On Sunday, July 29 at 3 pm, the Music Ministry of Christ Church Easton will present a concert featuring music by celebrated composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart under the direction of music director, Wes Lockfaw.  The public is invited to attend.  The repertoire will feature Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (Solemn Vespers for a Confessor), K. 339 and “Gloria” from the Twelfth Mass.  The choir will be comprised of Christ Church Choir members and friends.  Soloists include Georgiann Gibson (soprano), Katherine Nevius (alto), Robert Branning (tenor), Patrick Mason (tenor), and Randy Bachand (bass).  Several instrumental works featuring strings, flute, and organ will also be performed.

Solemn Vespers, K. 339 was composed in 1780 and would have been intended for the special celebration of a saint who, in this instance, remained unnamed.  Its six movements would have been interspersed with readings and other acts appropriate for a sacred and festive occasion.  While the masterpiece was found to be a restrictive exercise by Mozart due to the nature of his employment with the Bishop of Salzburg, it endures as a monumental part of his journey toward the more secular genres for which he became known.  While the work can largely be characterized as bright and brilliant, its fifth movement, “Laudate Dominum”, contains a lush, introspective quality whose beauty could easily have found its way into any of the composer’s operas.  This quintessential work was the last choral work written written by Mozart for the cathedral in Salzburg.

Following the concert, attendees are invited to a high tea in the parish hall along with the guest of honor!  While there is no charge for the event, a free will offering will be received.  For more information, call 410-822-2677.  Christ Church is located at 111 S. Harrison Street in downtown Easton.

The Trippe Gallery welcomes Plein Air Easton! with special demonstrations by gallery artists and Plein Air Easton competitors watercolorist David Csont, oil painter Leonard Mizerek, oil painter Elise Phillips and Botanical artist Lee D’Zmura will be giving public demonstrations of their individual painting styles on Friday July 20 at the gallery. Mizerek is competing in his 10th straight Plein Air Easton! and Csont And Phillips are in their 9th consecutive appearance.

David Csont giving his demo in 2016

Leonard Mizerek, ASMA, nurtured his artistic love of nature while growing up in the Brandywine Valley. His early influence was with the Pennsylvania Impressionists and Brandywine School. Mizerek is one of 26 Fellows of the American Society of Marine Artists. Throughout the last few years, Leonard participated in several invitational Plein Air events including Mystic, Annapolis, winning Honorable Mention and Easton Md. winning Second Place in the Quick Draw event. Len’s demonstration at the gallery will be from 10:00-12 at the gallery on Friday the 20th.

“Where most people see the ordinary, I envision a painting.” says award winning oil painter Elise Phillips. Elise was born in Wayne, Pennsylvania into a family with an extensive background in the fine arts. Her great, great grandfather founded Newman Galleries in Philadelphia in 1865, and today she is the fifth generation of the family involved in the arts. At Plein Air Easton, Elise has been awarded the Spirit of St. Michaels 2015, Best Marine 2016 and Honorable Mention in Quick Draw 2017. Her demonstration at the gallery will be from 12:30-2 on Friday the 20th.

Watercolor has been a passion of David Csont and is evident in his painting and illustration style. Over 25 years he has developed a colorful, painterly approach, rooted in the tradition of English watercolorists.. Ever cultivating his technique, he can be seen painting traditional plein air watercolors as he travels the world. HIs awards at Plein Air Easton include Honorable Mention(2011), second in Quick Draw(2014, 12016).David will be giving a demonstration at the gallery on Friday July 20 from 1-2:30 PM.

Botanical Artist Lee D’Zmura will be giving a demonstration of her technique at the gallery Friday morning from 10:30-12. Talbot County artist Lee D’Zmura is an award winning botanical artist whose experience in landscape architecture enriches her watercolors fine detail in her paintings is in part the result of years of technical drawing. Her watercolors are an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of the individual specimen with botanical accuracy.

