By Candice J. Wanner

Hughes stated that she and WITF-FM were adamant about keeping the concerts free, despite opposition that feels “if you don’t pay for something, you don’t appreciate it”. This was in an effort to draw people who may normally have balked at listening to something they think only royalty and millionaires enjoy. She and WITF-FM are looking to “de-snobbify” the image commonly held about chamber music and so they have carefully selected the performers to present only those up and coming artists that will indeed swing this genre into “the next generation”.

Awadagin Pratt, Pianist, returns to the mid-state once again after performing at last year’s Festival. At his suggestion, the Festival contacted Theodore Shapiro, a twenty-six year old conductor who has composed music for film, television, musical theater and the concert stage. This year, the Festival has commissioned Shapiro for a new work, which will be presented as its world premiere at the concerts. The work is entitled “City of Windows” and will be performed by the piano trio (Pratt on Piano, Jennifer Kloetzel on Cello, and Beth Newdome on Violin) and sung by soprano, Allison Charney (who, by the way, made a brief appearance as a last minute stand-in with the Harrisburg Opera Company when their leading soprano was felled by illness the day of performance). Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat “Archduke” and Schubert’s Seven Selected Songs will also be performed.

The concerts will be held June 10th and 11th at Zimmerman Recital Hall of the Suzanne H. Arnold Gallery at Lebanon Valley College; June 13th in the MAC Recital Hall at York College; June 14th in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center at Harrisburg Area Community College; and June 16th and 17th in the Miller Recital Hall at Franklin & Marshall College. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.

There will also be a special Master Class held by Awadagin Pratt on June 12th at 3:00 p.m. in the MAC Recital Hall at York College. Five students were selected to participate in the class by a lottery from one hundred and twenty-two letters written by local piano teachers. Pratt, the first student in the Peabody Conservatory of Music’s history to receive diplomas in piano, violin and conducting, will listen to the students’ music and give each one an individual critique. There is also a shorter “Family Concert” being planned for June 14th at 4:00 p.m. in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center at HACC. This concert is a shortened version and is designed to be enjoyed by the whole family.

While the concerts are free, those wishing to attend should call 236-3842 ext. 460 to make reservations as there is limited seating and people had to be turned away at all concerts last year.

So, if you’re an old fan of chamber music or just someone who likes to try new things, give The Next Generation Festival a try. It’s not often you get to see world-class talent showcased for your listening pleasure for the extraordinarily low price of absolutely free.