For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Lois Cohn Associates
CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS
PRESENTS MUSIC IN THE ROSEN HOUSE SPRING 2013
FEATURING THE AMPHION STRING QUARTET, TIM O’BRIEN, THE AMY HELM BAND,
JENNIFER SHEEHAN AND THE SCHWAB VOCAL RISING STARS
MARCH 10 – MAY 11, 2013
KATONAH, NY – Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts presents its annual spring concerts: Music in the Rosen House, headlined by the Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, Amphion String Quartet, cabaret performer Jennifer Sheehan,and American Roots Music stars Tim O’Brien and the Amy Helm Band. The concerts begin on March 10 with “Song of the Midnight Sun,” a performance by the Schwab Vocal Rising Stars under the direction of Artistic Director, mentor and pianist Steven Blier, with mentor and pianist Michael Barrett. The Amphion String Quartet, Caramoor’s 2012-13 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence performs pieces by Haydn, Beethoven and Grieg on March 16. New this spring, Caramoor brings American Roots Music to the Music Room, inaugurated by much heralded multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Tim O’Brien onApril 13, followed by critically-acclaimed cabaret performer Jennifer Sheehan with “The Sensational ‘60s, I Know A Place” on May 4. Spellbinding singer and mandolinist Amy Helm, daughter of the late Levon Helm, closes the season on May 11 with her new roots-based group, The Amy Helm Band.
SCHWAB VOCAL RISING STARS “SONG OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN”
SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 4:00PM IN THE ROSEN HOUSE MUSIC ROOM
The Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, established in 2009 under the artistic leadership of Caramoor’s then-Executive Director, Michael Barrett, and New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) Artistic Director, Steven Blier, is an instructional program devoted to the art of song and vocal chamber music. Singers at the beginning professional level are invited to Caramoor for a weeklong residency that offers daily coaching, rehearsals, and workshops with mentors.
The Schwab Vocal Rising Stars will perform “Song of the Midnight Sun” at Caramoor under the direction of Artistic Director, mentor, and pianist Steven Blier, and mentor and pianist Michael Barrett. The program includes pieces by Scandinavian songwriters Grieg, Sibelius, Stenhammar, Nystrom, Nielson, and Rautavaara that reveal in song the world of hidden loves, night-time confessions, and the poetry of nature. An air of austerity and freshness lends these songs a rare beauty. Performers include Julia Bullock, soprano; Sarah Larsen, mezzo-soprano; Theo Lebow, tenor; and Tobias Greenhalgh,baritone.
AMPHION STRING QUARTET
2012-13 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 8:00PM IN THE ROSEN HOUSE MUSIC ROOM
In 1999, Caramoor established the annual String Quartet-in-Residence program supported by major endowment gifts from The Ernst C.Stiefel Foundation. The Amphion String Quartet is the thirteenth Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence at Caramoor. Caramoor uses the residency to integrate a quartet into the life of the institution and the community. The quartet visits schools for concerts and clinics and performs in the Music Room in the Fall and Spring. Their spring program continues the Scandinavian theme established by the Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, with a performance of the Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg’s String Quartet No.1. The residency ends with a concert during the Summer Music Festival.
The Amphion String Quartet was the winner of the 2011 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and has been hailed for its “precision, assertiveness and vigor” (The New York Times) and its “gripping intensity” and “suspenseful and virtuoso playing” (San Francisco Classical Voice). In addition to the Stiefel residency at Caramoor, the Quartet was recently chosen for the CMS Two Program of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, with the ensemble’s three-year membership beginning in 2013-14. The Quartet’s 2012-13 season includes performances at the ASQ’s Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall on the CAG series, the Phillips Collection in Washington DC, TCAN Center for the Arts (MA), The National Arts Club, the MET, a tour of Northern California with concerts at UC San Francisco, Eureka Chamber Music Series and Montalvo Center for the Arts and numerous engagements throughout the Tri-State New York area. Amphion String Quartet will also be featured internationally in South Korea at the Music Isle Festival in Jeju and at the Seoul Arts Center. In October 2012, they performed two Beethoven quartets live on WQXR as part of the Beethoven String Quartet Marathon.
