By Lila Meeks
Artistic Director Andrew Armstrong
As a young summer camp counselor in 1931, Leonard Bernstein entered the bustling dining hall on July 11 and announced to the noisy crowd that George Gershwin had died. Without another word he went to the piano and played Gershwin’s very slow, very sad Second Prelude. The only sound in the hall was that of the piano. Bernstein later said, “As the last notes wafted away, I rose from the piano and left the hall in silence. That was the first inkling I ever had of the power of music, of its possibilities for control. It was a great turning point to me.” Twenty-seven years later, as the successful, charismatic conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Maestro Bernstein used that power to break down the cultural barriers between young, mainstream Americans and classical music. For some 15 seasons (1958-1972) his “Young People’s Concerts” on CBS successfully sparked a large-scale interest in and enjoyment of classical music.
Without a full orchestra and the resources of CBS, but with every bit of the belief in the power of music and a modicum of his own charisma, Mr. Armstrong and three musical friends will welcome youth for a magical hour of music and conversation. Please make certain you, your children, grandchildren, youthful acquaintances, and/or strays adopted for the occasion mark your calendars now to support this effort and be part of this exceptional opportunity.
We’ll hear international artists playing the trumpet, violin, guitar, and grand piano. Each instrument has a story to tell, and together they create a symphony of narratives that will spark the imagination of each listener. We’ll hear pieces from Enesco, Beethoven, and Tartini with each instrument’s speaking to us in its own voice. Mr. Armstrong has promised that none of them is boring.
Mark your calendars – Saturday, January 11 at USCB’s Center for the Arts auditorium on Carteret Street. Doors open at 2 and the concert begins at 3 pm. Seating is open, so try to arrive early to get situated and ready for the first note. Children are FREE and adults are $25. To purchase tickets, go to uscbchambermusic.com or call 843-208-8246.
