Monthlong Sewanee festival educates students, entertains music lovers

SIDE NOTEThe inaugural Angel Park Summer Music Series will include two performances of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. All concerts are scheduled Fridays through July 27, starting at 5 p.m. CDT. Angel Park is in the downtown village of Sewanee between the American Legion hall and The Lemon Fair on University Avenue. Admission is free. Contact: 931-96801127, www.sewanee.biz.Tonight: Broad Mountain Bluegrass and Towson Engsberg & FriendsJune 29: Sewanee Summer Music FestivalJuly 6: Slandered BansheeJuly 13: Sewanee Summer Music FestivalJuly 20: Bazzania and The CulpritsJuly 27: Sewanee Chorale

A tradition at the University of the South since 1957 enters its 56th year Saturday. The Sewanee Summer Music Festival is not only a monthlong study program for advanced music students but a professional concert series for the community.

Each summer, more than 150 aspiring young talents join with teachers, performers and internationally recognized guest artists to create a musical community on the mountain. Students learn through close work with faculty, intensive orchestra and chamber music study and frequent performance.

The first performance comes on opening day. The Bruce Dinkins Celebration Concert is a memorial to the Texas high school band director who led the SSMF for 24 years before his death last June.

Others performances, featuring various combinations of students, faculty and musicians in two select orchestras, are scheduled through July 22. Among the highlights are the SSMF Strolling Band at a July 4th parade on University Avenue and a chance to hike to a concert on Morgan's Steep on July 6.

Altogether, there are 29 events during the festival. Eleven are ticketed at $10 each and another at $18. Season tickets are $100. Tickets may be purchased online at www.sewaneemusicfestival.org (fees apply). Tickets will be available 30 minutes before each show (same day only) in the Guerry Auditorium box office. Children under 12 are admitted free.

For more information, call 931-598-1225.

SCHEDULE

Note: All times are Central. All concerts are free and take place in Guerry Auditorium unless otherwise noted.

Saturday: Bruce Dinkins Celebration Concert, 7:30 p.m., $10

Wednesday: Faculty Series, "In Living Color," 7:30 p.m., $10

June 29: Sewanee Angel Park Concert, 5 p.m.

June 30: Student Chamber Concert at Guerry Garth, 4 p.m.;

Faculty Series, "It's a Classic," 7:30 p.m., $10

July 1: Cumberland Orchestra Concert, 2:30 p.m.; Sewanee Symphony Concert, 3:30 p.m., $10

July 4: Parade on University Avenue, SSMF Strolling Band, 2 p.m.;

Wind & Brass Concert, 7:30 p.m.

July 6: Hike to a Concert at Morgan's Steep, 5 p.m.

July 7: Student Chamber Concert at Guerry Garth, 4 p.m.;

Faculty Series, "Modern Influences," 7:30 p.m., $10

July 8: Cumberland Orchestra Concert, 2:30 p.m.; Sewanee Symphony Concert, 3:30 p.m., $10

July 11: So Percussion Concert, 7:30 p.m., $18

July 12: SSMF at Cowan Arts Center, 7 p.m.

July 13: Sewanee Angel Park Concert, 5 p.m.

July 14: Student Chamber Concert at Guerry Garth, 4 p.m.;

Faculty Series, "Between the Wars," 7:30 p.m., $10

July 15: Cumberland Orchestra Concert, 2:30 p.m.; Sewanee Symphony Concert, 3:30 p.m., $10

July 18: Faculty Series, "Something Old, Something New," 7:30 p.m., $10

July 19: Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition, 7:30 p.m.

July 20: Student Chamber Concert, 7:30 p.m.

July 21: Student

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