The Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the 2009-2010 125th Anniversary Season Series!

Chanticleer presents Wondrous Free
Thursday, October 1, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Chanticleer will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the first American song with a program demonstrating the diversity of song in America in the context of song throughout the world.  Winner of multiple GRAMMY Awards, Chanticleer enjoys an international reputation for its vivid interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to venturesome new music.

Generously sponsored by Leah and William Baskin.
Media sponsor WNIU.

Cypress String Quartet
Friday, October 30, 2009, 7:30 pm

Widely celebrated for their exuberance and the power of their performances, the Cypress String Quartet combines technical precision with imaginative programming to create a truly unforgettable concert experience.  The program will include Lento Assai, written by brilliant young American composer Kevin Puts and co-commissioned by the Cypress Performing Arts Association, the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, the Lied Center of Kansas and the Library of Congress to celebrate the 200th birthday of Felix Mendelssohn.

An exhibit of significant artifacts illustrating the life and work of Felix Mendelssohn will be on display.

Generously sponsored by the Jody Nordlof Endowment Fund, William and Tammy Schulz and the Rockford Area Arts Council.

125th Anniversary Holiday Gala
Donald Fraser’s A Christmas Symphony
Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra
Jonita Lattimore, soprano
Mendelssohn Chorale
Kantorei, the Singing Boys of Rockford
Friday, December 4, 2009, 7:30 pm

“Peace and Love and Hope Abide this Christmastide.”  These are the beautiful words in the carol composed by Mr. Fraser for operatic superstar Jessye Norman.  Mr. Fraser’s symphony encompasses many of our most beloved Christmas carols.

To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Mendelssohn Club, Mr. Fraser will compose a new Christmas Prelude and Fugue for the concert based on the carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing…which, of course, was written by Felix Mendelssohn.

This is a work of incredible beauty!

Generously sponsored by John and Judith Graff, Alpine Trust and Investment Group, and
Lindgren Callihan VanOsdol.

Shai Wosner, piano
Friday, February 19, 2010, 7:30 pm

Shai Wosner continues to attract international recognition for his exceptional artistry, musical integrity and creative insight.  With imaginative programming that communicates his intellectual curiosity, Wosner performs a wide-ranging repertoire from Mozart and Beethoven to Ligeti and composers of his own generation.  Wosner’s virtuosity and perceptiveness have increasingly made him a favorite among audiences and critics alike.  Mr. Wosner will be joining Mendelssohn following his Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut.

Generously sponsored by the Irene A. Glasford Memorial Fund.

Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra
Margaret Batjer, violin
With special guests
Measure 5, Music Academy of Rockford College
Shelby Latin Harris, violin
Friday, March 12, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor is his last and largest orchestral work.  It is one of the most popular and most performed violin concertos of all time.

Of special note is Ms. Batjer’s connection to the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra.  Her mother, Eleanor Stanlis, founded the Orchestra in 1987.  How fitting, then, that we honor the memory of Eleanor Stanlis with this concert as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center.

Generously sponsored by Alpine Trust and Investment Group.

Jazz Matazz!
Sunday, May 2, 2010, 4:00 p.m.

Our 125th anniversary season comes to a close with hot performances by icons of the Rockford jazz scene!
Generously sponsored by the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center Board of Directors.

About Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center

For 125 years, Mendelssohn has been a source of musical leadership for residents of northern Illinois.  It also serves as a haven for musicians and future musicians through a wide range of programming and support. 

* Fine Performances: Each season, Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center sponsors live performances by local and world-renowned artists, giving northern Illinois residents access to world-class music close to home. 

* Youth Programs: The organization also fosters the next generation of musicians through a vibrant and growing Youth Music Program that includes the vocal ensemble Broadway Bound; the Chandler Starr Miller Scholarship Competition; the High School Starr of Excellence Awards; and a Young Musicians Series of recitals, concerts, workshops and master-classes.  Mendelssohn’s youth programs are available to all, regardless of age, race, musical ability or economic status. 

* Performing Artists: The nearly 120 Mendelssohn Performing Artists are local and regional musicians who participate in the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, Mendelssohn Chorale, and performing artist series concerts.  These Artists extend the reach of Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center to many diverse audiences across the northern Illinois region.