Phillips Exeter Academy Hosts Gilbert Concert Series with Carnegie Hall Preview, Performed by Baritone Andrew Garland and Renowned Collaborative Pianist Warren Jones

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Phillips Exeter Academy opens its 2012–2013 Gilbert Concert Series with national operatic and stage performer Andrew Garland and pianist Warren Jones previewing a new and adventurous program headed to Carnegie Hall. The program, "The Quest: Don Quixote and Other Wanderers," is a recital with songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Franz Schubert, Maurice Ravel and Gabriela Lena Frank. The recital performance will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 7 p.m. inside Phillips Church, at Tan Lane and Front Street. The performance is free and open to the public.

Described by the San Francisco Classical Voice as having "a gorgeous, rich baritone voice," Garland is known for his uncanny theatrical instinct and his exhilarating performances. Jones, who has performed with such well-known artists as Stephanie Blythe, Denyce Graves and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, is described as "flawless" by The Boston Globe; "exquisite" by The New York Times; and The San Francisco Chronicle called him ". . . the single finest accompanist now working."

Opera Now magazine described Garland's vocals as: ". . . flexible, supple, light of timbre, and agreeable, the singing never less than polished. But his trump card is communication . . . the fine art of poetry in music has found a rare ambassador." He recently performed as Guglielmo in Opera Saratoga's production of Così Fan Tutte, and Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with both the Lyric Opera of San Antonio and the Annapolis Opera.

Best known for his highly communicative style of singing, Garland's musical range includes opera, concert and recital—bringing to each genre a powerful voice and sensitive delivery. His highlighted performances include the New York City, Boston Lyric and Seattle operas, the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Garland won the Jensen Foundation Annual Voice Competition, Washington International Music Competition, American Traditions Competition and National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) New England Competition, and was recently selected as a prize winner in the José Iturbi International Music Competition and the Montreal International Musical Competition.

Jones, a prominent music teacher, collaborative pianist and chamber musician, is a frequent guest artist at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has also performed at the Tanglewood, Ravinia and Caramoor festivals. Jones is a three-time White House invitee, honoring in concert the president of Russia and prime minister of Italy and premier of Canada. He is also a repeat guest artist performing for the U.S. Supreme Court justices and appeared with the Julliard String Quartet as a guest performer at the Library of Congress. Recently, Jones debuted with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performed with the New York Philharmonic; and he has participated regularly in the annual Marilyn Horne Foundation gala festivities, both as a performer and master class teacher.

A member of the faculty at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, Jones served for 10 years as assistant conductor at The Metropolitan Opera and for three seasons in the same capacity for the San Francisco Opera. He is a prominent musical jurist, having been a judge for the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation Awards.

See a short video of Andrew Garland's master class with students from a previous visit to campus:

Baritone Andrew Garland Leads a Master Class from Phillips Exeter Academy on Vimeo.

The Gilbert Concert Series is supported by the Jane and Clint Gilbert '47 Music Fund. Passionate advocates and lifelong lovers of music, the Gilberts established the fund in 1998 to enhance the study and performance of music at the Academy. The series brings concert artists of national and international distinction together with the students of Phillips Exeter Academy for performances, master classes, workshops and other learning experiences focused on musical excellence. The primary aim of the series is to inspire Exeter students, along with the Academy community, with an appreciation for musical accomplishment and the joy such musical understanding can bring.

For further information, email the Music Department's Concert Manager, Vanessa H. Holroyd or call Patrice Baker in the Music Department at 603-777-3453. For a complete list of upcoming musical and community events, please visit the Music Department's webpage and PEA Community Calendar. You may also call the PEA public events line at 603-777-4309, or visit the PEA website. Directions to the Academy are available at 603-777-4330.

Learn more about the Gilbert Concert Series ...