“Jenny. Drew. Tacos.” September’s Concert at The Block Explores Contemporary Composers
Muskegon, Michigan, August 29, 2013 – Husband-and-wife duo Jennifer Walvoord and Drew Le will explore tonality in composers from the Romantic to the contemporary in a September performance at The Block.
She – a violinist and concertmaster of the West Michigan Symphony – and he – a pianist and head of keyboard studies at Hope College – will perform a series of duos showcasing music that ranges from approachable and exciting to beautiful and virtuosic. Their program starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tacos will be served.
“Jenny. Drew. Tacos.” is the fourth concert at The Block, which is quickly becoming a destination for music lovers with a variety of tastes. West Michigan Symphony unveiled its new performance space in June and has another 13 concerts already scheduled through May 2014 – with more sure to be added to the calendar.
“Many young composers today have turned away from atonality and have adopted tonality as a compositional device, giving their music an accessible yet fresh and exciting feel,” Walvoord explains. “The program we have put together should convey the message that contemporary music does not have to be scary.
“Drew and I love collaborating, especially in a small, intimate and somewhat casual setting such as The Block. Our hope is for the audience to leave the concert feeling as if they have gained a greater understanding of what we do as performing musicians, both by getting to know us and by learning about the music.”
The evening will feature music from contemporary composers, including Kevin Puts’ “Aria for Violin & Piano,” William Bolcom’s “Graceful Ghost Rag” and Aaron Jay Kernis’ “Air.” The second half of the performance will feature “Sonata for Violin and Piano” by Richard Strauss.
In addition to her position as concertmaster for the West Michigan Symphony, Walvoord is a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and has performed with the Holland Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician, she performs regularly with her husband.
A graduate of Julliard and prize-winning pianist, Le began teaching and performing professionally at a young age. His musical accolades are many, including a first-place win of the 2004 Hilton Head International Piano competition.
The couple, who live in Holland, serve as artistic directors of the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck and each have their own recording careers. They are known for their energetic and dynamically engaging performances and fresh and witty commentary on the music they choose to present. Their charismatic stage chemistry has taken them to venues all across the nation.
Tickets are $28 and up and available at the West Michigan Symphony ticket office: 231.726.3231 ext. 223; online at www.westmichigansymphony.org; or in person at 360 W. Western Ave. in Muskegon.
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