ENDLESS MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL TO OPEN 18TH SEASON WITH ORCHESTRA CONCERTS THIS FRIDAY, JULY 19 AT MANSFIELD, THIS SATURDAY, JULY 20 AT CORNING AND FREE POPS CONCERT THIS SUNDAY, JULY 21 AT WELLSBORO
Photo provided
Stephen Gunzenhauser (shown) is the founder and producer of the Endless Mountain Music Festival and is conducting the orchestra for the first three performances of the 2024 Season.
Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser and the Festival Orchestra are opening the Endless Mountain Music Festival’s 2024 17-Day Season with three performances this weekend.
The orchestra and pianist Jeffrey Biegel are performing the Pennsylvania premiere of Peter Boyer’s new “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” at 7 p.m. this Friday, July 19 in Steadman Theatre at Commonwealth University in Mansfield and the iconic “Rhapsody in Blue” written 100 years ago in 1924 by George Gershwin at 7 p.m. this Saturday, July 20 at the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium.
In celebration of the 100th birthday of “Rhapsody in Blue,” Biegel created the Rhapsody National Initiative project and titled the new work a “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” for Peter Boyer to compose. Inspired by Gershwin’s masterpiece, Boyer wrote the new work for piano and orchestra. Over the next three years, Biegel will be performing it with orchestras in all 50 states.
Opening night at Mansfield, the orchestra will also play Bach’s “Suite No. 3” Creston’s “Dance Overture” and Cowell’s “Symphony No. 13, Madras,”
At the Corning concert, “Happy Birthday, Gershwin,” the orchestra will also perform Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2” and Tsontakis’ “Laconika.”
At 2:30 p.m. this Sunday, July 21, the EMMF orchestra will present the Neil Diamond to Funk Pops Concert at the Wellsboro High School Auditorium at 227 Nichols Street in Wellsboro. It’s free. Featured will be a selection of popular favorites from “East St. Louis Blues” and “Also Funk Zarathustra” to “Sweet Caroline,” “What a Wonderful World” and “YMCA.” Clarinetist Trina Gross and the orchestra will perform John Williams’ “Viktor’s Tale.”
At 8 p.m. this Sunday, July 21 is the free “EMMF Brass under the Stars!” concert at Cherry Springs State Park’s Astronomy Observation Field by the telescope domes. The concert will be a mix of traditional brass quintet music followed by arrangements by pop artists, including Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and Freddie Mercury. Performing will be Rebecca Dodson-Webster on French horn; Brian Strawley, Josh Carr and Brian Rodriguez on trumpet; Kevin Ladd on tuba; Alexander Walden on trombone; and Jason Mathena on percussion. Stargazing with telescopes and a laser-guided Night Sky Tour will follow. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and coats as it gets chilly after dark. Preregister online for this free program at http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/cherry_springs_state_park/calendar or call 814-435-1037 or email cherryspringsee@pa.gov.
Pianist Jeffrey Biegel will play Peter Boyer’s new “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” this Friday and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” this Saturday.
The July 22 to 25 concerts will be presented by a variety of musicians.
At 7 p.m. Monday, July 22 at the 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, New York, the EMMF String Quartet will play “Classic Gems.” Quartet members are: Hua Jin and Lisa Scott on violin, Charlie Alves on viola and Perry Scott on cello.
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23 in the Deane Center Grand Community Room at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro will be a performance by sisters Melissa Mashner on flute and Melanie Mashner on harp.
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 at the Knoxville Yoked Church at 110 Alba Street in Knoxville, Jason Mathena and David Wert, percussionists will perform a free concert titled “Music is My Weapon.”
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, “EMMF’s Famous Brass Quintet” will play. The concert is BYOB with audience members encouraged to reserve a table, bring their own favorite beverages and snacks and sit with family and friends to enjoy the music.
Youth, 20 and under, are admitted free to all 18 festival concerts.
There is a fee for the six Friday and Saturday orchestra concerts at 7 p.m. on July 19 and 20, July 26 and 27 and Aug. 2 and 3 and eight of the ten chamber concerts.
Two chamber concerts – at Cherry Springs State Park at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 21 and at the Knoxville Yoked Church on Wednesday, July 24 – are free
The two Pops orchestra concerts — at 2:30 p.m. this Sunday, July 21 at the Wellsboro High School Auditorium and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4 in the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium in Corning, N.Y. featuring Anthony Nunziata, a tenor direct from Nashville and Broadway — are free.
A flex pass to attend any six festival concerts is $150 or $25 per concert. A season pass is $250. Four of the 18 concerts are free.
To purchase tickets or flex or season passes or for more information about the Pennsylvania and New York concerts being offered daily Friday, July 19 through Sunday, Aug. 4, call the Endless Mountain Music Festival Box Office at 570-787-7800 or visit www.endlessmountain.net.