Piano duo to perform at Trinity church

5/22/2013

“We just couldn’t say good-bye.”

Like the 1932 hit song, pianists Wayne Anthony and Charles Brown say they keep trying to end their long and fruitful artistic relationship. But each year, they fail.

Friday at 7 p.m., the team from (maybe) Splitsville will present their Fifth Farewell Concert at Trinity Episcopal Church, 316 Adams St., downtown.

Anthony, music director of the church, conductor of the Perrysburg Symphony Chorale, and prolific composer, will sit at his keyboard and face Brown, also a church musician and music educator at Maumee Valley Country Day School.

On their program will be Telemann’s Concerto for Two Pianos, the Mozart Sonata in D major, and Arensky’s Children’s Suite. Also planned is the Schmidt Rondina, music by Brahms and Haydn, and variations on George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm.” Tickets are $12-$15 at the door.

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If two musicians make sweet music, imagine the sound of a choir of harmonizers and you get the promise of the 2013 A Cappella Harmony show by the Voices of Harmony Chorus at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Maumee Performing Arts Center at Maumee High School, Saco Street.

Part of the huge and busy Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, this Bowling Green-based group will sing songs on the theme I’m Gonna Miss Her. Joining the chorus will be the Jones Boys, from Columbus, and Blueshift, the college quartet from this region.

Tickets are $10. For more information or tickets call 888-741-7464, e-mail thevoicesofharmony@gmail.com, or go to www.thevoicesofharmony.org.

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This weekend is time for the second annual PhoenixPhest, a celebration of chamber music performed by students and faculty of the Phoenix Ensemble, based at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Led by violinist Gabriel Bolkosky, faculty string, keyboard, and vocal experts coach students at many levels in solo and ensemble playing.

Faculty talent will be on tap at 8 p.m. Saturday in Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets are $15.

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Masterworks Chorale has announced that its longtime music director, Donna Tozer Wipfli, will retire at the end of this season. Since taking up the baton and other aspects of leadership 23 years ago, Tozer Wipfli has helped advance this fine amateur group to new levels of artistic achievement and community service.

Her final performance as conductor will be at the Collage V concert, 8 p.m. on June 1 in the Valentine Theatre. This series, started by Tozer Wipfli and other local producers such as Nigel Burgoine of Ballet Theatre of Toledo, has served as a year-end wrapup of area talent.

Joining Masterworks and Ballet Theatre this year will be singer Kim Buehler a founding member of 6th Edition, the vocal jazz ensemble, and the folk and bluegrass group Together Again.

Tickets for Collage V are $12-$35 at 419-242-2787 and at the door.

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Summer is on the way, and what do we do with those bright and active offspring? Area classical music groups have some suggestions.

The Toledo Symphony School of Music offers special classes for students from age 4 to adult. Adding to its ongoing Suzuki instruction in stringed instruments, this year students who want to play flute or clarinet in the same rote-based method can study with orchestra players Jocelyn Langworthy, clarinet, or Amy Heritage, flute. Lesson plans include the chance to join choirs of the two instruments as well. This four-week experience is for students with some musical training in elementary through junior high.

All ages are invited to participate in chamber ensembles, a reprise of last summer’s program. Plus Penny and Steve Kruse, string players from Ann Arbor, will lead Exploring World Music through Chamber Music for Violin and Viola.

Cellist Rene Schiffer will lead a seven-week class titled Music Appreciation for participants of all levels of musical knowledge.

An array of private and group lessons also is available.

For further information and registration, call 419-246-8000 or visit www.toledosymphony.com.

The University of Toledo also has announced workshops. Several welcome younger musicians: Joel Tse’s Flute Workshop June 10-15, and Gunnar Mossblad’s Summer Jazz Institute, June 16-22, for players ages 12 and up, plus Denise Ritter-Bernardini’s Art Song Festival and Workshop, June 26-30, for singers of high school age and older.

Others have set the minimum age at college and beyond. Pamela Stover will lead two workshops: Exploring Orff-Schulwerk June 12-14, focusing on the teaching system of Carl Orff, and, from Aug. 5-7, Books to Sing, Dance, Act, and Play.

Even more ambitious, and with a public performance built in, will be Ritter-Bernardini’s second project, Opera Role Study, July 8-26, for college age and older. This daily workshop will focus on Mozart’s comic opera, Cosi Fan Tutte, and will culminate in a public performance.

Fees and other details vary. For further information and registration visit /music/pdfs/UTSummerWorkshopsMinorsForm.pdfwww.utoledo.edu/cvpa

Bowling Green State University continues its long tradition of summer music institutes for up-and-coming musicians. Among this summer’s offerings starting June 16 or June 23 will be weeklong day camps in piano, double reeds, vocal arts, brasses, flute, recording techniques, and Super Sax Camp. All activities take place in the Moore Musical Arts Center on the BGSU campus.

For a complete listing and details, visit index.htmlwww.bgsu.edu/colleges/music/outreach/smi/.

BGSU is gearing up for its job as host for National Public Radio’s young musician show, From the Top, to open its Festival Series Sept. 28 in Kobacker Hall of the Moore center. Now comes the call for young musicians who would like to appear on the show with host Christopher O’Riley in a taping broadcast each week on Sundays. Accomplished classical players ages 8-18 who have not yet graduated from high school may submit applications by June 28 to www.fromthetop.org for consideration.

Soloists and ensembles are invited to submit applications and recordings of works from the classical repertoire or original compositions. A $20 application fee is due on submission. The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award scholarship is available for applicants who can prove financial need.

Submit items for News of Music to svallongo@theblade.com at least two weeks in advance of the event.