April 26, 2007

Clarinetist Karl Leister among international artists to take the stage

New music masters and a number of renowned musicians and ensembles comprise the School of Music’s Spring 2007 guest artist season that runs through May 19.

Concerts will be held at various venues as noted below.

Internationally renowned clarinetist Karl Leister of Germany will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27 in Lutkin Hall. His program will include music by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Schumann.

An opera-themed master class, taught by renowned pianist John Wustman, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in Lutkin Hall. Wustman has taught master classes and performed throughout the world. He will coach Northwestern opera stars of tomorrow.

The JACK Quartet, one of the country’s top young string ensembles, will perform contemporary music at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in Regenstein Recital Hall, including the Chicago premiere of Helmut Lachenmann’s “Grido.” The ensemble members are violist John Pickford Richards, violinists Ari Streisfeld and Christopher Otto and cellist Kevin McFarland.

This season’s final Keyboard Conversations concert will feature Jeffrey Siegel discussing and performing music by Liszt. Siegel’s “Liszt — The Devil Made Me Do It!” program will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

One of Japan’s most dynamic guitarists, Shin-ichi Fukuda, will make his Chicago-area debut at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, in Lutkin Hall, during the final Segovia Classical Guitar Series of the season. The series is supported in part by the Chicago Classical Guitar Society.

Distinguished Canadian guest pianist Angela Cheng will perform works by Chopin, Prokofiev and Haydn at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in Lutkin Hall.

The School of Music’s annual Jazz Fest will feature Grammy-nominated composer and pianist Jim McNeely at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Northwestern’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band and a jazz combo will join McNeely on stage. McNeely and the student musicians will premiere his original work written specifically for the University’s Jazz Ensemble.

To order concert tickets, call (847) 467-4000. Tickets may also be purchased at www.pickstaiger.com.