Callanwolde Fine Arts Center offers a variety of musical concerts throughout the year.
LYRA, Callanwolde's string quartet in residence, performs a series of chamber music concerts, featuring renowned special guest artists, each fall and winter to enthusiastic audiences. LYRA concerts take place in the Great Hall in the Callanwolde mansion with special "meet-and-greet" the artists receptions following each performance. The venerable Callanwolde Concert Band was formed in 1972 at Callanwolde and has grown into a thriving community concert band that plays symphonic concerts all over the state and the region. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center hosts two annual concerts of the Callanwolde Concert Band in the Courtyard. The Capitol City Opera was formed in 1983 to provide classically-trained singers the opportunity to learn and perform complete opera roles at the professional level. The Capitol City Opera stages several perfomances of their annual fundraiser "On the Light Side" in the Callanwolde Courtyard each summer. Callanwolde's Annual Award-Winning Jazz on the Lawn Summer Concert Series has become a steadfast tradition and continues to showcase the Atlanta area's finest talents in classic and contemporary jazz. Staged outdoors on the beautiful grounds of Callanwolde, audiences are invited to bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy cool jazz under the stars!
In addition to the concert offerings mentioned above, Callanwolde often hosts organ concerts featuring Callanwolde's historic Aeolian organ, as well as other free concerts staged by local community groups. Please see the current events calendar for a complete listing of all cultural events offered at Callanwolde.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2; 4;00 PM - 10:00 PM
MUSIC WORKSHOP: AN EVENING OF CHAMBER MUSIC WITH LYRA (SESSION II)
This event welcomes the talents of all adult amateur and professional musicians in Atlanta who would like an opportunity to gather to read, play and perform chamber music in the warm, friendly environment of Callanwolde. An Evening of Chamber Music at Callanwolde provides a unique learning and performing experience for musicians at every level of development. The "soiree" events aims to provide exposure to a wide variety of chamber music literature; to stimulate sensitive ensemble playing; and to create an awareness for the elements of fine musicianship through sight-reading, listening, and performing. This is the second installment of the Evening of Chamber Music at Callanwolde "soiree" series. Participation in the first evening Admission: $25 per Attendee. Visit the LYRA website at www.lyraquartet.org for ticket information.
SUNDAY, MARCH 30; 3 PM
CALLANWOLDE CONCERT BAND
We cordially invite you to join us for "A Thousand and One Nights" - the third Subscription Series concert of the thirty-sixth season of the Callanwolde Concert Band with Raymond Handfield, Conductor. The featured work on this program will be the complete "Scheherazade" of Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Also on the program will be works by Jacques Offenbach and Julius Fucik. The Band, a community organization, is DeKalb County's premiere symphonic wind ensemble. Admission: $10.00 Adults; $5.00 Students, Senior Citizens, and current Artscard and Atlanta Planit members. Tickets are available only at the door. For further information visit: www.calcb.org where you can check the "Media" and "Discography" tabs to listen to excerpts from prior concerts.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11; 8 PM
CONCERT: duoATL - guitar and flute
duoATL performs one show only at Callanwolde. Enjoy the beautiful ambience of Callanwolde's indoor courtyard as guitarist Brian Luckett and flutist-composer Nicole Randall of duoATL treat audiences to a dynamic pairing of instruments. Presenting an intriguing repertoire of contemporary music in a provocative blend of classical and cool, this concert includes the premiere performance of "Mangosteen", a new work written and composed by Nicole Randall. Also performing music by Astor Piazzolla, Joaquin Rodrigo, Michael Daugherty, Radames Gnattali and more.
$10 General Admission. Tickets are sold at the door. For more information call 404-872-5338.
Jazz on the Lawn Summer Concert Series 2008
"Best of Atlanta" Award-winning Jazz Venue, Callanwolde's Jazz on the Lawn series presents special outdoor concerts featuring the best of local jazz musicians. Including a mix of classic and contemporary jazz, swing, blues, reggae, be-bop and R&B, this popular concert series is sure to excite audiences with its high-energy performances. Audiences enjoy the relaxing natural beauty of Callanwolde's lush grounds as the finest jazz artists in the Southeast perform under the stars. As the sun goes down, the music turns up. Jazz on the Lawn continues throughout the summer as Callanwolde hosts an array of brilliant jazz artists.