TIM O’BRIEN
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 8:00PM IN THE ROSEN HOUSE MUSIC ROOM
New this season, Caramoor brings American Roots Music to the 200-seat Music Room, inaugurated by much heralded multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Tim O’Brien – a dynamic and engaging performer. “No music comes from a vacuum,” notes O’Brien, “and our American culture and it’s musical voice are living, breathing, evolving things with streams of influence from western Europe, Africa, and the Native America.” O’Brien listens to bluegrass and hears the music’s roots in modal Irish ballads and vintage swing. He insightfully re-examines and reconstructs those styles, and many others, in his own music. This special solo acoustic show will feature lyrics and melodies sung on both sides of the Atlantic and show how the essence of an older culture is contained in more modern music.
Tim O’Brien skillfully reconstructs and re-examines the ties between traditional and contemporary music. As co- founder and lead vocalist of Hot Rize and Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers, O'Brien served as a bridge between the traditional sounds of the hill country and the modern styles of bluegrass in the 1980s. O'Brien continued releasing solo material through the '90s and into the following decade, including an album of Bob Dylan covers (Red on Blonde), the Grammy-winning Fiddler's Green, and the intimate, stripped-down Chameleon. His inspiration is a staple of roots music as evident by the recordings of his songs with artists The Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Nickel Creek, Kathy Mattea, the New Grass Revival, and the Seldom Scene, and in his recorded collaborations with Steve Martin, the Chieftains, and countless others. As a true virtuoso multi-instrumentalist on banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bouzouki, and guitar, O’Brien utilizes the unique timbres to speak to universal audiences through his inviting, musical explorations. Mark Knopfler says of O’Brien “[He’s] a master of American folk music, Irish music, Scottish music – it doesn’t matter; a fine songwriter and one of my favorite singers.”
CABARET IN THE MUSIC ROOM: A BENEFIT EVENT
JENNIFER SHEEHAN “THE SENSATIONAL ‘60S, I KNOW A PLACE”
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 8:30PM IN THE ROSEN HOUSE MUSIC ROOM
Multi award-winner Jennifer Sheehan will perform her show “The Sensational ‘60s, I Know A Place” in the Music Room of the historic Rosen House at Caramoor. Ms. Sheehan traverses the vast spectrum of music that made up the sensational soundtrack of the ‘60s – featuring the best of Bacharach, the Beatles, Bossa Nova, Barbra, Bebop, Broadway and more. There will be a champagne and dessert reception after the performance.
Jennifer Sheehan, a star in the concert and cabaret world, has performed as one of six vocalists in Radio City Music Hall’s “Christmas Spectacular,” and has appeared in shows at the 92nd Street Y, the York Theater, the Bard Summerscape Festival, Boston Musical Theater and on national tours. She previously performed a critically acclaimed two week run of “I Know A Place - Spend a Night in the Sensational ‘60s” at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency along with a sold-out run of her show “You Made Me Love You - Celebrating 100 Years of the Great American Songbook” at the Metropolitan Room in New York.
AMY HELM BAND
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 8:00PM IN THE ROSEN HOUSE MUSIC ROOM
Amy Helm’s deep musical roots were enriched by a lifetime of exposure to the finest expressions of American musical tradition. The daughter of music legend Levon Helm, co-founder with her dad of the Levon Helm Midnight Rambles, and founding member of roots band Ollabelle, Helm wields a powerful voice that can both stir and soothe, whether she is singing traditional gospel, blues standards or her own heartfelt compositions. She is a gifted musician and has clearly absorbed the lessons of the many accomplished artists with whom she has shared stages, including Warren Haynes, Donald Fagen, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris, Joan Osborne, Dr. John and Hubert Sumlin.
For this show, Helm brings her acoustic powerhouse band featuring Byron Isaacs and Justin Guip (both of the Grammy winning Levon Helm Band and the Dirt Farmer Band) as well as guitarist Dan Littleton. They will perform traditional blues and gospel-inflected favorites as well as songs from Helm’s upcoming CD (Spring release).
TICKETS
Schwab Vocal Rising Stars “Song of the Midnight Sun”: Tickets: $25.
Amphion String Quartet: Tickets: $25.
