Sewanee Summer Music Festival

sounds first notes marking 60th anniversary

To say that the Sewanee Summer Music Festival is “all about the music” would be mostly right. This year’s 60th anniversary celebration at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., offers more than 30 concerts and what organizers call “a spectacular array of i nstrumental repertoire.”

But as is tradition, there are field trips off campus for concerts in nearby communities, and there’s always one performance that summons attendees on an adventure. Usually, concertgoers hike or bike to reach the site. This year, they have the option of flying in.

Also new this year are Sunday Diversions, which include guided tours of Sewanee’s hidden treasures, and SSMF for Kids, in which the student performers introduce young listeners to orchestral instruments.

More than 200 advanced student performers gather each summer for the four- week training program in orchestra, chamber music and piano. Their ages range from 12 to graduate school.

Concerts range from chamber ensembles comprising artist faculty to 1 0 0 - member student orchestras. ADMISSION

Most concerts are free. Six require a $15 entry fee:

› Opening Faculty Chamber Music Concert at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 18.

› Four Sunday afternoon concerts: June 26, July 3, 10 and 17, starting at 3 and 4 p.m. (two concerts, back-to-back, for the price of one).

› The Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition Contest at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14.

There is also an $ 85 season ticket option.

All concerts are free to children under 18 accompanied by an adult.

Tickets will be available in the lobby 45 minutes before each performance, payable by cash, check or credit card (watch for separate lines). Or buy online at ssmf.sewanee.edu. GUIDED TOURS

Sunday concertgoers on June 26, July 10 and July 17 are encouraged to arrive early for indoor and outdoor explorations of some of the best sites on campus before the concert at 3 p.m. CDT. Tours start at 1 p. m. at the designated locations. Look for the purple balloons.

Outdoors

› Walk through Abbo’s Alley with Mary Priestley or Yolande Gottfried. The ravine has a sparkling creek bordered by ferns, wildflowers, native shrubs and hardwood trees. Ten- nis or hiking shoes are recommended for t he hourlong walk. Meet at the gazebo near the intersection of South Carolina and Florida Avenues. ( In case of rain, the walk goes indoors to the Sewanee Herbarium for an introduction to the plants and trees on Sewanee’s 13,000acre domain. Meet across from duPont Library at the east entrance to Snowden Hall, but only if weather prevents the Abbo’s Alley walk.)

› Bicycle tour of campus, led by the owner of Woody’s Bicycles. Meet at Woody’s Bicycles, 90 Reeds Lane Road at Highway 41A (behind Shenanigans Restaurant). Participants may bring their own bike and helmet or rent from Woody’s.

› Visit Shapard Tower Carillon to see how the 56 bells are played. Meet at the tower on the south lawn near the entrance to All Saints’ Chapel, and Dr. John Bordley, Ray Gotko or a student musician will lead you up 124 steps to the carillon. ( If you’re facing the chapel from University Avenue, the tower entrance is on the right side of the building.) The tour finishes in time to enjoy the 2: 15 carillon concert outdoors. The carillon tours will take place regardless of weather.

Indoors

› See the windows and sculpture of All Saints’ Chapel. Meet Waring McCrady just inside the front door of the chapel on University Avenue. McCrady was involved in the design of many of the stained- glass windows, and with his wife and daughter created many of the small statues and sculptures throughout.

› Stair climb to the Bentley Bells. Meet Gail Watson or another bell ringer just inside Breslin Tower (connected to Convocation Hall on Universi- ty Avenue at Georgia Avenue). You’ll find out why change-ringing is offered as a PE class at the university.

› Tour duPont Library’s Ralston Listening Library. Professor Tam Carlson or a student assistant will be your guide to the space, which houses a worldclass collection of recordings and is nationally acclaimed for the acoustically designed loudspeaker listening room. Meet in the library lobby. CONCERT SCHEDULE AND HIGHLIGHTS

The majority of concerts are free, with six exceptions. Cost for those is $15 each or $85 for season tickets. Times are Central.

Some performances are listed as highlights of the season, chosen by festival organizers.

Saturday, June 18

5 p.m. Opening concert featuring SSMF artist faculty (Guerry Auditorium), $15 › Wednesday, June 22

7:30 p.m. Open studio masterclasses ( various locations, information in the lobby of Guerry Hall) Saturday, June 25

7:30 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium) › Sunday, June 26

3 p.m. Cumberland Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium), $ 15 for both

4 p.m. Sewanee Symphony Concert(Guerry Auditorium)

Sunday afternoons (June 26, July 3, 10 and 17) feature two orchestral performances by the Cumberland Orchestra (at 3 p.m.) and th eSewanee Symphony (4 p.m .). Concerts last about an hour and are family-friendly. These are preceded by the Sunday Diversions tours. › Tuesday, June 28

8: 1 5 p. m. Monteagle Sunday School Assembly Chamber Concert ( Warren Chapel at Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, 1 Assembly Ave., Monteagle, Tenn.) › Wednesday, June 29

7:30 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium) › Thursday, June 30

5: 30 p. m. SSMF Brass Concert ( Angel Park in Sewanee Village, downtown Sewanee, Tenn.)

