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of lesser-known Romantic composers through a special event entitled “ Given a Chance ” on Sunday , July 28 at Arkell Pavilion . Throughout the program , MMF will honor the composers whose voices have been overlooked due to gender and / or skin color . Setzer passionately advocated for the inclusion of works by Clara Wieck Schumann , Rebecca Clarke , Samuel Coleridge-Taylor , Florence Price , and George Walker . “ Their contributions to Romanticism are invaluable ,” affirms Setzer . “ It ’ s time to shine a spotlight on these composers and give them the recognition they deserve .”
Throughout the season , collaborative events with Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning ( GMALL ), Northshire Bookstore , and the Manchester Community Library , will extend MMF ’ s reach beyond the music . “ These partnerships enrich the festival experience ,” says Lin , echoing Setzer ’ s thematic approach . MMF is partnering with GMALL and Northshire Bookstore to bring a panel of authors to Arkell Pavilion for an ‘ MMF Talks ’ event on August 3 . Panelists will include the composer , writer , and Bennington College faculty member , Allen Shawn ; Gail Newman , Harold J . Henry Professor of German and Comparative Literature at Williams College ; and Judith Lochhead , Professor of Music Theory & History at Stony Brook University . “ We ’ re going to discuss the cultural , musical , and intellectual impact of Romanticism ,” adds Setzer . Northshire Bookstore will bring a thoughtful selection of books for purchase , which will correspond to the topic of discussion at the event .
Additional programming highlights include MMF ’ s Young Artist Concerts at Arkell Pavilion on Sunday , July 21 and Sunday , August 4 , and family concerts at SVAC , Manchester Community Library , and Northshire Bookstore . On July 13 , Manchester Community Library will host “ MMF @ 50 ,” which will feature a talk by Setzer and performances of solo works by MMF Young Artists . This event will be closely followed by a performance by the virtuosic pianist , Vassily Primakov , at Arkell Pavilion on Sunday , July 14 . On the afternoon leading up to Primakov ’ s performance , the first of the three “ MMF Family Program ” events , “ Music & Art with Mussorgsky ’ s ‘ Pictures at an Exhibition ” will take place on the SVAC grounds . Children and families are invited to join Primakov for an open dress rehearsal of the Mussorgsky piece , and attendees are encouraged to bring art supplies and create their own masterpieces inspired by Primakov ’ s performance .
On Saturday , July 20 , Northshire Bookstore will welcome cellist Edward Arron and the MMF Young Artists for the second MMF Family Program event , “ Strings & Things : A Musical Playdate .” Arron will lead the MMF Young Artist string players in a vibrant exploration of songs that showcase the wondrous magic of string instruments . Jenny Lin will bring the MMF Young Artists to Manchester Community Library for the third MMF Family Program event , “ Melody ’ s Mostly Musical Day ” on Saturday , July 27 . It will feature fun performances from the Steinway Musical Picture book , with live music , illustration screenings , and storytelling narration from Mary Anne Van Degna , President of the Dorset Theatre Festival ’ s Board of Trustees .
At the end of the season , a marvelous gala celebrating MMF ’ s 50th Anniversary will be held on August 21 at the Wilburton Inn . Lin describes it as a “ Golden Gala Anniversary ,” a special occasion dedicated to honoring MMF ’ s legacy and artistic achievements while looking towards the future . Lin adds : “ We work hard at MMF , and we ’ re excited for the party ! There ’ s a lot to celebrate this year . We ’ re welcoming the whole community through our programming and events , and there ’ s going to be something for everyone to enjoy .” n
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FROM TOP TO BOTTOM : Edward Arron , David Finckel & Wu Han , Gilles Vonsattel , Nancy Allen , David Shifrin . manchester life life magazine 2023 2024 25