St. Philip’s Day

St Philip croppedSt. Philip’s will celebrate our patron saint on Sunday, May 1. First Sunday Music at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services will be Missa Gaia (“Earth Mass”) by Paul Winter, presented by St. Philip’s adult choirs with an unusual assortment of instruments. This work is in the genre of New Age/Jazz, which incorporates traditional mass texts as well as English texts — needless to say, it will be very different from our usual First Sunday Music repertoire! Attendees should plan to arrive about 10 minutes before the listed service time so as not to miss any of the music.

The idea of sharing this work came from the ongoing effort to underscore our role as stewards of the earth’s resources. Parishioner Susan Erickson said: “April 22 was Earth Day, and we are celebrating it just a little late. As we listen to this beautiful combination of voices, instruments, and sounds from nature, it will be difficult to imagine a world without nature, without wilderness, without clean air and water. Would you like to explore how, as Christians, we can protect God’s creation? The Green Team at St. Philip’s is seeking to get back on its feet. There are many ‘green issues’ to explore, both small- and large-scale. Get inspired by First Sunday music, and help shape a new environmental ministry at St. Philip’s! For more information, contact Susan Erickson.”

Music Ministry is hoping to highlight this worthy cause through our music — be prepared for some wolf and humpback whale noises on St. Philip’s Day!

st p day fiestaThe celebration continues with festivities in the Plaza. Sometimes it is good to rediscover yourself, and on St. Philip’s Day, all are invited to do just that. Come enjoy a cookout, fun, fellowship, and games as we come together and take the time to be with each other as the community of St. Philip’s In The Hills Parish. Everyone is welcome at this wonderful event. ($10 person / $25 family)

 

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J2A Youth Group Rummage Sale

rummage sale 4St. Philip’s J2A (Journey to Adulthood) youth group invites you to a rummage sale on Saturday, April 23, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Treasures galore will be found in the Children’s Center Courtyard, near the north parking lot. Cool stuff in all sizes and price ranges will be available— furniture, household items, decorative accessories, clothes, kids’ toys/games, small appliances, sporting goods, bikes, kitchen items, pottery/china, artwork, books, luggage, and much more! Proceeds from the rummage sale go to support the J2A Pilgrimage in summer 2017.

Cash only will be accepted at the rummage sale. Don’t miss it!

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or under our solar structure on the east side. The office phone number is 299-6421.

rummage sale 3

Friends of Music Concert: Roth-Buchholz-Gibson Trio

R-B-G Trio

Theodore Buchholz, Tannis Gibson, Lauren Roth

On Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Church, St. Philip’s Friends of Music presents the Roth-Buchholz-Gibson Trio.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Lauren Rustad Roth, TSO cellist Theodore Buchholz, and pianist Tannis Gibson complete this powerhouse ensemble presenting virtuosic chamber music for violin, cello, and piano. Works include a wide-ranging program featuring the powerfully expressive trios by Shostakovich and Dvořák plus the enchanting Fantasy Pieces by Schumann.

The suggested concert admission is $20 per person ($10 for students). The mission of Friends of Music is to enrich the musical experience of the parish and community through events such as concerts, outreach, education, scholarships, commissions, and support of special musical events. For more information see http://www.friendsofmusictucson.org.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or under our solar parking structure on the east side. The Friends of Music phone number is (520) 222-7277.

 

Additional Information:

Lauren Rustad Roth is concertmaster of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and was named Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Arizona in 2013. Before these positions, she was concertmaster of the Canton Symphony. In May 2013, Ms. Roth earned a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of William Preucil, concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra. She was a member of the Cleveland Pops orchestra and a substitute with The Cleveland Orchestra. A native of Seattle, Ms. Roth received a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian studies from the University of Washington. During that time, she served as Concertmaster of the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, Thalia Symphony, Marrowstone Festival Orchestra, and the UW Symphony. Ms. Roth has appeared as soloist with the Bremerton Symphony, Thalia Symphony, Canton Symphony and the Tucson Symphony. In 2013 she attended the Tanglewood Music Center and received the Jules C. Reiner Violin Prize. An avid teacher and chamber musician, Ms. Roth was an adjunct faculty member at Holy Names Academy in Seattle from 2006-2010.

