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, FEBRUARY 21; 4 to 10 pm
FOR MUSICIANS: AN EVENING OF CHAMBER MUSIC
This event welcomes the talents of all adult amateur and professional musicians who would like an opportunity to gather to read, play and perform chamber music in the historically rich ambiance of Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. A unique learning and performing experience is provided for music-makers at every level of development. Facilitated by members of LYRA, the “soiree” event aims to provide exposure to a wide variety of chamber music literature, to stimulate sensitive ensemble playing, and to enhance awareness of the elements of fine musicianship through sight-reading, listening, and performing. Dinner is provided. Admission: $25. For more detailed information and application form, please visit www.lyraquartet.org or call 404-373-7756.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21; 3 pm
EMILY COLLETTE, HARPSICHORDIST
TIMELESS EXPOSURES IN MUSIC: BACH, BARTOK & BRUBECK
Harpsichordist Emily Collette spans history with keyboard works from Renaissance to Modern Jazz, sometimes integrating eras in an eclectic style. Blending Baroque ornamentation and Jazz improvisation, selections from J.S. Bach and Bela Bartok present a natural contrast with the compositions of Dave Brubeck. This musical experience displays the colors and textures of early instruments surrounded by the historic ambiance of the Callanwolde Mansion. Tickets will be sold at the door. $15 General Admission; $10 Students/Seniors/Members. For more information call 404-872-5338 or visit www.callanwolde.org.
SUNDAY, MARCH 28; 7 pm
CALLANWOLDE CONCERT BAND
We cordially invite you to join us for a concert of the Callanwolde Concert Band with Raymond Handfield, Conductor, as they perform a program of varied popular selections. The Band, a community organization now in its thirty-eighth season, is DeKalb County’s premiere symphonic wind ensemble. Further information about the Band is available at its expanded web site, www.calcb.org. Tickets are available only at the door: $10 General Admission; $5 Students/Seniors, Atlanta Artscard and Atlanta Planit Members.
SUNDAY, MARCH 28; 7:30 pm
CONCERT: LYRA STRING QUARTET
WITH GUEST ARTISTS JAMES DUNHAM AND CHRISTOPHER FRENCH
Enjoy a star-studded concert at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center as LYRA invites world-renowned violist James Dunham and Christopher French as guest artists for an unforgettable evening of great music. Callanwolde sets the stage for the most intimate, personal sharing of some of the most profoundly moving music ever written. A LYRA concert at Callanwolde is a musical experience in which the boundaries of stage and expectation dissolve. Come join the magic! $18 General Admission; $12 Students/Seniors; $3 Discount at the door for Callanwolde members. For more information or to purchase tickets please call 404-373-7756 or order online at www.lyraquartet.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
JAZZ ON THE LAWN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 2009
"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.
June 12 - Nick Longo Band
Acclaimed saxophone artist Nick Longo and his 7-piece band presenting originality in a broad range of jazz styles. Powered by two sax musicians and a tight percussion section this dynamic band will drive a lively performance into the night.
June 26 - Marsha DuPree
Marsha's beautifully skilled vocals of smooth classic jazz and cabaret specialties will feed your soul! A lead female singer in the southeast, her rich musical interpretations are fluid and polished.
July 10 - Serenata Band
Considered the best of Latin groups in Atlanta, Serenata will create an unforgettable musical experience. Luis Cordero leads a 7-piece band playing Latin Jazz, Samba and other creative styles with sax, flute, congas, bongos and timbales.
July 31 - Gary Motley Trio
A favorite at Callanwolde, Gary Motley is one of America's most highly regarded jazz pianists, having worked with other jazz greats such as Dave Brubeck and Randy Brecker. His trio includes Paul Keller on acoustic bass and Pete Siers on drums.
August 14 - Madoca and Company
Atlanta's own jazz fusion keyboard artist Madoca teams up with The Prince Project and some of Atlanta's best musicians to create exciting fusion, funk and contemporary jazz styles.
LYRA is about Chamber Music. LYRA began as an opportunity for artistry among a group of musicians in the Atlanta area in the late 1999’s. Fostered by the efforts of two of its founding violinists, husband and wife team Judith Cox and Raymond Leung, LYRA has blossomed in the past decade into one of the most recognized and far- reaching community and educational resources in the city of Atlanta. A string quartet-based group, LYRA promotes chamber music performance, education, and community service throughout the Southeast. In addition to its active performance schedule, LYRA is dedicated to sharing the joy and connective power of music to thousands of children of all ages throughout metropolitan Atlanta, offering coaching and teaching to students of all ages. LYRA presents the highest quality performances by musicians from the Atlanta area as well as internationally renowned guest artists. In its residency at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, LYRA is actively involved with special events, performances, workshops, and educational outreach.
Music is the universal language of mankind.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The power of music, all music, lies in its ability to profoundly touch the soul of every listener in its own unique way. LYRA delves into the amazingly rich expanse of music created by masters of the genre, from the diverse cultural traditions of peoples from around the world. LYRA at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is about a musical experience in a setting and an ambience for which chamber music was originally intended. In a LYRA experience the boundaries of stage and expectation dissolve, and one leaves a performance feeling a profound connection that has been forged through the medium of the music. A LYRA concert at Callanwolde is an experience that creates and nurtures connections and relationships through music, and invites every participant to leave with a smile on his lips and beautiful sounds in his ear. Please join us as we embark on a journey of discovery through the fascinating imaginative world of great composers and their profoundly inspiring music.
For more information on LYRA’s community engagement, to contact the musicians of LYRA, or to donate, please log on to www.lyraquartet.org . LYRA is a non-profit arts organization serving Atlanta.
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.