Sister Bay, Wis. (November 25, 2020) – Chicago Philharmonic celebrates two influential black composers on Sunday, December 6, in its David Perry + Friends program presented in collaboration with Midsummer’s Music.
Chicago Philharmonic Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Scott Speck, host of the “Hear it Together” series, will be joined by violin virtuoso David Perry. The pair will provide historical context and performance perspective to this special chamber program that showcases works from George Walker and Florence Price. Adding to the historical dialogue, Karen Walwyn D.M.A, recording artist and specialist in the works of Florence Price, comes on board as a featured speaker. Midsummer’s Music Executive Director, Assistant Artistic Director, and performer Allyson Fleck will also join the introductory discussion about the program’s original setting and why these two composers “need to be heard in these strenuous times, as they remind us of the power and beauty of universal feelings expressed in music.” The event starts promptly at 4:00 pm (CT) with a NEXT! performance from Wendy Guiterrez of Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME) introduced by Executive Director, Troy Anderson.
Midsummer’s Music performed Walker’s Molto Adagio from String Quartet No. 1 and Price’s Quintet in A Minor for Piano and Strings as part of its 2020 virtual concert season, featuring musicians David Perry and Ann Palen, violins, Allyson Fleck, viola, Paula Kosower, cello, and Jeannie Yu, piano, all of whom appear in this Chicago Philharmonic program.
The “Hear it Together” program will be streamed on the Chicago Philharmonic website at www.chicagophilharmonic.org, under the Concerts tab.
Midsummer’s Music was co-founded in 1990 by Jim and Jean Berkenstock, long-time Door County summer residents and principal orchestral players with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. What began as two concerts among friends has become one of the Midwest’s most anticipated chamber music series, bringing thousands of chamber music enthusiasts from around the globe to the magical Door County Peninsula.