Vol. 4: March-April 2012 Newsletter
Director’s Corner
World Class: A Case Study
There’s a phrase abroad in the land that I am reluctant to use: “world class.” I don’t know if it’s because it sounds like a category of airline seating (and probably an uncomfortable category at that) or because it’s often thrown about a little easily – “that hamburger is world class!” It might be, but what does that mean, really?
And yet… when Maestro Lorin Maazel lifts his baton, I know that the music he draws forth from his orchestra actually is world class. The whole world – from Milan to Beijing, from Valencia to New York, and now, from Castleton to Manassas– has borne witness to that fact (to that class) for several decades.
So it is a cause for celebration that once again this world class conductor will be bringing his spectacular Castleton Festival musicians to the Hylton Center this summer for two great evenings—not exactly under the stars, but under the spell of the stars, you might say.
On Saturday, June 28th, Kevin Cole—the pianist who is widely considered to be the most Gershwinesque of the Gershwin interpreters currently at work—will join the Maestro and orchestra for an evening of that legendary American’s music, including the iconic (and always thrilling) Rhapsody in Blue, along with other favorites from this country’s rich musical legacy. And though the Maestro has a world class musical resume, some may not be aware that he is a quintessentially American musician, a Pittsburgher who made his New York Philharmonic debut (as a conductor!) at the age of twelve.
Maestro Maazel’s opera career (Bayreuth, La Scala, Vienna State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, to name a few) will serve him, and us, in good stead the following weekend when he brings a concert opera performance of Puccini’s immortal La Boheme to our stage. This format allows for a full musical realization of the great score, with soloists acting their roles in front of the orchestra, and a full chorus and children’s chorus playing their vital parts in bringing mid-19th-century Paris to shimmering life. The chance to hear Castleton’s superior artists under the baton of one of the world’s (there’s that word again) greatest opera conductors, in the pristine acoustics of our Merchant Hall, is simply not to be missed.
What does this relationship between Castleton and the Hylton mean? A deep and growing collaboration between two new but already iconic Virginia cultural institutions, for one thing; a chance for our audiences to experience the best of the best close to home, for another. Look for more world class artistry from the Festival this summer and in the future—and hold my verbal feet to the fire if you catch me using that phrase too often. But when talking about Lorin Maazel, no other words even come close.
– Rick Davis
A New Season Unveiled
Hylton Family Series
The Hylton Performing Arts Center recently announced its 2012-2013 performance season. The Hylton Center’s director of artistic programming, Tom Reynolds, revealed the third season, which includes the return of the Hylton Family Series. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the series, it has been expanded, for the 2012-2013 season, to include a second performance for two of the events; the Emmy-nominated Pushcart Players’ rendition of Peter and the Wolf on February 2 and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom starring legendary wildlife expert, Peter Gros on April 21. A concert by the hysterical duo Trout Fishing in America, October 20, and the one-man show featuring Michael Cooper and his Masked Marvels & Wondertales on March 3 complete the 2012-2013 Hylton Family Series. For complete description of each performance and ticket information please visit our website.
Hylton Presents
The 2012-2013 Hylton Presents season comprises of 22 performances and presents the best in the performing arts from across the country and around the globe to audiences in the greater Prince William area. The 2012-2013 season offers an exciting assortment of performances that include the musical comedy troupe Capitol Steps, the Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi, Shaolin Warriors, Latin jazz pianist Chucho Valdés, Grammy-nominated fiddler Natalie MacMaster, Live at Birdland, Arlo Guthrie, celtic band Danú, Latina songstress Lila Downs and much more. For a complete listing of the 2012-2013 season line-up visit our website or take a moment to view our Hylton Presents Season Brochure.
Spotlight on the Arts
Arts Alive! 2012
The Prince William County Arts Council and Hylton Performing Arts Center will present Arts Alive! 2012 from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, at the Hylton Center. This FREE, family-friendly festival will include performances, exhibits, hands-on activities and demonstrations by local artists and arts organizations.
Arts Alive will feature more than 15 different performances on three stages, inside and out; visual art on display and for sale; local authors reading their work and telling stories; and food for purchase from local vendors. Performances by Arts Council members will range from ballet to belly dancing, from orchestra to a drum and bugle corps, from children’s theater to choral music.
