EMF Signs Three Year Contract Extension With Acclaimed Music Director Gerard Schwarz

Maestro’s Leadership Solidifies Festival’s International Reputation

"(GREENSBORO) – Eastern Music Festival is delighted to announce a three-year extension of Gerard Schwarz’s contract as EMF’s Music Director.

 “Securing Maestro Schwarz’s leadership through the end of this decade is one of my proudest achievements for EMF,” said Fred Starr, chairman of the board of directors for Eastern Music Festival.

“Jerry (Schwarz) brings more than 40 years of highly acclaimed accomplishments to EMF, and the renewal of his contract not only secures continuity for the Festival’s short- and long-term planning, it strengthens our international reputation to both emerging and highly celebrated artists,” explained Starr.

“Schwarz’s exemplary reputation has helped EMF attract world-renowned guest artists and composers and has certainly contributed greatly to our reputation as one of the leading classical music festivals in the country,” said EMF Executive Director Chris Williams.

Each summer the 55-year-old Eastern Music Festival draws over 200 young artists ages 14 to 23  to study at its famed program and nearly 80 professional musicians to both teach and perform during EMF’s five-week season.

Schwarz joined EMF as music advisor in 2005. In 2006 he became the Festival’s principal conductor and rose to the role of music director in 2008. The 2017 EMF season will mark his 10^th anniversary as music director.

As EMF music director, Schwarz initiated the Bonnie McElveen-Hunter Commissioning Project that has thus far commissioned four original orchestral works by John Corigliano, Richard Danielpour, Lowell Liebermann and Sir André Previn.

“My work with Eastern Music Festival is invigorating,” Schwarz said from his home in New York City. “EMF offers both an acclaimed teaching environment for emerging artists and world-class performances through our professional musicians so I have the opportunity to be immersed in both elements as music director.

“It is an honor to continue my work with EMF as we enhance the education of hundreds of EMF’s young artists and bring great music to thousands of classical music lovers,” Schwarz added. “I treasure the opportunity to continue in this role for the next three years.”

About Gerard Schwarz

Born in America to Viennese parents, Schwarz began studying music at the age of 5 and soon focused on the trumpet. A graduate of both New York City's High School of Performing Arts and The Juilliard School, he joined the New York Philharmonic in 1972 as co-principal trumpet, a position he held until 1977.

During his distinguished career, Schwarz has won five Emmy awards, received 14 Grammy nominations, six American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) awards and has been awarded seven honorary degrees including one from The Juilliard School, his alma mater, as well as numerous Stereo Review and Ovation awards.

Schwarz serves as music director of The All-Star Orchestra, an ensemble of top musicians that, in addition to airing live TV shows worldwide, provides the basis for their Khan Academy education platform already reaching over four million students. 

Schwarz’s previous positions include 26 years as music director of the Seattle Symphony, music director of New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and New York Chamber Symphony. In addition he served as artistic advisor to the Tokyo Philharmonic. Schwarz also serves as music director of the All-Star Orchestra.

About Eastern Music Festival

Eastern Music Festival, which was begun in 1961 in Greensboro, stands among the nation’s premier summer music educational programs and most imaginative performance festivals. For the 2016 season, EMF presented over 65 performances in venues throughout the Triad such as Temple Emanuel, Greensboro’s First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro’s public libraries as well as concerts at Guilford College, UNC Greensboro, High Point University and Appalachian State University. EMF attracts artists, students and audiences from around the globe to Greensboro each summer during its five-week festival. Beyond the Festival, EMF produces and presents Fringe series and other programming through the year.

Planning for Eastern Music Festival’s 56^th season is well underway so mark your calendars for June 24 – July 29, 2017!

For more information about Eastern Music Festival,

visit http://www.easternmusicfestival.org/festival/calendar"

- A Press Release

EMF to Perform World Premier from 10-Time Academy Award-Winning Composer

"(GREENSBORO, NC) – The Eastern Music Festival will premier a new piece from 10-time Academy Award-winning composer, conductor and pianist  Sir André Previn, at 8 p.m., Saturday, July 23, in Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium.

