​Concerts on the Hill​ Closes on Oct. 2 with 'Kings of the Brassy Baroque'

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Concerts on the Hill presents “Kings of the Brassy Baroque,” featuring Dr. Robert Stibler, Mark Zielinski and Adam Gallant on trumpets and Margaret Harper on organ on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, according to a press statement. This is the last of six performances in the 2016 series. There is a suggested at-the-door donation of $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Children under 16 are welcomed and encouraged to attend at no charge.

“Kings of the Brassy Baroque,” is a jubilant celebration of Baroque music for organ and brass including concertos for two and three trumpets by Telemann and Vivaldi, and Bach’s Concerto in D Minor for Organ.

"The organ and trumpet are alike in many ways. Among these, both have extreme dynamic ranges and both are often associated with royalty,” noted Margaret Harper, Director of Music and Liturgy, St. John’s Episcopal Church. “The trumpet and the organ work together in this program to show each others range of colors and expressive capabilities. This program will be a tour de force of Baroque music."

Robert Stibler has been a member of the music faculty at the University of New Hampshire since 1978, where he teaches trumpet, brass pedagogy, and music literature, and holds the academic rank of full professor. Dr. Stibler is active as a trumpet soloist and clinician, and as a member of the UNH Faculty Brass Quintet and Faculty Trumpet Trio. Also a specialist in the area of early music, he currently performs with the Alamire Consort.

Mark Zielinski currently serves as Senior Lecturer of Music Education at the University of New Hampshire. Having taught music at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels, Mark is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. He is a past board member of the Maryland Music Educators Association and a current New Hampshire Music Educators Association member.

Adam Gallant earned a bachelor of music degree in music education and a master of arts degree in music studies from the University of New Hampshire in 2008 and 2012 respectively. While at UNH, he was principal trumpet of the UNH Brass Quintet, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. In 2011, Gallant was honored to perform in the faculty recital of his teacher, Robert Stibler. He also was the sole winner of the 2011 UNH concerto competition, performing Kent Kennan’s Trumpet Sonata under the baton of Andrew Boysen, Jr.

Director of Music and Liturgy Margaret Harper has performed throughout the United States, in continental Europe, and in Southeast Asia. Margaret holds a DMA and a Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. She was a finalist and stipendiate at the 2012 Arp Schnitger International Organ Competition. In the same year, she was the inaugural recipient of Eastman’s James B. Cochran Prize, which is awarded annually for the best Organ degree recital. In 2014, she was a semi-finalist in the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance.

At each performance of Concerts on the Hill, audience members will have the opportunity to hear directly from the performers about the musical selections and the featured instruments. For more info about Concerts on the Hill or St. John’s Episcopal Church, visit stjohnsnh.org/COTH.

Submitted by Margaret Harper.