Gary Malvern, conductor
Bronwen Forbay, soprano
Keith Jameson, tenor
Bruce Schoonmaker, baritone

A smorgasbord of some of the most virtuosic works composed for the human voice, this experience is composed of arias that are quite simply Olympic feats of singing.  Come and wonder at the impossible beauty of these works by Monteverdi, Handel and Mozart, including an aria from his iconic character the Queen of the Night, have a good laugh at Figaro’s expense in Rossini’s Largo from The Barber of Seville, hear operetta and even some selections from the golden age of Broadway.  This is an hour of operatic goodness you won’t want to miss.  And the crazy thing is, they make it look easy!

Gary Malvern, professor of music at Furman University, is a native of Buffalo, New York. He received a bachelor’s degree in performance and music history from Oberlin College Conservatory, and a master’s and doctoral degrees from Yale University. Dr. Malvern has served as principal trumpet of the National Repertory Orchestra and the American Wind Symphony, and he served for 25 years as principal trumpet of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.  Malvern has been artist in residence at universities in Western Australia, and at conservatories in Northern Italy. Dr. Malvern frequently records for Nuovo Musiche per Tromba (New Music for Trumpet).

Dr. Malvern was the recipient of Furman’s Meritorious Teaching Award in 1999.

Bronwen Forbay
Hailed by Opera Magazine as “At once powerful, radiant, timbrally beautiful, and balanced throughout the range, her soprano is that of a singer at the top of her game”, South African-born Fulbrighter BRONWEN FORBAY’s operatic successes include critically acclaimed performances of Mozart’s Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute) with the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Eugene Opera, and Tulsa Opera. Other celebrated roles include Orasia, Queen of Thrace (US premier of Telemann’s Orpheus), Velmyra (Wading Home) by Mary Alice Rich, Violetta (La Traviata), and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Cape Town Opera. A Visiting Associate Professor of Voice at Furman University, Dr. Forbay holds degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Manhattan School of Music, Southern Methodist University, and

Keith Jameson has enjoyed a 28-year career as a professional opera and concert singer. He has been heard nationally at the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, The Santa Fe Opera; and internationally with opera companies in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, England, and Japan. He can be seen in Carmen and Falstaff, on DVD with the Metropolitan Opera, and heard with Boston Baroque in Haydn’s The Creation and Lord Nelson Mass, on CD. He is a graduate of Furman University and the Eastman School of Music.

Bruce Schoonmaker
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Bruce Schoonmaker has performed in operas, recitals, and with orchestras and choruses in the USA, France, Italy, Australia and Japan. His combination of vocalism and dramatic ability has endeared him to audiences of the Charlotte Symphony, Columbia Lyric Opera, Brevard Music Festival, Opera Carolina, and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. Last October he sang the baritone solos in a rousing performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Greenville Chorale and Greenville Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bing Vick.

While a student at Northwestern University, he won the Bel Canto Competition and studied with Tito Gobbi at the Tito Gobbi Opera Workshop in Florence, Italy.  A few years later, he studied with Carlo Bergonzi and Renata Tebaldi at the Bel Canto Seminar in Verdi’s hometown, Busseto, Italy. He made his New York City debut with the New York City Chamber Orchestra, as soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

Schoonmaker taught voice and directed opera at Furman University until 2018 and now resides, performs, and teaches in Richmond, Virginia.

Step into a world of magic, mystery, and self-discovery with the Tony Award-winning musical, Pippin. This Broadway classic, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, tells the captivating story of a young prince on a daring quest for the ultimate meaning of life and fulfillment. From spectacular circus-inspired performances to stirring, emotionally-charged songs, “Pippin” unfolds as an exploration of the highs and lows of glory, love, and ambition. It’s a compelling narrative that continually asks one poignant question: is it more rewarding to live a simple life or to persist in relentlessly pursuing extraordinary feats? With its rich, allegorical storyline and memorable melodies, Pippin promises to enchant audiences, leaving them musing long after the final curtain call.

A talkback with the cast & crew of Pippin will be held following the performances on September 17th & 24th.

