Avon Library Hosts Popular Sunday Concert Series

The Friends of the Avon Library have announced the lineup of performers headlining their upcoming Sundays at Three musical series, programs that have consistently attracted standing room only audiences. On tap are appearances by familiar favorites as well as several first-timers.

The season kicks off in grand fashion on January 8 with a return engagement by veteran pianist, music director, and accompanist to some of the greats, Donn Trenner. An entertaining raconteur and musician par excellence, the 89-year-old Connecticut native delighted last year’s full house with tales of his years among a galaxy of showbiz luminaries including Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Ann-Margret, Shirley MacLaine, Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson. Count on more of the same. Once again Trenner will be in the good-hands company of bass player extraordinaire, Mike Asetta.

Matt and Atla DeChamplain make their Avon Free Public Library debut on Sunday January 22. Columnist of note Owen McNalIy aptly described the former high school sweethearts as “one of Connecticut’s premiere jazz power couples.” Atla is a vocalist schooled in scat by the legendary Jon Hendricks–think Lambert, Hendricks and Ross–and steeped in the tradition of the Great American Songbook. Matt’s piano playing demonstrates a mastery of styles ranging from ragtime to contemporary with stops along the way. Together with bassist Matt Dwonszyk they’ll be presenting a tribute to some of the foremost women in jazz.

On February 5, the Thimble Islands Saxophone Quartet comes inland for their first Sundays at Three appearance. They’re currently fine-tuning a program that will include selections from an eclectic repertoire that embraces works from the chamber music, symphonic, choral and vocal traditions. Whatever the genre, baroque, Broadway, rock, popular, these veteran musicians, with an average of 30 years’ experience, promise an hour of music that is fresh, dynamic and, most of all, entertaining!

February 19 marks a not-to-be-missed event, a performance by the one and only Marlene VerPlanck, a legendary singer of whom the New York Times recently said, “She may be the most accomplished interpreter of popular material performing today.” Perhaps you’ve been fortunate to catch her sophisticated vocal styling at Ronnie Scott’s in London, or in Manhattan at Birdland, the Rainbow Room, or one of the Big Apple’s other posh cabarets. She has been, and is, a headliner at all of them. Songwriter Hugh Martin ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," etc.) expressed it well: "We know our songs are safe in the hands of Marlene VerPlanck, and she will sing them better than anyone else." That’s for certain!

March 5 marks the return of perennial library favorite, internationally renowned concert pianist and one of this country’s most sought after piano teachers, Luiz de Moura Castro. Long-time resident of Avon and citizen of the world, his solo recitals are nothing short of mesmerizing. He has been a faculty member of the Hartt School of Music since 1978 and was chairman of its piano department for 15 years. In addition, he is currently an associate professor at the Juan Pedro Carrera Music School in Barcelona and a teacher at the Pro Arte Seminaros de Musica in Brazil. A quiet, unassuming gentleman, he is an artist supreme and a treasure to behold.

March 19 is a date to circle on the calendar or perhaps to circle twice. That’s when Alex Nakhimovsky brings his considerable pianistic skills to the Avon library. As a youngster in an industrial city in the former Soviet Union’s Ural Mountains he was introduced to, and fell in love with classical musical and the indigenous art form of America, jazz. Fast forward to studies at New York’s Mannes School of Music and the tutelage of none other than Luiz de Moura Castro and jazz saxophone great Jackie McLean at Hartt. Now an internationally esteemed artist himself, he has performed in 50 countries on six continents. He will present a solo performance that includes both classical selections and jazz. What a splendid way to celebrate the promise of spring!

The series wraps up on April 2 with an appearance by brilliant young pianist Tom Hicks. A native of the English Channel island of Guernsey he has distinguished himself in numerous international piano competitions and was a winner of the Connecticut Young Artist Piano Competition this past spring. His program will include Mozart’s Adagio in B Minor, Schumann’s passionate masterpiece Fantasie Opus 17, and British composer Camden Reeves’ Nine Preludes, a work given its world premiere by Hicks at the 2016 Machynlleth Festival in Wales. Hicks is currently a master’s candidate at the Yale University School of Music. This promises to be a very special event!

The free, one hour programs start promptly at 3:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road. Doors open at 2:30. Seating is first come, first served. Light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artists following their performance.