Cape May Music Festival

May 17 to June 11, 2009

20th Anniversary Season! Another season of sweet sounds by the sea!

From the classical to the classic, the 20th anniversary Cape May Music Festival offers a feast for every musical taste — orchestra, chamber, world traditions, beloved classics and even a few intriguing new sounds.  See below for the exciting schedule.  The Bay-Atlantic Symphony returns as the orchestra-in-residence, under the baton of principal conductor Jed Gaylin.

Concert times:
All concerts begin at 8pm.

CONCERT LOCATIONS:

  • Episcopal Church of the Advent, Washington at Franklin Streets, Cape May, NJ 08204
  • Paul W. Schmidtchen Theatre, Lower Cape May Regional High School, Route 9 South, Lower Township, NJ 08204
  • First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, Hughes & Decatur Streets, Cape May, NJ 08204
     

What better place for an elegant and intimate musical experience than the Carriage House Tearoom and Café?   Try a Bach's Lunch to round out your Music Festival experience!

2009 Concert Schedule

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Gregory Grene

Sunday, May 17: 8pm
Paul W. Schmidtchen Theatre
Lower Cape May Regional High School
GREGORY GRENE'S ACOUSTIC MIX
(Traditional Irish Music)
Gregory Grene grew up between Cavan, Ireland and Chicago, and is the leader and founding member of the Prodigals. His acoustic music has traditional Irish melodic roots and influences ranging from jazz to Cajun. “... his original songs stay true to the style and tone of old, yet speak to modern life, in some of the most well-crafted and poetic verses I have seen.” - Punchline

 

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Ted Rosenthal

Tuesday, May 19: 8pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
The Jazz Element: “Jazzing up the Classics”
with Ted Rosenthal, piano
     Villa-Lobos: Choro No. 2 for Flute and Clarinet
     Gershwin: Selected Songs
     Ted Rosenthal: Excursions and Impressions (2008)
Plus jazzed up versions of Chopin, Schubert and more!

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Atlantic Brass Band

Sunday, May 24: 8pm
Paul W. Schmidtchen Theatre
Lower Cape May Regional High School
ATLANTIC BRASS BAND
Long a favorite with Cape May audiences, the 35-piece Atlantic Brass Band returns for a rousing concert of American music, a perfect celebration for Memorial Day Weekend!

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Alan Kay, Artistic Director 

Tuesday, May 26: 8pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE:
“Sun and Clouds”
From Haydn’s “Sun” Quartet in F Minor to Brahms’ autumnal masterpiece, the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B Minor, which we bring back to Cape May after a long absence.
     Bernard Crusell: Quartet for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 2 in E-flat Major
     Haydn: String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5 (in honor of 200th anniversary of the composer’s death)
     Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op.  115

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Jed Gaylin, Principal Conductor

Thursday, May 28: 8pm
First Presbyterian Church of Cape May
BAY-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY:
“Maritime Mistral”
     Dvorak: Serenade, op. 44. in D minor 
     Mozart: Serenade No. 10 K. 361 in Bb (Gran Partita) 

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The Fabulous Shpielkehs

Sunday, May 31: 8pm
Paul W. Schmidtchen Theatre
Lower Cape May Regional High School
THE FABULOUS SHPIELKEHS (Klezmer)
Elaine Hoffman Watts is the Jewish grandmother you’ve always wished you had. Winner of the 2007 National Endowment of the Arts award for Klezmer drumming, this 3rd-generation batteur, along with her daughter Susan Watts, 4th-generation klezmer trumpeter and vocalist, heads up this exciting crew of klezmer greats.  Fun and evocative - a fabulous slice of real-life Klezmer!

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New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players

Tuesday, June 2: 8pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHAMBER PLAYERS
New Jersey’s premier players return to the Music Festival with a program of classics of the chamber repertoire.

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Christina Castelli

Thursday, June 4: 8pm
First Presbyterian Church of Cape May
BAY-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
“Hayd ‘n’ Chic”
with Christina Castelli, violin soloist
     Wagner:  Siegfried Idyll
     Haydn:  Symphony No. 44, E minor (Trauer)
     Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5, K. 219 in A Major (Turkish) 

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George Mesterhazy

Sunday, June 7: 8pm
Paul W. Schmidtchen Theatre
Lower Cape May Regional High School
GEORGE MESTERHAZY AND FRIENDS
Cape May’s favorite pianist and Grammy nominee takes to the keyboards for an evening of music from the American songbook.

 

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Susan Rotholz, Flute

Tuesday, June 9: 8pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
“Songs America Loves to Play”
An attractive mix of styles, featuring great American composer John Harbison’s folk song fancies in his “Songs America Loves to Sing” and delightful composer Paul Schoenfield’s jazzy “Sonatina” for flute, clarinet and piano.  A mix of Felix Mendelssohn (whose 200th birthday we observe) and his old friend, Robert Schumann round out this delightful program.
     Mendelssohn: Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, Op. 4
     John Harbison: “Songs America Loves to Sing” for flute, clarinet, violin, cello & piano
     Paul Schoenfield: Sonatina for flute, clarinet and piano
     Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47

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Sharon Roffman

Thursday, June 11: 8pm
First Presbyterian Church of Cape May
BAY-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
“Spring String Fling”
with Sharon Roffman, violin soloist
     Gershwin:  Lullaby for Strings
     Holst:  St. Paul’s Suite
     Tchaikovsky:  Andante Cantabile
     Vivaldi:  Four Seasons 

TICKET OPTIONS: Chamber Music Series: General Admission $20; Senior $15; Student $5
Orchestra & World Traditions Series: General Admission $25; Senior $20; Student $10

DISCOUNTS: MAC Members receive a $3 discount on all single ticket purchases. Present a ticket stub from Cape May Stage or the East Lynne Theatre Company and receive $3 off your single ticket purchase. No discount available on Bach's Lunches, Mad Batter Dinner series or Concert-Theatre Packages.

REFUND POLICY: Programs are subject to change. All refunds are subject to a 20% handling charge. No refunds will be made within 48 hours of a concert.Purchase Individual Tickets on-line: Schedule is subject to change.

(Only one discount per purchase, please. Discounts are not available for Bach's Lunches or Concert-Theater Ticket Packages)

CONCERT/THEATRE PACKAGES
Save 22%
! Double your pleasure with a special package that includes a ticket to the Music Festival and a Cape May Stage performance of “Souvenir,” a hilarious, strangely moving story about tone-deaf songstress Florence Foster Jenkins by playwright Stephen Temperley. The $49 package includes a ticket to any Music Festival concert (May 17 through June 11) and a ticket to Cape May Stage (May 20 through June 20). Choose your Music Festival Concert date and receive an “anytime” ticket to “Souvenir.”  Please call Cape May Stage (609-884-1341) to reserve your seat.

Theater Ticket Stub Discount: Present a ticket stub from Cape May Stage or the East Lynne Theatre Company and receive $3 off your single ticket purchase.

For Information or tickets, call 609-884-5404. Credit card orders may also be made by phone at 800-275-4278 or 609-884-5404.

Only 5% of Music Festival budget is covered by ticket income. Please consider adding an optional donation to your ticket order.