McHenry, MD – Garrett Lakes Arts Festival is pleased to announce six nights of Chautauqua entertainment under the big tent on the lawn of Garrett College, McHenry, MD. The events take place Friday, July 3 through Wednesday, July 8. Though admission to each program is free, contributions will be accepted to help offset program costs.
Friday, July 3
Kicking off the week is “Gus”, a long-form improvisational comedy troupe sponsored by the Baltimore Improv Group. They will perform Friday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. under the big tent on the Garrett College lawn. They will be joined by former Garrett County resident Alexander Hill, a former member of Gus who had performed with the troupe for three years prior to his relocation to New York City.
Saturday, July 4
Saturday, July 4 will premier the traditional Independence Day Concert with BOTH the Garrett Community Concert Band and the Garrett Choral Society. The free concert will be held rain or shine, beginning at 7:30 p.m. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Garrett College auditorium. Round out the evening with the perfect spot to view the community fireworks display, immediately following the concert.
Sunday-Wednesday, July 5-8 [SEE BLOG BELOW]
Rights and Reformers
Chautauqua (brought to us by the Maryland Humanities Council) will take place July 5-8, under the large tent on the Garrett College lawn, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The programs are FREE (with donations accepted).
Sunday, July 5 – Woodie Guthrie (performed by David Fenimore)
warm-up act: “Hammers and Strings”
Monday, July 6 – Jackie Robinson (performed by Gregory Kenney)
warm-up act: Billy George, marimba
Tuesday, July 7 – Eleanor Roosevelt (performed by Suzan King)
warm-up act: fiddler, Elmer Rich
Wednesday, July 8 – Alice Paul (performed by Joanna Guy)
warm-up act: Sugarfoot Stompers
Warm up acts (starting at 7:00 p.m.) are always part of the Chautauqua Series of Historic Portrayals. GLAF has just received word that the fiddler, Elmer Rich, WILL BE COMING to be the warm-up performer for Tuesday, July 7, the night “Eleanor Roosevelt” will be speaking!! See Youtube.
Mr. Rich is 89 years of age, and played fiddle with his father for square dances at Arthurdale, WV, when Eleanor Roosevelt was there to visit this community which she founded. He will be playing again at Arthurdale this August. Archived copies of his and his father’s playing together are in the Smithsonian Institution. He has been the winner of many fiddler contests.
What a treasure to have this man here for this performance! We thank Betty Mattingly for her insight and her efforts in contacting Mr. Rich. Betty will be performing with her own group, “Hammers and Strings”, as the warm-up performance the previous Sunday, July 5, when “Woody Guthrie” speaks. The group will perform some of Guthrie’s wonderful American folk songs to begin the evening.
The Maryland Humanities Council has always desired that the warm-up acts relate to the performance, if possible. The Chautauqua Series is always extraordinary. Please try to attend as many nights as possible. Food is available.
Filed under: Arts Education
Skip
We are off to a great start with a great opener! The David Leonhardt Jazz Group and the Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers gave a free educational program to over 1,000 Garrett County students, and then entertained a near sell out audience at an evening performance. We have received wonderful comments from school officials, students, and patrons.
Now our summer season is right around the corner for you and your family. This summer the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival runs from June 27-July 18. Learn about our exciting and varied programs and then mark your calendar so you won’t miss a moment of this extraordinary season. This year our 14 year running Chautauqua series will have a surprise twist. Also, we are adding a pre-concert lecture (seating will be limited) by Andres Cárdenas prior to the Saturday night Classical Concert of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Skip Case, GLAF Executive Director
“I must give my accolades to the Southern H.S. students’ production Of “Les Mis” !!!!! If you attended, you know what I mean. If you didn’t, you missed a marvelous experience. This was an amazing undertaking by everyone involved. Heath Naylor did an incredible performance as Jean Val Jean and moved me to tears ( I wasn’t alone) with his wonderful “Hear my Prayer” solo. Both his and Joanna (Cosette) Guy’s vocals were outstanding and obviously reflected prior voice-training. (I’m quite sure they both attended GLAF voice clinics in the past, right?) Beyond that I don’t know what other coaching they’ve had, but they certainly could be “poster-teens” for GLAF’s cultural offerings to the community!”
Judy Bertsch, GLAF Program Committee
Filed under: Arts Education
Laura Stutzman
The Young Artists’ Workshop, taught by Laura Stutzman, is available for students entering 8th grade through graduating seniors. It and will take place Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., each day. The workshop will be held in the Art Room and Gallery of Garrett College, McHenry. The $100 registration fee includes the cost of supplies. The class will emphasize drawing and painting in the worlds of still-life, portraiture and life drawings. Scholarships are available. To register, call Garrett Lakes Arts Festival at 301-387-3082 or register on-line.
Laura Stutzman is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, with a degree in Visual Communications. Her client list includes PBS, MCI, CBS, Simon & Schuster, National Geographic, Sleeping Bear Press, U.S. Postal Service, Zippo, Time/Life Books and the US Mint. Most recently she has entered the children’s book market with “B is for Blue Crab”, an alphabet book of Maryland. This venture has opened the door to yet another book she completed entitled “The Happy Prince”.
Filed under: Arts Education
Amy Riffle-Kouyeas
The Summer Voice Clinic, under the instruction of Amy Riffle-Kouyeas, is available for students entering 7th grade through graduating seniors. It will take place Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The clinic will be held at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Oakland. The registration fee is $100. Scholarships are available. Call Garrett Lakes Arts Festival at 301-387-3082 or register on-line.
Ms. Riffle-Kouyeas is an Instructor of Music at Garrett College. In addition to her piano and voice instruction, she teaches classes in Music Appreciation. Amy has earned the degree of Master in Music Performance with specialization in Pedagogy from the University of West Virginia. She has previously worked with the Music Department of Taylor University and with the Department of Theater and Dance with Mount Union College.
Students Arriving
Dave Leonhardt/ Shelley Oliver student performance 4-17-09
Dave Leonhardt Jazz Group
What a wonderful kick off to the 2009 season we had in April! The Dave Leonhardt Jazz Group and Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers gave great performances to both Garrett County Public School students and our regular GLAF audience. More than 1,000 students (3rd, 4th and 5th grade Garrett County students) attended the daytime performances and had a wonderful time. One of the students from Linda Stephens’ fourth grade class from Crellin Elementary School summarized it best when he said “I loved it. It was great!” Hearing the students sing the blues and jive with the jazz…it is no wonder they departed with a new-found excitement about playing an instrument, and taking up dance. According to Skip Case, executive director, “This is one of the main reasons that GLAF exists!”