The Trippe Gallery also exhibits plein air oil paintings by Zufar Bikbov who was been awarded with The Artists Choice Award (2014,2015) as well as Best Use of Light(2014), Best Composition(2016) and Best Nocturne(2016).

In addition to demonstrations on Friday, The Trippe Gallery will be joining other Easton galleries for a special gallery walk Saturday July 21 from 5-8 with artists present to talk about their art. For more information please call 410-310-8727. www.thetrippegallery.com

EXHIBITIONS
The Academy Art Museum’s exhibitions are generously supported by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Talbot County Arts Council and the Star-Democrat.

AAM @ 60: The Diamond Exhibition
Part II: Through October 14, 2018
Free Docent Tours: Wednesdays at 11 a.m., meet at Front Desk
In 1958, the Academy Art Museum opened its doors to the public as the Academy of the Arts. In 2018, the accredited Museum invites all audiences to celebrate its 60th anniversary, honoring the past and celebrating the future. Program highlights include a special two-part Diamond Exhibition, representing the creative genius of artists from Europe and North America, spanning from the seventeenth century to the present. Anke Van Wagenberg, Chief Curator, has selected artworks from among the over 1400 works in the Permanent Collection for two sequential exhibitions. The Diamond Exhibition will showcase a representative range of works including prints from Rembrandt and Goya to Whistler and Picasso, and selections of our holdings in other media including painting, photography and sculpture. AAM @ 60: The Diamond Exhibition is accompanied by a special anniversary catalogue.

Joan Miró, 1893–1983 Oiseau Zéphyr, 1960 (detail) Color lithograph, 13 5/8 x 20 7/8 in. AAM2015.030, Purchase.

Edvard Munch: Color in Context Prints from the National Gallery of Art
Through October 14, 2018
Reception: Friday, July 27, 2018, 5:30–7 p.m.
Free Docent Tours: Wednesdays at 11 a.m., meet at Front Desk
In the second half of the nineteenth century, advances in physics, electromagnetic radiation theory, and the optical sciences provoked new thought about the physical as well as the spiritual world. Aspects of that thought are revealed in Edvard Munch: Color in Context, an exhibition of 10 prints on loan from the National Gallery of Art, that considers the choice, combinations, and meaning of color in light of spiritualist principles. Informed by both popular manuals that explained the science of color and theosophical writings on the visual and physical power of color, Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863–1944) created works that are not just strikingly personal but charged with specific associations. The exhibition is curated by Jonathan Bober, Andrew W. Mellon Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings, Department of Prints and drawings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, and Mollie Berger, his Curatorial Assistant.

Edvard Munch, Kiss on the Hair, 1910s Color woodcut on wove paper block, Gift of The Epstein Family Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington 2007.1.4

Reflections: Natural and Imagined
Through August 19, 2018
Free Docent Tours: Wednesdays at 11 a.m., meet at Front Desk
The St. Michaels Art League (SMAL) presents a juried selection of work in various mediums inspired by the theme “Reflections.” Interpretations vary broadly from literal to figurative and may include reflections on nature, on objects, on buildings, and reflections on thought and expression, to name a few. Carla Massoni, owner of Massoni Gallery in downtown Chestertown, will serve as this year’s juror.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Open MIC
Second Monday Each Month – August 13
7 to 9 p.m.
The Academy Art Museum’s Open Mic is a monthly occasion for our community to share and appreciate the rich tapestry of creativity, skills and knowledge that thrive in the region. Contact Ray Remesch at RayRemesch@gmail.com for additional information.

