The University of Miami Frost School of Music and presenting sponsor UHealth – University of Miami Health System announce the extraordinary lineup for its annual multi-genre music festival, FESTIVAL MIAMI, Florida’s premier live music festival. From October 16 to November 7, 2015, the Festival will offer vibrant performances by the biggest names on the music scene from around the globe who will showcase their talents alongside the outstanding students and faculty artists from the Frost School of Music. More than 20 performances, organized into four themes: Great Performances, Jazz and Beyond, Music of the Americas, and Creative American Music, will be held in the intimate setting of the 600-seat UM Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, on the Coral Gables campus.
All tickets and season packages will be available to the general public beginning August 1, 2015, and single tickets start at $15. They may be purchased online at http://www.festivalmiami.com or by calling 305-284-4940.
The Festival’s 32nd season kicks off on a bright note on October 16 when South Florida concert-goers will be treated to an unforgettable program featuring the music of three visionary American composers. The highlight of the evening will be a riveting performance by one of America’s newest artistic treasures – the Billboard chart-topping piano sensation SIMONE DINNERSTEIN who will perform the Florida premiere of Phillip Lasser’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra – The Circle and the Child with the FROST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Alan Hovhaness’s landmark And God Created Great Whales and Howard Hanson’s epic Symphony No. 5 complete the program of standout works.
Additional Festival Miami highlights include the annual SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE – Johnny Mercer Re-Imagined, held on October 20, that will place the spotlight on the remarkable talents of songwriters and performers from the Frost School’s Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music (CAM) Program. The students will give a fresh spin on classic songs by the legendary Johnny Mercer, who penned such beloved standards as “Autumn Leaves,” “Moon River,” and “Skylark,” showcasing all new versions of classic works by this brilliant writer. This event will be hosted by Rey Sanchez, CAM Program Director and Jon Brielle, Vice President of the Johnny Mercer Foundation. The following evening, October, 21, country music fans will be treated to an “unplugged” and “in the round” evening of music by Nashville’s songwriting giants when the NASHVILLE COUNTRY ALL-STARS (Craig Carothers, Tony Arata, Dave Berg, and Annie Mosher) showcase their biggest hits recorded by Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Rodney Atkins, and many others. Cuban-born piano master GONZALO RUBALCABA, who has been heralded by The New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz… a pianist of almost supernatural abilities,” will be joined by his fellow Frost School faculty artists, including percussion virtuoso and winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition SVET STOYANOV with trumpeter/bandleader JOHN DAVERSA directing the FROST CONCERT JAZZ BAND. They will enthrall audiences in their new musical home with a thrilling jazz program on October 22. The following night, October 23, Festival Miami presents the charismatic Spanish fusion star MACACO -- one of the world’s most influential Latin musicians -- whose mega hits include “Love is the Only Way” and “Hijos de un Mismo Dios.” The Barcelona native will perform his unique blend of alternative pop, rumba, reggae and other world colors, with the energy of a great groove and strong lyrics of social content. The Grammy-and Emmy Award winning tenor JOHN EASTERLIN will thrill audiences with Broadway and opera favorites and classic arias by Mozart, Bernstein, plus more celebrated composers on October 24 on a program that features Grammy nominated jazz arranger and Dean of the Frost School of Music SHELLY BERG as special guest. On October 25, the inimitable LOS ANGELES GUITAR QUARTET -- recognized as one of the nation’s most groundbreaking and virtuosic instrumental ensembles -- will present music from their album New Renaissance and arrangements of classics by Ralph Towner, Pat Metheny, and Chet Atkins from their Grammy-winning project Guitar Heroes, as well as premiere works by Atanas Ourkouzounov, Tilman Hoppstock, and Dweezil Zappa.
