WINONA LAKE - In its seventh year, the MasterWorks Festival continues its growing trend, according to Director Patrick Kavanaugh.
"We've got a lot of concerts," he said. "They're all open and free to the public."
This is the second year the festival will be five weeks long. Two years ago, it was just four weeks.
Kavanaugh said he just loves to look out during a concert and see whole families.
"Where else can an entire family go and see something like this for free?" he said.
At one point, Kavanaugh said, he was concerned that MasterWorks wouldn't get enough students to participate because of the economy. As it turned out, he said, they got far more students and better ones at that.
"They just wanted to come and that's one reason we were able to do these big concerts," said Kavanaugh.
The number of students MasterWorks accepts is capped at 250. Kavanaugh said they had to turn hundreds away. They also have 90 faculty members who serve as mentors to the students.
One of the biggest performances of the festival will be Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No. 2" on July 11.
"We've never done Daphnis," said Kavanaugh. "It's a great piece, but I'm like, 'where are you going to put it?'" because of the number of performers the piece requires.
Performances begin this week with "chamber music" week.
At the Rodeheaver Auditorium June 19 at 7:30 p.m., audiences will be able to hear performances of works by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Mozart and Schumann.
On June 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver, audiences can hear Beethoven, Schoenfield and Brahms.
The following weekend, June 26-27, the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra will feature two soloists. David Kim will play the violin June 26, with bassoonist Sharon Kuster performing June 27. Anthony Spain will conduct June 26, with Delta David Gier conducting June 27. Both nights, performances will take place at Rodeheaver at 7:30 p.m.
Kavanaugh was excited to have Kim coming to do a concerto. "That's going to blow everyone away," Kavanaugh said.
He said Kuster is new to MasterWorks. "There are not too many bassoon soloists," he said.
Independence weekend begins with the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra playing at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver July 2. Soloist will be Soh-Hyun on violin, with Darryl One conducting.
MasterWorks fans can catch two ballet performances July 3 and 4, both at Rodeheaver.
The July 3 ballet performance is at 7:30 p.m., with the Fourth of July show being at 2 p.m. John Deliman will conduct the MasterWorks Philharmonic Orchestra for both times.
Though the fireworks over Winona Lake is scheduled for July 3, the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra will still have its Patriotic Pops Concert at 7:30 p.m. July 4 at Rodeheaver. Kavanaugh will conduct.
The weekend of July 10-11, the orchestra will perform at Rodeheaver both nights at 7:30 p.m. Miriam Burns will conduct the July 10th show, featuring soloist Bonita Boyd on flute. The student concerto winners will be featured July 11, with conductor Darryl One.
Boyd will be playing Nielsen's "Flute Concerto." Kavanaugh said that is a very difficult piece. Her performance is the first time MasterWorks has had her play a concerto with us.
Theater lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." The show is directed by Rich Swingle and John Kirby.
Kavanaugh said Kirby is a well-known acting coach from Hollywood.
"I'm just glad he's coming," Kavanaugh said.
The first showing is July 16 at 8 p.m. at McClain Hall on the Grace College campus. Other show dates and times are July 17, 2 and 8 p.m.; and July 18 at 2 p.m.
David Bowden will conduct the orchestra on July 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium.
The last show on the festival schedule is July 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver. Andrew Sewell will conduct the orchestra. Soloist will be Hugh Sung on piano.
"He can play the piano like you've never heard before," said Kavanaugh.
Families are encouraged to bring their children, he said. The festival is family friendly, and casual attire is appropriate.
"This is such an opportunity. It's grown to be one of the biggest music festivals in the world and it's right here in Kosciusko County," Kavanaugh said.
"Get there early is my advice. Anyway you look at it, the audience grows every year," he said.
Rodeheaver Auditorium is at the corner of Ninth Street and Park Avenue in Winona Lake.
For more information about MasterWorks, call 574-267-5973; toll free at 888-836-2723; fax 574-267-8315; e-mail at cpaf@christianperformingart.org; or visit online at www.masterworksfestival.org
