Countdown to First Concert of 2015. Debra Saylor - January 11th at 4 PM.

Solo Piano Concert, "Piano at Twilight" Sunday January 11th at 4 PM.

The Music at Messiah Classical Concert series extends Happy New Year blessings to all followers and friends,  and look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming January 11th  at 4 PM concert which features the extraordinary talent of pianist Debra Saylor.

Debra will be interviewed live on classical radio station WLRH this coming Friday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m. by regular morning host Ginny Kennedy.  WLRH can be found at FM/HD 89.3 or by listening online at http://www.wlrh.org/  

Saylor, a finalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for amateurs in 2000, took third place for her awe-inspiring performance of Debussy's Claire de Lune. Fellow Van Cliburn competitor Carl Tait described her semi-final performance in this entry from his March 2001 blog post as follows.

"The most memorable pianist of the entire competition made her first appearance at 4:15 that afternoon. Steve Cumming introduced Debra Saylor without fanfare, in much the same genially professional way he introduced all of us. We saw the long white cane first. There was a collective gasp. Debra Saylor was blind. Shea made her way to the piano bench with surprising speed and adjusted it quickly with well-practiced motions. She spread her arms widely across the keyboard several times to judge both height and proximity. My mind was awash in conflicting emotions. This was remarkable, brave, commendable - but would it be any good?

Debra began with Schubert's familiar Moment Musical in F minor. It was good. Very good. I was smiling within seconds. The performance had a cheerful Viennese lilt and real charm. Next came Debussy's Clair de lune, for which no one was prepared, or could have been prepared. Debussy's overplayed work, mutilated by several generations of piano students over the past century, glowed to new life in Debra's hands. Her tone was warm and deep, her legato singing, her phrasing impeccable, her pianissimos infinitely shaded. Anyone who claims not to have been in tears by the end is probably lying. It was one of those revelatory performances in which one feels the composer's ideas fusing with the artistry of a gifted pianist."

Titled "Piano at Twilight" attendees can expect Saylor's artistry on the piano to fill Messiah Lutheran' Church's recently expanded sancturay with piano works written by the world's finest composers.  It is sure to inspire and move audiences of all ages.  Oh and be warned, Debussy's Claire de Lune is on the program so you might want to grab a few tissues before you arrive!

Here's a wonderful performance by Debra from a later Van Cliburn competition.   We truly are blessed to have this wonderful musician perform a concert with the Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.

Michael Head Concert Sunday - Next Concert Announced for April 27th

Parks - von Spakoksvy Concert Sunday at 4 pm

Gary Parks and Ingrid von Spakovsky are set to perform this Sunday at Messiah Lutheran Church.  The concert begins at 4 pm. The concert will feature pieces for Oboe and Piano composed by the English Composer Michael Head, Claude Debussy and others. Solo piano pieces by Ingrid von Spakovsky will include Peter Maxwell Davies' Farewell to Stromnes and George Gershwin's Three Preludes.

This will be the premier performance of the concert. "Oboe Music of Michael Head."  This is the second concert in the newly formed  concert series. 

Admission is free.  Donations will be taken on the door to support the Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.  Thank you for your patronage and support.

Phil Weaver, Rosa set for April 27th Concert Date

"Phil Weaver and Rosa Vidro Richardson"

Sunday,  April 27th, 2014 - 4:00 p.m. 

Toot and Twang is classical guitarist Phil Weaver and flutist Rosa Vidro Richardson. They are on the music faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and have performed live on WLRH public radio, Moonfolk Festival, Berkeley Bob's Coffeehouse, City Lights and Stars Concert Series, and the Flying Monkey Arts Center. This season they performed at the Kentuck Festival's main stage and Tangled String Studios at Lowe Mill. Rosa has a Master's in flute performance from Austin Peay University and has performed with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and Gateway Chamber Ensemble. Phil Weaver was the first guitarist to be awarded an individual artist's fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and he performed the guitar part for Gustav Mahler's 7th Symphony with both the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and the Louisiana Philharmonic. His music video Danza with filmmaker Jon Sawa has been very well received with acclaim from the composer himself, two-time Grammy winner Edin Solis and Bill Kanengiser of LAGQ.

The program for April will include sambas by Celso Machado, tangos by Astor Piazzolla, Jose Luis Merlin's Progresiones para Pauline, as well as guitar solos by Edin Solis.

Publicity Efforts in Full Swing for Feb 16th "Michael Head" Concert

Gary Parks, Ingrid von Spakovsky to be interviewed on WLRH Feb 13th

(Update 2/13/2014 - the interview scheduled on WLRH has been cancelled due to weather / road conditions) We're pleased to announce that Gary Parks and Ingrid von Spakovsky are scheduled to be interviewed on air, at approximately 11:05 am, Thursday, Feb 13th on WLRH (89.3FM and online www.wlrh.org) by radio host Judy Watters.   In addition to the interview, MAMCCS will be recording a short Public Service Announcement with WLRH to run periodically prior to the February 16th Concert. Please tune in and if you are able, support our local Public Radio Station WLRH. We are grateful for their presence in the Tennessee River Valley.

Announcing a Facebook Page for Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series! 

We have recently created a Facebook Page for the Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.  The ability for social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and You-Tube to extend the reach of traditional advertising is immense.  Please visit the page and "Like" it and "Share Posts"  with your users.  Here's the address:   https://www.facebook.com/musicatmessiah

Posters and Poster Cards Available at Messiah Lutheran Church!

A limited supply of posters and an ample supply of "Concert Cards" will be set out at the Welcome Center of Messiah Lutheran Church from now until February 16th.   Please take the concert cards and use them to invite co-workers or friends and place on your workplace lunch room bulletin board. The cards feature a handy "QR" code that allows the person to save the date to their smart phone calendars.

Gary Parks, Ingrid von Spakovsky prepare for Feb 16th Messiah Concert

Journey into the romantic, lyrical music of British composer Michael Head on February 16th.  Concert begins at 4 pm.

  

Oboist Gary Parks and pianist Ingrid von Spakovsky are set to perform the "Oboe Music of Michael Head." The concert will feature several delightfully pleasant and lyrical compositions by Head including Rondo, Siciliana, and the Suite for Oboe and Piano.  Also to be featured on the program will be several piano pieces of Claude Debussy, beautifully transcribed for oboe and piano by  oboist, Humbert Lucarelli. Additional works by Gershwin, Sayre and Davies will round out the performance. 

Michael Head was a 20th century British composer  well known as a singer and pianist who composed many art songs and pieces of choral literature. The oboe music featured  in this program is mostly a result of his collaboration with Lady Evelyn Rothwell Barbarolli, the first lady of the oboe in England.

Admission to the concert is free. Donations to support the Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series are greatly appreciated.   Please visit our sponsorship page for advertising and sponsorship information.