Festival of the Lakes to start this weekend

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Alexandria’s Lakes Chamber Music Society is pleased to announce the 17th annual Festival of the Lakes.

This year’s concerts will take place at Alexandria’s United Methodist Church, 2210 6th Avenue East, at 7:30 p.m. on the following days: Saturday, August 8; Wednesday, August 12; and Sunday, August 16.

Adult ticket prices for the Festival of the Lakes have been reduced this year and will be $10. They may be purchased in advance at Cherry Street Books, 503 Broadway in downtown Alexandria, or by phone at (320) 763-9400. They may also be purchased 45 minutes prior to the start of each concert.

Student tickets are being offered free at the door for each of the performances.

All tickets are general admission; there is no reserved seating. For more details on the programming and the artists, visit the Festival of the Lakes website at www.alexfest.org.

In addition, all audience members are invited to a chocolate dessert reception following the Wednesday evening performance. The Central Lakes Music Club will host the reception. The club is also hosting the state convention of the Minnesota Federation of Music Clubs in Alexandria on August 12-13.

Music by a wide variety of classical composers will be performed by professional musicians from the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and other nationally renowned groups.

Some of the musicians have been playing in this festival year after year and will be returning to Alexandria to play again this year. Others will be performing for the first time.

Festival-goers will hear several different instruments in various combinations, including the violin, viola, cello, string bass, piano, clarinet and bassoon, which will provide a wonderful musical experience.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Felix Mendelssohn, some of his works will be heard in each concert.

Many people work hard all year to ensure the continuing success of this “one-of-a-kind” music festival, according to organizers of the event.

They also noted that it’s a great privilege to offer this caliber of performance in Central Minnesota and it could not be achieved without the volunteer efforts and generous financial support of many businesses and individuals in the area.

The Festival of the Lakes is funded in part by a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council through a Minnesota legislative appropriation.

A silent auction fundraiser, which will include some wonderfully unique items, will be going on for the duration of the three concerts. Final bids will be collected at the close of the intermission on August 16.

Tax-exempt contributions in support of the festival or donations of items for the auction are still welcome. Call the festival office at (320) 762-5666 and leave a message with questions or information regarding donations.

ARTISTS

Susan Billmeyer – piano

Richard Bock – cello

Christopher Brown – bass

William Eddins – piano

Jennifer Gerth – clarinet

Sarah Lewis – cello

Peter McGuire – violin

Brenda Manuel Mickens – violin

Dina Michelson Namer – piano

Norbert Nielubowski – bassoon

Tamás Strasser – viola

Kirsten Whitson – cello

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Saturday, August 8

The program will include the following selections:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Clarinet Trio in B-flat, Op. 11

Claude Debussy: Violin Sonata in G minor

Gerald Finzi: 5 Bagatelles, Op. 23 for clarinet & piano

Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49

Performers for the evening will be Jennifer Gerth, Peter McGuire, Richard Bock and Susan Billmeyer

Wednesday, August 12

The program will include the following selections:

François-René Gebauer: Bassoon Trio in C Major, Op. 33, #2

Bohuslav Martinu: Violin & Cello Duo #2, H. 371

William Hurlstone: Bassoon Sonata in F Major

Henri Dutilleux: Sarabande et Cortège

Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66

Performers for the evening will be Norbert Nielubowski, Peter McGuire, Kirsten Whitson and Dina Michelson Namer.

Sunday, August 16

The program will include the following selections:

Antonín Dvorák: Terzetto, Op. 74, for 2 violins and viola

Felix Mendelssohn: Cello Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 45

Frank Proto: Sonata 1963 for bass & piano

George Onslow: String Quintet in Bb Major, Op. 33

Performers for the evening will be Peter McGuire, Brenda Manuel Mickens, Tamás Strasser, Sarah Lewis, Christopher Brown and Dina Michelson Namer.

Note: Programs and artists subject to change.

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