Three years ago, the Atlantic Music Festival premiered under the banner of a Leonard Bernstein quote. During the 2009 premiere run, musicians explored through orchestral and chamber concert series the ramifications of the quote: “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” Audiences were delighted. It is in the midst of an established tradition that the Atlantic Music Festival returns this summer for a triumphant fourth season to the campus of Colby College from July 9 to August 5.
Once again, internationally recognized artists and rising stars from all over the world will congregate in Waterville, Maine to partake in an inspiring musical experience. The Festival will showcase a variety of timeless classical masterpieces, ranging from the Baroque era to the present, alongside iconoclastic new works by today’s composers. The Festival also continues its tradition of offering these concerts completely free of charge as a gift to the community. But this year, the Festival marks its fourth season with an extended focus on the global and national community through its I Am Four Years Old campaign: the donation of 100% of its proceeds from each concert to UNICEF’s Achieving Zero campaign. Achieving Zero seeks to reduce the worldwide child mortality rate, saving children in over 150 countries who would otherwise die from preventable causes. The goal is the cultivation of awareness of the musicians’ place within the community as well as a new exploration of the musicians’ “reply,” whether it be to violence, social injustice, lack of clean water, or illnesses. For more information, check out the I Am Four Years Old campaign page.
Acclaimed conductor Jonathan Schiffman returns this season to conduct the AMF Orchestra, led by internationally renowned concertmaster Dennis Kim, in the inaugural concert, to be held on July 14, 7 PM, at the Lorimer Chapel! The concert will feature cellist Jonah Kim, who has been applauded for his effortless finesse and emotional intensity, in performance of Shostakovich’s brilliant Cello Concerto No. 1, followed by the Serenade No. 1 by Brahms. AMF will present two additional orchestral concerts, conducted by Benjamin Scharwtz and Kenneth Kiesler, respectively.
The chamber concert series will be held on Wednesday and Fridays beginning the second week of the festival. The Salon Series, with its new approach of musical surprises, also returns on Thursdays after a successful last season run. In addition to its plethora of concerts, the Festival is proud to premiere an all-new 3-4 day festival series: the first a presentation series on the future of music by some of the most dynamic and innovative artists on the classical scene (beginning July 16), and the second a Piano Festival series (beginning July 21) with not-to-be-missed concerts by renowned piano faculty from top conservatories, such as Jerome Lowenthal of the Juilliard School, and Gabriel Chodos of the New England Conservatory.
Visitors are encouraged to make ticket reservations in advance by visiting the Festival website.
For more information about AMF 2012, including the complete schedule of events and ticket reservations, please visit the Festival website at www.atlanticmusicfestival.org, or call the Festival office at 1-888-704-1311.
