Kent State School of Music and The Cleveland Orchestra Partner for 45th Annual Kent/Blossom Music Festival

The Kent/Blossom Music Festival is an advanced training institute operated by Kent State University in cooperation with The Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music Center. This summer intensive program presents public performances by distinguished artist faculty and talented young musicians. The festival is under the direction of Kent State faculty members and esteemed musicians Danna Sundet (oboe) and Keith Robinson (cello). 

Celebrating its 45th year, the program enjoys an international reputation that began in the hands of legendary figures such as George Szell, Aaron Copland, Louis Lane, William Steinberg, Rudolph Firkusny, Rafael Druian, Lynn Harrell, Maurice Sharp, John Mack, Robert Marcellus, Myron Bloom and many others of equal reputation.

The program primarily draws college-age students who are eager to work with the highly regarded staff made up of current members of The Cleveland Orchestra, faculty members from Kent State’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music and other acclaimed musicians. This year, nearly 150 audition tapes were submitted for the 43 available slots. These young artists travel from around the globe to participate in the yearly summer tradition to celebrate and perform great chamber music. Students develop professional skills through personal study and classes with visiting master artists, members of The Cleveland Orchestra and Kent State faculty. A focus on major works of the chamber music repertoire is augmented by studies in orchestral repertoire and techniques and solo master classes. Participants also attend open rehearsals and concerts of The Cleveland Orchestra.

“We have students traveling from as far as Taiwan and Japan, but also boast some of Northeast Ohio’s best student musicians from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin and Kent State’s School of Music,” Sundet said.

The festival culminates with the “Side-by-Side” concert where the students perform at the Blossom Music Center with The Cleveland Orchestra. This year, the concert takes place on July 28 at 8 p.m. A pre-concert at 7 p.m. features the Kent Blossom Chamber Orchestra and will be led by James Feddeck. For tickets to this concert, visit www.clevelandorchestra.com.

The public is invited to enjoy free concerts presented by the various student ensembles known as the Chamber Players’ Concerts.  These concerts provide the students an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience, and they take place in Ludwig Recital Hall in the Music and Speech Center located at 1325 Theatre Drive on the Kent Campus. The Chamber Players’ concerts are free and open to the public.

Series I
Friday, July 6, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 7, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 8, 2:30 p.m.

Series II
Friday, July 20, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 21, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 22, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 22, 7:30 p.m.

The Kent/Blossom Music Festival also highlights its esteemed faculty members by offering a professional concert series known as the Faculty Concert Series, which includes five concerts, from June 27 to July 25, and features performances by high-profile musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra and faculty from the Kent State University Hugh A. Glauser School of Music. Almost all of the performers in the Faculty Concert Series serve as faculty for the 43 students attending the summer chamber music program.

All faculty concerts take place in the Ludwig Recital Hall on the Kent Campus. Parking is free. General seating tickets are now available online. New this year are the five-concert and three-concert season subscriptions, which are currently available online at www.kent.edu/blossom.

Special introductory pricing is $40 for the five-concert series (that is a $7-per-ticket discount) and $33 (a $4-per-ticket discount) for the three-concert series. Single tickets also are available online or at the door for $15 for adults and $5 for students under 18 or with a valid college ID. Visa, MasterCard or Discover are accepted both online and at the door.

The following is the 2012 Faculty Concert Series program schedule:

Wednesday, June 27
Magical Mozart!
Miami String Quartet with Jerry Wong performing Mozart Duo in B flat, Mozart String Quartet in G major and Mozart Piano Quartet in G minor

Monday, July 2
Passion, Personality and Energy!
Miami String Quartet with Jerry Wong performing Joan Tower “Incandescent,” Mendelssohn Quartet in F minor and Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor

Wednesday, July 11
Romance and Rhapsodies
The Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio and Friends:
Peter Otto, Richard Weiss, Joela Jones, Stan Konopka and Danna Sundet performing Clara Schumann: Three Romances, Loeffler Two Rhapsodies and Brahms B Major Piano Trio

Wednesday, July 18
Luscious Evening of Music
Cellist Mark Kosower with Pianist Jee-Won Oh performing Berteau Sonata in G major, Beethoven Sonata in D major, Cassado Suite for Solo Cello and Brahms Sonata in F major

Wednesday, July 25
The Winds of The Cleveland Orchestra
Marisela Sager, Jeffrey Rathbun, Daniel McKelway, Barrick Stees and Richard King performing Rathbun: Phases for Woodwind Quintet, Dring: Trio and works by locally acclaimed composer Griebling-Haigh.

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/blossom or call 330-672-2613.

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Photo Caption:
Richard Weiss, first assistant principal cellist with The Cleveland Orchestra, instructs a string ensemble at the 2011 Kent/Blossom Music Festival.

Media Contacts:
Effie Tsengas, etsengas@kent.edu, 330-672-8398
Bob Burford, rburford@kent.edu, 330-672-8516