By Michael Johns
Alison Shearer
USCB Chamber Music brings its 45th season to a spectacular close on Sunday, April 6, 5:00pm at the Center for the Arts. The music will span 305 years, from 1720 to a 2025 world-premiere. Composer-saxophonist Alison Shearer returns to Beaufort with a new composition inspired by her impressions of the Lowcountry gained from sitting on a Bay-Street porch at nightfall while gazing out across the water to reading Pat Conroy’s captivating personalization of the Sea Islands’ unique beauty, magic, and allure. These intuitions have coalesced into a three-movement quartet. The university and USCB Chamber Music are grateful to Katherine Wells and Walda Wildman for their thoughtful and generous commission of Ms. Shearer’s new-music creation.
Two different “instrumental” duos—one with vocal qualities (saxophone and soprano), the other from the percussion family (marimba and piano)—showcase their individual tone colors while exploring new and unique ensemble blends. Artistic Director Andrew Armstrong has invited Ms. Shearer, soprano Indra Thomas, and marimba virtuoso Eriko Daimo to join him for a program of Baroque perfection (J.S. Bach), Impressionistic subtlety (Debussy), heartfelt story-telling (Verdi, Puccini), poignant introspection (Strauss, Garner, Spirituals), brilliant virtuosity (Séjourné), and the one-of-a-kind soprano, alto saxophone, marimba, and piano world-premiere quartet by Alison Shearer.
Two works that combine improvisatory flair and incisive construction begin the program: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 and the keyboard-arranged Fugue from Violin Sonata No 1. Marimba virtuoso Eriko Daimo will reveal the dulcet colors and haunting introspection possible on that instrument with two peaceful works by Debussy: “Bruyères (Heather)” from Preludes, Book 2 and “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum” from Children’s Corner. Soprano Indra Thomas then takes the stage for three gripping opera arias of suffering, anguish, and heartbreak: Verdi’s “Pace, pace mio dio,” from La Forza del Destino, Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro,” from Gianni Schicchi and “Vissi d’Arte,” from Tosca. The first half closes with Alison Shearer’s new three-movement composition, Luminescence.
The second half features music of poignant reflection and brilliant display: Richard Strauss’ hopeful and
Indra Thomas
comforting “Morgan!” for voice and piano, two spirituals—“Deep River“ and “Ride on King Jesus!”—and contemporary French composer Emmanuel Séjourné’s rapturous Concerto for Marimba and Strings. The concert and season conclude with a soothing image for wayward times; Erroll Garner’s jazz-standard, “Misty,” whose creative spark ignited while the composer was flying through a thunderstorm, looking out the window, and seeing a rainbow glowing through the haze.
Soprano Indra Thomas has established herself as an artist of sensitivity, poise, and virtuosity, with a prolific performing career that includes operatic roles, movie cameos, recordings, and soloist appearances nationally and internationally. Her latest solo album is titled Great Day! Indra Thomas Sings Spirituals. She has appeared with the leading opera companies of Atlanta, Valencia, Johannesburg, Hamburg, San Diego, Chicago, Barcelona and New York (the Metropolitan Opera) and been a featured soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, London, Kansas City, Boston and Rome Symphony’s, and the Seoul and New York Philharmonics.
Called “a force on the rise” by JazzTimes magazine, Alison Shearer’s career is reinventing what it means to
be a jazz saxophonist by blending classical technique, jazz mentorships, and natural talent with a style both personal and global. She has toured extensively around the US, Canada, and South Asia, performing at jazz festivals, arts centers and clubs large and small. Ms. Shearer formed her own quintet in 2015, and its debut album, View From Above, received immediate critical acclaim. She has branched out into the classical-composing realm and returns to the Center for the Arts for the premiere of her newest work, the Beaufort–centric Luminescense.
Eriko Damo
Praised for her “mesmerizing combination of sound and sight” (Irish Times), the award-winning marimbist, Eriko Daimo, is one of the leading artists of her field. Recent concerts include concerto performances throughout Europe and Asia, as well as recital tours over 25 countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. As an educator, she has given concerts and masterclasses across the US and Europe, served as a judge on international percussion and marimba competitions and is currently on the faculty of the Juilliard School pre-college division and New York University.
Andrew Armstrong, creative Artistic Director, brilliant pianist, and voluble host, has shown a knack for programming, communicating, and mixing new artists with familiar faces. In the process, USCB Chamber Music’s presentations have increased, repertoire expanded, and sold-out houses become expectations rather than distant dreams. His keen and intuitive ear for blending eras and instruments was in evidence throughout the season, from the first piece in November (Schubert’s “Ave Maria”) to the last in April (Erroll Garner’s “Misty”). The 45th season contained a number of ‘firsts;’ more will undoubtedly follow in future seasons.
There are three ways to enjoy each concert: in person at the Arts Center and virtually by Live-Stream and OnDemand. All virtual concerts are professionally produced, creating great viewing opportunities. OnDemand is accessible four days after the concert and available to view at your leisure for three weeks. For concert, artist, event, and ticket information, go to www.uscbchambermusic.com or call 843-208-8246, Monday through Friday. The final concert of USCB Chamber Music’s 45th season, Sunday, April 6, 2025, 5:00 will be at the USCB Center for the Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort, in the downtown historic district.
