Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway , flute
September 20-21, 2008

Sir James Galway is regarded as both the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries.

As one of the most televised and recorded classical artist performing today, Sir James has made himself a legend, a modern musical master whose virtuosity on the flute is equaled only by his limitless ambitions and vision. Through his extensive touring, over 30 million albums sold and his frequent international television appearances, Sir James has endeared himself to millions worldwide. As an instructor and humanitarian, Sir James is a tireless promoter of the arts.

Belfast born, Sir James went on to study in London and Paris before embarking on his orchestral career in such prestigious orchestras as the Sadlers Wells & Royal Covent Garden Operas, The BBC, Royal Philharmonic and London Symphonies, before taking up the coveted position of solo flautist with the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert Von Karajan.

Since 1975, when Sir James launched his solo career, he has continuously performed with the world's leading orchestras and conductors, participated in chamber music engagements, popular music concerts and given masterclasses. From Galways' lips have come definitive treatments of classical repertoire and masterworks by Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart. He also features contemporary music in his programmes, including new flute works commissioned by him and for him by composers such as Amram, Bolcom, Corigliano, Heath and Lieberman. Taking up the baton, and in addition to numerous play/conduct engagements he holds the illustrious position of Principal guest Conductor of the London Mozart Players.

Highlights of this season begin in Asia where Sir James will embark upon an orchestral and recital tour, performing with the Japan and Osaka Philharmonic and National Chinese orchestras. Joined in recital by the renowned flutist, Lady Jeanne Galway and pianist, Phillip Moll, they will delight audiences in cities such as Kobe, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok & Taiwan.

His US presence will see him performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Antonio Symphony, Buffalo & Dayton Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra. He will also perform in recital at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Sarasota & Clearwater Florida, Kansas City and Ann Arbor Michigan, where Sir James will be presented with the 2008 UMS Distinguished Artist Award at the 13th Annual Ford Honors Program (previous recipients include Rostropovich, Jessye Norman & Van Cliburn).

In Europe, Sir James will be seeing in the New Year with an all star studded concert with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, led by Muhai Tang in the famed Luzern Concert Hall and on New Years day in the Zurich Tonhalle. As well as performing in recital in Germany, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom and Switzerland, Sir James will be guest soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra and performing with the Ulster Orchestra in his home town of Belfast and in Dublin.

Sir James has played for such dignitaries as Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, Presidents Clinton, George W Bush, George Bush Snr, President Mary McAleese, Prince Charles, The Princess Royal, The Empress of Japan, The Queen of Norway, Princess Diana, The Earl and Duchess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and shared the stage with an amazing array of entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini, John Denver, Elton John, the Chieftains, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Jessye Norman, Cleo Laine & Andrea Bocelli. He performed with Pink Floyd in their memorable concert at the Berlin Wall, was part of the Nobel Peace concert in Norway and performed at the G Seven summit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.
Alongside his busy performing schedule he finds time to share his wisdom and experience with the generations of tomorrow conducting annual master classes, commissioning new works for the flute, publishing articles, books and flute studies. His website www.thegalwaynetwork.com is devoted to all students, educators and flute lovers worldwide.

Sir James devotes much of his free time supporting charitable organizations such as SOS, FARA, Future Talent, Swiss Artistic Foundation, The Caron Keating Foundation and UNICEF, with which he holds the title of special representative.

A discography of over 60 CDs with BMG Sony Classics, a new range of CDs with Deutsche Grammophon and performing on the sound track of, "Lord of the Rings" (Return of the King), reflects his mastery of musical diversity.

With his latest release My Magic Flute, a tribute to Mozart, Sir James magic continues.

Galway was named the 1997 Musician of the Year by Musical America and has received Record of the Year awards from Billboard and Cash Box magazines, as well as the Grand Prix du Disque for his recordings of the Mozart Concerti. His 60th birthday was commemorated with 1999's Sixty Years, a 15-CD retrospective of his works for the RCA Victor Red Seal label.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England has honored him twice: in 1979 with an Order of the British Empire and in 2001 with a Knighthood for services to music. In 2004, Sir James was given the President's Merit Award from the Recording Academy at the Grammy's 8th Annual "Salute to Classical Music." He has also been honored at the prestigious Classic Brits Awards held in London's Royal Albert Hall in 2005, where he received the coveted "Outstanding Contribution to Classical Music" award in celebration of his 30 years as one of the top Classical Musicians of our time.

