June 17, 2014. An Appalachian Summer Festival is celebrating 30 years of bringing the best in music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film to the mountains of North Carolina this July. Beginning in 1984 as a chamber music festival, An Appalachian Summer Festival continues to share classical music with the High Country by bringing world-renowned orchestras and chamber ensembles to the campus of Appalachian State University.
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: June 29, July 1, 20, 22
Led by artistic director and violinist Gil Morgenstern, the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble returns to the festival with the Reflections Series International. Listed in The New York Times Summer Stages 2014 as a must-see summer concert, this series presents an alternative to the conventional approach to chamber music programming. Performance times are 8 p.m. at the Rosen Concert Hall.
Eastern Festival Orchestra with Sir Games Galway: July 6
The Eastern Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Gerard Schwarz returns to the festival on July 6 at 8 p.m. in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Featured soloists include world-renowned flautist and guest conductor Sir James Galway and the winner of the 2013 Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists, Shane Rathburn, alto saxophone of Burnsville.
Hayes School of Music Faculty Showcase Concert: July 9
The performing faculty of the Hayes School of Music, professional musicians as well as accomplished professors, showcase their musical talents in Rosen Concert Hall on July 9 at 8 p.m. Presenting a diverse program of solo and chamber music, this showcase concert is comprised of three of the school’s celebrated ensembles: Ensemble 322, The New River Brass Ensemble and Inalare.
Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists: July 13
In partnership with the Hayes School of Music, the festival proudly presents the fourth season of the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists. On Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m., seven selected finalists will take the stage in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts to compete in a public performance for a cash prize and the opportunity to return during the following festival season to perform with conductor Gerard Schwarz and the Eastern Festival Orchestra.
National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America with Gil Shaham: July 26
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together 120 of the brightest young musicians aged 16-19 from across the country to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. Under the direction of conductor David Robertson, the National Youth Orchestra is joined by Gil Shaham, violin, at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on July 26 at 8 p.m. High Country local and member of the Celtic trio The Forget-Me-Nots, Willa Finck of Banner Elk is a member of the 2014 National Youth Orchestra.
All Appalachian Summer Festival event tickets can be purchased by calling or visiting the Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-2787 or 828-264-4046. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.AppSummer.org. The very popular “Pick 5” ticket discount offers a break on the price for various festival events when the tickets are purchased in multiples of five.
For videos, images and detailed information about each performance, visit appsummer.org.
About an Appalachian Summer Festival
The university’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs presents an Appalachian Summer Festival annually in July. Beginning as a small chamber music series founded by festival patrons Arnold and Muriel Rosen, the festival is now one of the nation’s most highly regarded, multidisciplinary art festivals. The festival has been named one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. True to a university based arts festival, educational opportunities including lectures and chances to meet artists, artistic directors, competition jurors and other experts have always been an important part of festival programming.
Festival Corporate Sponsors
Westglow Resort and Spa, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, Northern Trust, McDonald’s of Boone, Mast General Store, Storie Street Grille, Goodnight Brothers, Boone Area Visitor’s Bureau, Sky Best Communications, Scholars Bookshop at the University Bookstore, Hotel Equities, Holiday Inn Express – Boone, Nationwide – Charles Eyler Agency, Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants, Chetola Resort, Creekside Electronics, Boone Ford-Lincoln and Casa Rustica.
Festival Media Sponsors
WBTV, WCYB, Charter Media, Our State Magazine, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News & Record, PBS Charlotte, WNC Magazine, High Country Radio, WHKY AM 1290, Mountain Television Network, WDAV 89.9FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WETS 89.5FM, WASU 90.5FM and High Country 365.
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