Tim O’Brien: Tickets: $35
Cabaret in the Music Room: A Benefit Evening: Jennifer Sheehan “The Sensational ‘60s, I Know A Place”: Tickets: $200 (Premium Seating); $125 and $75 (Limited Seating)
Amy Helm Band: Tickets: $35
Tickets are currently on sale and may be purchased at the Caramoor Box Office, 914.232.1252, or order online at www.caramoor.org.
For the Cabaret in the Music Room benefit, email events@caramoor.org or call 914.232.1492
PRESS CONTACT: For press tickets, artist bios and/or images, please contact Amy Laudicano, 212.874.7624,alaudicano@lcohnpr.com
About Caramoor
Caramoor is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who built their summer home – now known as the historic Rosen House at Caramoor – and filled it with their treasures. Walter Rosen was the master planner for the Caramoor estate, realizing his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world. Their musical evenings planted the seeds for today’s Caramoor Summer Music Festival. Witnessing the pleasure their friends took in the beauty of Caramoor – the house with its art collection, the gardens, and the musical programs on summer evenings –the Rosens established a public trust to open Caramoor to the community in 1946. Lucie Rosen survived her husband by seventeen years. During those years, she expanded the Music Festival. The Spanish Courtyard was used as a setting for musical events, as it is today, and, under her direction, the great stage of the Venetian Theater was built.
Caramoor is a performing arts center located on a unique 90-acre setting of Italianate architecture and gardens in Westchester County, NY. It enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of the highest quality. Its mission also includes mentoring young professional musicians and providing educational programs for young children centered on music. It is often described as “a Garden of Great Music,” where audiences are invited to come early, explore the beautiful grounds, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, and discover beautiful music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater (1700 seats), Spanish Courtyard (600 seats), Music Room of the Rosen House (200 seats), and the magnificent gardens.
With its unique heritage, Caramoor remains a place where magical summer days and nights are shared and enjoyed by thousands. “Caramoor is the loveliest Festival of them all.” - The New York Times
Getting to Caramoor
By car from the West Side of Manhattan and New Jersey, take the Saw Mill River Parkway north to Katonah. Exit at Route 35/Cross River. Turn right and, at the first traffic light, make a right turn onto Route 22 south. Travel 1.9 miles to the junction of Girdle Ridge Road. Follow the signs to Caramoor. (For detailed directions call 914.232.5035 and press 2 or online at www.caramoor.org). Parking at Caramoor is free.
By train, take the Harlem Division of the Metro-North Railroad to Katonah, New York. Taxi service from the station to Caramoor (5 minutes away) is available.
CARAMOOR – MUSIC IN THE ROSEN HOUSE: SPRING 2013
March 10 Schwab Vocal Rising Stars “Song of the Midnight Sun”
Sunday, 4:00pm Steven Blier, Artistic Director, mentor, and pianist
Rosen House Music Room Michael Barrett, mentor and pianist
Julia Bullock, soprano
Sarah Larsen, mezzo-soprano
Theo Lebow, tenor
Tobias Greenhalgh, baritone
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March 16 Amphion String Quartet
Saturday, 8:00pm Katie Hyun, violin
Rosen House Music Room David Southorn, violin
Wei-Yang Andy Lin,viola
Mihai Marica, cello
Haydn String Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 33,The Joke
Beethoven String Quartet No. 7, Op. 59, No. 1
Grieg String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 27
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April 13 Tim O’Brien
Saturday, 8:00pm Solo acoustic with multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien
Rosen House Music Room
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May 4 Cabaret in the Music Room: A Benefit Evening
Saturday, 8:30pm Jennifer Sheehan “The Sensational ‘60s, I Know A Place”
Rosen House Music Room Jennifer Sheehan
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May 11 Amy Helm Band
Saturday, 8:00pm Amy Helm, vocals, mandolin
Rosen House Music Room Byron Isaacs, guitar, bass
Dan Littleton, guitar
Justin Guip, drums
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Performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts
with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Performances are made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester
with funds from Westchester County Government.
2012-13 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence
Caramoor’s Vocal Rising Stars program is made possible by generous support from the
Terrance W. Schwab Fund for Young Vocal Artists.