Cellist Theodore Buchholz has been lauded by newspaper critics as a “Virtuosic cellist,” an “Outstanding performer,” and a “Wonderful musician.” Debuting in New York’s Merkin Hall, he has appeared as a recitalist and chamber musician at important venues including the Spoleto Festival USA, in New York, New Jersey, California, Idaho, Phoenix, Portland, and as a faculty collaborative artist. Dr. Buchholz served as a professional orchestral musician for 10 years in positions that included Principal Cellist of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Associate Principal Cellist of the Stockton Symphony, and in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated in chamber performances with members of the Audubon, Escher, and New World Quartets, and with members of the Cleveland, Metropolitan Opera, Minnesota, New World, San Francisco, and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. Dr. Buchholz studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Arizona. Dr. Buchholz was on the faculty at Pima College for four years. He currently serves as President of the American String Teachers Association of Arizona, is the Director of the Tucson Cello Congress, and is Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Arizona. This summer he will be performing and teaching at the prestigious Killington Music Festival in Vermont.

Canadian-born pianist Tannis Gibson enjoys a career covering a wide range of solo and chamber music performances. Her playing has been described as “luminous” (Boston Globe) and “thoroughly captivating” (Washington Post) and Fanfare Magazine recently applauded her “powerhouse pianism.” She has appeared in major North American venues including Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall; and the Kennedy Center, Corcoran Gallery, National Gallery Series, Phillips Collection Series (Washington, D.C.). She has also appeared at major venues in London, Paris, Boston, San Francisco, St. Louis and Los Angeles. As a dedicated and award-winning teacher, Ms. Gibson works with a dynamic group of international and domestic students. Her students are top prizewinners in international, national and local competitions and have appeared in concert venues such as the Dame Myra Hess Series in Chicago and Weill Recital Hall. Ms. Gibson has presented masterclasses at arts institutions in Canada, Chile, Bahamas, Korea and throughout the U.S. In recent years she has enjoyed guest-teaching at the leading conservatories of China: Shanghai Conservatory, Shanghai Middle School Conservatory, Beijing Central Conservatory, and China Conservatory. Ms. Gibson is Professor of Music and Coordinator of the Keyboard Area at the University of Arizona in Tucson where she teaches studio piano and coaches chamber music. A Distinguished Visiting Artist at Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles from 2011-2014, she has held numerous residences in the U.S. These included the position of Artist-in-Residence at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Rife Family Quartet Featured in Friends of Music Concert

Rife Family QuartetOn Sunday, April 10, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in the Church, St. Philip’s Friends of Music presents the Rife Family Quartet.

The Rife family has anchored Tucson’s musical scene for more than 30 years. Join David, Wynne, Melissa, Molly, and family friends Ann Weaver and Mary Beth Tyndall for a rare collaboration whose program will include an afternoon of chamber music favorites comprising works of Haydn, Boccherini, Beethoven and Schubert.

The suggested concert admission is $20 per person. The mission of Friends of Music is to enrich the musical experience of the parish and community through events such as concerts, outreach, education, scholarships, commissions, and support of special musical events. Click here for more information.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or under the solar parking structure to the east. The Friends of Music phone number is (520) 222-7277.

Additional Information:

David Rife, a native of South Carolina, received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has studied with Donald Weilerstein, Mazuko Ushioda, Jerry Lucktenburg, and members of the Cleveland Quartet. David moved to Tucson in 1983 to join the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and was its Assistant Concertmaster until 2014. David began studying the piano at age 6, and began playing the violin and trombone at 13. David is a dedicated violin teacher and first violinist of the Southwest String Quartet. In 2005 he was awarded the Outstanding String Teacher in Arizona by the American String Teachers Association. His students have won local and statewide competitions and currently attend top music schools throughout the country. David was inducted into the Tucson Musicians Museum in 2012.

