli, and Vivaldi.

The Vivaldi Project and Friends brings you not these composers' most frequently performed pieces (i.e. Handel's Messiah and Pachelbel's canon) but a set of wonderful solo and trio sonatas which audiences do not often get the opportunity to hear. Performed on real period instruments by some of the country's leading baroque performers, these works come to life and will give sparkle and dazzle to your holiday season. Internationally known artists Elaine Funaro, harpsichord; Allison Edberg and Anne Loud, violin; Willam Simms, theorbo and baroque guitar; and Stephanie Vial, cello, will be featured.

The Vivaldi Project is dedicated to presenting not only the instrumental works of virtuoso violinist and composer, Antonio Vivaldi, but also those of his contemporaries and later classical composers inspired by Vivaldi’s innovative contributions to string writing, the concerto genre and programmatic orchestral music. Music from the 17th and 18th century is highly rhetorical in nature, viewed in its day as a language in its own right — just as capable of communicating ideas and emotions, only through melody and harmony rather than words.

The new Carteret County Public Library at 1702 Live Oak Street will be the venue for this concert. This new library facility is just right for a chamber music group and is easy to reach from the Beaufort Historical Association site in Beaufort.

For a complete holiday experience this 8 PM concert follows the 5-7 PM Historic Beaufort Christmas Candlelight Tour. See lovely Christmas decorations in Beaufort and enjoy twinkling candlelight as you walk the festive streets, sing with carolers and then come to enjoy the Vivaldi Project in comfort to complete the day! The Library itself will be decorated with hundreds of flowers, and other unique items taken from the Lewis Carroll story of Alice in Wonderland. Parking at the Library is plentiful and free.

The AMF, now in our 22nd year, is proud to be able to continue to provide great music for our community. This is not possible without community support. This includes season ticket purchasers, individual donors, advertisers, local businesses and grants from the Carteret County Arts Council, the Beaufort Ole Towne Rotary Club and a media partnership with Public Radio East. These gifts and grants make possible special performances for the Carteret County Schools. This year’s school outreach will feature programs relating Music and Poetry for 4th and 5th grade students

Individual concert tickets are $25. Discount $15 tickets are available for full-time students, active duty military personnel and, to full-time school teachers with ID. Also available now are special 2012 three-concert Spring Series tickets for only $60. These will make wonderful Christmas presents as well as helping to support music in Carteret County. Both series tickets and individual concert tickets may be reserved by calling 252-728-6152. Mail orders should be addressed to AMF, P.O. Box 1099, Beaufort, NC 28516. Tickets may also be purchased at the Carteret County Library and the BHA Historic Site. For additional information, please visit the AMF web site at www.americanmusicfestival.org and the Beaufort Historic Site.

AMF News

For Release: September 5, 2011

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS ITS 22nd SEASON

 “Music You Love”

The American Music Festival of Carteret County kicks off its 22nd season on Saturday, October 8 at 8 PM at The History Place in Morehead City. The theme for this season’s concerts is “Music You Love.” Season and individual concert tickets are available now.

This season’s program showcases wonderful music and outstanding artists from near and far. The season opener will feature the Voxare String Quartet, which is an outstanding young Russian-American quartet from New York City. They will present works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, and Harrison. Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet, String Quartet and Piano will be presented in a tribute to Jewish Folklife. The Voxares will be augmented by English clarinetist Jonathan Holden and AMF’s and Carteret County’s own piano artist in residence, Barbara McKenzie.

The December 10 concert by another young group of artists, the Vivaldi Project, extends a new Beaufort tradition of historical and seasonal Christmas music presented in collaboration with the Beaufort Historical Association’s Candlelight tour and the Carteret County Public Library for a seasonal treat. The Vivaldi Project will perform at the new Carteret County Public Library in Beaufort that has outstanding acoustics and a great space for this baroque performance. The Vivaldi Project, which comes to us from Washington DC, will perform musical gems by Vivaldi, Handel, and Pachelbel. These pieces will be performed using real period instruments that could have been heard in the Beaufort of the 1700’s.

January 14 will feature a return visit by the Carolina Piano Trio presenting a musical “Paprikash” featuring Hungarian folk tunes, delights and dances from Dohnanyi and Bartok. That evening will close with Brahms’ famous Piano Quartet in G minor which is imbued with its own dash of Hungarian gypsy.

April 14 will bring the Kontras Quartet to us, currently in its first year as the Metro Resident Quartet with the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory, NC. The Kontras Quartet has been described as “technically excellent, musically compelling and highly entertaining.” They will perform Beethoven’s charming Opus 18 No 3 quartet and others. The season will end on May 19 with a solo piano recital by Barbara McKenzie presenting her favorites by Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel and Mussorgsky. Certainly a great finale to a season full of music that “you will love!!!”

