September 30 – November 4
The Frost School of Music is pleased to present Festival Miami—Florida’s Premier Live Music Festival. Now in its 28th season, Festival Miami features a diverse blend of exciting performers showcasing their talents alongside brilliant students and faculty artists.
The dynamic program includes 23 concerts organized into four themes: Great Performances, featuring legendary artists and composers; Creative American Music, a mélange of new compositions and student ensembles; Jazz and Beyond, guaranteed to spark your groove; and Music of the Americas, a cultural firestorm spanning two hemispheres.
GREAT PERFORMANCES
Friday, September 30, 8:00 p.m.
Gunther Schuller—Into the Creative Mind of a Composing Genius
Deepen your understanding of current music trends at a free lecture by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Gunther Schuller, one of America’s most distinguished musical icons. Schuller is also the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius” award. FREE
Saturday, October 1, 8:00 p.m.
French Horn Celebration Featuring the Frost Symphony Orchestra
The Frost Symphony Orchestra opens Festival Miami 2011 with a bold and brassy French horn exploration of celebrated music by Franz Haydn, distinguished composer Gunther Schuller, and premier hornist and composer Richard Todd. Tickets $85/65/45/25
Sunday, October 2, 8:00 p.m.
On Stage with Gunther Schuller and the Frost Chamber Players
Milhaud’s La Création du monde conducted by Gunther Schuller; Dvořák’s String Quintet No. 2 with Bergonzi String Quartet and Brian Powell; and Schuller’s Quintet for Horn and Strings featuring hornist Richard Todd. $20/$15 seniors/Free for UM students
Sunday, October 9, 4:00 p.m.
Claire Huangci
First prize winner at the 2010 National Chopin Piano Competition of USA for her distinguished Chopin interpretations, Claire Huangci performs solo repertoire by Chopin plus Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Frost Symphony Orchestra. $40/30/20
Tuesday, October 11, 8:00 p.m.
A Whole New Ballgame
New choral program director Karen Kennedy leads the Frost Chorale in ethereal works by Whitacre, Orff and more. Frost Symphonic Choir performs excerpts from the base-ball themed The Mighty Casey by W. Schuman. $20/$15 seniors/Free for UM students
Wednesday, October 12, 8:00 p.m.
Imani Winds
Grammy-nominated wind quintet, Imani Winds, is carving out a distinct presence by commissioning new works while meaningfully bridging European, American, African, and Latin American traditions. Stamps Woodwind Quintet also makes its debut. $40/30/20
Tuesday, October 18, 7:15 p.m. Q&A, 8:00 p.m. Concert
Frost Wind Ensemble Presents the Windswept Music of Michael Colgrass
Frost Wind Ensemble performs Michael Colgrass’s The Winds of Nagual that contemplates the search for the creative self, and Urban Requiem, representing the tragedies, struggles, energy, and power of our cities. $20/$15 seniors/Free for UM students
Saturday, October 22, 8:00 p.m.
A Tale of Five Cities—Lowenthal Plays Liszt
Pianist Jerome Lowenthal performs the solo recital A Tale of Five Cities to commemorate the bicentennial of Franz Liszt’s birth. Program includes highlights from Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage) plus Piano Sonata in B Minor.$40/30/20
Sunday, October 23, 4:00 p.m.
Gershwin Piano Favorites—Shelly Berg with Santiago Rodriguez
Dean Shelly Berg and faculty artist Santiago Rodriguez pair up for an all Gershwin, two-piano extravaganza featuring Cuban Overture, Three Preludes, Rhapsody in Blue, and I Got Rhythm Variations; plus Grainger’s Fantasy on Porgy and Bess. $40/30/20
JAZZ AND BEYOND
Thursday, October 6, 8:00 p.m.
Soulive—The Ultimate Feel-Good Groove Band
Soulive plays danceable organ-driven grooves fusing soul, jazz, R&B, and blues with hip-hop and funk. Wildly popular at jam fests, they’ve toured with the Rolling Stones and recorded with Chaka Kahn, Talib Kweli, Maceo Parker, Derek Trucks! $40/30/20
Thursday, October 6, 4:00 p.m.
Benny Golson—Taking Note of a Legendary Jazz Career
From his early years with Dizzy Gillespie to his remarkable 60-year career as a solo performer and TV and film composer, tenor saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Benny Golson, provides insight into his creative approaches and career longevity. FREE
Friday, October 7, 8:00 p.m.
Jazz Master Benny Golson with the Frost Studio Jazz Band
Jazz aficionados love his “I Remember Clifford” while TV fans know his music from M*A*S*H, Mission Impossible, and The Cosby Show theme. Here, Benny Golson performs his favorite big band arrangements with the Frost Studio Jazz Band. $65/45/25
Saturday, October 8, 8:00 p.m.