ADULT CLASSES

Composition in Nature
Instructor: Julia Rogers
2-Day Workshop: August 11 and 12, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Cost: $170 Members, $204 Non-members

Diane DuBois Mullaly

Summer Challenge– A Painting A Day for 15 Days!
Instructor: Diane DuBois Mullaly
3 weeks: August 4, 11 and 18, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: $118 Members, $142 Non-members

Inspired by the Bay: A Painting Workshop (Oil or Acrylics)
Instructor: Matthew Hillier
3 days: August 24, 25 & 26, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Cost: $190 Members, $228 Non-members

For the Pastelist: Summer Mentoring Sessions
Mentor: Katie Cassidy
4 Sessions, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Cost: 4 Sessions $110 or $35 per session drop in fee

Watercolor Techniques and Applications for Landscape
Instructor: Paul Allen Taylor
2 Day Workshop: August 16 and 17, 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Cost: $160 Members, $180 Non-members

Matchstick Ink Line and Wash for Watercolor
Instructor: Paul Allen Taylor
1 Day Workshop, August 18, 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Cost: $60 Members, $72 Non-members

Drop by and Mix it Up–Mixed Media
Mixed media using collage and monoprints and linocuts
Instructor: Sheryl Southwick
One day workshop: August 11, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cost: $45 Members, $54 Non-members

Splatter, Spin & Spray: Making “Process” Art!
Ages: 3-5 years
through Thursday, August 13–16
Monday through Thursday, July 16–19, 9 a.m.–12 noon
Fees: $125 Members, $150 Non-members each week (children must be potty-trained to participate)

Wonder Women Artists Workshop
Ages 13–17
Instructor: Dawn Malosh
Monday–Thursday, August 6–9, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Cost: $95 Members; $105 Non-members

Sumi-e Painting
Ages 8–14 (Adults welcome)
Instructor: Dawn Malosh
Monday-Wednesday, August 6–8, 1–3:30 p.m.
Cost: $70 Members; $80 Non-members

The World I See: A Sketchbook Journal
Ages 8–13
Instructor: Susan Horsey
Monday–Friday, August 13–17, 10 a.m.–12:00 noon
Cost: $130 Members; $140 Non-members

Plaster Sculpture and Design
Ages 10+
Instructor: Theresa Schram
Monday–Friday, August 20–24, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Cost: $115 Members; $125 Non-members

PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES

Piano & Guitar Lessons
Instructor: Raymond Remesch
Contact Instructor for further information at (410) 829-0335 or rayremesch@gmail.com
Whether your goal is to audition for a conservatory, lead your family in song during the holidays, or learn to play the music you love, a personalized music education is one of the most rewarding and enduring investments people can make for themselves or their child.

Voice Lessons
Instructor: Georgiann Gibson
Contact instructor for information at (410) 829-2525 or georgiann@atlanticbb.net.
Whether you are interested in singing with a choir, becoming a soloist, getting a lead in the high school musical or community theatre production, joining a barbershop quartet, or preparing your audition for a conservatory, good singing requires a skill set that is developed over time.

Ballroom and Latin Dance
Instructor: Amanda Showell
Contact instructor for information at (302) 377-3088 or visit dancingontheshore.com.

For additional information, visit academyartmuseum.org or call the Museum at 410-822-2787.

The Church of the Holy Trinity, Oxford, is excited to present Melissa Wise Slacum and Thomas Beard in concert on July 29, 2018 at 4 p.m.  This will be an afternoon of superb vocal music featuring classical music, opera arias, inspirational music (hymns, spirituals), Broadway songs, and jazz/blues.

Melissa Wise Slacum is a professional soprano, who resides in Cambridge, Maryland.  She sings regularly at local events and area churches, along with serving as a music educator with Dorchester County Public Schools.  Melissa has studied with the legendary, well-known vocal pedagogue, Cornelius Reid.  Her voice is stunning.  If you have not heard Melissa in concert, this is a wonderful opportunity!