All in all, this season promises a program that has both beautiful and moving music with a twist of extra fun. There will be nothing else like this in our Area in 2011-12!

The AMF is proud to be able to continue to provide great music for our community, now in our 22nd year. This is not possible without community support. This includes season ticket purchasers, individual donors, advertisers, local businesses and grants from the Carteret County Arts Council, the NC Arts Council, the Olde Towne Rotary Club and a media partnership with Public Radio East.

Gifts and grants also make possible special performances for the Carteret County Schools. This year’s public school outreach will feature a special and unique combination of music and poetry for fourth grade students. In addition, this year as a special fundraiser the AMF is sponsoring a wonderful winter escape Caribbean Cruise with Princess Cruises. For more information about the February 6-16 cruise please call Mary Marks with Accent Travel & Cruises at 252-247-6482. Please join us!

Purchasing season tickets for the five concert series is the lowest-cost way to be guaranteed seats for each performance. Season tickets are now on sale for only $100.00. This is a 20% reduction from the individual ticket price. Discounted $75.00 season tickets are available for full-time students, full-time teachers, and active-duty military with ID. Both season tickets and individual concert tickets may be reserved by calling 252-728-6152. Individual single tickets at the door are $25.00. Mail orders should be addressed to AMF, P.O. Box 1099, Beaufort, NC 28516.

AMF News

January 23, 2010

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS

 “DATE NIGHT WITH THE CAROLINA PIANO TRIO”

TANGOS & LATIN LOVE SONGS

February 19, 2011

“Experience the Passion”

The American Music Festival (AMF) of Carteret County presents the fourth concert of its 21st season on Saturday, February 19 at 8 PM at The History Place in Morehead City, NC.  This season’s AMF program showcases wonderful music and outstanding artists from near and far. The artists making the music this season truly rate a “10.”  The theme for this season's concerts is “Experience The Passion, It Happens Here” -- and we are sure that the audience won’t be disappointed with this music.  There will be nothing else like this in Carteret County in 2011!

The February 19 concert will feature a return visit by the Carolina Piano Trio. The Trio consists of Barbara McKenzie, Piano; Elizabeth Anderson, Cello; and Jacqui Carrasco, Violin. Ms. Carrasco is a noted performer of Argentine tango music. She has appeared with cellist Yo-Yo Ma in concert and on television. Ms. Anderson regularly performs at the Lincoln Center as a member of the New York City Opera. Ms. McKenzie is well known to the Carteret County Audience and is the Artistic Director and Artist in Residence of the American Music Festival. Ms. McKenzie has just performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. The News and Observer says, of the Carolina Piano Trio, they have “impressive unity of vision and spirit.”

The February Program is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and offers a unique way to show how much you appreciate your “date” for the evening. The evening will feature a creative program of dances and romances by American crossover composers Chick Corea and Fred Hersch. Also included will be intriguing tangos by Astor Piazzola and Latin love songs from Spanish romantic composer Joaquin Turina.

The AMF is proud to be able to continue to provide such great and unique music for our community. This is not possible without community support. This includes season ticket purchasers, individual donors, advertisers, local businesses and grants from the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, Olde Towne Rotary of Beaufort, and a media partnership with Public Radio East.

Gifts and grants also make possible special performances for the Carteret County Schools. This year’s outreach will feature a musical story performed on Native American flutes and percussion instruments. This will bring to life a story from the Cherokee tradition on caring for mother earth.

Individual concert tickets may be reserved by calling 252-728-6152. Individual single tickets at the door are $25.00. Discount $15 tickets are available for full time students, active duty military personnel and, this year for the first time, to full time schoolteachers with ID. Mail orders should be addressed to AMF, P.O. Box 1099, Beaufort, NC 28516. Parking at The History Place is free. For additional information, please visit the AMF web site at www.americanmusicfestival.org.

AMF News

December 17, 2010

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS NICOLAS DUCHAMP, Flute, AND BARBARA MCKENZIE, Piano, IN GAUBERT VIVANT!

January 15, 2011

The American Music Festival of Carteret County presents the third concert of its 21st season on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 8 PM at The History Place in Morehead City, NC.  This season’s AMF program showcases wonderful music and outstanding artists from near and far. The artists making the music this season truly rate a “10.” The theme for this season's concerts is “Experience The Passion, It Happens Here” – and we are sure that the audience won’t be disappointed with this music. There will be nothing else like this in Carteret County in 2010-11!

