FFA’s 22nd
annual Chamber Music Festival has its share of old musical friends and a
few new ones. We welcome back Carol Wincenc, who was here from the start
and back after a brief hiatus, and are happy to have John Ferrillo with
us. One of the great oboists of our time, he joins us from the Boston
Symphony, where he’s principal oboe.
We’re also delighted to be back at St. George’s, after its glorious
renovation, and are spreading our wings to include a concert in Stafford
County as part of our mission of offering the arts to all in the
Rappahannock region. On that topic, we’ve also initiated the Arts
Ambassadors program during 2009, sending renowned mentors from our
Festival core along with esteemed actors and dancers into schools in
Fredericksburg, Stafford County and Spotsylvania. They’re offering their
expertise, teaching skills and inspiration to students and teachers
involved in the arts. We continue our partnership with the Stafford
Educational Foundation, and with Classics for Kids Foundation through
its
matching grants program for beautiful new instruments and mentoring.
Three schools in the area now have Classics for Kids instruments, and
two second-round grants are on the way!
We’re also offering open rehearsals during the Festival, where students
can come and enjoy great chamber music and observe the artists at work
(and play!). Deborah Tripp has graciously coordinated our pre-concert
serenades by local student groups; they and their families attend the
concerts as our guests. One of our greatest priorities is for more young
people and their families to enjoy our Chamber concerts and other FFA
events, and to be inspired to continue with their musical studies while
gaining the fabulous life benefits that exposure to music brings.
Thank you all for your continued presence and support of FFA during our
third decade!
~Michael Reynolds
Artistic Director, Fredericksburg Festival of the Arts
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