Music on the Hill in Cranston June 7 and 11

Beginning June 1, Music on the Hill presents its ninth annual chamber music festival. Seven concerts offer a variety of ensembles and solo works, featuring musicians returning to their native Rhode Island.

Two concerts take place in Cranston: June 7 at Immaculate Conception Church and June 11 at Holy Apostles Church. Tickets are on sale now at www.musiconthehillri.org, and at BrownPaperTicket.com. Ticket prices are $20 before May 25 (plus fees) or $25 at the door (cash or check). Students with I.D. are admitted free of charge.

The festival features many Rhode Island-raised professionals: oboist Anne Marie Gabriele, soprano Diana McVey, violinists Debra Tien Price and Kristen Pellegrino, bassist John M. Pellegrino, bassoonist Steve Vacchi, and cellist Elisa Kohanski, with her Trio Nova Mundi. Others returning to the festival are the Miller-Porfiris Duo, violist Suzanne LeFevre, french horn player Michele Baker, pianist Bonnie Anderson and cellist Trevor Handy. Each plays in multiple concerts in a variety of ensembles.

Music on the Hill’s innovative programs combine highlights of the chamber music repertoire with exciting gems from less familiar composers. Beethoven, Schubert and Dvorak are heard alongside Suk, Ponce, Corigliano and Rhode Island’s own Richard Cumming. Music on the Hill’s festival is unique in performing in five different venues in three towns around the Ocean State, in intimate venues where the audience sits up close to the action.

In his Juilliard days and professionally since then, Artistic Director John M. Pellegrino meets many gifted musicians from the Ocean State who lament the fact that they haven't performed in Rhode Island since high school. He says: "Since rededicating Music on the Hill as a music festival in 2007, I’ve been inspired to be able to offer a wide variety of performers, ensembles and composers to our enthusiastic audiences. We musicians are honored to return to the beautiful Ocean State to concertize as professionals, and to meet Music on the Hill’s listeners and supporters.”

AMERICAN SPIRIT Tuesday June 7th, 2016 7:00 PM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 237 Garden Hills Dr., Cranston, RI

Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) Four Songs from Op. 47 & Op. 56
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) Five Negro Melodies for Piano Trio, Op. 59, No. 1
Richard Cumming (1928-2009) "Other Loves"
Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Adagio from String Quartet Op. 11
Fred Bretschger (b. 1953) Fantasy Duo for Cello & Bass
John Corigliano (b. 1938) “Snapshot Circa 1909”
Paul Schoenfield (b. 1947) “Café Music”

Trio Nova Mundi: Maureen Conlon Gutierrez, violin; Elisa Kohanski, cello; Becky Billock, piano; Diana McVey, soprano; Bonnie Anderson, piano; Anton Miller, Deborah Tien Price & Kristen Pellegrino, violins; Suzanne LeFevre & Rita Porfiris, viola; Trevor Handy, cello; John M. Pellegrino, bass

FESTIVAL FINALE Saturday June 11th, 2016 7:00 PM

Holy Apostles Catholic Church, 800 Pippin Orchard Rd., Cranston, RI

Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) Two Rhapsodies for Oboe, Viola & Piano
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Cello Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 58
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Songs
Ernst Toch (1887-1964) Divertimento Op. 37 No. 2 for Violin & Viola
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Polonaise Brillante in C Major, Op. 3

Anton Miller, violin; Rita Porfiris, viola; Trevor Handy, cello; Bonnie Anderson, piano; Anne Gabriele, oboe

Tickets and details: www.musiconthehillri.org