Music on the Hill festival begins June 1 in Jamestown

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. In addition, Music on the Hill will continue its annual educational outreach performance for Warwick elementary schools. Concerts take place in Jamestown, in Cranston and at two venues in Warwick, all beginning at 7:00 p.m. 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.

“To open the festival, renowned piano virtuoso Joseph Kalichstein returns to combine forces with clarinet virtuoso Daniel Gilbert in Jamestown,” says Artistic Director John M. Pellegrino. “If you love Brahms, Schumann and Chopin, this is the concert for you!” 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.”

Music on the Hill: Our 42nd Season 2016 Festival: Ninth Annual Chamber Music Festival

GILBERT & KALICHSTEIN Wednesday June 1st, 2016 7:00 PM

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 87 Narragansett Avenue, Jamestown, RI

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Ballade No. 2 (dedicated to Schumann)
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Kreisleriana Op. 16 (dedicated to Chopin)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Sonata No. 1 in F minor for Clarinet & Piano, Op. 120
Louis Cahuzac (1880-1960) Arlequin
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) 2 Hungarian Dances

Joseph Kalichstein, piano; Daniel Gilbert, clarinet

BEETHOVEN SEPTET Thursday June 2nd, 2016 7:00 PM

SS Rose & Clement Catholic Church, 111 Long Street, Warwick, RI
Culinary Concert: wine & appetizers at 6:30 PM, & dessert following the concert

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791-1856) Sonata for Bassoon & Cello in B-flat Major
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Duet in E-flat Major for Viola & Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Septet for Strings & Woodwinds in E-flat Major, Op. 20

Anton Miller, violin; Rita Porfiris, viola; Trevor Handy, cello; Elisa Kohanski, cello; John M. Pellegrino, bass; Daniel Gilbert, clarinet; Michelle Baker, french horn; Steve Vacchi, bassoon

SLOVAKIAN SOUNDS Friday June 3rd, 2016 7:00 PM

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 360 Cowesett Rd., Warwick, RI

Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739-1813) Divertimento in G Major
Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) Piano Quintet in E-flat minor, Op. 87
Josef Suk (1874-1935) Meditation on an Old Czech Hymn “St. Wenceslas” for strings
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) “Silent Woods”, Op. 68
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) “Song To the Moon” (from "Rusalka")
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77

Anton Miller and Kristen Pellegrino, violins; Rita Porfiris, viola; Elisa Kohanski and Trevor Handy, cellos; John M. Pellegrino, bass; Diana McVey, soprano; Bonnie Anderson, piano

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

TRIO NOVA MUNDI Thursday June 9th, 2016 7:00 PM

SS Rose & Clement Catholic Church, 111 Long Street, Warwick, RI

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Piano Trio No.3 in C minor, Op. 1
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) "Transfigured Night" String Sextet, Op. 4
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Piano Trio in G Major, L. 3
Juan R. Ramirez (b. 1945) “Tres Danzas de mi Tierra” from “Suite Huasteca” for Violin, Cello & Piano

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

ROMANTIC GET-AWAY Friday June 10th, 2016 7:00 PM

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 360 Cowesett Rd., Warwick, RI

Hugo Kauder (1888-1972) Trio for Oboe, Viola & Piano
Manuel Ponce (1882-1948) Trio Romántico
Alessandro Marcello (1684-1750) Concerto for Oboe & Strings
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) "Souvenir de Florence" String Sextet in D minor, Op. 70

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

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