PRESS RELEASE FROM PAN HARMONIA:
Pan Harmonia announces its new season of chamber music by acclaimed local instrumentalists. Its eclectic performances take place in a variety of venues around the area including art galleries, historic churches, and a Cadillac showroom. Pan Harmonia invites listeners to explore this season’s classics and premieres: Soar with harps and harpsichords, hear Alternate Currents with romantic and contemporary works, amble downtown with Wolfgang, and help Pan Harmonia celebrate Animal Haven, as well as continue to extend outreach throughout our human community.
Pan Harmonia, Asheville’s professional chamber music repertory company, launches its 17th season with performances in the Asheville and Brevard Haen Galleries. These performances exhilarate the senses with live acoustic music in the midst of stunning paintings and sculptures. Trios for flute, guitar and bassoon open the season on Monday, September 12 at The Haen Gallery Asheville (wine at 6:30, music at 7:15) with a repeat performance on Sunday, September 18 at The Haen Gallery Brevard (tea at 3, music at 3:30). This opening set will feature flutist Kate Steinbeck and classical guitarist Amy Brucksch along with bassoonist Rosalind Buda. This seemingly unlikely trio earned rave reviews from online music writer Ted Irvine, who wrote: “Flute, guitar and bassoon blend tonally into an ensemble that is sonically so satisfying!” Seating is limited in this intimate venue, so music lovers are encouraged to buy in advance for this popular series and save 20% on tickets.
Iconic harpist, Jacquelyn Bartlett, joins Steinbeck in performances throughout the region in October. The duo will appear in Lenoir, Chapel Hill and Greenville, SC with an Asheville appearance on Friday, October 14 at 5:30 pm in a house concert in a downtown loft. Only advanced tickets for this special concert will be sold and are available online from Pan Harmonia.
In November, Opal String Quartet collaborates with Pan Harmonia in the first of three “Alternate Currents” programs, a project supported by the North Carolina Arts Council. Concerts take place on Friday, November 11 at 7:30 pm in resonant St. James Episcopal Church in Black Mountain and on Sunday, November 13 at 3 pm in intimate St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Asheville. This set highlights American music of the past century including Asheville premieres by two local composers as well as the lushly romantic “Theme and Variations, Op. 80” for flute and string quartet, written by New England composer Amy Beach in 1916. Opal String Quartet will introduce exciting sounds in works by Asheville-based composers, Dosia McKay and Michael Hosford. Pan Harmonia aims to raise awareness of the accessibility of contemporary music, is most active in programming works by living composers and has earned support for its artistic excellence from the NC Arts Council since 2007.
Each holiday season, Pan Harmonia offers a spirited and joyful community concert to raise awareness and funds for a local non-profit. This year’s offering is for Animal Haven, an East Asheville refuge whose main emphasis is on farm animals. Animal Haven also help cats and dogs that desperately need homes. Harpsichordist and Asheville original Barbara Weiss will present Baroque music with Pan Harmonia players on Sunday, December 4 at 3 pm in the coziness of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Admission is free with proceeds benefiting our fellow beasts!In addition to supporting the work of area service organizations, Pan Harmonia musicians play for underserved audiences throughout the year as part of its “Shining Light Project.” Affirming that social justice and arts access go hand in hand, Pan Harmonia provides free music experiences to people who otherwise might not hear it, such as those in day facilities for seniors and disabled, prisons, and homeless shelters. This program is underwritten by private donors and profoundly connects artists and community.
Pan Harmonia also offers “Chamber Music Chats,” casual talks by musicians about music, at OLLI, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNCA. Pan Harmonia will give four hour-long chats this season on Fridays at 3 pm: September 9, November 4, February 24 and March 31. All are free and open to the public.
Concerts continue in 2017 on Monday evening, March 13, as Pan Harmonia presents a “Walk with Wolfgang,” a progressive chamber music concert taking place at downtown Asheville venues. Listeners will enjoy a stroll while hearing musicians in three diverse locales: Blue Dream Curry House, the brand new Asheville Museum of Science and The Haen Gallery. This creation will be part of Asheville Amadeus, a vibrant all-around-town happening facilitated by the Asheville Symphony.The Alternate Currents series continues in April with performances in the Brevard and Asheville Haen Galleries featuring cellist Franklin Keel in modern music trios with Kate Steinbeck and Amy Brucksch. Season 17 culminates with free admission “Cinco de Mayo” community concerts with performances on Thursday, May 4, 7 pm at Harry’s on the Hill, Cadillac Showroom, 819 Patton Ave, Asheville and Friday, May 5, 7:30 pm at St. James Episcopal, Black Mountain.
LEARN MORE: For information about tickets, performers, venues and more, call 828-254-7123, write office@panharmonia.org or visit www.panharmonia.org.
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