'Festival Miami 2009' Greats From Around The World Perform

FESTIVAL MIAMI 2009 BRINGS THE WORLD'S GREAT PERFORMERS

TO MIAMI FOR 26TH SEASON

Four full weeks of Artistic Excellence, over 20 Concerts 

The 26^th year of one of Miami's most exciting traditions - Festival Miami - is back to kick off the fall season with great and inspiring music.  From October 2-30, the Festival will present a diverse roster of recognized musical artists from around the world.  Festival Miami audiences will enjoy world-class music and dance programming in four themed weeks including Great Performances, Creative American Music, Music of the Americas, and Jazz and Beyond.

      Frost School of Music Dean Shelton Berg explains, "We highlight music from various historical periods and genres drawn from around the globe. In addition to providing extraordinarily diverse music to the public, this format exposes our students to these multiple traditions."

      Classical music lovers have five Great Performances in Festival Miami, beginning on the Festival's opening night, October 2, with the Frost Symphony Orchestra (FSO) Celebrating the German Romantic Tradition.  The FSO will perform Robert Schuman's overture to Faust, and Brahms' Symphony No. 1, conducted by Thomas Sleeper. Also in that concert, faculty pianist Tian Ying will perform Beethoven's great Emperor Concerto.  The Frost Chamber Players and Frost Wind Ensemble bring more outstanding UM faculty and student artists to the stage, while The Frost Opera Theater will present Six Operas in Sixty Minutes!  Pianist Kevin Kenner, winner of the International Chopin Competition plays music of that beloved composer and the Miami Symphony Orchestra adds to this series' exciting classical range.

      The not-to-be-missed kick off to the Creative American Music theme is the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Tribute to Henry Mancini with Monica and Ginny Mancini on October 3.  Mancini is best known for composing film scores such as The Pink Panther and Breakfast at Tiffany's, among many others.  Daughter Monica Mancini, a multi-Grammy nominated vocalist, will perform classics including Moon River and Days of Wine and Roses. Ginny Mancini, the wife of the late composer, will offer anecdotes, remembrances and insights.  Other series artists include three-time Grammy winner Shawn Colvin together with UM alumnus and multi-Grammy winner Bruce Hornsby in a performance of some the most beautiful songs in popular music.  Colvin and Hornsby will also judge and select the best student work during the Songwriter's Showcase. Children's favorite Red Grammer, known for his glorious voice and award-winning songs, performs for the young at heart in a Halloween concert.

      The Music of the Americas series features Latin Grammy winner, jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, presenting a Softer Side on October 17 with music from his new CD for Concord Records. Also on this series, the exciting and visually stimulating IFÉ-ILÉ Afro-Cuban Dance Company will have the audience dancing in the aisles. The acclaimed Chilean singer/songwriter Claudia Acuña, brings her vocal "instrument of wonder," to the Gusman stage, and Carlos Reyes, a virtuoso of violin and the Paraguayan harp brings an infectious blend of Latin, jazz and rock.  Also this year, Festival Miami is proud to present the master of salsa, Willy Chirino performing his distinctive "Miami Sound."

      Concerts under the heading Jazz and Beyond include six-time Grammy winner, jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton bringing his performance mastery to Gusman Hall on Saturday October 10. In the forefront of jazz for more than 40 years, Burton will lead a master class and perform with student ensembles - the Stamps Jazz Quintet and the Frost Jazz Sextet. Carmen Bradford, former vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra, will appear with the award-winning Frost Jazz Vocal-1 Ensemble along with pianist and Frost School of Music Dean Shelton Berg.  Festival Miami will close with two outstanding nights of jazz with seven-time Grammy nominated bassist/composer John Clayton. Clayton has arranged for Queen Latifah, Diana Krall and Natalie Cole - and he teams with the versatile and dynamic drummer Jeff Hamilton.  The first concert will feature Clayton and Hamilton with Dean Shelton Berg and other Frost jazz faculty artists. The concluding evening on October 30 brings the duo together with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra and the Frost Concert Jazz Band for an unforgettable evening of symphonic and big band music.

      The Festival Miami Advance Ticket Sales Office phone number is (305) 284-4940.  Hours are Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For a complete listing of concerts and to order tickets online visit www.festivalmiami.com or email festivalmiami.music@miami.edu for additional information.  Tickets go on sale September 1. All performances are held at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, located at the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music, 1314 Miller Drive, on the University of Miami's Coral Gables Campus (unless otherwise noted in the attached schedule). For more information on the Frost School of Music, visit www.music.miami.edu.