Cedar Walton Quartet, Miró Quartet, and Song Recital Inspired by Elizabeth Bishop’s Poetry Among the Highlights of Vassar’s Fall Music Series

Music schedule online

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Esteemed jazz pianist Cedar Walton, the rising classical Miró Quartet, a poetry-inspired collaboration between Vassar music faculty and actress Amy Irving, and a virtuoso the New York Times calls “one of the brightest, most promising young concert organists to have appeared on the American music scene in years” will be among the highlights of Vassar College’s fall 2005 music series. The series will open Friday night, September 9, with the quartet of jazz bassist Sean Smith, and will also feature the a cappella early music Concord Ensemble, and Vassar faculty recitals with guitarist Terry Champlin, countertenor Drew Minter, soprano Christine Howlett, pianists Todd Crow, Brian Mann, and Thomas Sauer, oboist Cheryl Bishkoff, cellists Sophie Shao and Susan Seligman, baritone Robert Osborne, violist Ronald Carbone, and mezzo-soprano Mary Nessinger.

Vassar’s on-campus music series is free and open to the public, and performances will be held at the Skinner Hall of Music unless noted below:

Friday, September 9, 8:00 p.m.

Friday Night Jazz: The Sean Smith Quartet

Sean Smith, bass, with Allen Mezquida, alto saxophone, Russell Meissner, drums, and Keith Ganz, guitar.

As a bassist and composer, Sean Smith has been a part of the international jazz scene for more than 18 years, having appeared in many of the world’s major jazz rooms and concert halls, and touring extensively in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean, His works have been recorded by Phil Woods, Mark Murphy, Bill Charlap, Gene Bertoncini, Bill Mays, and Leon Parker.

Sunday, September 11, 3:00 p.m.

Faculty Concert

Lecturer of Music Terry Champlin, guitar, with Helen Avakian, Paul Smith, Sylvia Kloc and Andrew Dickenson, guitars and Earl Maneein, violin

Friday, September 16, 8:00 p.m.

Friday Night Jazz: Faculty and student jazz ensembles led by Lecturer in Music James Osborn, trumpet, and featuring Ian Hartsough, ’07.

Saturday, September 17, 8:00 p.m.

Faculty Concert

Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Drew Minter, countertenor, and Visiting Instructor in Music Christine Howlett, soprano, assisted by James Fitzwilliam, harpsichord, perform Italian duets by Handel.

Friday, September 23, 8:00 p.m.

Friday Night Jazz: Associate professor of music Brian Mann, with guests

Sunday, September 25, 3:00 p.m.

Music Faculty Concert

Adjunct Professor Cheryl Bishkoff, oboe, assisted by Cheryl Gobbetti Hoffman, flute, Jacob Greenberg, piano and Jonathan Golove, cello.

Friday, September 30, 8:00 p.m.

Friday Night Jazz: The Cedar Walton Quartet

Cedar Walton, one of the world’s most accomplished and versatile hard bop pianists, is an equally influential jazz composer, with pieces such as “Bolivia,” “Clockwise,” and “Firm Roots” more and more frequently recorded, and becoming engrained in the jazz repertoire. For over 25 years, Walton has accompanied a litany of jazz greats while also fronting his own successful groups. He joined Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1961, where Walton stepped forward as a composer, contributing originals like “Mosaic” and “The Promised Land.”

Saturday, October 1, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar College Women’s Chorus and Choir
Visiting Instructor of Music Christine Howlett, conductor.

Sunday, October 2, 3:00 p.m.

Vassar Chapel

David Higgs, organ, performing works by Pachelbel, Bach, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Maurice Duruffé, and William Bolcom.

David Higgs chairs the Organ Department at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and his ensemble performances include the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Chanticleer, the Orpheus Ensemble, and the Empire Brass. In 1987, Higgs made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony, and for twelve years played annual Christmas recitals that sold out San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hal. He has recorded for Delos International, Pro Organo, and Gothic records, with a discography including David Higgs at Riverside, Bach at Bryn Mawr, Inaugural Recital/Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, and Double Forte!