This off-campus show is a chance for concertgoers to check out local restaurants before or after the performance. › Saturday, July 2

3 p. m. SSMF for Kids (Convocation Hall, corner of University and Georgia avenues)

A new addition to the Festival’s concerts, July 2 and July 9. Two concerts created by students, under the guidance of their facul- ty-artist studio teacher, will introduce young listeners to instruments of the orchestra. The string bass and the bassoon will each be featured in a concert that concludes with the opportunity to play the instrument. Ice cream, too!

4 p. m. Student Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Garth)

7:30 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium) › Sunday, July 3

3 p. m. Cumberland Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium) $ 15 for both

4 p. m. Sewanee Symphony Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium) See related event June 26. › Monday, July 4 7 p.m. Patriotic Concert (Guerry Auditorium) There are actually multiple events over the holiday weekend. The village hosts a crafts fair, children’s activities and 2 p.m. parade in which the SSMF participates with a strolling orchestra on Monday, July 4. At 7 p.m., SSMF performs a patriotic concert, which is followed by fireworks. The holiday weekend also i ncludes t he regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon orchestra concerts on July 3, as well as the new offering, SSMF for Kids, on Saturday, July 2. › Wednesday, July 6

7:30 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium) › Thursday, July 7

8:15 p. m. Cumberland Orchestra @ MSSA (Monteagle Sunday School Assembly auditorium) › Friday, July 8

6 p. m. Bike/ Hike ( or Fly) to a Concert (Franklin County Airport)

For this show, SSMF musicians pack up their i nstruments and make music in one of Sewanee’s many beautiful locations. This year’s concert is located in close proximity to the Mountain Goat Trail. Plan to bike, hike or fly to hear

this year’s performance, which takes place in a hangar with vintage airplanes as a backdrop. Program repertoire includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K. 425 (Linz). › Saturday, July 9

3 p. m. SSMF for Kids, Convocation Hall (corner of University and Georgia avenues) See related event July 2.

4 p. m. Student Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Garth)

5:30 p. m. Chamber Music at the Sewanee Inn (1235 University Ave.)

Beautiful music in an elegant setting. Food and drink will be available for order.

7:30 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium) › Sunday, July 10

Noon. SSMF Alumni Day ( registration noon-2 p.m. at Guerry Hall)

Alumni are encouraged to help mark the 60th anniversary of the festival, previously known as the Sewanee Summer Music Center, t hrough social events and concerts. At registration, alumni will receive complimentary passes to the concerts and reception.

3 p. m. Cumberland Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium), $ 15 for both

4 p. m. Sewanee Symphony Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium) See related event June 26. › Tuesday, July 12

7 p.m. Cowan Arts Center Concert (Cowan Center, 301 Montgomery St.) › Thursday, July 14

7: 30 p. m. Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition Concert ( Guerry Auditorium), $15 The Jacqueline Avent Summer Music Festival The village hosts a crafts fair, children’s activities and 2 p.m. parade in which the SSMF participates with a strolling orchestra on Monday, July 4. Scholarship Prize was established in 2007 by Walter E. Nance (class of 1954) and Mayna Avent Nance of Sewanee, Tenn., in memory of Jacqueline Avent. SSMF students play through the first rounds of the competition during the opening week of the festival. Five finalists are selected, and they perform in the concert this evening. First-, secondand third-place scholarship winners of the concerto competition are awarded at the conclusion of the concert. › Friday, July 15

7 p.m. Student Chamber Music Concert ( Guerry Auditorium and St. Luke’s Chapel) › Saturday, July 16

4 p. m. Student Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium)

7:30 p.m. Faculty Chamber Music Concert (Guerry Auditorium)

10 p. m. Festival Brass Concert (All Saints’ Chapel)

You’ll find your way to this late performance of popular brass repertoire by the hundreds of luminaria lining University Avenue. This is a favorite tradition on the last night of the festival. › Sunday, July 17

3 p. m. Cumberland Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium), $ 15 for both

4 p. m. Sewanee Symphony Orchestra Concert (Guerry Auditorium) See related event June 26.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Sewanee Summer Music Festival’s 30-plus concerts will feature various combinations of student performers and artist faculty. Most concerts take place on the University of the South campus and all but six are free.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Sewanee Summer Music Festival provides four weeks of intensive study for talented young musicians ages 12 through graduate school. More than 200 advanced student performers take part each year.