Mansfield, Pa. — The 17-day Endless Mountain Music Festival will begin this Friday and run through the weekend with orchestral performances in Corning and Mansfield.
The EMMF orchestra, conducted by festival founder Stephen Guzenhauser and featuring pianist Jeffrey Biegel, are performing the Pennsylvania premiere of Peter Boyer’s new "Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” at 7 p.m. on Friday in Steadman Theatre at CU-Mansfield and the iconic “Rhapsody in Blue” written 100 years ago in 1924 by George Gershwin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium.
In celebration of the 100th birthday of “Rhapsody in Blue,” Biegel created the Rhapsody National Initiative project and titled the new work a “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” for Peter Boyer to compose. Inspired by Gershwin's masterpiece, Boyer wrote the new work for piano and orchestra. Over the next three years, Biegel will be performing it with orchestras in all 50 states.
In addition to the debut of "Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue," opening night at Mansfield will feature Bach’s “Suite No. 3,” Creston’s “Dance Overture,” and Cowell’s “Symphony No. 13, Madras.”
At the Corning concert titled “Happy Birthday, Gershwin,” the orchestra will also perform Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2” and Tsontakis’ “Laconika.”
At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, the EMMF orchestra will present the Neil Diamond to Funk Pops Concert at the Wellsboro High School Auditorium at 227 Nichols Street in Wellsboro. The event is free to attend. Featured will be a selection of popular favorites from “East St. Louis Blues” and “Also Funk Zarathustra” to “Sweet Caroline,” “What a Wonderful World,” and “YMCA.” Clarinetist Trina Gross and the orchestra will perform John Williams’ “Viktor’s Tale.”
At 8 p.m. on Sunday, the “EMMF Brass under the Stars!” concert will take place at Cherry Springs State Park’s Astronomy Observation Field by the telescope domes. The concert will be a mix of traditional brass quintet music followed by arrangements by pop artists, including Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and Freddie Mercury. Performing will be Rebecca Dodson-Webster on French horn; Brian Strawley, Josh Carr and Brian Rodriguez on trumpet; Kevin Ladd on tuba; Alexander Walden on trombone; and Jason Mathena on percussion.
Stargazing with telescopes and a laser-guided Night Sky Tour will follow. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and coats as it gets chilly after dark. Preregister online for this free program online or email cherryspringsee@pa.gov to RSVP.
The music plays on at 7 p.m. Monday, July 22 at the 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, New York, when the EMMF String Quartet will play “Classic Gems.” Quartet members are: Hua Jin and Lisa Scott on violin, Charlie Alves on viola, and Perry Scott on cello.
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Deane Center Grand Community Room at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, there will be a performance by sisters Melissa Mashner on flute and Melanie Mashner on harp.
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Knoxville Yoked Church at 110 Alba Street in Knoxville, Jason Mathena and David Wert, percussionists, will perform a free concert titled “Music is My Weapon.”
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, “EMMF’s Famous Brass Quintet” will play. The concert is BYOB with audience members encouraged to reserve a table, bring their own favorite beverages and snacks, and sit with family and friends to enjoy the music.
Audience members ages 20 and under are admitted free to all 18 festival concerts.
There is a fee for the six Friday and Saturday orchestra concerts at 7 p.m. on July 19 and 20, July 26 and 27, and Aug. 2 and 3, and eight of the ten chamber concerts.
The concerts at Cherry Springs State Park at 8 p.m. on Sunday and at the Knoxville Yoked Church on Wednesday are free to attend.
The two Pops orchestra concerts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wellsboro High School Auditorium and at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 in the Corning Museum of Glass Auditorium are free for all to attend.
A flex pass to attend any six festival concerts is $150 or $25 per concert. A season pass is $250. Four of the 18 concerts are free.
To purchase tickets or flex or season passes or for more information about the Pennsylvania and New York concerts being offered daily Friday, July 19 through Sunday, Aug. 4, call the Endless Mountain Music Festival Box Office at 570-787-7800 or visit www.endlessmountain.net .
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