Connecting with the Arts – March 2023

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

Check out what’s happening with Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

Visit the new exhibit at BWI that the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County curated

Fun things happening at Chesapeake Arts Center

Catch up on what’s happening at Encore Creativity for Older Adults

Looking for Nature and Poetry see what Hiram Larew has going on

Check out what’s happening at Live Arts Maryland

Stay up to date with what’s going on at Maryland Hall

Excited to welcome Crab Radio

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO), under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor José-Luis Novo, will present “Two Romantics: Brahms & Prokofiev” at Maryland Hall and Strathmore, with guest artist violinist Esther Yoo. The ASO will perform on Friday, March 31st, and Saturday, April 1st at 8 PM at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, Maryland, and Sunday, April 2nd at 3 PM at Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland.

The performance opens with Behzad Ranjbaran’s composition “Esther,” a piece inspired by themes of bravery, tolerance, conspiracy, and compassion in the ancient Biblical story of the Jewish heroine Esther. While Ranjbaran’s music is rooted in neo-romanticism, it is strongly influenced by non-Western, especially Persian classical music. Ranjbaran composed Esther in 2015 on commission from the Binghamton Philharmonic.

Of his composition, Ranjbaran wrote: “Much of the story of Esther takes place in Susa, the ancient capital of Persia famed for its magnificent buildings and beautiful gardens. My music doesn’t follow the Biblical narrative scene by scene; rather it is a reflection on Susa, Esther’s character, the Feast of Purim and the story’s themes of bravery, tolerance, conspiracy and compassion. The first movement, “The Seven Trumpets of the Gates of Susa” refers to the splendid city of Susa mentioned in the Bible and many historical sources. Seven is a mythological number, for example: the seven seas, skies, and the days of the week. This symbolic number plays an important role in the organization of the musical materials, rhythm, and the structure of the piece. New sections often begin with a simultaneous stroke of Tam-tam and bells, each time a step higher. The movement culminates with a brass fanfare again emphasizing the number seven.”

The second piece in the evening’s repertoire features Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with guest artist Esther Yoo. Envisioned as a modest violin concertino, Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 1 became an important symphonic work in both scope and complexity. Prokofiev combined the harsh dissonances and spiky melodies that scandalized his professors at the Moscow Conservatory with romantic passages of elegant lyricism.

Esther Yoo began playing the violin at four years old and made her concerto debut aged eight. At sixteen, she became the youngest prizewinner of the International Sibelius Violin Competition and two years later was one of the youngest ever prizewinners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. In 2014 she became a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, and in 2018 was selected as one of Classic FM’s Top 30 Artists under 30. In 2020 WQXR named her one of twenty Artists to Watch.

We finish the evening with Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. The symphony’s sunny spirit – especially the last two movements – and relatively transparent orchestration induced one of the composer’s friends to exclaim: “It is all rippling streams, blue sky, sunshine, and cool green shadows.”  The premiere in Vienna on December 30th, 1877, under the baton of Hans Richter, was an unqualified success.

BWI Exhibit 36: “Beautiful Families”

BWI AIRPORT – PRESECURITY BETWEEN CONCOURSE C & D

This new exhibit, Beautiful Families encouraged artists to explore in depth the beauty in various types of families and all the amazing things that come with it. From tradition, values, culture and more! Wherever artists draw their inspiration, they should make the beauty in the family the main focus of their work!

This exhibit at BWI Marshall Airport provides a wonderful opportunity for local Anne Arundel County artists to showcase their talents to thousands of travelers. Exhibits rotate every four months, each with a new theme. Located between Concourse C&D in departures (pre-security) upper level near the UPS store & door 10.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND THEIR WORK:

Laura Brino – “When it was just you and me”

Maria Buszinski , Momma Rain – “Luzon”

Greta Chapin-McGill – HONOR THY FAMILY

Monica Hawse – “A Loving Touch”, ” Cousins in a Box”

Lucretia Kirck – “Charlie”

Kimmary MacLean – “Discover the World Together”, “Osprey and Baby” , “The Napping Family”

Richard Niewerth – “Renee at 3yrs”, “Sisters”

Betty Pethel – “Cousins Having Tea”, “Family Gathering”, “Grandmothers Love”

Amy Raab – “Flower Boy”

Marilyn Wiener – “Grandmas and Grandpas”

CAC’s second annual Free Open House takes place on April 15, 2023 from 10-2 pm – World Arts Day – and will feature fun, creative, and interactive activities for all ages focused on arts from around the world. Visitors are invited to explore different arts and culture through a variety of arts disciplines and activities in CAC’s studios, classrooms, MakerSpace and theater.

Create Japanese block print postcards; learn about the history of creating with clay (one of the oldest art forms) while making pinch pots and other ceramic projects; compose a Brazilian-inspired painting; and learn about where and why hip hop was invented as you learn some new moves. Watch wheel turning in the ceramics studio, tour the two art exhibitions on display in the galleries, visit the MakerSpace to construct a Chilean rainstick, and stop by our black box theater to watch musical numbers from our upcoming student production of Annie Jr. and a performance by Building Better People Productions. Plus we will have drawings for door prizes, a raffle, giveaways and a visit from Blondie’s Doughnuts!

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County are sponsors of the event.

CAC is located at 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD, 21225.  The galleries are open M-Th, 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm.  Opened to the public in January 2001, CAC is a multidisciplinary  arts center devoted to building community through creativity in our region. CAC’s mission is to cultivate and deliver innovative arts and education programs that inspire joy, creativity, and collaboration within our community. With over 35,000 visits annually  through performances, art classes, exhibits, and community events, CAC’s programming  enriches and enhances the lives of diverse audiences from Anne Arundel County and the  surrounding region. CAC offers affordable and free arts programs to people of all ages and  income levels, including arts education classes and workshops for at-risk youth in the  greater Brooklyn Park region.