Thomas Beard, professional Lyric-Dramatic Baritone, is a Baltimore, Maryland resident.  He is well-known for his operatic, orchestral, Broadway, and spiritual renditions.  Thomas is the only African-American male singer to have been personally chosen, by Placido Domingo, to participate in Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.  He has performed Baritone roles in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Lord Nelson’s Mass, Verdi’s Missa da Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Detts’ Ordering of Moses, Pergolesi’s Magnificat, and Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ.  Thomas has performed Opera roles with The Washington Opera (DC), Dayton Opera (OH), Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh (PA), Annapolis Opera (MD), Municipal Opera Company of Baltimore (MD), International Opera (Rome, Italy), to name a few.  Recently he sang the role of William in a new opera, A Fleeting Animal (Monteverdi Society) and debuted with the Riverbend Opera (DC) as Michonnet in Adrianna Lecouvreur.  In May, Thomas made his debut with the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra and will sing Verdi in Vermont with the Eleva Chamber Orchestra (VT) in July.  Television credits include CNN, Fox and private performances for former President George W. Bush, Justice Ruth Ginsberg, dozens of embassies and the funeral of Mrs. Rosa Parks.

Please plan to enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music!  An offering will be taken for the artists.  The Church of the Holy Trinity is located at 502 S Morris St. Oxford, MD.  Doors will open at 3:30 pm.  For further information, please contact The Church of the Holy Trinity at 410-226-5134.

Chaise Lounge brings their own brand of sophisticated swing to The Mainstay on July 28 at 8 pm! $20 online advance and $20 phone reservations/door.

Chaise Lounge performs a blend of music that sounds like it was recorded at Capitol Recording Studios in 1962 and somehow found its way to today’s pop charts. You might call it “Early Stereo.” Or perhaps Lounge with a capital “L.” Or maybe just plain enjoyable. It is the combination of five of the Washington area’s top jazz musicians playing sparkling arrangements of standards and original tunes and featuring the soft, luminous vocals of Marilyn Older. Her voice is truly an American Original. An evening spent with her is an evening spent in the warm, inviting glow of one of the most wonderful voices singing in America right now.

Marilyn Older has been singing professionally since she graduated as a music technology major from American University in Washington DC. A native of North Carolina, she has written songs and performed with a variety of bands including Nixon’s Cat and Dead Girls & Other Stories. As a pianist she toured with Doc Scantlin’s Royal Palms Orchestra playing engagements from New York’s Copacabana to a royal wedding in London. As a songwriter she has contributed songs to Chaise Lounge’s first CD, The Early Years and to a number of independent feature films, the most recent of which is Bama Girl, which premiered at the 2008 SXSW film Festival in Austin, Texas. She has been nominated for the 2009 Wammies as one of Washington DC’s best jazz vocalists.

Band leader Charlie Barnett’s scores have appeared in more than four hundred television and theatrical films. His work in documentary film has won awards including the Cine Golden Eagle for his work on National Geographic’s Tibet’s Hidden Kingdom, a Peer Award for The Discovery Channel’s Raising the Mammoth and Emmy nominations for Holocaust: the Untold Story and Cosmic Journey (for A & E). The Paper Clips score won the 2004 Rome International Film Festival’s Jerry Goldsmith Award. Paper Clips has also won the Christopher Award for 2006 and was nominated for an Emmy. Mr. Barnett has also written music for Saturday Night Live, The Cosby Show, Third Rock from the Sun and Weeds. Recently his score for the PBS series, The Appalachians, was released by Sony records. His score for Dreamer, a documentary about C.S. Lewis, produced by Walt Disney Productions was recently released as part of the The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe boxed set.

Drummer Tommy Barrick can be heard with a variety of acts ranging from swing & jazz to latin, funk and punk around the DC area. He’s had the opportunity to perform throughout Europe and throughout the United States at The Knitting Factory, 9:30 Club, CBGB’s, Arlene’s Grocery, Brownies, The Black Cat, The Rainbow Room, The Copacabana, The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, The Birchmere, Blues Alley and many more. He recently published his first percussion method, The Paradiddle Workbook.

Saxophonist Gary Gregg performs with many DC ensembles, including Chaise Lounge, The Cutaways, The Tuxedo Park Orchestra and his own sextet. Perhaps the area’s leading exponent of swing clarinet, hot tenor and cool flute his playing provides local big bands with both the soaring clarinet and “down home” tenor playing reminiscent of the swing era. Gary grew up in Las Vegas and began his musical training there at an early age.