An accomplished flutist, Lady Jeanne Galway continues to grace the international platforms with her eloquence and virtuosity. One of the leading female flute soloists of the decade, Lady Galway brings to the audience her unique style and elegance.

Her touring schedule regularly takes her to many of the major cities in the USA to perform as soloist with orchestras such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Denver and the National Symphony. Internationally, she has appeared in the cultural capitals of the world including London, New York, Milan, Rome, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Dublin, Belfast, Tokyo, Beijing and Singapore.

Appearing regularly as the premiere Flute Duo Partner with her husband Sir James Galway, the two delight audiences and bring a rare freshness to the platform, unique to the music world.

Alongside her highly successful career as a soloist, Lady Galway is also an accomplished chamber musician, touring regularly with her trio Zephyr (with pianist Jonathan Feldman and cellist Darrett Adkins). The group’s first recording Zephyr – Winds of Romance, includes works by Haydn, Martinu and Weber. The trio recently premiered a new work by Lowell Libermann, which Sir James had commissioned as a Christmas present for his wife. Lady Galway continues to collaborate in recital with Phillip Moll and a varied array of ensembles.

Her versatile concert engagements include performances in the presence of The Empress of Japan, HRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex, TRH The Duke & Duchess of Kent, The Queen of Norway, The Queen of Spain and many other dignitaries.
Highlights of the 2007/8 season begin in Asia where Lady Galway will join her husband on an orchestral and recital tour, performing with the Japan and Osaka Philharmonic and National Chinese orchestras.  Joined in recital by pianist, Phillip Moll, they will delight audiences in cities such as Kobe, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok & Taiwan. 

Her US presence will see her performing with the San Antonio Symphony, Buffalo & Dayton Philharmonics, Minnesota Orchestra and the Russian National Orchestra in Florida.  She will also perform in recitals at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Sarasota & Clearwater Florida, Kansas City, Ann Arbor Michigan, the prestigious Boca Raton Music Festival and one performance in New York with her Trio, Zephyr and special guest Artist, Sir James Galway.

In Europe, with her husband, she will be seeing in the New Year with an all star studded concert with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, led by Muhai Tang in the famed Luzern Concert Hall and on New Years day in the Zurich Tonhalle.   As well as performing in recital in Germany, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom and Switzerland, Lady Galway will be performing with the Ulster Orchestra Belfast and Dublin.

Actively pursuing her love for teaching, Lady Galway dedicates much of her time to working with the younger generation through her articles, master-classes and recordings. She is co-founder of the Galway Junior Network, an interactive website aimed towards the younger, less advanced flutist, offering tips and advice on flute playing, performing and career management. Lady Galway also serves as a patron to the charity ‘Future Talent’ headed by the Duchess of Kent. Her versatile concert engagements include performances for fundraising events for UNICEF, SOS, FARA, and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

She has recorded to critical acclaim for RCA Victor, BMG Classics and Deutsche Grammophon. Most recently she can be heard performing a newly commissioned piece ‘The Magic Flutes’ with her husband Sir James Galway and Sinfonia Varsovia on the recently released Deutsche Grammophon album My Magic Flute.

A native of New York and graduate of the New York City’s Mannes College of Music, Lady Galway lives with her husband, Sir James Galway in Switzerland. She is currently performing on a new 18 carat gold Nagahara flute.

Kenneth Meyer, guitar

March 14, 2009

Ken Meyer, a national first-prize winner at the1994 MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition, is establishing himself as one of the premiere guitarists of his generation.His performances have been recognized for their "high level of musicianship," while his playing has been described as "very sincere and elegant with sensitive phrasing and a singing tone." The Buffalo News has called him "impeccably articulate with superb technique."

Since his professional concert debut at the Teatro de la Opera de Maracay he has performed in Europe, South America and throughout North America. Highlights include concerts in the historic Basilica di San Clemente (Italy), the Museo de Barquisimeto, Museo del Teclado and the Sala José Felix Ribas (Venezuela), and the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (Canada). In addition to live concerts, his performances have been featured on film, radio, and most recently on the Albany records label.

