Musical Offerings

has just completed its

30th Anniversary

Season! Founded in

1983-84, MO has

been presenting high

quality, innovative

chamber music

concerts for 30 years.

In this issue Our newsletter has a

new look.

1. Jazz Meets Classical

2. From Bach to Broadway

2. Billy Strayhorn

Centennial

3. Dvorak in America

3. What’s up?

3. How can I help?

Photo by Susan Riley. L to R

back: Matthew Diekman, Joan

Carroll, Matthew Dunne, Brent

Watkins, Darrel Tidaback, Curtis

Calderon, Rob Hardt. Front:

Zlatan Redzic, Laura Scalzo,

Joan Christenson, Kyle Keener,

James Balentine, Joshua Boulton

The twenty-second rendition of Jazz Meets Classical took place on April 7 & 8 at the San Antonio Museum of Art and Christ Episcopal Church. The Balentine brothers, James and Bruce, both composed exciting, original works for the series-Recollection-vague memories of porgy and bess, and A Winter Morning Walk-Song for Nancy-which featured the ensemble with exceptional vocals by Joan Carroll, Curtis Calderon, James Balentine. and Kyle Keener. Guitarist, Matthew Dunne, contributed first-class arrangements of Estate with Joan Carroll as soloist, and In walked Bud by Thelonius Monk. Other works included movements of: String Circle by Kenji Bunch, Pacific Serenade by Miguel del Aguila, The Diamond World by Eric Ewazen and Jazz Sonata by Steve Harlos. Musician and arranger fees were generously underwritten by a grant from the Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts. Additional support came from Quintanilla Schmidt Consulting and James R. and Christine H. Augustine. Thank you all!

June 2014

Photo by Susan Riley

JAZZ MEETS

CLASSICAL TO

PARTICIPATE IN

THE BILLY

STRAYHORN

CENTENNIAL

2015 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington’s gifted pianist and composer. Billy composed many of the hits that Ellington’s big band performed, including Valse, My Little Brown Book, and Take the “A” Train. As some of you may know, Larry Strayhorn, Billy’s nephew, resides in San Antonio. He and Bill Graves from KRTU are organizing the San Antonio tribute. Larry will talk about Billy's brilliant career at the concert. James Scott Balentine will compose a work inspired by Strayhorn’s music and Matthew Dunne will arrange some of Strayhorn’s compositions for the Jazz Meets Classical ensemble. This Centennial is being celebrated nationwide and this will truly be a special Jazz Meets Classical!

…...clip and mail in enclosed envelope………...

How can I help?

Get a jump on giving for the 2014-2015 season of Musical Offerings. Your support is SO important to the success of our organization. I would like to support Musical Offerings with a gift! MO is a designated 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are recognized in all concert programs for the fiscal year June-May. Thank you for your donation. ____Friend $50-99

____Benefactor $100-299 ____Patron $300-499 ____Saint $500-up _______________________________________________ Name _______________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________ State _______________________________________________ Phone number _______________________________________________ Email address Make checks payable to : Musical Offerings P. O. Box 6991 San Antonio, TX 78209

Musical Offerings and the San Antonio Museum of Art collaborated for the Symphony sponsored Dvorak Festival by presenting Dvorak in America in the beautiful American Gallery on Monday February 3. All compositions by Dvorak were ones he wrote during his three years in America, including the Sonatina for violin and piano and the famous ‘American’ String Quartet. Several works by contemporaries of Dvorak’s during his time in the U.S .were also presented.

Eric Schneeman, board member for Musical Offerings with a Ph. D. in musicology, introduced each work in his interesting and lively way. The audience really enjoyed the concert. Participating musicians were: Joan Christenson and Sayaka Okada, violin; Lauren Magnus, viola; Ryan Murphy, cello and Elaine Barber, harp.

More programs at

the San Antonio

Museum of Art

Participation in the

SA Symphony

sponsored Strauss

Festival

Jazz Meets Classical

will participate in the

Billy Strayhorn

Centennial.

Photo: Artistic Director

Joan Christenson

The 30th Anniversary Opener: From Bach to Broadway was presented on Tuesday, December 3, at Christ Episcopal Church. The program opened with Bach’s cantata, Ich habe genug, BWV 82 and ended with three Broadway love songs: If Ever I Would Leave You from Camelot, Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, and Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. These were beautifully arranged and sung by baritone, Owen Duggan. In between, the musicians performed the Sonata for Violin and Piano, op. 30 #1, by Ludwig van Beethoven, Carinhoso by Pixinguinha and Eight Pieces for Violin and Cello by Rheinhold Gliere. After the concert, the audience and musicians celebrated with a cake reception. Thank you, loyal audience members, for celebrating with us! We appreciate your support over 30 years.

Artists on the concert were ( L to R photo above): Ryan Murphy, cello; Jennifer Berg, oboe; Vivienne Spy, piano; Owen Duggan, baritone; Joan Christenson, violin