Charles Ives Music Festival Inaugural Summer Planned!

Charles Ives Music Festival Inaugural Summer Planned!

 

The Charles Ives Music Festival (CIMF) at the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra (WCYO) is scheduled to hold its inaugural summer festival for adult and youth musicians from August 5-16, 2020 with 60 registered participants!

Both the adult and youth programs provide participants the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside professional artist-faculty and guest artists, who are graduates of the nation’s top conservatories and some of the most exciting emerging performers today. Participants in the youth program will also perform in the CIMF Orchestra led by WCYO Music Director Eric Mahl, and a composition component, which will feature performances of music by student composers.

CIMF is a part of the WCYO; a youth orchestra program founded in 2003 and based in Ridgefield, CT. The youth orchestra program is comprised of three primary large ensembles--Symphony Orchestra, String Ensemble and Wind Ensemble--with CIMF being added to the WCYO offerings this year. “The educational and performance components of CIMF provide our youth musicians greater opportunities to work in smaller chamber ensembles alongside incredibly talented professional musicians,” says Laurie Kenagy, member of the WCYO board of directors. “The WCYO is excited about the Charles Ives Music Festival, and we certainly hope to be able to hold both the adult and youth programs in August as planned. We do, however, realize that our first priority must be the health and safety of our participants, their families and our artistic and executive staff. Assuming gathering restrictions permit the festival to be held, we will take the necessary measures to ensure the well-being of all involved.”

The ten-day festival will be under the leadership of CIMF Artist Director Paul Frucht, along with Associate Artistic Director Jon Cziner. "Beyond the practicing, the organizing, and all of the other hard work that goes into CIMF, what emerges is ultimately the power of the connection we form to each other through the music we make together - the youth musicians who meet other like-minded musicians, the adult musicians who continue to discover a passion, and the artist-faculty who learn so much from engaging with our community,“ says Paul Frucht. “Whether it is this August, as we hope it will be, or August 2021, we will unite to bring together talent, commitment, and enthusiasm to make music.”

This summer’s CIMF is also scheduled to present five public concerts to be held at various venues in Ridgefield. Those concerts include the awarding winning duo, cellist Julian Schwarz and pianist Marika Bournaki, on Wednesday, August 5th at the First Congregational Church, two concerts featuring the festival’s artist-faculty at a location to be determined on Sunday, August 9th and at the Lounsbury House on Thursday, August 13th, the Ulysses Quartet on Tuesday, August 11th, and the CIMF orchestra at another local venue on Saturday, August 15th. All concerts will be held subject to health and venue guidelines.

For more information about the Charles Ives Music Festival, visit https://charlesivesmusicfestival.org/

For information about the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, visit https://wctyo.org/ or email wcyo@wctyo.org.