Frequently in demand as a guest artist at colleges and universities across the country, he has given concerts and lectures at the Eastman School of Music, the State University of New York College at Fredonia, Syracuse University, the University of Southern Mississippi, North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, the Hochstein School of Music, Delta College, Canisius College, Finger Lakes and Saint Joseph's Community
Colleges and the University of Caracas in Venezuela. In addition, he is an active
performer and teacher at music festivals and has been recently featured at the Rome Eastman Guitar Summerfest and the Alirio Diaz Guitar Festivals.

His commitment to the cultivation and performance of new music has led to interpretive instruction from Milton Babbitt and premiere performances of compositions by Leslie Basset, Edward Green, James Piorkowski, Donald J. Sparr and Canadian composer Robert Baker. His diversity as a musician has also led to work on the Broadway touring production of the Who's rock opera Tommy.

Ken Meyer holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Composition and Performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He has served on the faculties of East Carolina University, SUNY at Fredonia and the Eastman School of Music and currently directs the guitar studies program at Syracuse University's Setnor School of Music.

André Watts , piano

April 18-19, 2009

André Watts burst upon the music world at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People's Concerts, broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV.  Only two weeks later, Bernstein asked him to substitute at the last minute for the ailing Glenn Gould in performances of Liszt's E-flat Concerto with the New York Philharmonic, thus launching his career in storybook fashion.  More than 45 years later, André Watts remains one of today's most celebrated and beloved superstars.  His performances each year with the world's great orchestras and conductors and his sold-out recitals and appearances at the most prestigious international festivals bring him to every corner of the globe.

During the 06/07 season, Mr. Watts celebrated his 60th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his debut (with the Philadelphia Orchestra). In honor of this milestone and his numerous achievements and contributions to the world of classical music, he was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in June, 2006. During that special season, Mr. Watts performed with many of the American orchestras with which he has had close relationships for many years including the Philadelphia Orchestra in Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Atlanta, St. Louis, National, Indianapolis, Seattle and Milwaukee symphonies. During the 07/08 season, he makes an eleven city tour of the East Coast with the Bergen Philharmonic which includes a concert at Carnegie Hall and a recital tour to Japan.

In addition to his regular visits to the major summer music festivals including Ravinia, Tanglewood, Saratoga, the Mann Music Center, Mostly Mozart and the Hollywood Bowl, André Watts' recent engagements include appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra and the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Houston, Dallas and Cincinnati symphonies; a tour with the Israel Philharmonic with performances in Boston, Chicago and Atlanta; a Carnegie Hall appearance with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; and a European tour with the Baltimore Symphony.

Mr. Watts has had a long and frequent association with television, having appeared on numerous programs produced by PBS, the BBC and the Arts and Entertainment Network, performing with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center among others.  His 1976 New York recital, aired on the program Live From Lincoln Center, was the first full length recital broadcast in the history of television and his performance at the 38th Casals Festival in Puerto Rico was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cultural Programming. Mr. Watts' most recent television appearances are with the Philadelphia Orchestra on the occasion of the orchestra's 100th Anniversary Gala and a performance of the Brahms Concerto No.2 with the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting, for PBS.

Mr. Watts' extensive discography includes recordings of works by Gershwin, Chopin, Liszt and Tchaikovsky for CBS Masterworks; recital CD's of works by Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt and Chopin for Angel/EMI; and recordings featuring the concertos of Liszt, MacDowell, Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saens on the Telarc label. He is also included in the Great Pianists of the 20th Century series for Philips.

A much-honored artist who has played before royalty in Europe and heads of government in nations all over the world, André Watts was selected to receive the Avery Fisher Prize in 1988.  At age 26 he was the youngest person ever to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Yale University and he has since received numerous such honors from highly respected schools including the University of Pennsylvania, Brandeis University, Trinity College and The Juilliard School of Music.  In 1984, his Alma Mater, the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, honored Mr. Watts with its Distinguished Alumni Award and in May, 1997 Peabody again recognized his accomplishments by presenting him with an Honorary Doctorate degree. Previously Artist-in-Residence at the University of Maryland, Mr. Watts was appointed to the newly created Jack I. and Dora B. Hamlin Endowed Chair in Music at Indiana University in May, 2004.