MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

January 20, 2004

Kids Fare Season Opens Jan. 24

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The five remaining Kids Fare concerts for the 2003-04 season at Northwestern University will introduce youngsters to unique percussion devices, Latin American music, Celtic culture, keyboard instruments, and a century of dance styles and music.

The annual concert series for children aged 3 to 8 and their families is intended to awaken children’s creativity and provide the tools for enjoying, understanding and making music.

Led by Northwestern faculty members and guest artists, the one-hour programs are an ideal way for children to learn about artists and the arts in a comfortable and fun setting. Each interactive program will engage children’s imaginations and enhance their understanding of music through song, guided listening experiences and creative movement.

All of the following Saturday Kids Fare programs will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus.

• The Jan. 24 “Boom! Bop! Clang! concert will feature music faculty member Paul Wertico, seven-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist and longtime drummer with the Pat Metheny Group, and the Chicago Percussion All-Stars. The group will perform music from Africa, India and North and South America. The featured instruments will be exotic drums, body percussion and drum battles.

• CNN correspondent and National Public Radio (NPR) host Maria Hinojosa will host the

Feb. 14 Kids Fare concert “Salsa, Merengue, Y Cha Cha Cha.” The inspirational and entertaining children’s music program will celebrate Latin American music, instruments and performers.

• The March 13 Kids Fare program “Songs and Music O’ The Irish” will focus on Celtic culture through its dances, music, songs and stories. Singers, step dancers and instrumental virtuosos will perform with traditional Celtic fiddles, accordions, bodhrans, penny whistles and uilleann pipes.

•Keyboard instruments will be explored during the April 10 “All Keyed Up” Kids Fare concert. Youngsters will discover what the piano, organ, harpsichord, accordion, celeste and synthesizer have in common. The concert will feature an array of musical styles, from classical to jazz and more.

• The May 29 “Rhythm Shoes and Dancing Fools” program will be the final Kids Fare concert of the 2003-04 season. It will highlight a century of dance styles and music -- from ballet and the Charleston to fraternity stepping and high kicking.

Single tickets to each of the concerts are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $3 for children. To order tickets by phone, call the Pick-Staiger ticket office at (847) 467-4000