Music Mountain to Present Avalon String Quartet with Soyeon Kate Lee & More, 7/23-24

Music Mountain, America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, continues its 87th Anniversary Season with the distinguished Avalon String Quartet and guest artist Soyeon Kate Lee, piano, performing a special program highlighting Haydn, Janacek, and Faure on Sunday, July 24 (3PM). The weekend begins on Saturday, July 23 (6:30PM) with Jazz Factory jazz pianist Dan Tepfer offering his remarkable Goldberg Variations / Variations. The Music Mountain summer is in full swing! Returning chamber ensembles and musicians, first-time guests, and an array of Jazz ensembles and musicians have already visiTEd Gordon Hall with many more still to come! See why the New Yorker called Music Mountain "The Summer Shrine of the String Quartet." Concerts are scheduled through September 11.

"To bring our jazz program to Music Mountain audiences is both an honor and an exciting new step for us as an organization that values bringing our premiere projects to diverse audiences", enthuses Piers Playfair, Founder & Artistic Director of Catskill Jazz Factory. "Music Mountain is an intimate and beautiful space to bring jazz, especially considering the superb quality of their annual chamber programming as it enters its 87th season. We can't wait to share our program and play our part in this halls history."

Saturday evening offers the second of a 5-part series in collaboration with The Catskill Jazz Factory. Brilliant jazz pianist Dan Tepfer performs his critically acclaimed Goldberg Variations/Variation. Following each of Bach's originAl Goldberg Variations, Mr. Tepfer creates his own improvised variation that becomes a musical commentary and takeoff on the Bach.

Born in Paris to American parents, "tremendously gifted" (LA Times) pianist-composer Dan Tepfer has translated his bi-cultural identity into an exploration of music that ignores stylistic bounds. His 2011 Goldberg Variations / Variations, which pairs his performance of Bach's work with improvised variations of his own, has received broad praise as a "riveting, inspired, fresh musical exploration" (New York Times). Bringing together his undergraduate studies in astrophysics with his passion for music, he is currently working on integrating computer-driven algorithms into his improvisational approach.

The Catskill Jazz Factory is a non-profit program founded in 2012 that supports today's best young jazz artists. By developing opportunities for artist residencies, cross-generational collaborations, creative project development and community engagement, Catskill Jazz Factory brings talent to the community while also bringing new audiences and ears to the art of jazz. By partnering with educational facilities, arts organizations, and a variety of local non-profits and businesses, the Catskill Jazz Factory encourages audiences of all ages to participate in community building through jazz. Catskill Jazz Factory is the sister program of the 23Arts Initiative and funded by Friends of Tannersville Organization (FOTO), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Sunday afternoon welcomes the seamless Avalon String Quartet with guest artist Soyeon Kate Lee, piano, performing select pieces that are being performed for only the second and third time at Music Mountain: Haydn: String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 20 # 3; Janacek: String Quartet # 2: Intimate Letters;" and Faure: Piano Quartet # 2 in G minor, Opus 45.

Described by the Chicago Tribune as an ensemble that invites your ears, mind, and spirit into its music, the Avalon String Quartet has established itself as one of the country's leading chamber music ensembles. The Avalon has performed in major venues in New York, Washington D.C., London, and Munich. In addition to performing in concert halls and at festivals, the Avalon Quartet's teaching activities include offering masterclasses at universities and conservatories throughout the United States and performing for young audiences in under-resourced schools and communities. The Avalon is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music.

Korean-American pianist Soyeon Kate Lee has been lauded by the New York Times as a pianist with "a huge, richly varied sound, a lively imagination and a firm sense of style." She has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras and has given recitals In New York, Madrid, and San Fransisco. Ms. Lee is the co-founder and artistic director of Music by the Glass, a concert series dedicated to bringing together young professionals in New York City. Ms. Lee is an Assistant Professor of Piano at the Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.

Music Mountain is located in Falls Village, Connecticut on Music Mountain Road, where a short scenic drive will bring you to GorDon Hall atop Music Mountain. Free parking and picnic facilities are available. Food, locally baked cookies and brownies, coffee, tea, lemonade, and spring water are available for purchase.

Music Mountain is supported, in part, by the Connecticut Commission On Culture & Tourism.

Chamber music concerts continue with Richard Goode, piano (July 31), Harlem String Quartet with Pamela Mia Paul, piano (August 7), St. Petersburg Piano Quartet (August 14), and Arianna String Quartet with Francine Kay, piano and Raman Ramakrishnan, cello (August 28).

The Saturday Evening Twilight Series continues with Will and Peter Anderson (July 30), Chris Washburne & The Syotos Band featuring Andre Mehmari (August 6), and Chris Pattishall (August 13) all produced by the Catskill Jazz Factory, followed by the return of and Michael Berkeley: No Tune Like a Show Tune! (August 20).

Specially Priced Concerts are as Follows: Tickets for the Mid-Summer Benefit Concert with pianist Richard Goode on Sunday, July 31 (3PM) are $75 and include a voucher for any regularly priced 2016 concert. Tickets for the Labor Day Benefit Concert & Reception with the Shanghai String Quartet, and pianists Gilbert Kalish and Jonathan Yates are $75 and include a voucher for any regularly priced 2017 concert.

The 87th season will continue to offer two ticketing options to complement their established family friendly ticket prices! Concert goers will be able to reserve their favorite seat(s) in advance for a one-time payment of $60 per seat, per season. For information on how to reserve a seat and specific seat availability, please call 860-824-7126. Music Mountain also continues its popular Gold Pass program. Major Gold Pass benefits include: Admission to all concerts; Priority Reserved Seating (subject to availability); $20 price for one guest per Gold Pass. Cost for Gold Pass Memberships: Individual: $780; Pair: $1,500. For a list of other benefits and more information, please call 860-824-7126. All Gold Passes are transferable.

Chamber Music Concerts are $35 at the door/$30 in advance. Twilight Series Concerts are $30 at the door/$27 in advance. Children ages 5-18 are admitted FREE for ALL CONCERTS when accompanied by a ticket holder. Saturday Twilight Concerts are at 6:30pm. Sunday afternoon Chamber Music concerts are at 3pm. Group rates and pre season ticket plans are available. Discounts apply through participating organizations. For a complete summer schedule, special ticket prices, and to download a ticket order form visit www.musicmountain.org or call 860-824-7126.

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