Triad Arts Weekend: May 17, 2013

It's a day for music and dance on Triad Arts Weekend.

Helen Simoneau Danse

Dancer Helen Simoneau was born and raised in a small village of 1,000 people in Quebec, and somehow made her way to Winston-Salem, North Carolina via the UNC School of the Arts as a High School student. What she lacked in formal training up to that point she more than made up for in hard work and dedication to her art while in school. That effort along with the mentorship she received at UNCSA throughout High School and college has come to fruition in her award-winning solo dance work, and critically acclaimed company Helen Simoneau Danse. The Winston-Salem and New York based group performs regularly at Hanesbrands Theatre, and beginning May 13th Helen and her work will be representing Montreal during a month-long tour to Canada, Tokyo and Korea with residencies and performances scheduled at each location. She'll be presenting her new work Flight Distance III: Chain Suite as a part of the International Danse X tour alongside works by her colleagues in Japan and South Korea. Helen's Flight Distance III is a duet that she'll perform with UNCSA alumna Kristin Taylor.

****

Rob Frazier and Centenary United Methodist Church

Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem has championed the arts for decades and recently appointed Director of Music and the Arts Dr. Robert Frazier carries that tradition forward, with an ambitious all Bach program this Sunday night, May 19th at 7:30 pm in the UMC Sanctuary. On the program is Bach's Orchestral Suite in D major, his 5th Brandenburg Concerto, The Ascension Oratorio on the 178th anniversary of its premiere, and more. Rob has enjoyed a rich professional background as a conductor, organist, composer and singer. This has led to many musical collaborations and this weekend's concert is no exception.  In it Rob will be using Bach's music to build an artistic bridge between communities and elevate the performance standards of this wonderful literature utilizing some of our state's finest period instrument and vocal performers. He'll also showcase the creative genius of three leading early music conductor/scholars including NC Baroque's Frances Blaker, Greensboro Vocal Consort's James Bates, and VOX conductor David Tang.

 ****

Understanding Classical Music

This week Peter Kairoff explores the powerful simplicity of Frederick Chopin's Prelude in E minor, one of the twenty-four preludes he wrote in homage to J.S. Bach.

****

Ann Doyle and the Greensboro Youth Chorus 

For more than 30 years UNC Greensboro graduate Ann Doyle has been serving North Carolina schools, churches and community groups as a master teacher, mentor, collaborative performer and adjudicator. 25 of those years have been spent leading the Greensboro Youth Chorus, and on Saturday, May 18th you can help celebrate that quarter century mark with beautiful song. The Greensboro Youth Chorus' 25th Anniversary Concert begins at 7:30 pm in Christ United Methodist Church. The performance is free and it will feature the Jubilate, Chorale, Cantabile, Alumni Singers and the premiere of new works by Tom Shelton and Andrea Ramsey. Greensboro Youth Chorus Founder and Artistic Director Ann Doyle spoke with David Ford recently by phone from her home in Greensboro, and he began by asking her why commissioning new music is important to her and the youth chorus she's led for 25 years.