Honky Tonk Angels 

Written by Ted Swindley.
Director Dan Harvey
Music Director Pam McNeil

Wah! Kirtan: Saturday, September 30th, 7:30PM

Wah! performs Sanskrit mantra with vocals, harmonium and Ableton Live.. Bring your joyful Self! Wah! has spent a lifetime in music and spiritual pursuit and is a legend in the yoga world.

“Wah! just might be a Devi. She sings with the voice of a goddess.” Australian Yoga Life Magazine

Architecture of Relationship: Sunday, October 1st, 2PM to 5PM

Celebrate life with a loved one or family member, creating loving connection & learning about the architecture of relationship. Wah! will guide you through simple humming, meditation, dialog and discussion to create pathways for healing & connection. Bring a friend or family member, someone you feel comfortable with holding hands, sitting back to back, talking & sharing. Everything we do is simple & meditative. You will leave relaxed and reconnected.

Select Event(s) at Checkout

•Kirtan: $30 Advance. $35 Day Of

•Architecture of Relationship: $65 per person, $120 per couple

•Doors Open One Hour Before Event

Listen to Wah! on Spotify

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation but also with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Online ticket sales end 1 hour prior to showtime. There may still be tickets available in the BMCA office if online sales have ended. Call 828.669.0930 or visit the office to find out more.

Maddy Winer & Masterpiece – Jazz at Souther Williams Vineyard. 2-5pm, Maddy & Masterpiece entertained guests for many years
at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa with their wide variety of musical styles and unique interpretation of the Great American
Songbook. Maddy Winer expands the Songbook to include every style & era of music…Oldies, Beach, Big Band and, of course,
lots of jazz! Free, https://southerwilliams.com

Step into a world of magic, mystery, and self-discovery with the Tony Award-winning musical, Pippin. This Broadway classic, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, tells the captivating story of a young prince on a daring quest for the ultimate meaning of life and fulfillment. From spectacular circus-inspired performances to stirring, emotionally-charged songs, “Pippin” unfolds as an exploration of the highs and lows of glory, love, and ambition. It’s a compelling narrative that continually asks one poignant question: is it more rewarding to live a simple life or to persist in relentlessly pursuing extraordinary feats? With its rich, allegorical storyline and memorable melodies, Pippin promises to enchant audiences, leaving them musing long after the final curtain call.

A talkback with the cast & crew of Pippin will be held following the performances on September 17th & 24th.

Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session 

Sundays

1 till who knows when?

Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.

Jack of the Wood

95 Patton ave

Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 252.5445

http://www.jackofthewood.com/

Gary Malvern, conductor
Bronwen Forbay, soprano
Keith Jameson, tenor
Bruce Schoonmaker, baritone

A smorgasbord of some of the most virtuosic works composed for the human voice, this experience is composed of arias that are quite simply Olympic feats of singing.  Come and wonder at the impossible beauty of these works by Monteverdi, Handel and Mozart, including an aria from his iconic character the Queen of the Night, have a good laugh at Figaro’s expense in Rossini’s Largo from The Barber of Seville, hear operetta and even some selections from the golden age of Broadway.  This is an hour of operatic goodness you won’t want to miss.  And the crazy thing is, they make it look easy!

Gary Malvern, professor of music at Furman University, is a native of Buffalo, New York. He received a bachelor’s degree in performance and music history from Oberlin College Conservatory, and a master’s and doctoral degrees from Yale University. Dr. Malvern has served as principal trumpet of the National Repertory Orchestra and the American Wind Symphony, and he served for 25 years as principal trumpet of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.  Malvern has been artist in residence at universities in Western Australia, and at conservatories in Northern Italy. Dr. Malvern frequently records for Nuovo Musiche per Tromba (New Music for Trumpet).

Dr. Malvern was the recipient of Furman’s Meritorious Teaching Award in 1999.

