Three music ensembles from the University of Mary Washington will give free performances this summer as part of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center’s American Music Concert Series. All concerts are free and open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. at Fredericksburg’s Market Square.
“UMW is proud to be a key sponsor of this series, which is designed to promote American music in a family friendly environment, and to highlight one of Fredericksburg’s most historic squares,” said Kevin Bartram, director of the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra.
On Saturday, June 16, the UMW Faculty Brass Quintet performed the first UMW-sponsored concert of the series. The program included the music of John Philip Sousa, Leonard Bernstein and George M. Cohan, as well as a performance of “West Side Story.” Founded in 2009, the Faculty Brass Quintet features Bartram and UMW adjunct instructors Jim Ford and Gary Carper, along with musicians David Mersiovsky and Jeremy Cucco.
The award-winning UMW Philharmonic performed on Tuesday, July 3, with special guest vocalist Sue Henderson. The orchestra performed patriotic favorites, including “God Bless America” and “God Bless the USA.” The group of more than 90 musicians also performed in its fifth annual Independence Day Spectacular on Wednesday, July 4 in Pratt Park.
On Saturday, August 25, the UMW Faculty Jazz Quintet will perform a concert of jazz standards from the past 50 years. The ensemble features UMW faculty members, including guitarist Bruce Middle, bassist Paul Henry, drummer David Long, trombonist Gary Carper and saxophonist Doug Gately.
For more information, visit http://www.famcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=201&Itemid=124 or call (540) 654-1012.
