Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series Returns For 2011-12 Season

The Hartt School, the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford, is pleased to announce its thrilling roster of artists for the 2011-2012 Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series. The 2011-2012 season kicks off with the much-anticipated return of the Emerson String Quartet on October 13, 2011; continues with jazz and world-music violinist superstar Regina Carter on November 17, 2011; ventures into exciting new territory with ECCO (East Coast Chamber Orchestra) on February 2, 2012; and concludes with the acclaimed Carter Brey, cello, and Christopher O'Riley, piano, on April 19, 2012.

All performances are held on Thursday evenings and begin at 7:30 PM. Performances are held in Hartt's Millard Auditorium or in Lincoln Theater, both on the University of Hartford's West Hartford campus. Individual concert tickets are $35 and Series subscriptions are $120, with discounts on individual tickets and subscriptions for seniors, educators, University of Hartford alumni, students, and groups.

New subscriptions and renewals are available by phone and in person at the University of Hartford Box Office beginning Friday, April 8. Individual concert ticket sales begin August 1, when both new subscriptions and individual tickets also may be purchased on line, at www.hartford.edu/hartt. Requests for individual tickets will not be processed until August 1. University of Hartford student, faculty, and staff subscriptions and individual tickets will be available by phone and in person at the Box Office beginning August 1.

A special pre-concert dinner precedes each performance and begins at 6:00 PM in the University's 1877 Club. Patrons may purchase Series subscriptions or individual tickets to the performances and/or the pre-concert dinners. Dinner tickets are $35 each. To purchase Series subscriptions or individual tickets, or to get additional information, please visit or call the University of Hartford Box Office in Lincoln Theater on the University of Hartford Campus at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587. To purchase tickets online after August 1, please visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

Emerson String Quartet - October 13, 2011; 7:30 PM; Millard Auditorium.
With more than 30 albums for Deutsche Grammophon and nine Grammy Awards to its credit, the Emerson is the world's most celebrated and honored quartet. In residence at The Hartt School for more than 20 years, the group returns to play its first concert on our campus in a decade. As a highlight of the evening, University of Hartford president Walter Harrison will bestow on the quartet members - Philip Setzer, Eugene Drucker, Lawrence Dutton and David Finckel - honorary doctorates. This is not an evening to be missed. "...the one indispensible quartet." Newsday
www.emersonquartet.com

Regina Carter - November 17, 2011; 7:30 PM; Millard Auditorium.
One of the most versatile and imaginative artists of our time, violinist Regina Carter will appear with her five-person ensemble to perform tracks from Reverse Thread, her recently-released, internationally acclaimed album of African roots music. A 2006 winner of a MacArthur Foundation award - the so-called "genius' grant - Ms. Carter is an iconic figure in contemporary American music. "Remarkable...thrilling. The communication between the band members is telepathic, the mood joyous." bebopified
www.reginacarter.com

ECCO (East Coast Chamber Orchestra) - February 2, 2012; 7:30 PM; Lincoln Theater.
This young 17-member conductorless string orchestra has been hailed as "dramatic," "magically expressive," and "truly spectacular." ECCO's members - many still in their twenties - are among the most brilliant and sought-after young chamber players and freelance musicians in the country, devoted to reenergizing the concert experience, both for seasoned listeners and for classical newcomers. "...classical music's future." The Washington Post
www.eastcoastchamberorchestra.com

Carter Brey, cello, and Christopher O'Riley, piano - April 19, 2012; 7:30 PM; Millard Auditorium.
Two of the music world's most visible and admired performers. As principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic and as an active soloist and chamber player, Brey is known to audiences around the world. Host of Public Radio's long-running program "From the Top," and acclaimed for his groundbreaking transcriptions of the songs of Radiohead and other rock artists, O'Riley is recognized as one of classical music's visionary performers and thinkers. "Finely nuanced...an impeccable partnership." -- New York Times
www.christopheroriley.com
http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=7

This Series is made possible by a grant from the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Thanks in part to its tremendous success, the Foundation has renewed and increased its support for the Series to $53,000 for the 2011-2012 season, an increase of more than 75% from the initial gift two years ago. The Fund and Foundation's continuing commitment to support this unique and distinctive concert Series allows Hartt to bring some of the world's best chamber artists to perform for Greater-Hartford audiences.

"This series is not only bringing some of the greatest living musical artists to our community, but it is also helping to redefine the concert experience," said Steve Metcalf, Director of Instrumental Studies at The Hartt School and Curator of the Garmany Series. "The repertoire is a mix of the familiar and the fresh, the performers talk to the audience from the stage, everyone gets to meet and mingle with the artists after the concert, and the audience itself is a healthy blend of veteran concertgoers and enthusiastic young people, including our own students. There's a real energy to these evenings."

In the past two years, the Series has brought capacity crowds to delight in the tremendous talents of the American Brass Quintet, Bolcom and Morris, David Finckel and Wu Han, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Brentano String Quartet, and most recently the New York Woodwind Quintet.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for the 29-town Greater Hartford region, dedicated to improving the quality of life for area residents for the past 85 years. The Foundation receives gifts from thousands of generous individuals and families, and in 2010 awarded grants of nearly $29 million to a broad range of area nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Hartford Foundation, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.

The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded in 1920, Hartt has been an integral part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the then Hartt School of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the University in 1957. 2010 markEd Hartt's 90th year of providing world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions a year, performance is central to Hartt's curriculum. For more information about The Hartt School, visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.