Third Annual Music at St. John’s Summer Concerts Series Begins Sunday

The Fire Pink Trio will kick off the third annual Music at St. John’s summer concert series this Sunday, June 7. The concerts take place the first Sunday of each month at St. John’s Church in Valle Crucis.

The third annual Music at St. John’s summer concert series in Valle Crucis features four unique presentations by nationally and regionally acclaimed performers beginning with this Sunday’s performance by the Fire Pink Trio.

Performances begin at 5:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. All events will be family friendly with opportunities for members of the audience to meet and interact with the artists.

The cost of each event is a $15 donation for adults and $10 for students. Children under 12 years old may enter free of charge. Proceeds help underwrite the series. For more information about the Music at St. John’s summer concerts or St. John’s Church or directions to the church, email holy_cross@skybest.com or call 828-963-4609. Pets are not allowed on the property during the events.

Jacquelyn Bartlett, a Boone resident, performer and professor of harp at ASU, UNC-Greensboro and UNC School of the Arts, is serving as the artistic director of the series. In conjunction with Bartlett, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, which oversees events at St. John’s Church, is pleased to announce the following performances of the 2009 Music at St. John’s series:

Sunday, June 7
Fire Pink Trio
Flutist, Debra Pivetta, violist, Sheila Brown and harpist, Jacquelyn Bartlett combine three sensual instruments to create the dynamic and poetic Fire Pink Trio. Just as each instrument has its uniquely beautiful voice, each artist brings to the group a multitude of accolades including top prizes in international competitions, concerto performances and critically acclaimed recordings. Performing music from romantic to contemporary, Latin and jazz, Fire Pink Trio brings energy, elegance, style and virtuosity to the stage.

Sunday, July 5
Philidor Percussion Group
Celebrate your 4th of July weekend with a talented ensemble known for combining exciting music, virtuoso musicians and theatrical sensibilities. Named after 17th century kettledrummers, Jacque and Andre Philidor, the Philidor Percussion Group is primarily a chamber music group which performs music written for percussion instruments. The ensemble is comprised of North Carolina musicians, John R. Beck, Rob Falvo, Wiley Sykes and Peter Zlotnick, who will perform pieces representing musical traditions from cultures worldwide.

Sunday, August 2
Choir of St. Mary of the Hills
The Choir of St. Mary of the Hills Parish in Blowing Rock has a deep commitment to the great music of the Anglican tradition, which has led the choir on numerous trips to study with the foremost directors of choral music in Cambridge, England, including George Guest at St. John’s College, Stephen Cleobury at King’s College and Tim Brown at Clare College. Twice featured as choir-in-residence at Durham Cathedral in England, the choir was chosen to represent the state of North Carolina at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Sunday, September 6
The Degas Quartet
The Degas’ players are violinists James Dickenson and Tamaki Higashi, violist Simon Értz and cellist Philip von Maltzahn. One of America’s finest performing ensembles, the Degas Quartet is celebrated by audiences and critics alike for their vibrant performances of classical and contemporary repertoire. Founded at the Bowdoin Music Festival in 2000, the quartet has since performed in many of the world’s finest halls, including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall, Aspen’s Harris Hall and the Library of Congress.

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