Music Festival to kick off Labor Day weekend

Grand Canyon Music Festival presents its 24th season of chamber music - and more - with weekend and mid-week concerts at the Shrine of the Ages. This year's series begins on Labor Day weekend, with concerts on Sept. 1, 2, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15 and 16.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children six and up. Parents are asked not to bring children under six to the nightly performances, though the Tusayan Shindig on Sept. 16 is for all ages.

There is a discount for Grand Canyon and Tusayan residents, and season ticket rates are also available. Visit www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org or call 800-997-8285.

The program

Saturday, Sept. 1

7:30 p.m.

"Pictures at an Exhibition"

Trio Solisti - Maria Bachmann, violin; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Jon Klibonoff, piano.

Selections - Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Opus 87 (Brahms); Sonata No 3 "Dans le Populiare Roumanian" for violin and piano (Enescu); "Pictures at an Exhibition (Mussorgsky, arrangement by Trio Solisti)

Sunday, Sept. 2

7:30 p.m.

"Cafe Music"

Trio Solisti and Clare Hoffman

Selections - Piano Trio No. 2 in B minor, Opus 76 (Turina); "Cafe Music" (Paul Schoenfield); "Carmen Rhapsody" (Bizet); Four Seasons (Astor Piazzolla); Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 and 5 (Brahms, arrangement by Maria Bachmann)

Friday, Sept. 7

7:30 p.m.

"Wandering on the Plain"

The Calder Quartet - Benjamin Jacobson, violin; Andrew Bulbrook, violin; Jonathan Moerschel, viola; Eric Byers, cello

Selections - "Cadenza on the Night Plain" (Terry Riley); String Quartet No. 2, "Company" (Philip Glass); String Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D 804,"Rosamunde" (Schubert)

Saturday, Sept. 8

7:30 p.m.

"Reflection on 132"

The Calder Quartet

Selections - String Quartet #2 in A minor, Opus 13 (Mendelssohn); "Arcadiana" (Thomas Ades); String Quartet in A minor, Opus 132 (Beethoven)

Wednesday, Sept. 12

7:30 p.m.

The Bonfiglio Group

Robert Bonfiglio, harmonic; Joe Deninzon, violin, guitar, and mandolin; Chris Milletari, guitar

Friday, Sept. 14

Pre-Concert Recital, 6 p.m.

Pre-concert recital of Native American Composer Apprentice Project student works performed by Ethel, included in ticket price for that night's performance.

Performance, 7:30 p.m.

Ethel - Cornelius DuFallo, violin; Ralph Farris, viola; Dorothy Lawson, cello; Mary Rowell, violin

Saturday, Sept. 15

Pre-Concert Recital, 6 p.m.

Pre-concert recital of Native American Composer Apprentice Project student works performed by Ethel, included in ticket price for that night's performance.

Performance by Ethel

7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 3 p.m.

A Tusayan Shindig - a free, fun, informal community concert featuring the Bonfiglio Group at Tusayan's Canyon Plaza Quality Inn.

Robert Bonfiglio, harmonic; Joe Deninzon, violin, guitar and mandolin; Chris Milletari, guitar

Local students

This year, Grand Canyon students will take part in The School of Rock, with performances at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13 and at noon on Sept. 15.