MUSIC DEPARTMENT HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL YOUTH MOVEMENTS FESTIVAL
The University at Albany Department of Music is pleased to present the third annual Youth Movements Festival during the time period of March 31 through April 9, 2011 at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown campus. There are three festival events, all of which will take place in the Recital Hall.
Kicking off the series on Friday, March 31 at 7:30pm will be a performance by Capital Trio, the ensemble-in-residence at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center, along with several guest artists. Trio members Duncan Cumming (piano), Hilary Cumming (violin) and Şölen Dikener (cello) will be joined by Violet Walther (violin) and David Walther (viola) in a program which includes Beethoven Piano Quartet, Op. 16; Dvořák Piano Quintet, Op. 81 and William Matthews “A Book of Hours.” The “youth” connection is represented by the first piece on the program, written by Beethoven when he was only 26. The concert is titled “3,4,5” since the program includes a trio, a quartet and a quintet. It also has significance for festival organizer Duncan Cumming who explains, “It celebrates the third year of the Youth Movements Festival, the fourth year of Capital Trio’s residency at UAlbany and my fifth year on the faculty of the Music Department.” The concert also is celebratory of Capital Trio’s recent CD release of A Book of Hours (Albany Records TROY 1239).
On Saturday, April 2 at 1pm, the world premiere of David Walther’s music to Dubose Heyward’s The Country Bunny will be performed on piano by Duncan Cumming. The performance will also feature narration by Lucy Cumming and projected illustrations by Marjorie Flack. Rounding out the afternoon program will be a repeat performance of From Bangor to Bangkok which was on the inaugural year’s festival program. An original children’s story written by Duncan Cumming, the presentation features projections of original artwork by Hilary Cumming and narration by Lucy Cumming. New to the production this year will be additional artwork by students at West Sand Lake Elementary School and choreography by Jackie Abbott performed by ballet students in her School for Creative Arts program. According to Duncan Cumming, “Initially, the Youth Movements Festival grew out of a small idea to try to expose young people to some great music, and this middle event of the festival speaks most clearly to this.”
The grand finale of the festival will take place on Saturday, April 9 when many pianists from the Capital Region will play four-hand repertoire left by Franz Schubert, whose life knew only youth. The music will be spread into three concerts on that day at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm. Performers will include faculty, staff, students and alumni from the UAlbany as well as other teachers and students of all ages from the area.
