Auditory Art. Festival Miami 2005
Written by Mia Saavedra   
By Mia Saavedra

As another steamy summer draws to an end, University of Miami’s renowned Frost School of Music gears up for its 22nd annual Festival Miami, an impressive line up of musical artists from a variety of genres and styles who will showcase their talent in a 5 week-long festival at U.M.’s Maurice Gusman Concert Hall. From September 24th to October 29th, U.M. will host 23 different concerts on its campus, with sounds ranging from classical, pop, bossa nova, flamenco, Latin, jazz, and more. Festival Miami also includes master classes with these musical artists, which are offered to both Frost students, and are free and open to the public as well.

Festival Miami began when its founder, William Hipp, joined University of Miami’s faculty 22 years ago as Dean of the Frost School of Music. “The purpose of Festival Miami was to enrich the education of our students by exposing them to nationally and internationally renowned artists, as well as providing a unique cultural event for the South Florida community. Festival Miami has grown to become one of the premier music festivals in the city,” says Emily Rebert, Assistant Coordinator of Special Events and Festival Miami. With pop music becoming more and more a fusion of old and new, Festival Miami is a great way for young people in particular to explore genres of music that they might otherwise never be exposed to. Festival Miami is an excellent opportunity to be immersed in the sounds of jazz and understand why it’s sampled so much in hip-hop music, or to surrender to the smoothness of bossa nova and actually know the difference when we hear poppy versions of it in chic South Beach shops and bars. Festival Miami 2005 offers sounds that range from classical, to swing, to jazz, pop, Broadway scores and more, and has a national and international top-notch roster of performances, not to mention its stellar student and artist faculty ensembles.



Highlights

With 23 concerts in 5 weeks, there is a lot of music to be heard. Here’s a small sample of some of Festival Miami 2005’s highlights.

September 25th, 3pm – The Story of Jazz . Presented in collaboration with Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children

Local jazz musician and Frost School alumnus Simon Salz takes kids on a musical road trip through the history of jazz with his group, Simon Salz and Friends. With stops at a New Orleans jazz parade, a sail up the Mississippi and listen to the sounds of Chicago, and a swing through New York’s Harlem Renaissance period. This show will give kids a fun and danceable history of “America’s music”.

October 8th, 8pm – Bossa Nova Forever

World-renowned Brazilian jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Antonio Adolfo treats concertgoers to the intimate sounds of bossa nova. One of Brazil’s leading musicians, Adolfo has collaborated with bossa nova greats like Antonio Carlos Jobim, and has written music that has been recorded by Stevie Wonder, Herb Alpert, and Dionne Warwick, among others. Adolfo will be joined by his daughter, female vocalist Carol Saboya, as well as some surprise guests.

October 9th, 4pm – The Grand Dames of Broadway. Presented in collaboration with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)

Anyone who has ever seen a Broadway show understands the amount of talent required to sing, act, and dance, all at once, night after night. Broadway star Karen Morrow and Tony Award winner Susan Egan perform some of the best-known songs written especially for lead female roles on stage, with tunes from Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, Annie Get Your Gun, and many more.

October 10th and 11th, 8pm – Emerson String Quartet. Presented in collaboration with Friends of Chamber Music Miami

In 27 years, the Emerson String Quartet has won 6 Grammy Awards, 3 Gramophone Magazine Awards, and has performed in every major concert hall in the world. Named as “America’s greatest quartet” by Time Magazine, the Emerson String Quartet is one of the world’s most renowned chamber ensembles, and will be performing music by Mozart, Brahms, and Shostakovich in 2 separate programs at Festival Miami 2005.

October 14th, 8pm – Boleros Hallados

Drawing from a variety of musical influences including, jazz, R&B, Afro-Cuban guaguancó and son, musicians Roberto Poveda, Aymee Nuviola, Alex Berti, Raul Murciano, and Alfredo Triff fuse rhythms and beats into a distinctive Miami sound.

October 15th, 8pm – Jon Secada in Concert

Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and Broadway actor Jon Secada performs live with the Frost School’s award-winning Jazz Vocal 1 Ensemble. With a Master’s Degree in Jazz Vocal Performance from the Frost School, Jon is a testament to University of Miami’s top-notch music program.

October 20th, 8pm – Flamenco!

For a third year in a row, the American Friends of Flamenco Troupe interpret the popular Spanish dance, while also highlighting its roots in Cuba and South America.

October 21st, 8pm - Happy Birthday Dizzy!

A must for jazz fans – trombonist, composer, and arranger Slide Hampton sets up an incredible tribute to the great Dizzy Gillespie in celebration of what would have been the jazz legend’s 100th birthday. Joined by the Frost School’s Concert Jazz Band, the show will pay homage to Gillespie’s musical legacy.

October 22nd, 8pm – Marvin Hamlisch

Composer Marvin Hamlisch has won every major entertainment award in the U.S., including 3 Oscars, 4 Grammys, 4 Emmys, 1 Tony, and 3 Golden Globes – not including a Pulitzer Prize for his hit Broadway show, A Chorus Line. A heavyweight in the musical world, Mr. Hamlisch has also composed scores for over 40 movies, and has held the title of musical director for Barbara Streisand’s U.S. and European tours, as well as her television specials. He will be joined by Broadway singer and actor Mark McVey.

Master Classes

These highly anticipated performances do not include the several master classes that are also part of Festival Miami 2005. Master classes are sessions held with invited artists for Frost School students, which are also free and open to the public – a true luxury for any music lover – and one of the reasons why the Frost School is considered one of the best music programs in the country. Master classes scheduled for this year’s festival include a voice forum with Broadway stars Susan Egan and Karen Morrow, as well as sessions with Jon Secada, Marvin Hamlisch, and the Emerson String Quartet. With artists such as these, it’s no wonder that Festival Miami has become one of the most important cultural events in the city.

For a complete schedule of concerts and classes held during Festival Miami 2005, as well as ticket prices and purchasing options, check out www.festivalmiami.com or call 305-284-4940. All concerts will be held at Maurice Gusman Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, on the University of Miami Campus.