Encore Creativity for Older Adults is pleased to welcome audiences to their upcoming concert series on April 30. Annapolis and Gaithersburg ROCKS, local rock & roll groups of singers 55 and older, will join at 2 P.M. at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St, Annapolis, MD 21401. The Encore Chorale of Annapolis will close out the evening of festivities with their concert beginning at 5 P.M. at Maryland Hall. The concerts are the final performances in Encore Creativity’s spring concert season. Tickets for all performances are free with a pay-what-you-wish option. To reserve a free ticket, go to Encore Creativity’s website at https://encorecreativity.org or call (301) 261-5747.

Annapolis ROCKS will perform choral arrangements of an eclectic and fun mix of rock music of all eras, from Roger Emerson’s arrangement of the classic Love Me Tender to Eric Van Cleave’s arrangement of If I Could Turn Back Time. The local group, led by conductors Jeffrey Dokken and Ethan Lolley, promises to light up the spring with toe-tapping music alongside a live rock band accompaniment. The Encore Chorale of Annapolis, as conducted by Stephen Harouff, will usher in warmth with popular songs centered around themes of love and light this spring, with uplifting renditions of Susan LaBarr’s My Very Own and Sarah Quartel’s All The Way Home.

The groups are a member of the nonprofit Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral arts organization for adults 55 and older. Admission to the concert is free with a pay-what-you-wish option for those who wish to give back and support the organization’s guiding mission of providing an excellent and accessible artistic environment for all older adults.

Encore Creativity recently performed a concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. to great acclaim, with over 400 Encore singers from across the nation in attendance. The performance was a culmination of Encore’s nearly 16-year-old history, with singers of all ensembles led by distinguished conductors for its annual performance as a part of the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage concert series.

April 15th, 2023 @ 1pm- A Hike With Poetry

Location: South River Farms Park

Join us at SouthRiver Farms Park as we spend time walking and writing.  Guided by poet Hiram Larew (Chuchton, MD), you’ll have a chance to take notes, journal and even compose poems as we hike the trails and stop along the water views.  We’ll gather at the parking lot.  Wear hiking shoes for the gently sloping trails.  Bring water and bug spray.   Anyone 16 years or older is welcome.  Please, no pets. Rain date April 16. To register for this program call 410-222-1978 or register online at https://forms.gle/WPguwtWmn3MSsBbM7

 

Live Arts Maryland had a busy March and while things are slowing down in April, there are still a number of concerts and events that you can attend! With her unique interpretations of songs in French and English ranging from American standards such as Cole Porter’s I Love Paris and the Gershwin’s Our Love Is Here To Stay, to French ballads like Edith Piaf’s La Vie En Rose and Charles Trenet’s I Wish You Love, to contemporary tunes and more, you’ll be transported to a fresh and modern world of Cabaret with Mariah Bonner at the Live Arts Studio at 7:30pm.

Then, on April 22nd, we will have our Mainstage season finale with Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem. Witness the majesty and power of the Annapolis Chorale and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra in the Ein deutches Requiem (A German Requiem) by Johannes Brahms. Brahms himself aptly referred to this as a Human Requiem. This setting of the requiem text paints the fragility, sorrow, and beauty of humanity unlike any other setting of the requiem text. This historic masterpiece will be paired with shorter chorale works that speak to our shared humanity. Join us for an evening of compelling choral singing that is sure to touch your soul! As always, we will end the month with our Open Mic Night on April 27th. You can get more information about these events at www.liveartsmd.org!

Songbird Festival: A Women’s Experience

April 22, 2023, Front Stairs at Maryland Hall

Free Registration:  https://www.marylandhall.org/events/songbird-festival-a-women-s-experience/2023-04-22/

Songbird Festival connects all women by providing a platform for storytelling and artistic expression, and a safe space to find commonality. The Songbird Collective, a group made up of local Annapolis musicians Laura Brino, Danah Denice, Jeanette Lynn and Meg Murray, is excited to announce the inaugural Songbird Festival: A Women’s Experience. This inaugural year will feature a diverse group of performers and presenters, along with a number of women artists, women owned businesses, support services and resources for women and more. While providing a platform for presenters and performers to address issues common to  the women’s experience like domestic violence, sexual trauma, access to healthcare, birth trauma, trans rights, discrimination and more, the festival will also uplift women in the arts and in business and celebrate the inspiring work being done in the community.

Bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy the performance. 

‘ELEVATE’

April 12th – May 16th: CHANEY & MARTINO GALLERIES

AACPS Senior Exhibit, ‘ELEVATE’, will feature art selected from each school in Anne Arundel County and will be displayed in the Maryland Hall Chaney and Martino Galleries from April 12th to May 16th. Opening Reception is on April 27th from 5:30-7 PM.

‘FINDING MEANING THROUGH ART-MAKING’

Month of April: First-Floor Hallway Gallery

In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Dr. Elizabeth Hlavek DAT, LCPAT, ATR-BC presents ‘Finding Meaning Through Art-Making’, on display the entire month of April in the Maryland Hall First-Floor Gallery. 

Approximately 40,000 works of art have been documented since the liberation in 1945. This collection of artwork – created in camps, ghettos, and in hiding – epitomizes the power of creativity and the strength of spirit. It is striking, especially from the perspective of art therapy, to consider the concept of art-making in the midst of a genocide. That a creative impulse could be attained suggests that it supported survival in some way.

The exhibit represents the artists who secretly created while captive during the Holocaust, and the importance of art-making in response to tragedy.