Previn is famous for his film scores of Porgy & Bess, My Fair Lady and Gigi. Almost all of the world’s major orchestras have sought Previn’s work, from the Boston Symphony Orchestra to the Royal Philharmonic.

A week full of EMF events provide local listeners a chance to sample a variety of world-class music.   

On Wednesday, July 20 at 8:00 p.m. in Sternberger Auditorium at Guilford College, Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux will teach a master class that is free and open to the public. Audiences will have a unique opportunity to hear Vieaux, who NPR describes as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation,” as he works with students from the EMF’s Guitar Program, which is now in its second year. No tickets or reservations are needed. (is that right?)

Sunday afternoon, EMF hosts a free Open House at Guilford College featuring the talents of its 227 Young Artists and 80 plus Faculty Artists (is that correct since the festival orchestra is performing?). Performances include:

1:00 p.m.        Percussion Ensemble, Dana Auditorium

2:15 p.m.        Guitar Program Recital, Carnegie Room

3:00 p.m.        Pianopalooza, Sternberger Auditorium

4:00 p.m.        Conducting Fellows Showcase with Eastern Festival Orchestra, Dana Auditorium

On Sunday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m., New Orleans-based Tuba Skinny and local guests the Swamp Nots will play a mix of New Orleans jazz and old-time string band music. This free concert is part of the EMF Fringe and MUSEP series, which annually draws crowds of several hundred to the Founders’ Lawn at Guilford College. (I sort of beefed up the numbers as a self-fulfilling prophecy)

Between a world premier from an international star, a master class with a Grammy-winning guitarist and a family-friendly Sunday evening show, be sure to experience EMF in the festival’s second-to-last week.

About Eastern Music Festival:

Eastern Music Festival stands among the country's premier summer music educational programs and most imaginative performance festivals. With a 55-year history of both artistic and educational excellence, EMF attracts artists, students and audiences from around the globe to Greensboro each summer during its five-week festival. EMF’s 2016 performances began June 27 and continues through Saturday, July 30. Concerts are presented at Guilford College, UNCG, High Point University, Appalachian State University and in venues throughout the community such as Temple Emanuel, Greensboro’s First Presbyterian Church and in public libraries. Over 65 performances, workshops, seminars and master classes will be presented.

Beyond the Festival, EMF produces and presents Fringe series and other programming throughout the year.

For more information about Eastern Chamber Players and the 2016 EMF season,

visit http://www.easternmusicfestival.org/festival/calendar

To purchase tickets or for ticket information visit our website

or call Triad Stage at 336-272-0160."

- A Press Release

World-Class Musicians Perform Fan Favorites at EMF

Awadagin Pratt to Perform Brahms This Saturday

Awadagin Pratt 

"GREENSBORO, NC – Prize-winning pianist Awadagin Pratt will perform Johannes’ Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 on Saturday, July 2 at 8 p.m. in Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium. Pratt is one of many world-class musicians performing fan-favorite pieces during EMF’s 55^th season.

“I’m very much looking forward to Saturday night,” says Pratt. “The Brahms’ first piano concerto is a monumental piece of work, sort of an all-encompassing tribute to the human spirit.”

Two of Tchaikovsky’s most popular pieces, Symphony No. 5 in E Minor and the instantly recognizable Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, will bookend the evening.  

Friday night’s ‘Magic of Mozart’ Gala, also at 8 p.m. in Dana Auditorium, looks to be just as much of a crowd-pleaser. Maestro Gerard Schwarz will open the orchestral season with an all-Mozart program, starting with the famous overture from The Marriage of Figaro.

‘Viva Vivaldi,’ taking place on Wednesday July 6 at 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, will focus exclusively on another beloved composer, Antonio Vivaldi. Featured performers include EMF principal flutist Les Roettges and principal cellist Neal Cary.