Musical sparks will fly in a new interpretation of Brahms’s Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40 on October 28 when admired Frost horn faculty member, motion picture and solo recording artist RICHARD TODD performs with violin soloist and Cleveland Institute of Music’s President JOEL SMIRNOFF and award-winning pianist and NPR’s From the Top host CHRISTOPHER O’RILEY. Todd will also perform Olivier Messiaen’s solo horn work “Appel Interstellaire.” Solo piano and violin works by Bach and chamber music gems round out the evening’s program. CYRILLE AIMÉE, who is an extraordinary revelation in contemporary vocal jazz, will perform with the 2015 DownBeat Collegiate Award winning FROST STUDIO JAZZ BAND and JAZZ VOCAL 1 ENSEMBLE on October 29. The young, New York-based French singer AIMÉE blends standards with Gypsy swing and bossa nova. Since she won the 2012 Sarah Vaughan Jazz Competition, she has quickly become widely acclaimed as a favorite of jazz aficionados. Multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter and pianist BEN FOLDS will perform his critically acclaimed Concerto for Piano and Orchestra with the Frost School’s stellar HENRY MANCINI INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA on October 30. His concerto, which he composed in 2013 and has since been performed by symphony orchestras to sold-out audiences around the globe, will be featured on his upcoming new album "So There," which is slated for release in September 2015."
On Halloween afternoon, the FROST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA presents Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Children’s Suite for Orchestra) by John Williams, plus music by Saint-Saëns and Mussorgsky. The young and young-at-heart are invited to dress in Halloween costumes and enjoy post-concert treats courtesy of Festival Miami.
The Festival continues on November 1 with an exhilarating sonic celebration when the violin/viola hip-hop duo BLACK VIOLIN, comprised of string musicians Kev Marcus and Wil B, will once again shatter stereotypes of classical musicians by offering their fresh take on classical music, incorporating influences from R&B and soul to rock and beyond. Named one of the hottest new bands at the South by Southwest (SXSW®) Festival, Black Violin is sure to “wow” audiences with their high-energy, genre-bending sounds. Grammy nominated jazz organist extraordinaire JOEY DeFRANCESCO has been credited with being a vital force in the revival of the Hammond B3 organ as a jazz instrument. On November 3, he will entertain audiences with his swinging style and astounding originality as he performs in the great tradition of the unforgettable Jimmy Smith. FREDA PAYNE, who will forever be associated with her 1970 breakthrough R&B hit “Band of Gold,” returns to her musical roots as an American jazz singer in the tradition of Nancy Wilson and Ella Fitzgerald on November 5. She will captivate audiences with her artistic prowess on a program that includes “Save Your Love for Me,” plus more enthralling selections with a trio that will feature Frost School of Music Dean SHELLY BERG on piano.
CALENDAR INFORMATION:
FESTIVAL MIAMI 2015 SCHEDULE (as of June 14, 2015)
All artists, dates, locations, times and repertoire are subject to change without notice.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Friday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Frost Symphony Orchestra—American Visions
Featuring Pianist Simone Dinnerstein
THOMAS SLEEPER, conductor
Frost Symphony Orchestra presents pianist Simone Dinnerstein in Phillip Lasser’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. Alan Hovhaness’s And God Created Great Whales and Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 5 complete the all-American program.
MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS
Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
[Latin Music Artist to Be Announced]
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Charles Castleman—Violin Virtuoso
Solo Works by Bach, Piazzolla and Ysaÿe
Prize-winning violinist Charles Castleman performs a dramatic unaccompanied solo recital that includes Bach’s “Chaconne” from Partita in D Minor, Piazzolla’s Tango Etudes, Nos. 2 and 3 and Ysaÿe’s Violin Sonata Op. 27, No. 3 (“Ballade”).
CREATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES
Tuesday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Songwriters Redux—Music by Johnny Mercer
New Takes on Beloved Classics
Songwriters from the Frost School’s Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program take a fresh spin on classic songs by Johnny Mercer (“Autumn Leaves,” “Moon River,” “Skylark”) and showcase new songs inspired by his brilliant writing.
CREATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES
Wednesday, October 21 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Nashville Country All-Stars—Sing Their Greatest Hits
Songs Made Famous by Garth Brooks, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood
Top Nashville singer-songwriters (Craig Corothers, Tony Arata, Dave Berg, Annie Mosher) present a down-to-earth country music concert featuring their hits recorded by Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and Rodney Atkins.
JAZZ AND BEYOND SERIES
Thursday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Gonzalo Rubalcaba—With Frost Concert Jazz Band
Afro Blue Meets Cu-Bop and Post-Bop
Cuban-born pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Bulgarian-born percussionist Svet Stoyanov and American-born jazz trumpeter and bandleader John Daversa present an energizing jazz program with the Frost Concert Jazz Band.
MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS SERIES
Friday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Macaco—Sensational Super Star from Spain
Unmistakable Voice, Unique Sound
Dani Macaco is one of the most influential Latin musicians worldwide. A Barcelona native, his sound is a mixture of alternative pop, reggae, rumba and other world colors, with the energy of a great groove and strong lyrics of social content.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Saturday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
John Easterlin—Sings Broadway and Opera Favorites
What a Character!
Grammy-and-Emmy Award-winning character tenor John Easterlin sings beautiful Broadway and opera repertoire ranging from “Stranger in Paradise” and “This is My Beloved” to classic arias by Mozart, Bernstein, and others.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Sunday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet—New Renaissance Tour
Grammy Winning Guitarists
The multifaceted Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, praised by The Baltimore Sun as “a formidable ensemble,” presents music from celebrated albums New Renaissance and Guitar Heroes. They also premiere works by Ourkouzounov, Hoppstock and Zappa.
JAZZ AND BEYOND SERIES
Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Sylvan Street—High Wattage Jam Band
Fantastic Funkafied Ride
Sylvan Street is a high-wattage group that performs funk-infused originals with high-wattage bass grooves, powerful drums, tight horns and exciting keyboards. They blend driving fusion of jazz, rock, Latin, urban, jump swing and blues.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Wednesday, October 28 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Chamber Music Treasures—Richard Todd, Joel Smirnoff, Christopher O’Riley
Musical sparks fly in a new interpretation of Brahms’s Horn Trio when admired recording artists Richard Todd (horn) and Joel Smirnoff (violin) pair up with NPR’s From the Top host Christopher O’Riley (piano). Also, music by Bach and Messiaen.
JAZZ AND BEYOND SERIES
Thursday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Cyrille Aimée—Fabulous French Jazz Vocalist
With Frost Studio Jazz Band and JV1 Ensemble
French jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimée blends standards with Gypsy swing, bossa nova and charming stage presence. She joins the Frost Studio Jazz Band and Jazz Vocal 1 Ensemble in upbeat arrangements of jazz favorites created especially for her.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
CREATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES
Friday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Ben Folds—with Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra
Ben Folds Orchestral Experience
SCOTT FLAVIN, resident conductor
Multi-platinum selling, singer-songwriter and pianist Ben Folds performs his critically acclaimed Concerto for Piano and Orchestra with the Frost School of Music’s Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.
HALLOWEEN
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Saturday, October 31 at 3:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Halloween at Hogwarts and Beyond!
Family Concert with Frost Symphony Orchestra
ALEXANDER MAGALONG, conductor
Frost Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: a Children's Suite for Orchestra by John Williams, plus music by
Saint-Saëns and Mussorgsky. All children are invited to dress in Halloween costumes!
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
CREATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES
Sunday, November 1 at 4:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Black Violin—Classical Hip-Hop Duo
Named One of the Hottest Bands at SXSW!
“KEV MARCUS” SYLVESTER, violin
“WIL B” BAPTISTE, viola, vocals
Black Violin, an exhilarating violin/viola hip-hop duo, wows audiences with their unique take on classical music. Their newest recording Stereotypes incorporates their many musical influences from classic, R&B and soul, to rock and beyond.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Monday, November 2 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Frost Wind Ensemble—Great American Masters
Music by Bernstein, Grantham, Ticheli and Adams
ROBERT CARNOCHAN, conductor
Frost Wind Ensemble conducted by new director Robert Carnochan presents lively works by great American masters Bernstein, Ticheli, Grantham and Adams, featuring soprano Esther Jane Hardenbergh and tuba soloist Aaron Tindall.
