Triad Arts Weekend: January 18, 2013

“…a gentle and extraordinarily beautiful new play”. That's what the New York Times had to say about the latest from 31 year old playwright Annie Baker. It's called The Aliens, and it takes place in a back alley behind a small town New England coffee shop. In the play two 30-something slackers discuss music, philosophy and Bukowski. While riding the high of shroom laced tea and acoustic guitar riffs they write novels and music that the world will never see. The play is also a coming of age story about their painfully awkward teenager protégé Evan and their surprising friendship ultimately leaves the trio forever changed.

Paper Lantern Theatre Company launches its fifth season with this Obie Award-winning play. It opens Thursday night, January 17 in the intimateUpStage Cabaret at Triad Stage in Greensboro and tickets are 20-bucks. Paper Lantern actor Sterling Hurst plays the role of K.J., Josh Foldy is fellow slacker Jasper and Owen Hickle-Edwards plays the 17-year old Evan. Sterling and Owen dropped by along with Paper Lantern Director Jonathan Brady.

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Understanding Classical Music with Peter Kairoff at the Keyboard. On this week's all new installment Peter explores the music of Johannes Brahms & his use of motives.

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Everyone likes to be part of an historic first and this weekend you can do just that. It's the first ever University of NC School of the Arts Faculty Brass Quintet and Organ concert. Sonic Splash will feature UNCSA artist/faculty trumpeter Judith Saxton and organist. It'll be held in Crawford Hall on the UNCSA campus Sunday night, January 20 at 7:30.

From 4:00pm – 6:00pm that afternoon it's the school's 2013 Brass Symposium. It features a master class in Watson Hall with Judy and her UNCSA colleagues, French hornist David Jolley, Trombonist John Ilika and tubist Matt Ransom. It's an all-star group of performers providing world-class one-on-one instruction. Students from middle school on up as well as band directors looking to hone their brass teaching skills are encouraged to participate. They'll each receive free tickets to theSonic Splash concert later that night.

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Low & Lower is Winston-Salem Symphony cellist Brooks Whitehouse and bassist Paul Sharpe. They combine their virtuosity with a sense of humor, a touch of theatre and a willingness to try, well, just about anything. Along the way they've created, inspired and commissioned several new works. This summer conductor Robert Moody announced that the W-S Symphony will lead a national consortium of orchestras to commission a concerto for Low & Lower.

You can hear Paul and Brooks in concert on Tuesday night, January 22 at 7:30pm in Watson Recital Hall on the University of NC School of the Arts campus where they are both faculty/ artists. On the program will be an eclectic mix of traditional Western Classical music transcribed just for them, new works composed or arranged by Brooks and Paul, and some fun new works by other composers as well. David recently spoke with the dynamic duo, but they began with a performance of A Modern Music Genius.