Vivaldi’s concertos spill into the Eastern Festival Orchestra’s fourth appearance on Saturday July 9 at 8 p.m., an evening which will showcase fresh talent performing classic repertoire. Marco Núñez, recent winner of the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists, features on Vivaldi’s Flute Concerto in G Minor, while Julian Schwarz, frequently praised as one of the leading cellists of his generation, will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor, considered one of the greatest cello pieces of all time.

“EMF brings together young artists that want to fill the world with beauty,” says Núñez. “I feel honored to be invited to play on the same stage as some of the world's leading figures in the classical music world.”

 About Eastern Music Festival:

Eastern Music Festival stands among the country's premier summer music educational programs and most imaginative performance festivals. With a 55-year history of both artistic and educational excellence, EMF attracts artists, students and audiences from around the globe to Greensboro each summer during its five-week festival. EMF’s 2016 performances began on Monday, June 27 and continues through Saturday, July 30. Concerts are presented at Guilford College, UNCG, High Point University, Appalachian State University and in venues throughout the community such as Temple Emanuel, Greensboro’s First Presbyterian Church and in public libraries. Over 65 performances, workshops, seminars and master classes will be presented.

Beyond the Festival, EMF produces and presents Fringe series and other programming throughout the year.

For more information about Eastern Chamber Players and the 2016 EMF season,

visit http://www.easternmusicfestival.org/festival/calendar

To purchase tickets or for ticket information visit our website or call Triad Stage at 336-272-0160."

- A Press Release

Eastern Music Festival faculty artists kick off 2016 chamber series on June 27

EMF EASTERN CHAMBER PLAYERS

"(GREENSBORO, NC) – Eastern Music Festival’s faculty artists kick off the 2016 Eastern Chamber Players series on Mon., June 27 at the UNC Greensboro School of Music, Theatre and Dance Recital Hall at 8 p.m. The program, containing works by Mozart, Debussy and Dvořák, highlights the core of the series: an opportunity to present masterful classical repertoire composed for small ensembles.

The Eastern Chamber Players are made up of EMF’s dedicated and talented faculty teaching-artists and friends. During this season’s series, EMF’s faculty will be joined by notable performing artists such as pianist Marika Bournaki, violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and New York Philharmonic principal violist Cynthia Phelps.

EMF concertmaster and 20-year veteran of the Festival Jeffrey Multer and EMF principal flutist Les Roettges curate the 10-concert run. Highlights of the series include performances of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (July 5), Nos. 4 and 6 (July 12), and No. 5 (July 19); the Fauré Piano Quartet in C minor with guest artist Cynthia Phelps, viola (July 18); Suite for Saxophone and Guitar by Alan Hovhaness (July 19); and the Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor featuring Awadagin Pratt, piano (July 25).

Concerts are scheduled for four Monday performances in UNCG’s Recital Hall (June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25) and five Tuesday performances at Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium (June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26). In lieu of a Monday night performance on July 4, there will be a special Sunday matinee on July 3.

About Eastern Music Festival:

Eastern Music Festival stands among the country's premier summer music educational programs and most imaginative performance festivals. With a 55-year history of both artistic and educational excellence, EMF attracts artists, students and audiences from around the globe to Greensboro each summer during its five week festival. EMF’s 2016 performances begin on Monday, June 27 and continue through Saturday, July 30. Concerts are presented at Guilford College, UNCG, High Point University, Appalachian State University and in venues throughout the community such as Temple Emanuel, Greensboro’s First Presbyterian Church and in public libraries. Over 65 performances, workshops, seminars and master classes will be presented.

Beyond the Festival, EMF produces and presents Fringe series and other programming throughout the year.

For more information about Eastern Chamber Players and the 2016 EMF season,

visit http://www.easternmusicfestival.org/festival/calendar

To purchase tickets or for ticket information visit our website

or call Triad Stage at 336-272-0160."

- A Press Release