Sherman Chamber Ensemble to Continue 2013 Summer Series with Jill Levy & More, 8/9-10

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble continues its 2013 Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 9th at St. Andrew's Church in Kent and Saturday, August 10th at the Lake Mauweehoo Club in Sherman with a program of music for strings and flute, including a Serenade for two violins and viola by Kodaly, the Haydn "Surprise" Symphony No. 94 arranged for flute and string quartet, and Verdi's String Quartet in E Minor. Performers are Jill Levy and Carmit Zori (violin), Daniel Panner (viola), Eliot Bailen (cello) and Susan Rotholz (flute).

"We've put together a program that is perfect for a summer's night, whether you enjoy it in the air-conditioned intimacy of St. Andrew's or the lakeside charm of the Mauweehoo Club," notes SCE Artistic Director Eliot Bailen. "Haydn is always a favorite, and we think our audiences will enjoy hearing one of his best-loved symphonies in an arrangement for a more intimate ensemble. We are also pleased to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. Best-known as an opera composer, Verdi composed this string quartet on a whim, and it is really a hidden gem of the chamber music repertoire."

Sherman Chamber Ensemble concerts are performed Friday evenings in the intimate and acoustically excellent St. Andrew's Church on Main Street in Kent, CT. Saturday evening performances take place in the rustic charm of the lakeside Mauweehoo Clubhouse on Leach Hollow Road in Sherman, CT. All performances start at 8:00 PM and are followed by a reception offering light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the performers.

Admission is $30 at the door ($25 for students and seniors). Reservations are strongly recommended and may be made by calling 860-355-5930. Advance tickets may also be purchased online at www.shermanchamberensemble.org. For Sherman concerts only, lawn tickets may be purchased the night of the concert for $10 (bring your own seating or beach blanket).

New in 2013 is the introduction of a discounted dinner and concert package available Fridays at the Fife 'n Drum in Kent (860-927-3509) and Saturdays at Amore Ristorante in Sherman (860-210-1266). It's a convenient and cost-effective way to combine classic fine dining with fine classical music. Reservations and information are available by calling the restaurants directly.

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble was founded in 1983 to bring world-class live classical music performance to Western Connecticut and nearby New York State. Its summer chamber music series has been described in The New York Times as "about as close as it gets to the Platonic ideal of a chamber music concert." Additional events coming later this year include a program celebrating the musical heritage of the Mizzen Top Hotel in Pawling and the Akin Family of Quaker Hill; Labor Day weekend bluegrass jamborees; the annual "Live at the Lake" coffeehouse; Thanksgiving weekend free jazz matinee performances; and a Messiah Sing-in at St. Andrew's Church in Kent. Support for this season comes from many generous individual donors, the Kaplen Foundation, Elmwood Fund and other private foundations and local businesses.