The Walden School International Summer Music Camp and Festival welcomes Joan Tower and Stephen Jaffe as Composers-in-Residence for 2009 Season

2009 FESTIVAL CONCERT SERIES JUNE 30 - AUGUST 7 INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 100 FIRST PERFORMANCES PRESENTED BY YOUNG COMPOSERS OVER FIVE WEEK SUMMER FESTIVAL

Featured Artists Include M Shanghai String Band, The Walden School Players, Folk Music Trio Cross Country, Organist John Weaver, Choral Director Leo Wanenchak and Contemporary Music Ensemble Wet Ink

June 29, 2009 -- The Walden School welcomes Joan Tower and Stephen Jaffe as its Composers- in-Residence for the 2009 season, which begins this week in Dublin, New Hampshire. Ms. Tower and Mr. Jaffe will both be in residence for a week during the summer working with young musicians and participating in the free Festival Series public concerts which run from June 30 through August 7. Founded in 1972, The Walden School is part camp, part school, and part festival and has been in residence on the campus of the Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire, since 1983.

"The Walden School is one of America's greatest hidden treasures," said Joan Tower. "Though there are many music camps, there isn't another like The Walden School with its focus on nurturing musicianship through the act of composing and creating. The Walden School's unique curriculum nurtures the talent we need for the future of classical music -- building young musicians who truly understand the power of making music from the perspective of the composer. It is a rare gift for these young people and I can't think of a more fitting way to complete my 70^th birthday celebration season than to be a part of giving back to the next generation of young composers."

From June 30 through August 7, The Walden School 2009 Festival Concert Series offers 16 public events presented free of charge in the beautiful Monadnock region of New Hampshire. Musical compositions and presentations by Composers-in-Residence Joan Tower and Stephen Jaffe are featured alongside world premiere compositions by Walden students and faculty members. "What's unusual and wonderful about Walden is not only the sheer number of world premieres that occur during the summer -- often as many as 100 new pieces over the course of 5 weeks -- but also that each one of this year's concerts feature performers who are also composers," stated Seth Brenzel, executive director of The Walden School. "There's really an amazing creative ambiance when you get composers, performers, teachers, guest artists and audience members all coming together to rehearse, perform, listen to and then discuss new music across a huge range of genres, from contemporary classical chamber music, to choral, jazz, experimental and bluegrass old-time string band music."

The Festival Concert Series is highlighted by distinguished guest artists including the Brooklyn-based M Shanghai String Band, led by Matt Schickele; contemporary music ensemble and composers collective Wet Ink, who will present 8 world premieres by emerging composers; folk music trio Cross Country; preeminent organist and alumnus John Weaver; The Walden School Players, featuring contemporary music performers Claire Chase, Peter Evans, Nathan Davis, Meighan Stoops, Jane Chung, Greg Hesselink and Steven Beck; and acclaimed Baltimore chorus director Leo Wanenchak leading The Walden School Chorus in a concert program featuring works by Benjamin Britten.

Each summer approximately 50 young musicians from all over the United States and the world travel to the beautiful Monadnock region of New Hampshire to participate in The Walden School's Young Musicians Program on the beautiful campus of the Dublin School. Serving young people through its acclaimed summer camp program and music educators through its nationally recognized Teacher Training Institute, The Walden School's mission focuses on building creativity and personal expression through a unique and respected curriculum centered on comprehensive musicianship, musical improvisation and composition. "Tucked away in New Hampshire's Monadnock hills, a summer camp like no other teaches kids as young as 9 to make magical sounds ? not songs sung around campfires, but new American music," wrote the Associated Press. "Without fanfare, The Walden School takes musically inclined children for five weeks each summer and gently guides them to be composers."

Throughout its nearly 40-year history, The Walden School has served hundreds of young musicians including many who have achieved international recognition for their work in diverse fields. Distinguished alumni of both Walden and its predecessor program, the Junior Conservatory Camp, include conductor Hugh Wolff, actor/musician Lance Reddick, vocalist Hilary Kole, jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut, improvisational pianist Marilyn Crispell, and Matthew Hunter, the first North American string player to join the Berlin Philharmonic. "Walden was a tremendous and inspiring contact, such a positive force, and not just for the sake of music," stated Matthew Hunter, Berlin Philharmonic violist. "I want to congratulate you and the school for being able to continue this spirit that I so amply felt. The many details, the 'word of the day,' the singing on the mountain's peak-- it was just moving. I felt a sense of community, of shared purpose and a contagious idealism."

Ms. Tower and Mr. Jaffe join a distinguished list of eminent composers, performers, and visiting teaching artists who have been in residence at The Walden School including Christopher Theofanidis, The Peabody Trio, Bright Sheng, the Alexander String Quartet, Jennifer Higdon, Pauline Oliveros, Martin Bresnick, James Mobberley, Vance George, Chen Yi, Russell Pinkston and Alice Parker, among others. Every artist involved with Walden sings its praises. "In all of the residencies that I've participated in as a Composer-in-Residence, never have I seen such an amazingly thorough, enlightening, and fun learning situation as I experienced at Walden,"says composer Jenifer Higdon. "I cannot think of a comparable situation for young composers/musicians to come together and gain so much."

Detailed information is outlined below. All concerts are free and open to the public.

For further information, please visit The Walden School online at www.waldenschool.org; phone  (603) 563-8212; email concerts@waldenschool.org during the Festival for more information.