FRIDAY, MAY 23; 7:30 PM
MAREA ALTA - SMOOTH LATIN JAZZ
Callanwolde opens its 2008 jazz series with the fresh, tropical sound of Marea Alta's original compositions have engaged audiences internationally. Marea Alta ("high tide") incorporates the improvisatory structure of jazz into a scheme of multiple Latin rhythms. Audiences cannot sit still while listening to this band! Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy this special concert under the stars on the beautiful grounds at Callanwolde! In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Callanwolde's indoor Courtyard. $15 General; $12 Students/Seniors/Members. For more information call 404-872-5338.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13; 7:30 PM
NICK LONGO BAND - HIGH-ENERGY JAZZ ORIGINALITY
Callanwolde showcases Nick Longo on sax and vocals along with a second sax player and a mix of bass, drums, keyboard, and guitar. This band offers originality over a broad spectrum of diverse and energetic styles. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy this special concert under the stars on the beautiful grounds at Callanwolde! In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Callanwolde's indoor Courtyard.
$15 General / $12 Students/Seniors/Members. For more information call 404-872-5338.
FRIDAY, JULY 18; 7:30 PM
WILL SCRUGGS JAZZ FELLOWSHIP FEATURING SINGER AUDREY SHAKIR
A favorite at Callanwolde, enjoy Will Scruggs' swinging saxophone skills and energetic sounds for an unforgettable musical experience. Scruggs leads a fellowship of professional musicians and is accompanied by powerful vocalist Audrey Shakir, one of Atlanta's greatest musical treasures in the world of jazz singing. Whether conversing in scat riffs and sax runs or singing a duet, the joy of music is palpable when these two friends get together. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic and enjoy these special concerts under the stars. In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Callanwolde's indoor Courtyard.
$15 General / $12 Students/Seniors/Members. For more information call 404-872-5338.
In addition to their active performing schedule, the quartet is involved in educational outreach throughout metropolitan Atlanta, coaching and teaching thousands of students of all ages in school residencies under the auspices of the Sound Learning Project, Spivey Hall Children's Series, and through collaborative efforts funded by county sources and by the Georgia Council for the Arts.
In 2004 the LYRA Quartet performed "A Women Composers Concert" featuring works by Joan Tower, Amy Beach and Fanny Mendelssohn while on tour to Brevard College, NC, Converse College, Spartanburg and Greenville, SC. During the 2004-05 season, the LYRA Quartet was joined by Room to Move Dance Company in a series of concerts and school residencies in a creative collaboration of music and dance, partially funded by the Georgia Council for the Arts and featuring works by Wynton Marsalis and Dimitri Shostakovich. In the spring of 2005 the quartet will once again appear at Daniel Recital Hall at Converse College and in a residency at The Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC. In June of 2005, the quartet will be in residence at the Chamber Music Workshop on the campus of Converse College.
LYRA String Quartet recorded its first disc in 2001 while its second is scheduled for release Spring, 2006. The quartet has been heard on National Public Radio, Georgia Public Radio, WABE and Turner Broadcasting Station, Atlanta. LYRA String Quartet is a part of LYRA, Inc. LYRA is a non-profit arts organization that relies on grants and donations as well as the sale of CDs and other items for the necessary support needed to maintain its public service activities.
For more information on their activities and how to contribute, please write to:
LYRA String Quartet, P.O. Box 15336, Atlanta, GA 30333
The band of today differs greatly from the band of 1972, but the spirit and appreciation for good music played well has continued and flourished as the band has matured into one of the finest ensembles of its type in the Southeast.
Founded under the baton of Charles Bradley, famed director of the outstanding East Atlanta Elementary Band, the band continued with George Webster as director and temporarily paused operations in the summer of 1973.
In the Fall of 1973, the remaining members decided that the band would continue and asked for a show of hands from anyone who had ever been a band director. One hand hesitantly went up and by unanimous vote of everyone else, he was told "Clyde you are our new conductor" and given absolutely no choice in the matter whatsoever. Clyde Bales had not "waved the stick" in about twenty years, and was making his living as a communications engineer. His music degree from LSU had rusted quietly except for playing percussion with the band for fun. He was, however, brave and willing to preside over our growth until 1985 when a job change transferred him away from Atlanta,
This time we prepared for a formal conductor search but fortunately did not have to look beyond our trumpet section. Since that time the podium has been occupied by Mr. Raymond Handfield. The band is known throughout Georgia for its high level of musicianship and audience appeal. This is music at and from the grass roots, made by your neighbors. Look closely, you may see your doctor, dentist, attorney and your air conditioning mechanic, all united to preserve and continue a great American tradition, the community band.
Capitol City Opera Company was formed in 1983 to provide an opportunity for Atlanta's classically trained singers to continue their post-graduate vocal and acting skills by performing complete opera roles on a professional level. Since its inception, the company has expanded its reach to young singers throughout the world and now exports its product all over the United States. The troupe has grown exponentially as a producer of innovative and exciting professional opera theatre. It has flourished as the only opera company in the Southeast that primarily helps local singers establish their careers.