Missoula's Drum Brothers World Percussion Ensemble wraps up the season Aug. 23.
In celebration of 50 years of community involvement, some of the region’s most talented musicians will take the stage at the 2015 St. Timothy’s Summer Music Festival, held on selected Sundays, June 28-Aug. 23. Held in one of southwest Montana’s most intimate concert settings high above Georgetown Lake, this year’s musical performances range from jazz to bluegrass to world percussion.
The season started June 28 with Luca Rodini, an 18-year-old trumpeter from Bozeman, who will perform at the Kennedy Center later this year. He was joined by pianist Bob Nell and Bozeman guitarist and acoustic bassist Craig Hall.
On July 12, members of the renowned Muir String Quartet and acclaimed guest artists perform the immortal Brahms Horn Trio, the Tower Bassoon Quintet and the Dohnanyi Piano Quintet. In its 35th season, the Muir Quartet has long been acknowledged as one of the world’s most powerful and insightful ensembles with a long list of awards, including a Grammy, two Grand Prix du Disques, and the Gramophone Award.
The official 50th Celebration performance on July 26 is a Carnegie Hall repeat performance of “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” by internationally-acclaimed bluegrass band Monroe Crossing and Missoula’s vocal group Dolce Canto. Composed by Carol Barnett and written by librettist Marisha Chamberlain, “The World Beloved” is a classical-style choral composition with traditional bluegrass instrumentation.
The CanAm Piano Duo takes the stage Aug. 9, comprised of Christopher Hahn and Karen Beres, to perform masterpieces from the 20th century alongside more traditional works. CanAm recently commissioned renowned Montana composer David Maslanka to write a large-scale work for two pianos and percussion, and also collaborated with Libby Larsen in a recording of “Gavel Patter.”
Missoula’s Drum Brothers World Percussion Ensemble wraps up the 2015 season on Aug. 23. Featuring talented multi-instrumentalists Matthew Marsolek, Michael Marsolek, Lawrence Duncan, and Colin Ruggiero, the Drum Brothers mix rhythm and melody with West African hand percussion, Australian didgeridoo, saxophone, and four-part vocals. They were featured on the Montana PBS program “11th and Grant” in May.
All performances start at 4 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Memorial Chapel, located at 2285 Southern Cross Road near
Anaconda. Visit www.sttimothysmusic.org for more information on performances or to purchase tickets.