Wynne Wong-Rife is a native of Tucson, where she attended Brichta Elementary, Roskruge Junior High and Cholla High School. She was a member of her public school orchestras from fifth grade through high school, and played in Tucson Junior Strings and Tucson Youth Symphony. Wynne is also a dedicated teacher and loves helping people of all ages learn to play and love the violin. She is the second violinist in the TSO String Quartet/Quintet and the Southwest String Quartet. Wynne and David met at the Eastman School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance with Distinction. They became engaged when students at Eastman, but Wynne wouldn’t walk down the aisle with David until she had her master’s degree and at least the prospect of a job. Both attended the New England Conservatory and earned their master’s, then married in 1983.

In addition to playing in the TSO, TSO String Quartet/Quintet and Southwest String Quartet, David and Wynne are on the faculty of Chamber Music in the Mountains (Tucson) and Rocky Ridge Music Center (Estes Park, CO).

David and Wynne have two daughters, Melissa and Molly, who are cellists. Both have attended Interlochen, were members of the Tucson Junior Strings and Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra, and have been winners in the TSO’s Young Artist Competition and other local competitions.

Molly Rife lives in Chicago, where she is a member of the 42nd Parallel Ensemble, performs with the Clark St. Quartet and teaches private cello lessons. As a founding member of the Clark St. Quartet, Molly enjoys playing and performing chamber music. She has worked with the Brentano, Orion, St. Lawrence and Tokyo String Quartets. Other chamber music coaches include Stephen Balderston, Nancy Buck, Andrew Campbell, Julian Hersh, Danwen Jiang, Thomas Landschoot, Russell Ryan, Lenny Schranze, Rami Solomonow and Janet Sung. She began playing the cello at age 11 and made her solo debut in April 2007 when she performed as soloist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra after winning the Gold Medal for the TSO Artists Competition. She has also performed as soloist with the Tucson Pops Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Tucson, and the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra. Molly recently graduated from DePaul University with a Master of Music degree in cello performance, where she studied with Stephen Balderston. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance, magna cum laude, from Arizona State University.

Melissa Rife received a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2008, with further studies towards a Master of Music degree at Arizona State University. Her experience includes performing aboard Celebrity Cruise Lines with the Marks String Quartet. Melissa is a founding member of The Tandem Duo, and also plays with the Aracelli Strings of Tucson.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Ann Weaver began her musical studies at age 6 with her parents, both of whom were then members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She began her college studies at Arizona State University, then completed her Bachelor of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she was given the Annual Viola Award for Outstanding Achievement. She earned her Master of Music Performance at Rice University, where she graduated with honors. Her teachers include William Magers, James Van Valkenburg, Heidi Castleman, Wayne Brooks (principal violist of the Houston Symphony), and Roberto Diaz (principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra). Her chamber music coaches have included Anne Epperson and members of the Juilliard, Guarneri, and Cleveland string quartets.

Mary Beth Tyndall has been a member of the Tucson Symphony since 1980.  She
 is also a member of the Southwest String Quartet and the Rocky Ridge Music
Center summer faculty.  An enthusiastic private teacher, she was recently
named the 2016-2017 outstanding studio teacher for the state of Arizona by
the American String Teacher’s Association.  She is honored to play
alongside the Rifes and she is particularly thrilled to play the Schubert
Quintet with Molly Rife, one of her best and most memorable former students.

Holy Week and Easter at St. Philip’s

St. Philip’s has seven services on Easter Day: 6 a.m. (in the Columbarium garden), 7:45 a.m., two at 9:15 a.m. (one in the Church, one in the Children’s Center Courtyard), 11:15 a.m., 4 p.m. (“Come and See” in the Music Center), and 5:30 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter, at 7 p.m. on Holy Saturday evening, is considered the first Easter service. There is at least one service each day during the days of Holy Week. For more information see below. For a downloadable schedule, click here.

