A landmark year – The Tryon Concert Association enters its 60th season of outstanding musical presentations. During this anniversary year four concerts featuring outstanding artists will be presented as a subscription series at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. In addition, two non-subscription TGIF performances will be presented on two Friday evenings. Casual is the dress and pre dinner enjoyment is the plan.

Venezuelan-American pianist Gabriela Montero will open the season on Tuesday, Sept. 30. This gifted artist was a child-wonder who performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela at age eight. The next year later she received a scholarship from the Venezuelan government to study in the USA and she later studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. A unique feature of her performances includes improvisations on the piano using suggestions from the audience.

The world-famous King’s Singers will bring us a beautiful program of Christmas music on Monday, Dec. 15. Founded in 1968, this British a cappella vocal ensemble of six male voices has appeared on the Tryon stage in the past, as well as on numerous popular TV shows and across the globe at prominent concert halls.

A change of venue from the TFAC auditorium to the nearby Holy Cross Episcopal Church will bring organist Paul Jacobs, on Saturday, Feb. 7. Jacobs studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and at the Yale School of Music. In 2003 he became the youngest faculty appointment at the Juilliard School where he serves as chairman of the organ department. He is highly acclaimed for his demanding programs played exclusively from memory.

The Brentano String Quartet performs on Thursday, March 26. With concerts all over the world, this group was also featured in the score of the film A Late Quartet, an American drama released in 2012. One week before the TFAC performance the film, A Late Quartet, will be shown for TCA subscribers on screen at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, Thursday, March 19.

Two additional concerts will be offered as part of the 60th Anniversary Celebration. TGIF concerts will present The Mountain Chamber Players, on Friday, Oct. 24, and Soprello, on Friday, Feb. 27. These two casual concerts, not included on the regular series, will be preceded with a beer and wine bar starting at 5:30 p.m. in the TFAC lobby. Concerts will end just before the dinner hour to let participants enjoy a meal at restaurants in the area.

Mark your calendars for these outstanding events. For season ticket information visit tryonconcerts.org.

 

— article submitted 

by Joella Utley