The Friends of Good Music has started their 2019-2020 season of musical performances at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts’ stage. While two have already taken place, there are many more to come within the next few months.
There will be seven more performances until the first of May next year. With many different talents coming, there is sure to be one of interest for everyone.
Tonight at 7:30 p.m., there will be a duo recital with Barbara Luisi playing the violin and Alessandro Taverna playing the piano. Their program’s name is “Les Images…Encore!” Luisi will use a Giovanni Grancino violin from 1700.
“The program ‘Les Images…. Encore!’ will feature Mozart Sonatas.” said Ludwig Brunner, executive director of the center. “The duo has presented this program recently in a celebrated performance at Venice’s famed opera house Teatro La Fenice and has also recorded it on CD.”
Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., a vocal ensemble of five from Germany will perform “Christmas A Cappella” with holiday joy in their hearts. The ensemble made an appearance in the Friends of Good Music’s season from 2010 and will compliment its return with another song, “Silent Night.”
Friday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m., the brass band Slavic Soul Party, composed of nine musicians, will perform multiple jazz titles for their performance. They have released seven full-length albums containing multiple genres of music, including jazz and funk music.
“We will present for the first time the fiery Brass Band ‘Slavic Soul Party’ – NYC’s official No. 1 brass band for Balkan Sound Gypsy Funk,” said Brunner. “Their Tuesday night residency at the club ‘Barbes’ in Brooklyn has become a destination for music fans from around the world. This concert should particularly appeal to young audiences.”
Sunday, Feb. 23, at 3:00 p.m., the duet named Duo Jalal, composed of violinist Kathryn Lockwood and her husband Yousif Sheronick, will feature a unique blend of Lockwood’s violin and Sheronick’s Egyptian frame drum. Lockwood comes from Australia, and Sheronick specializes in playing Lebanese percussion.
Friday, March 27, at 7:30pm, a multi-instrumental quarter named “Invoke” will perform at St. Bonaventure for the first time.
“Also appearing for the first time at the QCA will be the string quartet ‘Invoke,’ the winner of the 2018 Concert Artists’s Guild International Competition,” said Brunner. “This multi-instrumental quartet performs music from across America, including bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes and jazz.”
Friday, April 17 at 7:30 pm, a piano recital played by international soloist Philip Edward Fisher will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. Fisher had made a previous appearance on campus last season, as well as played around the United Kingdom, Italy and Austria.
On Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m., baritone Kenneth Overton will sing with Kevin Miller playing the piano. Overton’s songs are rooted in African American traditions. This special performance will be free for Friends of Good Music subscribers.
“It is a great opportunity for students to attend world class performances of different genres for free in the intimate theater of the Quick Center,” said Brunner. “Performances of some of these artists in big cities often have a high-ticket price and the larger venues don’t allow for this intimate sound experience.”
Tickets for all of these performances will be $20 at full price, $16 for senior citizens and St. Bonaventure faculty and only $5 for students. Rush-hour tickets for students can be picked up at the box office for free one hour before each performance.
“Attendees can check the Quick Center social media for video clips of the artists performing here,” said Brunner. “The artists are always happy to meet and greet the audience after the performance in the atrium and answer questions regarding their performances.”
All the artist and program information can be found online under www.sbu.edu/quickcenter, on social media at @QuickArtsCenter and @QuickArtsCener and on the Friends of Good Music website.
By Catherine Fleischhut
Staff Writer
fleisccs18@bonaventure.edu