Bronwen Forbay
Hailed by Opera Magazine as “At once powerful, radiant, timbrally beautiful, and balanced throughout the range, her soprano is that of a singer at the top of her game”, South African-born Fulbrighter BRONWEN FORBAY’s operatic successes include critically acclaimed performances of Mozart’s Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute) with the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Eugene Opera, and Tulsa Opera. Other celebrated roles include Orasia, Queen of Thrace (US premier of Telemann’s Orpheus), Velmyra (Wading Home) by Mary Alice Rich, Violetta (La Traviata), and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Cape Town Opera. A Visiting Associate Professor of Voice at Furman University, Dr. Forbay holds degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Manhattan School of Music, Southern Methodist University, and

Keith Jameson has enjoyed a 28-year career as a professional opera and concert singer. He has been heard nationally at the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, The Santa Fe Opera; and internationally with opera companies in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, England, and Japan. He can be seen in Carmen and Falstaff, on DVD with the Metropolitan Opera, and heard with Boston Baroque in Haydn’s The Creation and Lord Nelson Mass, on CD. He is a graduate of Furman University and the Eastman School of Music.

Bruce Schoonmaker
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Bruce Schoonmaker has performed in operas, recitals, and with orchestras and choruses in the USA, France, Italy, Australia and Japan. His combination of vocalism and dramatic ability has endeared him to audiences of the Charlotte Symphony, Columbia Lyric Opera, Brevard Music Festival, Opera Carolina, and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. Last October he sang the baritone solos in a rousing performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Greenville Chorale and Greenville Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bing Vick.

While a student at Northwestern University, he won the Bel Canto Competition and studied with Tito Gobbi at the Tito Gobbi Opera Workshop in Florence, Italy.  A few years later, he studied with Carlo Bergonzi and Renata Tebaldi at the Bel Canto Seminar in Verdi’s hometown, Busseto, Italy. He made his New York City debut with the New York City Chamber Orchestra, as soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.

Schoonmaker taught voice and directed opera at Furman University until 2018 and now resides, performs, and teaches in Richmond, Virginia.

Honky Tonk Angels 

Written by Ted Swindley.
Director Dan Harvey
Music Director Pam McNeil

This is NOT a trap. The Asheville Symphony is proud to present a Star Wars themed program with Beer City Comic Con. Journey to a galaxy far, far away and experience your favorite musical moments from the Battle of Hoth to the Death Star run, exploring themes from Hoth, Tatooine, Mustafar, Coruscant and every planet in between. May the force be with us as we bring iconic Star Wars moments to life in the only way they should be: with thunderous applause.
Darko Butorac, conductor

Join us for Black Mountain’s original Sunday Jam! Hosted by Spiro and Friends, this jam features original jams and favorite covers. Bring your instrument! Sign-ups at the stage starting at 6 PM!

Pisgah Beer, Gluten Free and N/A options available. Family and dog friendly venue.

The taproom is open from 2:00 to 9:00 PM with music beginning at 6:30 PM.

LEAF isn’t just for kids! Join us in the Mezzanine while you wait for your youth to finish their class or just to hang out!

Gates open at 5:30pm
All Ages – not recommended for children under 4
RAIN OR SHINE
CLEAR BAGS ONLY

Artistic powerhouses cellist Johannes Moser, “radiant playing” (The Baltimore Sun), and pianist Marc-André Hamelin, praised for his “Near superhuman technical prowess” (New York Times), join forces for a memorable and illuminating duo recital. They perform works by Hamelin himself and Nadia Boulanger, a paragon of 20th century classical music, plus sonatas by Claude Debussy and César Franck, two of the great masterworks of the cello-piano repertoire.

Canadian cellist Johannes Moser won silver at the 2002 International Tchaikovsky Competition and has since had a phenomenal touring career, from soloing with the New York, Los Angeles, and BBC Philharmonics, as well as the orchestras of Chicago, London, Tokyo NHK, and Bayerischen Rundfunks, to chamber appearances with the likes of Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Midori, and Menahem Pressler. He’s also a prolific recording artist and a champion of new music who is heavily involved in commissioning.