WALDEN SCHOOL 2009 FESTIVAL CONCERT SERIES
JUNE 30 - AUGUST 7, 2009
CONCERT LISTINGS:

• June 30 at 7:30 p.m.
  Composers Forum
  Patricia Plude, moderator
  This evening of new music will feature guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers, moderator and the audience.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 3 at 7:30 p.m. and July 5 at 2:00 p.m.
  M Shanghai String Band
  This Brooklyn based acoustic band offers new music with an old-time sound.
  "Vigourous, heartfelt, acoustic country with all the fixins!?, says TIME OUT New York
  July 3 - Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  July 5 - Heberton Hall, Keene Public Library in Keene, New Hampshire
  
  
• July 6 at 7:30 p.m.
  An Evening with Joan Tower
  Walden School 2009 Composer-in-Residence
  Joan Tower, whom The New Yorker has described as ?one of the most successful woman composers of all time? offers her thoughts on her career in music and insights into her compositional process. The evening will feature musical illustrations of her work and a discussion with the composer.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 7, 7:30 pm
  Composers Forum
  Joan Tower, moderator
  This evening of new music will feature guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers, moderator and the audience.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 10, 7:30 pm
  Wet Ink: World Premieres
  This acclaimed New York based 8-member contemporary music collective will present a concert featuring world premiere performances by emerging composers Whit Bernard, Marshall Bessières, Eliza Brown, Renée Favand, Caroline Mallonée, Osnat Netzer, Samuel Pluta and D. J. Sparr, all of whom are members of the 2009 Walden School faculty. The concert will also feature the performance of a work by Joan Tower, 2009 Walden School Composer-in-Residence.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 13 at 7:30 pm
  Cross Country
  Formed by then-Walden School faculty members John Yankee, Ned Quist and Carol Thomas Downing, this trio of acclaimed musicians will present a concert of folk music from around the world. For nearly 25 years, these versatile instrumentalists/singers/composers/arrangers have delighted audiences with their performances of standards, arrangements and original songs.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 14 at 7:30 pm
  Composers Forum
  Moderator to be announced at a later date
  This evening of new music will feature guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers, moderator and the audience.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 17, 7:30 pm
  John Weaver, organ
  Join master organist John Weaver organ for an evening of music from the Baroque to the present, including several works composed by the performer. Program to feature works by Couperin, Bach, Vierne and Franck. One of America?s finest concert organists, Mr. Weaver served as Director of Music at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, Head of the Organ Department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and as Chair of the Organ Department at The Juilliard School. The New York Times has called Mr. Weaver ??a performer whose technique, musicianship, stylistic acuity and taste make for interpretations of uncommon clarity, poise and good sense.? Flutist Marianne Weaver, Mr. Weaver?s wife, will also perform in this concert.
  All Saints? Church, Peterborough, New Hampshire
  Co-presentation with Monadnock Music
  
  
• July 24, 7:30 pm
  An Evening with The Walden School Players
  Claire Chase, flute
  Meighan Stoops, clarinet
  Jane Chung, violin
  Greg Hesselink, cello
  Nathan Davis, percussion
  Steven Beck, piano
  This evening of music featuring works by Composer-in-Residence Stephen Jaffe as well as other works drawn from the contemporary chamber music repertoire. The Walden School Players feature some of today's finest contemporary music performers, including flutist Claire Chase, First Prize winner of the 2008 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and Steven Beck, whom The New Yorker hails as "one of the city's most admired young pianists."
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 26, 7:30 pm
  An Evening with Stephen Jaffe
  Walden School 2009 Composer-in-Residence
  Winner of the Rome Prize and the Kennedy Center Friedheim Award, among many other honors, Mr. Jaffe will offer his thoughts on his career in music and insights into his compositional process. The evening will feature musical illustrations of his work and a lively discussion with the composer.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 27 at 7:30 pm
  Festival Week Composers Forum I
  Stephen Jaffe, moderator
  This evening of new music will feature The Walden School Players, guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers, moderator and the audience.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 28 at 7:30 pm
  Festival Week Composers Forum II
  Stephen Jaffe, moderator
  This evening of new music will feature The Walden School Players, guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers, moderator and the audience.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 29 at 7:30 pm
  Festival Week Composers Forum III
  Stephen Jaffe, moderator
  This evening of new music will feature The Walden School Players, guest artists, students, staff, community members and faculty performing student improvisations and compositions. All Composers Forums include a concert performance of each newly composed work, as well as a moderated discussion with students, faculty, performers, moderator and the audience.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  
  
• July 31 at 7:30 pm
  The Walden School Choral Concert
  Leo Wanenchak, director
  The Walden School Chorus comprises all students, faculty and staff of Walden's Young Musicians Program, and is the culminating program of Festival Week (July 26-July 31). This concert will feature performances of Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb and Choral Dances (Gloriana), among other works.
  All Saints' Church, Peterborough, New Hampshire
  
  
• August 7, 7:30 pm
  An Evening of Chamber Music
  This evening of contemporary music features Monadnock Music performers on guitar, flute, harp and viola in works by Composer-in-Residence Stephen Jaffe, Bach, Nathan Davis, and Scott Lindroth. This concert is presented during The Walden School Teacher Training Institute, a program that draws approximately 35 music educators each summer from around the world for a one-week workshop to help participants sharpen their musicianship skills, enrich their teaching with imaginative activities, and more effectively guide the creative voices of their students.
  Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School
  Co-presentation with Monadnock Music
  
  
  

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