Easter Services

great vigil 1The Great Vigil of Easter is held on Holy Saturday, March 26, at 7 p.m. The service begins with the Service of Light (lighting the New Fire and Paschal Candle and candlelit procession, with incense), the Vigil recounting the history of our salvation (through readings and chanting), Holy Baptism, and the first Holy Eucharist of Easter. The service will be followed by a potluck reception: participants are invited to bring their favorite sparkling beverage and chocolate finger food, in addition to noisemakers for the Easter Proclamation.

CIMG0559Easter Day, March 27, will begin at St. Philip’s with a sunrise service at 6 a.m., including hymns, with keyboard and trumpet (held in the Columbarium Garden). At 7:45, there will be a Festival Eucharist Rite I (Eucharist in traditional language), including hymns, with organ and trumpet. At 9:15 there will be two services: an All Generations Eucharist and Baptism outside (in the Children’s Center Courtyard) with the St. Nicholas and Cherub Choirs, handbells, and brass, designed for schoolage children and their families, and a Festival Choral Eucharist Rite II (using more modern language, adopted in 1979) in the Church with adult choirs, handbells, and brass. Another Festival Choral Eucharist Rite II, including incense, will take place at 11:15 a.m., again featuring adult choirs and brass. At 4 p.m. there will be a “Come and See” Eucharist for those who are looking for a reinterpretation of traditional theology. At 5:30 p.m. there is an Evening Eucharist Rite II with hymns.

Holy Week Services

holy week cross 2On Monday of Holy Week, March 21, there is a Holy Eucharist Rite II service at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel of the Nativity. At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, there is a Holy Eucharist Rite II and Healing service. On Wednesday, March 23, the final Lenten noontime Holy Eucharist Rite II will take place at 12:15 p.m.

The Ancient Office of Tenebrae, on Wednesday evening, March 23, at 7 p.m., is a moving descent into the darkest days of the church year. The liturgy is a merger of the traditional Matins and Lauds, with plainchant led by the Canterbury Choir and Canterbury Apprentices. During the service all of the lights in the church are progressively extinguished except one candle.

20130328_193514The Triduum, or “three sacred days,” begins on Maundy Thursday through Holy Saturday. The Liturgy of Maundy Thursday, March 24, begins with a supper at 6 p.m. Enjoy lasagna, salad, rolls, and dessert, hosted by St. Philip’s Vestry. The liturgy, at 7 p.m. in the Church, includes the traditional footwashing, Eucharist, and Stripping of the Altar, which symbolizes the laying of Jesus in the tomb. Music will include plainchant.

candles

After the Maundy Thursday service, beginning at 9 p.m. and continuing until 10 a.m. on Friday, March 25, Dante’s Inferno will be read the way the author intended. Each 30-minute segment of the all-night vigil in the Church will include reading of selected cantos from the Inferno, silent meditation, and atmospheric music. Participants may arrive and leave throughout the night. Security will be on site all night.

empty tabernacleIt is traditional to have a noontime service on Good Friday, to correspond with the time Jesus’ suffering on the cross began. The noon Good Friday service at St. Philip’s, on March 25, includes veneration of the cross, the Solemn Collects, and communion from sacrament reserved at the Maundy Thursday service.

The Children’s Way of the Cross takes place on Good Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Children’s Center. The Way (or “Stations”) of the Cross is a devotional service of prayer and meditation dating from the early centuries of the Church, with stations representing stops on Jesus’ route to Calvary. This will enable children to experience Good Friday in a way that will better enable them to live humble, sacrificial, joyful lives in the Lord’s service.

At 7 p.m. on March 25, a choral ensemble, soloists, and instruments will present the 17th Century work Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz (The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ from the Cross) by Heinrich Schütz. Each section of this oratorio focuses on one of the phrases uttered by Jesus from the cross, as recorded in the Gospels.

The public is cordially invited to attend. St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church is located at the northeast corner of River Road and Campbell Avenue (4440 N. Campbell). Ample parking is provided in the north parking lot or under the solar structure on the east side. It is a good idea not to leave valuables in plain sight in your car during Easter services. The office phone is 299-6421.

