Centrum: Washington's home for arts and education.

Cypress String Quartet Returns February 19

2012-02-02T08:34:19-08:00

The renowned Cypress String Quartet returns to Centrum on February 19 at 2 p.m. as part of the The Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival’s Joseph F. Wheeler Celebration Series.

The Quartet's performance at the Joseph F. Wheeler at Fort Worden State Park will feature String Quartet No. 2 from Mendelssohn, Lento Assai from composer Kevin Puts, and Beethoven’s String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132.

Concertgoers are invited to meet the performers at a reception at the Fort Worden Chapel, immediately following the performance.

Purchase tickets online for the Cypress String Quartet performance.

The Cypress String Quartet – violinists Cecily Ward and Tom Stone, violist Ethan Filner, and cellist Jennifer Kloetzel - formed in San Francisco in 1996, and take their name from the set of twelve love songs for string quartet, The Cypresses, by Antonin Dvořák. They have commissioned and premiered more than 30 new works, four of which are now included on Chamber Music America’s list of “101 Great American Ensemble Works.”

During their 15th anniversary season in 2011-2012, the Cypress String Quartet will add two new recordings to its 10-album discography. In November 2011 the Quartet released The American Album, which includes Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 (“American”), Charles Griffes’ Two Sketches Based on Indian Themes, and Barber’s Quartet, Op. 11. In March 2012, the Quartet will complete its 3-volume set of Beethoven’s Late Quartets (composed between 1822 and 1826, historically known as Beethoven’s Late Period), including the groundbreaking Opus 132.

The Quartet continues to maintain a busy national and international tour schedule, making appearances at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Stanford Lively Arts, Krannert Center and Ravinia Festival. Their collaborators include artists such as Leon Fleisher, Jon Nakamatsu, Awadagin Pratt, Gary Hoffman, Atar Arad, James Dunham, and Zuill Bailey.

The Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival’s Joseph F. Wheeler Series honors the late Joseph F. Wheeler, Founding Director of Centrum, and continues the tradition of chamber music in the shoulder season that was established by Wheeler and Centrum Board member Leah Hammer.

Tickets are available online or by phone at 800.746.1982 between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM, PST, Monday through Saturday, or between the hours of 6 AM and noon on Sunday (a processing fee applies).

The Port Townsend Chamber Music festival continues on Sunday, April 22 featuring four virtuoso period-instrument players including soprano Phoebe Jevtovic Alexander, and violinist Ingrid Matthews, Music Director of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra.

The Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival is sponsored in part by the Washington State Arts Commission, Rick and Debbie Zajicek, James and Nelly Tretter, and Ken Snider.

Genticorum Joins 2012 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes

2012-01-26T11:28:33-08:00

Centrum is thrilled to announce the addition of renowned Quebecois group, Genticorum to our 2012 Festival of Fiddle Tunes faculty roster.

Composed of players, Pascal Gemme (fiddle, feet, vocals), Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand (flute, bass, fiddle, vocals) and Yann Falquet (guitar, jew’s harp, vocals), the Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, trad, folk and Celtic music circuit. The trio’s first three albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Great Britain, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and stage presence, Genticorum is often mistaken for a larger ensemble.

'For a three piece, Genticorum makes a very full and glorious noise, both instrumentally and vocally… This is a band that’s going to go places.’
--SING OUT!

On its latest album, Nagez Rameurs, the group is joined by such well-known trad artists as Stéphanie Lépine, Olivier Demers, Nicholas Williams and Grey Larsen, signaling a work of undeniable musical refinement and irresistible raw energy. Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, they weave precise and intricate fiddle and flute work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar and bass accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humor and stage presence make them a supreme crowd pleaser.

Don’t miss out on the talent of Genticorum; register for the 2012 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.

Centrum Announces "Reverberations"

2012-01-25T10:50:25-08:00

Composer Wayne Horvitz and Choreographer Yukio Suzuki

Seattle-based composer/pianist Wayne Horvitz, audio engineer and producer Tucker Martine, Japanese dancer/choreographer Yukio Suzuki and Japanese video artist Yohei Saito will be in residence at Centrum in 2012 for a three-week period to create Music and Dance in Concrete. The new multimedia piece will receive its world premiere September 21-23, 2012 in Fort Worden State Park's historic batteries and cistern on as part of Centrum's Reverberations festival.

The project will feature 55 short improvised and 55 composed works which will include installations that utilize video screens and speakers placed in the concrete military structures, live performances from Suzuki and his dancers on the gun emplacement platforms, and performances from Horvitz and guest musicians in the Harpole Cistern, which is known worldwide for its long reverberation time.

Visitors will be able to walk through concrete structures and will experience the Cistern performance from the lawn that lies above the chamber. The schedule for these free events will be announced later this year.Reverberations will be presented on the same weekend as the acclaimed Port Townsend Film Festival, and it is expected that there will be some collaborative events between Centrum and the Port Townsend Film Institute during that period.

Music and Dance in Concrete has received initial funding from the MAP Fund and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, as well as support from the Arizona State University Art Museum where it will be presented following its premiere in Port Townsend. The Centrum Artist Residency program is made possible by support from the Washington State Arts Commission and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Learn more about the project on our Reverberations page.

April 14 Choro Concert Tickets Now On Sale

2012-01-17T12:32:13-08:00

Choro returns to Centrum! Come enjoy this lively and engaging concert on Saturday, April 14^th at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater.

Choro is the spirited Brazilian street music that pre-dates the Bossa Nova. Now a Port Townsend tradition, this annual event produced by Centrum features five masters of this delightful musical style who come together for the first time to perform a wide range of Choro favorites.

Direct from Brazil, experience the artistry of the world renowned mandolinist Dudu Maia, 7- string guitar virtuoso Henrique Neto, and percussionist Alexandre Lora who join with the legendary Seattle-based Brazilian composer/pianist Jovino Santos Neto and Andy Connell, the clarinet virtuoso from America’s top Choro ensemble -- Choro Famoso.

Whether you enjoy sultry sweet ballads or lively sambas, you’ll love this concert.

The concert will be at 7:30pm on April 14^th at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater. Purchase tickets online or by phone at 1-800-746-1982. We hope to see you there!

Centrum Jazz Artist Gary Smulyan Named Top Baritone Saxophonist

2012-01-10T08:19:57-08:00

Gary Smulyan at Jazz Port Townsend - Photo by Jim Levitt

Congratulations to Jazz Port Townsend faculty member Gary Smulyan, for being awarded Baritone Saxophonist of the Year in JazzTimes’ 2011 Readers’ Poll. JazzTimes Magazine asked their readers to consider artists who were notably active in the last year and to vote for their favorites in a number of categories.

Register for the 2012 Jazz Port Townsend Workshop.

Among the winners are many friends and faculty of Jazz Port Townsend, present and past. Some highlights include trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire as Best New Artist, Regina Carter as Best Violinist, and Kurt Elling as Best Male Vocalist.

Also placing in the poll were Centrum friends Sachal Vasandani (new artist and male vocalist), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Jaleel Shaw (alto saxophone), Gary Versace (organ), Stefon Harris (vibraphone), Matt Wilson (drums), Gretchen Parlato (female vocalist), Gerald Wilson (arranger) and Jazz Port Townsend Artistic Director, John Clayton (arranger).