Marc-André Hamelin is not only a pianist known worldwide for his unrivaled blend of consummate musicianship and brilliant technique who has performed wide-ranging repertoire in the world’s great halls, he is a well-known composer with more than 30 pieces to his name, including the commissioned work for the 2017 Cliburn Competition (where he was also a juror). His discography spans more than 70 recordings which have earned him 11 Grammy® nominations, seven Juno Awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the German Record Critics’ Association.

PROGRAM

Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano

Marc-André Hamelin (b.1961) Four Perspectives for Cello and Piano

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Cello Sonata

— Intermission —

César Franck (1822-1890) Sonata in A major for Cello and Piano

Auditorium seating is reserved.

November 3-11, 2023

Directed by Jenny Martin
Music Direction by Roberta Whiteside
Choreography by Melanie Veazey

The Bob Moog Foundation is excited to announce our upcoming event, The Evolution of Modular Synthesis, featuring modular synthesis educator, musician, and inventor of vector synthesis, Chris Meyer, and legendary synthesizer pioneer and innovator Dave Rossum! 

The event will feature Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, interviewing Meyer and Rossum about the fascinating evolution and recent resurgence of modular synthesis from 1960s to present, followed by a concert with Meyer using his contemporary modular setup and a question and answer session with the audience. 

Due to current ticket demand, the event will take place on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 7pm at the Citizen Vinyl i n Asheville, NC. Tickets for the Asheville event are $20. 

SPACE IS LIMITED. 

More details from our press release:

Chris Meyer has led three lives in the music industry: creating electronic music instruments and tools for companies like Sequential, Digidesign, and Roland (including inventing Vector Synthesis); teaching electronic music synthesis through numerous magazine articles, online courses, and his website LearningModular.com; and now performing his own unique vision of emotional, impressionistic electronic music under the name Alias Zone. He is also the co-author of the acclaimed, Patch & Tweak with Kim Bjørn. 

Each of Chris’ compositions is based on a story that informs its creation. He starts with a sonic image that captures his imagination: a complex sound, an alluring rhythm, or a field recording that documents a specific time and place. The story they hint at then becomes the touchstone that determines each layer Chris adds to the piece, be they richly textured ambient environments, unique sounds he programs on his modular synthesizers, exotic percussion, and more. His goal is to convey emotions of mystery, longing, and joy, creating a deeply human experience. In contrast to many electronic music composers who focus primarily on studio work, virtually all Alias Zone tracks are conceived as live performances, and are then later edited into album form.

Fifty years ago, Dave Rossum dropped out of graduate school to found E-mu Systems.  In his role as E-mu’s Chief Wizard, he invented numerous modular synthesis technologies including ultra-stable oscillators, modular sequencers, polyphonic keyboards and analog synthesizer chips, before pioneering Digital Sampling Synthesis with the Emulator, and later the Drumulator, the SP-1200, and the Proteus.  Dave also assisted other companies in their groundbreaking products, such as the Oberheim 4-voice and the Sequential Prophet 5.  

In 1994, E-mu was acquired by Creative Labs, and Dave became their Chief Scientist.  During the Creative years, E-mu produced the E-64, ESI, Emulator IV, and other well known samplers.  Dave left Creative in 2011 for a 5 year stint as the architect of DSP ICs for cell phone audio.  Then in 2016, Dave founded Rossum Electro-Music, signed on as a Technical Fellow at Universal Audio, and began designing analog integrated circuits for Sound Semiconductor.  When he’s not inventing new synthesis technologies, you’ll find Dave running marathons, SCUBA diving, or backpacking in the High Sierra with his standard poodle, Lily.

________________________

Bob Moog was an innovator in the field of modular synthesis and beyond. The Bob Moog Foundation celebrates synthesis in all of its forms, and through this event celebrates the renaissance of modular synthesis. The organization’s interactive Moogseum, located in Asheville, NC, recently added Patching Sound, an exhibit that teaches visitors of all ages how to create sound with a modular synthesizer. 

“The Bob Moog Foundation is thrilled to provide this unique opportunity for people from all over the world to delve into the foundational aspects of modular synthesis, trace its use over many decades, and to explore the music that results from it,” noted Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation. “We are honored to be examining this subject with two renowned figures from synthesizer industry. The pairing of Chris Meyer and Dave Rossum will provide for unique insights and reflections into this fascinating realm of sonic expression.”

