Rochester Music Guild

presents

Lunch & Learn

The 2009 – 2010 season

Our Lunch & Learn program has been very popular, featuring performances and education in an informal and convivial environment. This season will continue to instruct and entertain. Below is a summary of the programs to come. Click for a printable description of the sessions or brochure with speakers, topics and dates.

Our next program is…

Saturday, May 1, 2010: Hawai’i Revealed: Music from the Soul of the Hawaiian Saga

The Rochester Music Guild and Rochester Public Library are delighted to collaborate in bringing the critically acclaimed Rose Ensemble to our community. The imaginative performances of the Rose Ensemble allow listeners of all ages to experience a unique way of life through educational and musical storytelling. Hawaii’s ancient heritage is revealed through its beautiful music. Audience members will have an opportunity to hear ancient oli and mele chants, paniolo (cowboy) songs of the migrant ranchers, and learn simple, but elegant hula movements. This program will be presented for families at the Rochester Public Library at 10:30 am Saturday, May 1 and again at our familiar Lunch and Learn venue at the Charter House (211 2^nd St. NW, Rochester) at 12:30 pm. Unlike the previous programs this season no catered lunch will be available, so bring a “brown bag”, or simply come for the entertainment and education. For information about this creative musical group please visit their website. Click here for a printable brochure of the program.

Did you miss it?

Friday, April 9, 2010: The ART of Jazz

Jazz is one of America’s true original art forms. Guest artists Dr. John Paulson (shown), woodwinds; Dr. Kevin Dobbe, percussion; Eric Heukeshoven, piano; and Terry Grosskopf, bass provided a presentation and discussion of jazz music and improvisation. Kris Douglas, Chief Curator from the Rochester Art Center, provided corresponding visual art works by a number of “jazz-influenced” artists and will be projected to the music and improvisation of jazz. In addition to some outstanding jazz music numbers, this session was extremely informative and provided great insights into the structure and roots of many jazz improvisation techniques.

Friday, March 12, 2010: The ART of Singing

Carla Thelen-Hanson (shown), soprano and Ainhoa Urkijo, pianist, presented a series of “Art Song” compositions from various time periods. Projected behind the performers were correlating visual works from visual artists from that time period as selected by the Chief Curator of the Rochester Art Center, Kris Douglas. The program was very informative and had wonderful performances by Carla and Ainhoa. It had one of the largest attendances we have seen

Monday, February 8, 2010: Pure Passion

We all did! Maestro Jere Lantz was to return as our featured speaker to present music excerpts and discussion about Wagner’s Prelude and Love Death from Tristan and Isolde, selections of Bizet’s Carmen, Khachaturian’s Suite from Spartacus, and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet. This program was to inform us about the selections to be played by the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale’s Saturday, February 20, 2010, 7:30 pm concert: Pure Passion. Unfortunately a huge snow storm forced cancelation of the program. It is Minnesota after all.

Friday, January 8, 2010: Rachel Kuipers and Friends

Rochester is home to many outstanding chamber music performances! Performers Rachel Kuipers (shown), viola; Veronica Staupe, cello; Rachel Light-Diede, clarinet, and Horacio Nuquid, piano, will perform excerpts and comment on the chamber music of Mozart: Trio in E-flat Major, K. 498, Mucznyski: Fantasy Trio, Op. 26, Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasilieras, and Schumann: Marchenbilder, Op. 113. This will be a great way to “get behind the scenes” for the Rochester Chamber Music Series January 9^th performance at Rochester Christ United Methodist 7:30 pm performance.

Friday, October 2, 2009: Music/Art & Technology

Kevin Dobbe kicked off our 2009-2010 season. As a Professor of Music and founder and Director of the Digital Arts Program Rochester Community and Technical College Kevin’s interests include original music composition, electronic music composition, audio recording and mixing, performing in jazz ensembles, and the creation of interactive multimedia installations. To learn more about Kevin visit his website at http://web.mac.com/kdobbe. Kevin discussed the intersection between Arts and Technology. Examples of contemporary music and arts-media tools were demonstrated and followed by a tour and discussion of the “Interactions” installations exhibited at the Rochester Art Center.

Monday, November 9, 2009: Ode to Joy

Maestro Jere Lantz presented his perspective on one of the greatest symphonic works ever written: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. We heard how a conductor studies this grand creation and how such a work is rehearsed. Shostakovich, Ives, and Bernstein were also discussed as part of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale November 14^th concert presentation.