Welcome to our 38th Season
Posted November 12, 2023
We’d like to take this opportunity to catch you up on what Ars Nova has been up to so far this season. We opened with a wonderful and celebratory Gala – EARTH SONGS – on September 10 at Lone Hawk Farm. We’ve had a few Galas there and we love the venue; it is a great combination of rustic and elegant and perfectly fits the adventurous vibe we try to create. As always, we present a concert along with the party, and this year we featured a new work by the illustrious Boulder composer Bill Douglas.
Early in his career, Bill was a professional bassoonist, and he did justice to his instrument – four times over! – in his composition Earth Songs for choir and bassoon quartet, featuring the Boulder Bassoon Quartet. The evening was hosted by the inimitable Mrs. Eda Bagel, who added fun and flair to the whole event. It was a great way to open our season, and the fundraiser element certainly set us off on the right foot, with generous support from all of our attendees.
On October 24 we hosted the amazing British a cappella vocal quintet, Apollo5, in HAVEN at Central Presbyterian in Denver. We are so thrilled to continue our connection with the Voces8 Foundation through this concert; as part of the Voces8 Foundation, Apollo5 works alongside Voces8 and founder Paul Smith to deliver a transformative program of workshops, masterclasses, and concerts in the UK, Europe, the USA, and Asia. Earlier in the day of the concert, the members of Apollo5 worked with over 300 local high school students in a vocal workshop at Monarch High School. It was so great to see how engaged and excited the students were, and all the feedback we’ve received has been wonderfully positive.
On November 5 we hosted a House Concert with one of Boulder’s star performers – pianist David Korevaar. Our friends Susan Olenwine and Frank Palermo very generously opened their lovely home to us for this intimate concert/fundraiser. David played a program that included two Beethoven sonatas, and he shared with us that he is beginning a project to record all of the Beethoven sonatas. It was a treat to get a preview of this project in such a special setting.
And now the winter holidays are upon us. Ars Nova is preparing our EVERGREEN concerts, which we’ll present four times between December 9 and 15. In this winter solstice celebration, you’ll hear music from the Renaissance to the 21st century, including vibrant new arrangements of beloved carols. We’re excited to welcome cellist Charles Lee (Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Ballet) as our guest artist, and we look forward to sharing the joy of the holiday season with you!
Stay tuned for more information as our season unfolds. We look forward to sharing our music with you!