TWO SPECIAL EVENTS –
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS: Houses of the Holy
MUSIC MOVIE MONDAY: The Song Remains the Same
For Immediate Release: Two special events in Asheville’s River Arts District celebrate
peak-period Led Zeppelin. On Wednesday October 4, Asheville Guitar Bar hosts the
latest entry in Bill Kopp’s Music to Your Ears discussion series, featuring Led
Zeppelin’s landmark 1973 LP Houses of the Holy. And on Monday October 9, Kopp’s Music Movie Monday series at Grail
Movie House will feature a screening of the Led Zeppelin concert film The Song Remains the Same, with a discussion to
follow.

In the early to mid 1970s, Led Zeppelin reigned supreme in the world of rock. Rising
from the ashes of seminal ‘60s band the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin drew upon classic
American blues for its sound, but added levels of power, sophistication, nuance and
(sometimes) malevolence to create something remarkable and new. Every one of their
studio albums – eight released between 1969 and 1979 – went multi-platinum, often many
times over. Led Zeppelin concert tours were emblematic of the era, with the band playing
ot packed arenas across the globe. The excess of that era was on full display: the group
traveled in its own branded jet, and tales of backstage and hotel room mayhem were
legion.
But at the center of it all was the music. And While most all of Led Zeppelin’s music
enjoys critical acclaim commensurate with its commercial appeal, the band was arguably
at the pinnacle of its creativity on 1973’s Houses of the Holy. The music effectively
melded the subtlety and grace of Jimmy Page’s acoustic guitar with the crushing roar of
his electric work, and it all worked closely with Robert Plant’s distinctive vocals, John
Paul Jones’ underrated bass and keyboard playing, and the thunderous, commanding
percussion of John Bonham.

Houses of the Holy features several hit album tracks including “No Quarter,” “The Rain Song, “D’yer Maker” and “Over the
Hills and Far Away.” And the record holds together as a cohesive, complete work as well.
Touring in support of Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin would document its live show by filming a documentary, The Song
Remains the Same. Crews captured the sound and visuals of the band’s multi-night engagement at New York City’s Madison
Square Garden. The film was released to theaters in 1976; directed by Peter Clifton and Joe Massot, the film also included
arty, impressionistic fantasy sequences; it’s very much an artifact of the hedonistic 1970s.
The October 4 event at Asheville Guitar Bar will feature a discussion of Houses of the Holy, led by author, speaker and
music journalist Bill Kopp, joined by special guest Christopher Everett, lead guitarist with Hustle Souls. And the October 9
screening of The Song Remains the Same will include a moderated discussion led by Kopp. Both events are sponsored by
AshevilleFM. Don’t miss this special opportunity to convene with your fellow rock fans for these two interactive evenings.

The Last Revel
After a 5 year hiatus, The original trio has reunited to produce new music with a revitalized appreciation for camaraderie and creativity. Now living in three different cities across the US, these three independently talented singer-songwriters bring together the sounds of Nashville TN, Minneapolis MN, & Bozeman MT to create Front Porch Americana soundscapes that are equally original as they are timeless. Drawing influence from their salt-of-the-earth Midwest ethos the band’s songs so naturally blend the genres of Folk, Old Time String-Band, and Indie Rock to create a sound that echoes the current heartbeat of America.

The Last Revel utilizes their multi-instrumental abilities to bring the full spectrum of modern Americana to life with lush arrangements of three-part vocal harmonies, acoustic and electric guitars, upright bass, fiddle, and 5-string banjo to consistently support impassioned performances of their honest and heartfelt songwriting.

Students will receive a solid foundation in beginner Ukulele skills for vocalists. Chords, Rhythm patterns, and basic theory will be introduced through songs with an uplifting message. Students will also learn to play the song that the Songwriting Class will be writing and get to record it in the One Mic Studio.

Queer Music Exploration – Students will explore guitar, bass, drums, singing and piano with a focus on learning music by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. Students will have the chance to interact with their peers and share their experiences through music.