Classically Speaking

The latest issue of the magazine Symphony promised me, “an overview summer musical meccas.”

I excitedly flipped to the “W” section of their alphabetized listing, only to find a gap between Washington and Wisconsin. 

Similar disappointment greeted me in the summer issue of Listen magazine and Gramophone’s summer newsletter .

Even though West Virginia doesn’t have something on the scale of Aspen, Tanglewood, or Spoleto (yet!), summer here is full of music, including classical music.  We’ll just have to assemble our own guide.

Here it is: Classically Speaking’s Guide to Classical Music in West Virginia, Summer 2010.  (If I’ve missed anything, be sure to let me know.)
 

In Charleston, the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra brings us Symphony Sunday, which has expanded to a weekend full of events – open rehearsals, the “Beat Beethoven” 5k walk/run, free performances by community and student music groups, rehearsal dinners, brunch, a costume party, a dog parade, and more. 
 
The weekend concludes with a concert by the WV Symphony Orchestra, Sunday night at 8pm on the University of Charleston lawn. Details for all these events can be found here.
 
The WV Symphony will also be playing a July 4th concert under the new canopy at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston.

Charleston’s FestivALL  is helping “a city become a work of art” for its sixth year, including a mini-festival of chamber music June 21-25, called “A Moveable Feast.” (disclosure: I'm involved with organizing these concerts!) Events include: an evening of free music on Capitol Street, a flute concert, a vocal recital, a clarinet ensemble from the WVSO, and a piano recital (by Classically Speaking contributor Evan Mack).

During FestivALL, you can also join a choir for the Mozart Requiem Summer Sing on June 27.  Music is provided, and there are two rehearsals before the performance. Carole Carter and I will be singing along, and we’ll be sure to update the blog as we learn the music. Carole will have some details and helpful hints as well, so watch for her blog next week

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The Huntington Symphony is in party mode with this year’s “Picnic with the Pops.”  They are playing three concerts at Harris Riverfront Park in Huntington this summer: “The Disco Party Cruise” (June 12), July 24 “The Big Kahuna” (July 24), and an “All American Beach Party” (August 21).  

Encores of popular Metropolitan Opera HD broadcasts will be shown on Wednesday evenings at the Huntington Mall movie theater (in Barboursville). Details and showtimes can be found here.
 
Marshall University Professor Wendell Dobbs (interview) will lead the fourth annual Timber Flute Festival in Elkins at the Randolph County Community Arts Center June 20-25.  According to Dr. Dobbs, "This Festival presents a unique crossing of the line between classical and traditional flute music."  It is for musicians who would like to explore the history, practice, and creation of wooden flutes.

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West Virginia University will host a flute seminar from June 14-19 with guest artist Julia Bogorad-Kogan.  Morgantown will also welcome groups of student musicians to several camps hosted by WVU’s Music Division this summer  – a high school flute camp, double reed camp, and the Mountaineer Music Camp. 

Encores of popular Metropolitan Opera HD broadcasts will also be shown on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer in Morgantown. You can find details, including the list of showtimes, here.

Several chamber groups from the Wheeling Symphony have been performing a series of concerts called "Music in Our Neighborhoods"  throughout the year, and they continue through part of the summer. The woodwind quintet will perform at the Stifel Fine Arts Center on June 11, the brass quintet will play a free concert at Grand View Park June 22 at 7pm, and on June 27 at 7pm, brass and percussion ensembles will join together for a free concert at Oglebay Park. 

I’m pretty sure that the full Wheeling Symphony is playing a few summer concerts; I’ll let you know the details as soon as I find out. The Wheeling Symphony will be touring with vocalist Margaret Carlson to present some free concerts around the state in early July:

July 2, 7:30pm: Fort Nutter, Clarksburg
July 3, 3pm: Canaan Valley
July 4, 7:30pm: Wheeling Heritage Port
July 5, 7:30pm: Weirton High School

The Wheeling Symphony then returns at the end of the summer with two free concerts of "Music Under the Stars," September 5th at Anne Kuchinka Memorial Ampitheater at Oglebay Park, and September 6th at Hazel Ruby McQuain in Morgantown.

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There are also a few nice concerts just over the Ohio border:
 
In Marietta, the River Cities Symphony Orchestra will perform on June 4th at 8pm, at the Lafayette Hotel.  Featured soloists include violinist Taylor Giorgio and violist Emily Peden, who are members of the West Virginia Youth Symphony.

In Gallopolis, the Ohio Valley Symphony will be joined by Broadway star (and West Virginia native) Mark McVey (interviews), for a free July 4^th concert.

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That's what I know so far.  As always, if you're hip to anything that I've missed, be sure to let me know.