Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University announces its Conservatory Performs 2016/17 season. Conservatory Performs is the conservatory’s premier performance series featuring Shenandoah’s own award-winning faculty and students, as well as internationally acclaimed guest artists.
The 2016/17 season features more than 150 performances, including a robust series of top-notch performances by Shenandoah Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, vocal and jazz ensembles; the Shenandoah Conservatory theatre and dance divisions; and the Performing Arts Live, Shenandoah New Music, and World of the Piano guest artist series.
This season’s guest artists come from a range of art forms, influences and life experiences. They are seasoned masters; young innovators; boundary-pushing, genre-bending artists. Highlights include:
- the extraordinary talents of classical giants, such as pianist Richard Goode and Gidon Kremer’s internationally acclaimed chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica;
- torch carriers of great American art forms, such as gifted jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and modern dance icon Doug Varone;
- two artists who have elevated their musical instrument to an entirely new art form— banjo duo Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn;
- emerging masters from throughout the world, including a highly anticipated North American premiere by The Havana Cuba All-Stars and appearances by Hungarian virtuoso violinist Kristóf Baráti, French pianist Nathalia Milstein, and one of America’s most sought after young pianists Orion Weiss; and
- world-renowned American composer John Corigliano, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, five Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award for the film score of “The Red Violin” (1997).
In addition to the lineup of world-renowned guest artist performances, conservatory students, faculty and ensembles present a range of performances throughout the year. The theatre division presents contemporary plays as well as musicals from the Broadway cannon, including “Blue Stockings,” Jessica Swale’s award-winning play about equality and educational access; the beloved Broadway hit “Guys & Dolls;” and a one-act musical for the whole family, “Once on This Island,” featuring vibrant costumes and dance accompanied by Calyspo-style Afro-Caribbean music.
Instrumental highlights include a performance by the Shenandoah Conservatory Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra with special guest violinist Kristóf Baráti featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto; a Wind Ensemble concert titled, “Troublemakers – from Berlin to New York“ featuring works by Kurt Weill and Leonard Bernstein; Jazz Ensemble concerts featuring great standards of swing, blues and New Orleans jazz; and Shenandoah New Music at the Bright Box Theater (15 N Loudoun St., Winchester, Virginia), which includes performances by EDGE Ensemble, Shenandoah Conservatory’s resident new music ensemble, and guest artist performances by Gaudete Brass and American Modern Ensemble.
Shenandoah Conservatory’s dance division presents three performances this season, including a Fall Dance Concert featuring a contemporary ballet set to Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” and performed in collaboration with Cantus Singers and solo harp.
The 2016/17 season also welcomes new and distinguished guest artist collaborations within the vocal/choral division. Highlights include the Conservatory Choir conducted by Choral Artist-in-Residence, Scott Allen Jarrett, D.M.A.; Concertos and Cantatas as part of the annual Bach-Handel Festival; and Mozart’s master opera “The Magic Flute” performed with a chamber orchestra.
Subscription and single tickets are now on sale. New this year, patrons are able to save 20% to 30% off general admission tickets with two new flexible subscription packages — PICK 5 and PICK 8.
To view an entire calendar of events, purchase tickets and learn more, visit Conservatory Performs online at www.conservatoryperforms.org, in person at the Shenandoah University Box Office located in the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre lobby or by phone at 540-665-4569. Regular box office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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