JAZZ AND BEYOND SERIES
Tuesday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Joey DeFrancesco—Master Jazz Organist
Singin’ and Swingin’
Master jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco tears it up on his Hammond B3 in the great tradition of the incredible Jimmy Smith. A crowd favorite at festivals worldwide, you’ll soon become a fan of his swinging style and remarkable originality.
GREAT PERFORMANCES SERIES
Wednesday, November 4 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Boston Brass—And the Nominees Are…
Hits from Broadway to the Big Screen
Boston Brass presents their most-loved virtuosic selections from the worlds of orchestra, ballet, Broadway and the Big Screen. Concertgoers decide the second half program via categorized nominee ballots collected at intermission!
JAZZ AND BEYOND SERIES
Thursday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
Freda Payne—And Her Band of Gold
Sultry Jazz Singer Shines
SHELLY BERG, piano
Freda Payne, best known for her 1970 R&B crossover smash hit “Band of Gold,” is a jazz singer in the beautiful tradition of Nancy Wilson. Here she sings “Save Your Love for Me” plus other enthralling selections with a trio featuring Dean Shelly Berg on piano.
MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS SERIES
Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m.
UM Gusman Concert Hall
[CLOSING NIGHT ARTIST TO BE ANNOUNCED]
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About Festival Miami
Festival Miami has set a precedent over the last three decades by providing a series that blends artistically and culturally diverse music with educational opportunities. The festival offers 20-30 concerts each season, providing for people of all ages the chance to be enriched by live musical performances. It is unrivaled in its scope of musical presentations and is known throughout South Florida, the U.S., and the international community for its cultural contributions while expanding academic opportunities and cultural enrichment to all of South Florida and its visitors. The Festival’s concert series features the Frost School of Music’s widely known artist-faculty and student ensembles, and an educational mission that includes children’s concerts, master classes, lectures, forums, and concerts that highlight historically significant events. For a complete listing of concerts and to order tickets online visit http://www.festivalmiami.com or email fmtickets@miami.edu for additional information.
About Frost School of Music
The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music is one of the largest and best music schools located in a private university in the U.S., and one of the most comprehensive and relevant in all of higher education. With over 700 students and 100 faculty members it a top choice for instrumental, keyboard and vocal performance as well as composition, music business, music education, music engineering technology, music therapy, songwriting, jazz, studio music, and more. It is one of two schools created in 1926 when the University of Miami was founded. The naming gift from Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost in 2003 was a historic occasion.
The mission of the Frost School of Music is to foster musical leadership by providing an innovative, relevant, and inspiring education; advance performance, creativity and scholarship; and enrich the world community with meaningful outreach and brilliant cultural offerings.
The Frost School has pioneered new curricula and was the first in the nation to offer professionally accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Business and Music Engineering Technology, and was among the first to offer degrees in Music Therapy, as well as Studio Music and Jazz. Renowned for its Instrumental Performance programs, it is the home of the Frost Chamber Orchestra, Frost Symphony Orchestra, and Frost Concert Jazz Band and is a leader in vocal training with the Frost Opera Theater, Frost Chorale and other notable choirs.
Frost is the exclusive home of the Frost Experiential Music Curriculum which fully integrates performance, music history, ear training, and composition through chamber music and skills ensembles; the Henry Mancini Institute which provides Frost students with cross-genre performance opportunities in real-world professional settings; the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation’s Ensemble Scholars program which provides free tuition, room and board to 19 academically strong and highly talented undergraduate music students; and the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program which develops the creative skills of talented young artist/songwriters by immersing them in the diverse traditions of American songwriting. For further information, visit: http://www.music.miami.edu.