High Octane Jazz—Brian Lynch and Martin Bejerano
Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Brian Lynch pairs up with burning jazz pianist Martin Bejerano and a fantastic rhythm section for an outstanding evening of small group jazz that will light up your spirits and amaze your senses. $40/30/20
Thursday, October 13, 8:00 p.m.
New York Voices Swing with JV1 Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble
Double Grammy-winning New York Voices are renowned for their excellence in the art of group singing, inspired by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Singers Unlimited and Manhattan Transfer. The JV1 Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble will also be featured. $50/35/20
Friday, November 4, 8:00 p.m.
Jazz Meets Gershwin—Hosted by Michael Feinstein
Gershwin represents American music at its best and Festival Miami, JazzRoots and the Arsht Center assembled the best to perform it for you: Michael Feinstein, Denyce Graves, Shelly Berg and Terence Blanchard with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra!
CREATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC
Wednesday, October 5, 8:00 p.m.
Emerging Young Composers—New Works for String Quartet
Frost School of Music student composers entered an adjudicated competition for new string quartet works and the winners will have their compositions premiered at Festival Miami by the Stamps, Graduate, and Bergonzi String Quartets! FREE
Friday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
United States Marine Band—The President’s Own
Festival Miami announces the University of Miami will host a free concert by the U.S. Marine Band at the BankUnited Center on October 14. The Washington Post calls them “not only the best in the land but, very likely, the best in the world.” FREE
Please note: Free admission, ticket required
You may pick up tickets in advance at the BankUnited Center box office or by calling 305.284.7001. Festival Miami is not distributing any tickets to this event.
Wednesday, October 26, 8:00 p.m.
Divergent Boundaries—Faculty Composers Concert
For 28 years, Festival Miami has been premiering new works by prominent guest composers and award-winning faculty composers. This year we proudly introduce new works by Lansing McLoskey, Charles Mason, Dennis Kam, JB Floyd, and Dorothy Hindman. FREE
Thursday, October 27, 8:00 p.m.
Songwriters Showcase—New Songs, New Voices
A fabulous concert featuring songs composed and performed by students enrolled in the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music program. Judges and audience are polled and the winning act opens the following night’s concert! FREE
Friday, October 28, 10:00 a.m.
Livingston Taylor—Ways to Be Your Best When It Counts the Most
In this master class, singer-songwriter Livingston Taylor discusses how to control nervousness and find joy on stage. In addition to his solo career, Taylor has toured with Linda Ronstadt and Jimmy Buffet, and his brother James. FREE
Friday, October 28, 8:00 p.m.
Livingston Taylor
Country, Broadway, Bluegrass, and Blues
Livingston Taylor fills his concerts with upbeat storytelling, a joyous selection of his own writing, and a perfect splash of songs from the great American songbook. If you enjoy James Taylor, Alison Krauss, and Vince Gill, this is a must! $50/35/20
Sunday, October 30, 3:00 p.m.
Gemini Presents “Good Mischief—A Musical Celebration for the Whole Family”
Gemini, twin-brothers Sandor and Laszlo Slomovits, presents “Good Mischief—A Musical Celebration for Children and the Whole Family,” featuring rousing sing-alongs, and original, sparkling songs about the everyday experiences of childhood. $12/$10 Kids
MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS
Saturday, October 15, 8:00 p.m.
Willy Chirino
When Willy Chirino sings, the salsa band grooves—and the audience truly can’t stop dancing! More than 60 artists including The Gypsy Kings have recorded his song, “Soy.” His CD, Son del Alma, won a Grammy Award for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. $70/50/30
Sunday, October 16, 6:00 p.m.
Brazilian Superstar Ivan Lins—Romantic and Sophisticated Favorites
When multiple Grammy winner Ivan Lins performs his own music, it’s pure magic. From “Love Dance” to “The Island,” his magnificent songs are recorded by Simone, Irakerê, Chucho Valdés, Barbra Streisand, Toots Thielemans, and Michael Bublé. $50/35/20
Friday, October 21, 8:00 p.m.
Suénalo
Suénalo is the premier descarga-funk Latin jam band in Miami, with a vivid sound that reflects the cultures that shape the region. The 8-piece act meshes funk, hip-hop, cumbia, timba, jazz, Caribbean rhythms into a multicultural cocktail. $30/20/15
Thursday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.
Lucie Arnaz—Latin Roots
Latin Roots is Lucie Arnaz’s fiery, explosive, and heartfelt musical tribute to the rhythm of her roots and a love note to the man who introduced La Conga to the United States, her father, Desi Arnaz. Sophisticated songs with sassy sizzle! $50/35/20