At age 12, Dallas-born Joe Jackson achieved his life dream of forfeiting his lunch money daily to the school jocks by choosing the trombone. During his high school years, Joe was the recipient of three Down Beat Magazine “DeeBee” awards. At the University of North Texas, he performed in the famed One O’Clock Lab Band, and was named the 1985 College Musician of the Year. In 1990 Joeand hit the road with the Maynard Ferguson Band, and performed for millions throughout the U.S. and Europe, all the while playing at least an octave lower than Maynard. In 1991, Joe was awarded the lead trombone position in the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note.

Pete Ostle is a versatile bass player, band leader, and tubist who served with the U. S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” based at Fort Myer, Virginia. Pete played in the Concert Band, Army Blues, Army Chorus, Army Orchestra, and Army Chorale during his 20-year tenure. He currently leads the Tuxedo Park Orchestra and plays double bass with the Avanti Orchestra of the Friday Morning Music Club, the McLean Orchestra, and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra.

The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region and is committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Information and advance ticket sales are available on the Mainstay’s website http://www.mainstayrockhall.org.

Upcoming Mainstay performances include:

July 23 Joe Holt welcomes Max Murray and Frank Russo
July 30 Joe Holt welcomes Scott Silbert
August 2 RUNA returns to The Mainstay!
August 6 Joe Holt welcomes Van Williamson and Tom Anthony
August 11 Benefit for Guys and Dolls
August 13 Joe Holt Welcomes Holly Lane and Mike McShane
August 18 Nasar Abadey Trio
August 20 Joe Holt Solo Show!
August 25 Folk Singer Reggie Harris
August 31 Americana favorites the Bumper Jacksons

The Hostage, by Brendan Behan, set in a bawdy boarding house in mid-20th century Dublin is coming to the Church Hill Theatre stage. A refuge where one-time Irish revolutionaries relive past glories and air grievances, the “house” becomes the logical setting for the unfolding of an IRA plot to exchange a callow British conscript – the Hostage – for an IRA youth sentence to be hanged in a Belfast jail. The IRA’s plot and the lives of the denizens in the “house” force everyone to struggle with their value systems, from morality and religion to honor and loyalty as they collide with life, love and hate. Production dates at CHT are November 2 through 18, with performances on Friday and Saturday at 8, Sundays at 2.

The Hostage has excellent roles for men and women, bringing to life the traditions of “the common man/woman” in British theater from Shakespeare to Pinter. Behan lays bare the joy, sorrow and undeniable humor that are at the core of life’s deepest values.

Auditions on the Church Hill Theatre main stage will be held on:
– Thursday, July 26 at 6:00 pm
– Saturday, July 28 at 11:00 am
– Tuesday, July 31 at 6:00 pm

Directed by Pat Patterson, those who audition will be asked to participate in “cold” readings from the script. Although The Hostage is not a musical, auditioners may be asked to sing a verse of song of their choosing, such as “Danny Boy” or “When the Saints go Marching In”, without accompaniment. On-stage experience is not essential to be part of The Hostage!

Characters break down as follows (ages refer to the age that the actor can portray):
Pat: (male 50s & up) Gregarious ex-IRA fighter; now the manager of the boarding house
Meg: (female 30s-50s) Runs the house. She & Pat have been “almost married” many years
Monsewer: (male 60s-70s) Dotty owner of the house. Plays the bagpipes! Raised “British” but switched to the IRA “cause”in 1917, Speaks a bit of Gaelic
Teresa: (female 18-early 20s) a country girl, housemaid, cares for the Hostage
Leslie: (male 18-20s) a young, cockney British soldier – the Hostage
Mr. Mulleady: (male 30s-up) a seedy but proper (sometimes) boarder
Miss Gilchrist: (female 30s-up) Mulleady’s “social worker” friend
Coletteand Ropeen: (female, one young and one older) prostitutes
Rio Rita and Princess Grace: (male any age) “male tarts”
An IRA Officer/extremist (any gender; 20s – up)
The Pianist: (any age) accompanies the singing and dancing and sometimes more
Others: Several roles for individuals (any age/gender) to play roles as house residents, IRA fighters, British military etc.