Arts Alive will be more than just a place to see art: there will be many opportunities for families to actively participate. Children and adults will enjoy art projects, classes and demonstrations throughout the festival.
The festival will also include presentation of the 2012 Kathleen K. Seefeldt Awards for Arts Excellence at 2:30 p.m. Bob Madigan of WTOP and Tracee Wilkins of NBC4 will emcee the award ceremony, which recognizes outstanding efforts by artists, arts organizations, advocates and business supporters of the local arts.
Sponsors of Arts Alive! 2012 include United Bank, the Prince William County/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Burt & Peacock PLC, the Ferde Grofé Foundation, Inc., Northside Auto Sales and Bentz Communications LLC.
For a complete schedule of Arts Alive! 2012 visit: www.PWCArtsCouncil.org
Rock Out to the Sights and Sounds
of Summer at the Hylton Center!
The Hylton Center is pleased to announce two exciting and interactive family performances this summer.
National Symphony Orchestra violinist Glenn Donnellan takes you on a journey from the violin & fiddles of yesterday to the electric violins of tomorrow. Follow That Fiddle! captivates students as they learn how violins make their sound, watch a bow and arrow become an instrument, and how a violin can ROCK the house with Donnellan’s one-of-a-kind fiddle, the Electric Slugger®. Children may play the featured violins in a hands-on demonstration before or after each program. Thursday, July 19 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
And on Thursday, August 2 at 11 a.m. get in step with Step Afrika! This dazzling company presents an inspiring program for young audiences. Step Afrika! is a global ambassador for “stepping”: the uniquely American genre descended from African song and dance rituals. Originating with historically Black fraternities and sororities, this energetic and mesmerizing art form uses the body as an instrument to produce percussive rhythms and sounds through the marriage of footsteps, clapping, and vocalizing.
Both programs are appropriate for children 6 to 12 years old.
Tickets: $15 adults, $5 children
The presenting sponsor of the family summer performances is Apple Federal Credit Union.
Volunteer
The backbone of many nonprofit organizations is the volunteers that so generously share their time and talents with the organizations in which they serve. This is certainly true of the Hylton Center. We could not open our doors, greet our guests, answer patrons’ questions and accomplish all the ‘other duties as assigned’ without these selfless individuals who really are an extension of our staff.
In the past few weeks, we have added another member to our staff, administrative volunteer Joyce Bolton. Although Joyce has been ushering since September 2011 she recently began assisting the Development and Marketing Departments. Newly retired, Joyce gave up the fast-paced and stressful days of working with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after more than 35 years of service. This unassuming and reserved volunteer, last served as the Chief of Plans and Resources Staff and had over 12 different assignments throughout her career which varied from a signal analyst to a technical recruiter visiting college and universities to a manager overseeing an engineering lab.
Joyce first became interested in working for the CIA, watching her uncle travel extensively all over the world for the agency. She recalled being intrigued by how “glamorous” his job was. Allured by the idea of travel and her desire to serve her country, Joyce joined the CIA and found herself serving in Tehran where she met her husband, Preston. She and Preston also went on assignment in Belgium. Soon after marrying, Joyce and her husband started a family and so began the next chapter of their careers.
Upon retiring Joyce was honored with the prestigious Career Intelligence Medal in recognition of her significant contributions to intelligence. While she is proud of her service to the CIA she feels a great sense of relief to finally be able to speak about her role with the organization. After having to stay silent for so many years she is glad that she can be open with people about her job and has the freedom to begin a new chapter in her life, retirement. Joyce looks forward to spending her days traveling. An avid tennis fan, her goal is to attend the four major tennis tournaments: the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She also plans on finishing the many projects on her “to-do list” and spending time with her family..
Did you know?
Voted the “Best Special Event Venue” in Northern Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine; come find out what everyone is talking about! On Wednesday, May 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., event and wedding planners will have an opportunity to tour the newest event center in town. Join us for a backstage tour, meet our staff and start planning your next event at Hylton Center. Any event planner or business owner interested in attending please RSVP to Susan Landess at slandess@gmu.edu or 703-993-9344.
Gallery Talk
Join us for an engaging discussion with members of the Virginia Pastel Society (visit their Facebook page) as they talk about the artwork on display and answer questions from the audience. This FREE event will be held on May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery. Light refreshments will be served.
