Classical Jam—a dynamic chamber ensemble committed to creating engaging programs that break down barriers among audiences, musicians and composers—serves a five-day residency at Strathmore May 19-23, 2010, focusing on Eastern musical influences. Performances feature world premieres by Randall Woolf, Payton MacDonald, and Classical Jam with members of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra. Through the residency’s concerts, workshops and master classes, Classical Jam continues its mission of bringing classical music to new and diverse audiences.

Classical Jam’s tenure begins on Wednesday, May 19, when the group joins Strathmore resident ensemble Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra in rehearsing “Concerto for Quintet, Orchestra and Audience,” a newly commissioned work by Alarm Will Sound’s Payton MacDonald. The residency culminates with the world premiere of this work on Sunday, May 23 in the Music Center at Strathmore Concert Hall. MacDonald draws on North Indian Hindustani classical music in “Concerto for Quintet, Orchestra and Audience,” and involves the audience in the creative process and performance of the piece.

On Thursday, May 20, as part of the Strathmore’s Music in the Mansion series, the ensemble performs “Sounds & Lore from the East,” a program that includes Asian, South-East Asian, and Middle Eastern-inspired music. The evening explores how the sounds and sights of the East have influenced contemporary American composers. Figuring prominently on the program is the world premiere of Randall Woolf’s Mekong Delta Blues. Commissioned by Classical Jam, Mr. Woolf's work combines the live ensemble with digitally-altered Vietnamese folk music. The works of two Classical Jam members further explore the region’s musical influences: Hong Kong Jam, by cellist Wendy Law, fuses Chinese musical elements into a classical chamber work, while Egyptian and Indian influences can be heard in percussionist Justin Hines’ two works, Samaii’ Shira and Riqq Concerto. 

On Friday, May 21, after an interactive concert and workshop at James Hubert Blake High School, Classical Jam returns to work with a select group of Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra members on the art of improvisation. Over the course of the workshop, the students will collaborate with the ensemble to create a new piece, which Classical Jam and the workshop participants will perform on Saturday, May 22 at Baltimore’s An Die Musik.

About Classical Jam
Classical Jam is committed to presenting engaging, lively and high-caliber performances to audiences of diverse ages, cultures and social backgrounds through concerts, outreach programs, workshops and master classes. Classical Jam aims to develop a more personal relationship between concertgoers, performers and composers by inviting audiences to share in the process of creation and discovery.

Classical Jam is comprised of Jennifer Choi (violin), Cyrus Beroukhim (violin/viola), Wendy Law (cello), Marco Granados (flute) and Justin Hines (percussion). Individual members perform regularly with “Musicians from Marlboro”, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Fireworks, and have soloed with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston, Oregon and Virginia Symphony Orchestras, Singapore Symphony and Juilliard Orchestra, among others. They have performed in venues throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. In addition to their individual music careers, members of Classical Jam are teaching artists at such leading organizations as Lincoln Center Institute, New York Philharmonic, 92nd Street Y and Young Audiences. Classical Jam members have won awards such as the Pablo Casals award for Educational Outreach, Grand Prize at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, the McGraw-Hill Company’s Robert Sherman Award for Music Education and Community Outreach, as well as recognition from the National Society of Arts and Letters. To read Classical Jam’s full biography, please click here.

About Strathmore
Strathmore is a 26-year old arts presenter and established cultural destination that nurtures art, artists and community through creative and diverse programming of the highest quality, and is home to the Music Center at Strathmore, a 1,976-seat concert hall and education complex. The Mansion at Strathmore is located at 10701 Rockville Pike (Route 355), in North Bethesda, MD and The Music Center at Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane (next to the Mansion).  Both venues are immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro’s Red Line.  For further information or tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org

About Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras
Since 1946, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO), has been the region's largest, leading orchestra program for talented young musicians.  Serving over 400 selected students in grades 4-12 annually with the highest quality orchestral training and chamber music opportunities, MCYO provides 5 levels of orchestras, Flute and Clarinet choirs, a Harp Ensemble, a Prep Winds Ensemble as well as other quartets/quintets. With residency and concerts at a state-of-the-art facility the Music Center at Strathmore, MCYO attracts students from the entire metro region, including Baltimore, northern VA, DC and several MD counties--Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, Charles and Baltimore.  Visit www.mcyo.org

CLASSICAL JAM FIVE-DAY RESIDENCY AT STRATHMORE: MAY 19-23, 2010

Tickets may be purchased through the Strathmore box office at 301-581-5100 or www.strathmore.org

May 19, 2010
Rehearsal with Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra for MacDonald World Premiere (May 23, 2010)

May 20, 2010 at 7:30pm
Classical Jam Presents: Sounds & Lore from the East
Strathmore, Shapiro Music Room

Tielman Susato: Dansyre
Pavane II. La dona                                                                 
Gailiard VIII: La dona
Rondo 1: pour quoy
Bergerette
Justin Hines: Samaii’ Shira                                                                                      
Payton MacDonald: Devil Dance                                                                                        
Randall Woolf: Mekong Delta Blues                                                                        
W. A. Mozart: Playful Duet in G Major                                                                     
Henryk Wieniawski: Etudes-Caprices for 2 Violins, Op. 18: no 4 in A minor                     
Justin Hines: Riqq Concerto                                                                        
Wendy Law: Hong Kong Jam                                                                                  
Astor Piazzolla: Fuga y Misterio (Arranged by Marco Granados)                          

May 21, 2010
9:30am-11:00am: Interactive concert and workshop at James Hubert Blake High School

7:30pm, MCYO Room 402: "Classical Master Jam" – Improvisation workshop with members of Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra

May 22, 2010 at 2:00pm
An Die Musik

Tielman Susato: Dansyre
Pavane II. La dona                                                                 
Gailiard VIII: La dona
Rondo 1: pour quoy
Bergerette
Payton MacDonald: Devil Dance                                                                                        
Justin Hines: Riqq Concerto                                                                             
Wendy Law: Hong Kong Jam                                                                                 
Astor Piazzolla: Fuga y Misterio (Arranged by Marco Granados)                                                                      
New Improvisation Work with MCYO workshop participants                                                                 

May 23, 2010 at 7:00pm
Classical Jam and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra
Music Center at Strathmore Concert Hall

Payton MacDonald: Concerto for Quintet, Orchestra and Audience (world premiere, Classical Jam commission)

MEDIA LINKS
Classical Jam audio and video 
Classical Jam website
Strathmore May 20 concert

Classical Jam press contact, Amelia Kusar: 312-286-5406 | email
Strathmore press contact, Angela Olson: 301-581-5194 | email