Contact the Church Hill Theatre office at 410-556-6003 or reach out directly to Pat Patterson at 571-215-7973 or cpatter983@aol.com with any questions.

The sounds of singing and dancing are filling the Church Hill Theatre as talented local youngsters rehearse for their productions of Winnie the Pooh, Kids and Shrek the Musical, Jr. that they will perform on Thursday, July 19 through Saturday, July 21. For the past nineteen years, Green Room Gang campers have honed their acting, singing and dancing skills to produce fully staged musical productions. Winnie the Pooh, Kids is adapted for children from the classic book by A. A. Milne and Disney Film. Shrek the Musical, Jr. is based on the book by William Steig, the 2001 film and the Broadway musical featuring Sutton Foster, which tells the tale about an ogre who finds happiness.

Photo: Members of the cast of Shrek the Musical, Jr. From left to right, they are Eamon Murphy as Farquaad, Abby Reynolds as Fiona, Caleb Ford as Shrek, and Lindsey Jones as Donkey. Photo by Steve Atkinson.

Becca Van Aken directs younger performers in Winnie the Pooh, Kids and Kyle Lindenberger directs the middle and high students in Shrek the Musical, Jr. Interns Mark Christie and Iz Clemens ably assist both directors in all aspects of the classes and rehearsals.  Production staff includes Tom Rhodes, Carmen Grasso for set construction, Tina Johnson and Erma Johnson who are creating the costumes, with Nic Carter and Kat Melton working on lighting.  Volunteer interns are Courtney Adams, Sydney Christian, Olivia Giuliano, Jesse Goodman, Lynsey Hildebrand, Christina Lewis, Maya McGrory, Elliott Morotti and Jen Johnson.  Ginger Ellis is stage manager for the Jr. group and Lynsey Hildebrand does the same duty for the Sr. group.  Shelagh Grasso and Sylvia Maloney serve as producers and mentors.  Many parents and other volunteers helped with costumes, sets, and props, making this annual show a real community effort.

Performances will be on the evenings of Thursday, July 19 and Friday, July 20 at 7 pm and on Saturday, July 21 at 2 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and  $5 for students. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at (410) 556-6003.

Rehearsals have begun for Easton’s Allegro Academy Summer Community Chorus, under the direction of Amy Morgan, who has brought together more than 60 singers and musicians from the Easton/Delmarva area. The group will present the famous and much loved Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 7 p.m.  The performance is free and will take place at Trinity Cathedral, 315 Goldsborough Street, Easton, MD.  The chorus will be joined by a professional orchestra and soloists Caitlyn Crowley, soprano, Katie Cox, soprano, and Patty Rubin, mezzo-soprano.

The Gloria will be conducted by the Allegro Academy’s Artistic Director, Amy Morgan.  Mrs. Morgan is an accomplished musician whose education includes a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from Salisbury University and Masters in Choral Conducting from Messiah College.  Mrs. Morgan founded the Allegro Academy in 2017 and has served as the music director at Trinity Cathedral since 2014.

Several participants commented that they thought this was a wonderful idea to “bring together the community and meet new people.”  Anyone who wanted to sing was welcomed.  One participant said she “loves to sing and was excited about being able to sing in such a large choir without having to audition.”  Mrs. Morgan hopes that the Allegro Academy summer community chorus will become a regular event.

The programs of the Allegro Academy are funded in part by the Talbot County and Maryland State Arts Councils.  For more information about this program or the Allegro Academy, call 410-603-8361, or visit www.allegroacademyeaston.com.