Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Wilmington, N.C. - Homage to Mozart, University of North Carolina Wilmington's week-long festival celebrating the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, concluded on Jan. 27. A special all-Mozart concert that night by the North Carolina Symphony and guest violinist Joseph Silverstein culminated seven consecutive days celebrating the life and musical legacy of one of the world's greatest composers.

"Truly an extraordinary week," said Norman Bemelmans, UNCW director of cultural arts, and coordinator of the Homage to Mozart activities. "To have so many of our UNCW music faculty, ensembles and students involved in so many exciting ways, to welcome so many talented special guest artists to our campus, and to know that we were joining musicians and music lovers in a simultaneous celebration around the world was something very special."

Students and faculty from the UNCW Opera Outreach Project, the UNCW Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, and the UNCW Wind Symphonies were featured in the festival. Other highlights included film screenings and a weeklong campus residency by the Carolina Piano Trio.

"In addition to their fantastic public concert," said Bemelmans, "the Carolina Piano Trio worked with students in the Watson School of Education, and did a number of outreach performances in the local public schools with a series of programs designed to appeal to the younger age groups. Community and school outreach was an integral part of the week, which also included a master class for young violinists by the internationally acclaimed Joseph Silverstein."

"We were thrilled with the audience turnout for the entire celebration," added Bemelmans, "it exceeded our every expectation. And it was great to see so many new and young faces in Kenan Auditorium. Obviously, the music of Mozart is something special for so many. UNCW can be proud of highlighting that music in such splendid fashion."

Photo Note: Violinist Joseph Silverstein offers a masters class with Hoggard High School student Connie Chen during his visit to UNCW on Jan 27.

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Note: A photo gallery highlighting the Homage to Mozart artists and performances can be viewed at www.uncw.edu/news/gallery/2006mozart/index.html