Bloomington Early Music Festival Opens Sept. 7

The 18th annuAl Bloomington Early Music Festival (BLEMF), held Sept. 7-11, continues a tradition of collaboration with the IU Jacobs School of Music Early Music Institute, presenting renowned local and national musicians, many of whom are alumni, students and faculty.

This year, the festival expands its relationship with Indiana University by linking up with the College of Arts and Sciences' Themester 2011, "Making War, Making Peace." With panel discussions, lectures, and concerts featuring music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods in venues throughout Bloomington, the 2011 festival is free to all IU and Ivy Tech students, as well as anyone under the age of 18. Ticket prices for individual performances are $15, and festival passes are $40.

"This year's festival, at the start rather than at the end of the school year, is offered so that a large number of the students and faculty of the Jacobs School of Music and IU will be able to attend," said Paul Elliott, director of the Early Music Institute and chair of the early music department. "Here is a unique opportunity to sample something new, or to reacquaint yourself with music that you love but rarely get the chance to hear 'live'.

"As the pedagogical aspect of its mission, the Bloomington Early Music Festival supports emerging artists, and in particular, from the Jacobs School of Music by providing opportunities to perform alongside established professionals," said Christine Kyprianides, president of Early Music Associates, the not-for-profit that organizes the festival. "For 17 years, the stars of the festival have been above all the talented faculty, students and alumni of the school's Early Music Institute. This year is no exception: Nearly 70 percent of the musicians are current or former members of the EMI. Other performers and lecturers are affiliated with the Jacobs School or the IU College of Arts and Sciences."

Magnificat Baroque Ensemble performs as a featured ensemble at the 2011 Bloomington Early Music Festival. The festival headline performance is Magnificat Baroque Ensemble, a renowned San Francisco-based early music ensemble performing selections from Monteverdi's Madrigals of War & Love. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, at First United Church, 2420 E. Third St.

"We are thrilled that Magnificat is coming to Bloomington to perform during BLEMF," said Kyprianides. "They are certainly one of the preeminent early music ensembles in the country and have an accomplished director in Warren Stewart."