Saturday, October 8, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar College Orchestra

Visiting Lecturer of Music Eduardo Navega, conductor.

Sunday, October 9, 3:00 p.m.

Faculty Concert

Lecturer of Music Sophie Shao, cello, Adjunct Assistant Professor Thomas Sauer, piano.

Friday, October 28, 8:00 p.m.

Special Faculty Concert, with special guest reading by actress Amy Irving

Lecturer of Music Robert Osborne, baritone, Lecturer of Music Mary Nessinger, mezzo-soprano, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Thomas Sauer, piano

A song recital inspired by the poetry of Pulitzer-winner Elizabeth Bishop, with musical settings by Ned Rorem and professor of music Richard Wilson Bishop, a Vassar alumna, is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, winning virtually every major prize in the country including the Houghton Mifflin Poetry Award, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Bishop was also both the first American and the first woman to win the Books Abroad/Neustadt Prize for Literature.

Note: Amy Irving will not appear due to illness.

Saturday, October 29, 8:00 p.m.

The Miró String Quartet

Daniel Ching and Sandy Yamamoto, violins, John Largess, viola, and Joshua Gindele, cello

The Miró Quartet is increasingly recognized as one of America’s brightest and most exciting young chamber groups. Since winning First Prize at the 1998 Banff International String Quartet Competition and the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Award in 2000, the Miró Quartet has captivated audiences around the world with its youthful intensity and mature interpretations. The Quartet is currently the Faculty String Quartet at The University of Texas at Austin, where they teach and coach chamber music while maintaining an active international touring schedule.

Friday, November 4, 8:00 p.m.

Faculty Concert

Lecturer of Music Susan Seligman, cello, assisted by Sylvia Bucelli, piano.

Performing works by Beethoven, Joan Tower, Samuel Barber and Lukas Foss.

Saturday, November 5, 2:00 p.m.

Senior Recital

Hilary Walker ‘06, soprano, assisted by Adjunct Instructor of Music Maria Rivera White, piano.

Saturday, November 5, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar Mahagonny Ensemble

Ian Garvie ’07, director, Lidiya Yankovskaya ’08, chorus master.

Sunday, November 6, 3:00 p.m.

Faculty Concert

Adjunct Instructor of Music Ronald Carbone, viola, professor of music Todd Crow, and Lecturer of Music Mary Nessinger, mezzo-soprano.

Friday, November 11, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar College Choir and Vassar Camerata.

Visiting Instructor of Music Christine Howlett and Eli Spindel ’06, conductors.

Featuring Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass.

Saturday, November 12, 8:00 p.m.

The Concord Ensemble

Performing works by 17th-century composer Giacomo Carissimi.

Formed in 1996, the a cappella Concord Ensemble won the 1998 Early Music America/Dorian Records Competition. The international touring group is regularly featured at the Bloomington Early Music Festival, and received rave reviews for its European premier at the Tage Alter Musik Festival in Regensburg, Germany.

Sunday, November 13, 3:00 p.m.

Vassar College Wind Ensemble

Lecturer James Osborn, conductor.

Saturday, November 19, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar College Women’s Chorus

Visiting Instructor of Music Christine Howlett, conductor.

Sunday, November 20, 3:00 p.m.

Vassar College Madrigal Singers

Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Drew Minter, conductor.

Saturday, December 3, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar College Orchestra

Lecturer of Music Eduardo Navega, conductor.

Sunday, December 4, 7:00 p.m.

Vassar Chapel

A Service of Lessons and Carols

Visiting Instructor of Music Christine Howlett and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Drew Minter, conductors.

Friday, December 9, 8:00 p.m.

Vassar College Jazz Ensemble.

Lecturer of Music James Osborn, conductor.

The Skinner Hall of Music at Vassar College is air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible, and people with disabilities requiring accommodations should call Cathy Jennings in the Office of Campus Activities (845-437-5370). Free parking is available at Skinner Hall, and the campus’s adjoining south parking lot. Directions to the Town of Poughkeepsie campus are available online.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Thursday, August 4th, 2005.