The January 15 concert will feature Nicolas Duchamp, flute, and Barbara McKenzie, piano, in “Gaubert Vivant!” The program will celebrate the life and beautiful music of 20th century French flute maestro, Philippe Gaubert, the most important flutist of his generation and grandfather of the "French" school of flute playing. Last year’s concert goers will remember the wonderful flute playing of Mr. Duchamp, who is the principal flutist for the French National Opera Comique in Paris. He and Ms. Mackenzie will perform Gaubert’s most lovely music for flute and piano.

In 2009, the family of Philippe Gaubert commissioned Mr. Duchamp to celebrate Gaubert’s contribution to the art of flute playing through a worldwide tour. The program that will be initially played at The History Place on January 15 will be repeated at a number of locations, including ECU, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, and Carnegie Hall in New York. Ms. Mckenzie’s career-long devotion to chamber music has led to frequent concerts with leading international soloists and chamber ensembles. She has enjoyed a long career as Artistic Director of the Carteret County American Music Festival and Chamber Music Wilmington.

The AMF is proud to be able to continue to provide such great and unique music for our community. This is not possible without community support. This includes season ticket purchasers, individual donors, advertisers, local businesses and grants from the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, Olde Towne Rotary of Beaufort, and a media partnership with Public Radio East.

Gifts and grants also make possible special performances for the Carteret County Schools. This year’s outreach will feature a musical story performed on Native American flutes and percussion instruments. This will bring to life a story from the Cherokee tradition on caring for mother earth.

Individual concert tickets may be reserved by calling 252-728-6152. Individual single tickets at the door are $25.00. Discount $15 tickets are available for full time students, active duty military personnel and, this year for the first time, to full time schoolteachers with ID. Mail orders should be addressed to AMF, P.O. Box 1099, Beaufort, NC 28516. Parking at The History Place is free. For additional information, please visit the AMF web site at www.americanmusicfestival.org.

AMF News

August 2, 2010

THE AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS ITS 21st SEASON

The American Music Festival of Carteret County kicks off its 21st season on Saturday, September 25 at 8 PM at The History Place in Morehead City. The theme for this season's concerts is: “Experience The Passion, It Happens Here.”

This season’s program showcases wonderful music and outstanding artists from near and far. The artists making the music this season truly rate a “10.” The season opener will feature the well known Ciompi Quartet of Duke University, augmented with three guest artists in a beautiful performance of the Debussy Quartet in G minor. The December 11 concert by the Carolina Brass will include some Christmas music and the great music of Bach, Gabrielle and Purcell to provide a wonderful seasonal treat. The Carolina Brass will perform at the new Carteret County Public Library, which has outstanding acoustics and a great space for a brass performance.

On January 15, there will be an all-star cast coming from New York, Paris and North Carolina in a return visit by Nicholas Duchamp, flute, who is a regular at the French national Opera Comique in Paris. This concert will celebrate the passionate flute music of Gaubert. The February 19 winter concert will feature our own Carolina Piano Trio with a dance and romances -- Date Night program. This will include creative dances and romances by crossover composers Chick Corea and Fred Hersch and a dash of a Piazzola tango and Latin love songs by Joaquin Turina.

The season will end on May 7 with a special Mother’s Day celebration featuring the lovely soprano, Maria Jette, who regularly performs for the Prairie Home Companion and Garrison Keillor on Public Radio. We can’t think of a nicer and more unique Mother’s Day present than to bring your favorite lady to this special concert.

In all, this season promises a program that has both beautiful and moving music with a twist of extra fun. There will be nothing else like this in the County for 2010-11!

Now in our 21st year, the AMF is proud to be able to continue to provide great music for our community. This is not possible without community support. This includes season ticket purchasers, individual donors, advertisers, local businesses and grants from the Carteret County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council and a media partnership with Public Radio East.

Gifts and grants also make possible special performances for the Carteret County Schools. This year’s outreach will feature a musical story performed on Native American flutes and percussion instruments. This will bring to life a story from the Cherokee tradition on caring for Mother Earth.

Purchasing season tickets for the five-concert series is the lowest-cost way to be guaranteed seats for each performance. Season tickets are now only $100.00 including the September 27 concert. Both season tickets and individual concert tickets may be reserved by calling 252-728-6152. Individual tickets at the door are $25.00. Discount tickets are available for active duty military personnel and, this year for the first time, to full-time school teachers. Mail orders should be addressed to AMF, P.O. Box 1099, Beaufort, NC 28516. For additional information, please visit the AMF web site at www.americanmusicfestival.org.