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WINONA LAKE - Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, MasterWorks Festival artistic director, said this year's month-long festival will be the biggest ever.
More than 200 students from around the world will participate with 85 faculty and guest players. The orchestra will feature 115 members.
"This is the amazing thing," he said of the concerts. "It's all free."
Last year, the festival included 48 free performances for the entire family. The biggest nights, again this year, are the concerts Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake.
The music starts tonight with The MasterWorks Orchestra, Andrew Sewell conducting. Saturday's orchestra performance will feature Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Anthony Kniffen, playing a tuba concerto by John Williams. Williams is known for his movie scores.
Sundays at 7:30 p.m. are the MasterWorks faculty recitals, and student recitals are Thursdays at 4 p.m. They are free and open to the public.
Kavanaugh will conduct the orchestra July 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Rodeheaver, and then conduct an outdoor performance July 2 also at 7:30 p.m. with Karen Wilder, soprano soloist.
The one-woman play "The World's Greatest Romance," performed by Carol Jaudes, location to be announced, is July 4 at 8:30 p.m.
Conductor Anthony Spain will lead the orchestra, featuring a performance by the dance troupe, July 8 at 7:30 p.m. The troupe will give the complete ballet performance of "Peter and the Wolf."
On July 9, conductor Miriam Burns leads the orchestra.
For theater lovers, the MasterWorks Theatre Troupe is performing in the amphitheater in Winona Lake July 15 and 16 at 4 p.m. The production is "Anne of Green Gables."
Darryl One conducts the final two orchestra performances July 15 and 16, both at 7:30 p.m.
Kavanaugh said, "Tell everyone to come. This is the month of concerts."
For more information, call 574-267-5973 or 888-836-2723; or visit the Web site at www.masterworksfestival.org
"It's going to be a great summer," said Kavanaugh.
