Honoring Charles Ives Summer Events Start in August

In conjunction with the launch of the CMI, Danbury Music Centre is pleased to announce the launch of its CMI Artist Concert Series http://danburymusiccentre.org/cmi-artist-concert-series), which brings today’s most exciting musicians to Danbury to give concerts that feature unique genre-crossing, the classic favorites, and the music of living American composers in celebration of Charles Ives’s legacy. 

The CMI Artist Concert Series debuts Tuesday, August 11th at 7:30 PM at Danbury’s Two Steps Downtown Grille featuring world-renowned percussion artist Simon Boyar. Mr. Boyar has been a featured guest on NPR’s All Things Considered and on PBS-NJTV’s State Of The Arts. Boyar has performed as a percussion soloist around the world and with dozens of orchestras including The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, The American Symphony Orchestra, The Korean Symphony Orchestra, and many others. At CMI, Mr. Boyar performs a concert of his own ground-breaking solo marimba compositions including his Reset, Never Ever Knowing, Love Brings Out The Best, and his new work for 6 mallets, Summer In Between.

Danbury’s new concert series continues Thursday, August 13th at 7:00 PM in the historic Marian Anderson Recital Hall, named after another famous Danbury native. The program features CMI Artists-in-Residence performing the works of Brahms, Gershwin, Hindemith, Piazzolla, Piston, and a premiere by Artistic Director, Paul Frucht. 

OnFriday, August 14th at 7:30 PM in Marian Anderson Recital Hall, the Danbury Music Centre honors Charles Ives with the first annual “Charles Ives and his Living Legacy” concert. The program features work by prominent and emerging American Composers who further the American tradition of Classical Music that Ives was so instrumental in developing. CMI Artists-in-Residence will perform the works of Ives and composers Robert Beaser, Emily Cooley, Justin Dello Joio, Paul Frucht, Aaron Kay Kernis, and Robert Paterson. Two Steps Downtown Grille hosts a “Meet the Composers” after-party for a chance to have a drink with the featured composers.      

The series closes on Saturday, August 15th at 7:30 PM in Marian Anderson Recital Hall with sought-after soloist, Charles Yang, who has been lauded by the Boston Globe as one who “plays classical violin with the charisma of a rock star.” Mr. Yang, a Juilliard graduate, has performed as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals in the United States, Europe, Brazil, Russia, China, and Taiwan, and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Not confined to classical violin, Mr. Yang's improvisational crossover abilities as a violinist, electric violinist, and vocalist have led him to featured performances with a variety of artists in such festivals as The Aspen Music Festival, The Cayman Arts Festival, The YouTube Music Awards, TED, Caramoor, and onstage at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House, Dizzy’s and David Rubinstein Atrium, and Le Poisson Rouge among many others. Mr. Yang’s evening in Danbury begins with a pre-concert interview, featuring Mr. Yang and Conductor and CMI Artistic Advisor Yuga Cohler, moderated by CMI Artistic Director Paul Frucht. Following the interview, Mr. Yang performs a concert of his own works and arrangements featuring both acoustic and electric violins.

CMI Artists-in-Residence comprise some of today’s finest emerging musicians in are recent graduates of the Juilliard School and other major conservatories. They are pianist Robert Fleitz, cellist Chris Irvine, violist Isabel Hagen, violinist Hannah Ji, pianist Ben Laude, and violinist and violist Caeli Smith. CMI Artistic Director Paul Fruchtis a composer and Juilliard graduate originally from Danbury. Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Yuga Cohler and Bärli Nugent, Juilliard’s Director of Chamber Music, are CMI Artistic Advisors. Mary E. Larew is the Executive Director of the Danbury Music Centre. 

All events are free, no tickets are required, and seating is on a first come-first serve basis. Please e-mail the Danbury Music Centre at " _cc="" _bcc="" _subject="" _body="" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204); outline: none;">dmc@danburymusiccentre.org with any inquiries or call at (203) 748-1716. Concert listing is below:

 Tuesday, August 11th at 7:30 PM at Two Steps Downtown Grille

5 Ives Street, Danbury, CT, 06810

CMI Guest Artist Percussionist Simon Boyar

Thursday, August 13th at 7:00 PM at Marian Anderson Recital Hall 256 Main Street, Danbury, CT, 06810

CMI Artists-in-Residence perform Brahms, Gershwin, Hindemith, Piazzolla, Piston, and CMI Artistic Director Paul Frucht

Friday, August 14th at 7:30 PM at Marian Anderson Recital Hall

256 Main Street, Danbury, CT, 06810

Charles Ives Living Legacy Concert: CMI Artists-in-Residence perform works by Robert Beaser, Emily Cooley, Justin Dello Joio, Paul Frucht, Charles Ives, Aaron Kay Kernis, and Robert Paterson.

Saturday, August 15th at 7:30 PM at Marian Anderson Recital Hall 256 Main Street, Danbury, CT, 06810

CMI Guest Artist Violinist Charles Yang, pre-concert discussion with Mr. Yang and CMI Artistic Advisor Yuga Cohler, moderated by CMI Artistic Director Paul Frucht