PHILADELPHIA – Woodmere Art Museum in historic Chestnut Hill is expanding its music series after a successful series of jazz performances this past Spring. Music offerings at Woodmere now include Classic Sundays in addition to the popular Friday Night Jazz series, offered weekly beginning October 9. Visitors are invited to enjoy music and art together while touring Woodmere’s galleries.
Classic Sundays programming includes opera, choral, and classical selections from critically-acclaimed artists. The afternoon series is held from 3 – 4: 30 p.m., Sundays from October 9 – December 18 and includes light refreshments. Classic Sundays will open with the Delaware Valley Opera Company’s highlights from Don Giovanni on October 9. Additional artists include tenor Perry Brisbon (October 16), the La Musique des Amis(October 23), clarinetist Benito Meza with pianist Alexander Moutouzkine (October 30) and Emiliano Pardo-Tristan, who will bring a Brazilian twist to traditional chamber music with the Cachasa Ensemble on November 6.
The Friday Night Jazz series celebrates a succession of themes in this influential American music genre, featuring weekly performances by vocalists and instrumentalists offering a range of jazz styles. Evening performances are held Fridays from 6 – 8 p.m. from October 14 – December 23 and include light fare and wine. Friday Night Jazz programming begins with a Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald featuring the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble with special guest vocalist Tonya Milburn on October 14. Puzzlebox mixes Big Band sounds with jazz and lyrical tunes (October 21), and the Dali Quartet blends Venezuelan and American traditions with Caribbean-inspired chamber music (October 28). Select Friday Night Jazz events will also include companion family programming from 6 – 7 p.m., offering visitors with children a little grown-up time to experience the Museum and musical performances.
A full schedule of Friday Night Jazz and Classic Sundays programming through December follows below. Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia’s premier institution for interpreting the art and culture of the Philadelphia region, is located at 9201 Germantown Avenue. Tickets for the music series are $20 each ($15 for members) and can be purchased online or at the door. A special music package for any eight classical or jazz concerts at Woodmere is also available for $130 ($100 for members). For information, visit www.woodmereartmuseum.org or call (215) 247-0476.
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES
FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ
October – December, every Friday 6 – 8 p.m. (excluding November 25). *Friday Night Jazz Programs on October 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18; and December 2 will also include the companion family programming from 6 – 7 p.m., offering visitors with children a little grown-up time to experience the Museum and musical performances.
October 14*: Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald: Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble with guest vocalist Tonya Milburn
October 21*: Puzzlebox – Keith DeStephano and Puzzlebox mix the Big Band sound with jazz and lyrical tunes, includes a wonderful variety of wind instruments
October 28*: Dali Quartet, an evening of innovative Caribbean-inspired chamber music that blends the traditions of Venezuela and America
November 4*: Keyboard virtuoso David Posmontier presents his own brand of jazz
November 11*: Tony Wyatt Swing Band
November 18*: Toe tapping, traditional Ragtime with Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society
December 2*: New Orleans Jazz with Philadelphia Brass Band, performing traditional Big Band Sound on Friday evening and Holiday favorites on Sunday December 4 as part of the Classic Sundays series
December 9: Billie Holiday Night: Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble with guest vocalist Mic’al Beckham
December 16: Edgardo Cintron and Latin Jazz
December 23: Holiday Classics: Arpeggio Jazz Trio
CLASSIC SUNDAYS
October – December, every Sunday 3 – 4:30 p.m. (excluding November 27)
October 9: Delaware Valley Opera Company performs highlights from Don Giovanni
October 16: Tenor Perry Brisbon withRussian piano virtuoso Oxana Harlamova
October 23: La Musique des Amis
October 30: Rising star Benito Meza on clarinet withinternationally acclaimed Russian-American pianistpianist Andrea Lam
November 6: Instrumental Latin American Music: Emiliano Pardo-Tristan and The Cachasa Ensemble – Classical guitar music blended with jazz and Latin music to create chamber music with a Brazilian twist
November 13: Classically trained musician Lisamarie McGrath performs her mystical sounds, inspired by Native American music, light and airy with hollow tones
November 20: Russian piano virtuoso Oxana Harlamova with Paul Arnold
December 4: Holiday Fare: Philadelphia Brass Band
December 11: Cellist Clancy Newman and pianist Noreen Cassidy-Polera play Bach to Gershwin
December 18: Celtic Harp music by Ellen Tepper