Bach Marathon

bach marathon flierOn Saturday, March 5, 2016, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Church, St. Philip’s Friends of Music presents the 25th Annual Bach Marathon, a celebration of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The 10:00 a.m. concert features University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music international touring performers — UA Musicians on Tour —performing Bach in some unusual combos, such as a bassoon quartet and a saxophone quartet, in addition to the more usual voice, strings, harpsichord, piano, organ, and oboe. Their programs will highlight not only music by J.S. Bach but also transcriptions of music by his contemporaries and other musicians that Bach influenced. These gifted musicians will articulate the immense diversity, texture and influence of the master with a variety of instruments, repertoire, and style.

The morning concert is followed by a “Bach’s lunch” — a box lunch for a modest fee available to order at the door prior to the morning performances. Join fellow concertgoers, friends and family for a light repast and stimulating conversation about the performances.

biggersContinuing at 2:00 p.m., acclaimed organist Jonathan Biggers will perform on the 1986 Holtkamp Organ Bach’s Sinfonia from Cantata 29; Two Chorale-Preludes: Allein Gott in der Höh sei ehr (“All Glory be to God on high”), BWV 662 and Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (“Out of the depths I cry unto Thee”), BWV 686; Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C-major, BWV 564; concluding with Prelude and Fugue in E-major, BWV 566. Hailed by NPR as “one of the most outstanding concert organists in the United States,” Jonathan Biggers maintains an active career as both a professor of organ and harpsichord, and as a concert recitalist of the first order. He holds the prestigious Edwin Link Endowed Professorship in Organ and Harpsichord at Binghamton University (State University of New York) and has presented hundreds of concerts in music halls, church and university settings throughout the U.S.A., Canada, and Europe. He will bring incomparable flair, style and energy to the organ music of Bach.

The concert admission is $25 per person for either the morning session only or the afternoon session only; $40 for both; $10 Bach’s lunch on sale at the door prior to the morning performances. Student admission is $10 for both morning and afternoon sessions.

The mission of Friends of Music is to enrich the musical experience of the parish and community through events such as concerts, outreach, education, scholarships, commissions, and support of special musical events. Click here for more information or call 520.222.7277.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or under our solar parking structure on the east side. The Friends of Music phone number is (520) 222-7277.

 

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

UA Musicians on Tour is an outreach program sponsored by the Fred Fox School of Music that presents music majors in a variety of performance venues throughout corners of the Southwest. Students participate in organized tours, on concert series, for schools, and in a variety of community settings. The School believes that the hands-on experience gained through performance out in the real-world and through student interaction with presenters, teachers and diverse audiences is essential to the musical education of its students.

 

Jonathan Biggers, hailed by NPR as “one of the most outstanding concert organists in the United States,” maintains an active career as both a professor of organ and harpsichord, and as a concert organist of the first order. He holds the Edwin Link Endowed Professorship in Organ and Harpsichord at Binghamton University (State University of New York), and has presented hundreds of concerts in concert hall, church and university settings throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, including solo and concerto performances for several regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, including the opening solo concert for the 2010 AGO convention held in Washington D.C. He has appeared as a featured soloist with orchestras in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including performances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and has been featured frequently on NPR (“Pipedreams”), the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, and on Radio and Television Suisse Romande broadcasts in Geneva, Switzerland. Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News, writes that Biggers’ performances demonstrate “authority and eloquence,” and adds: “were there more performers like this, the organ would be far less a minority interest.”

Ash Wednesday and Lent at St. Philip’s

ashes3 croppedSt. Philip’s offers four services on Ash Wednesday, February 10. At 7:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist Rite I and Imposition of Ashes; at noon, Holy Eucharist Rite II and Imposition of Ashes; at 5:30 p.m., All-Generations Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes, and at 7 p.m., Sung Eucharist Rite II and Imposition of Ashes.

In addition, the “Ash Mob” from St. Philip’s will be administering “Ashes To Go” at various locations around town: Raging Sage Coffee House on Campbell (8–10 a.m.), Northwest YMCA (9–11 a.m.), Starbucks at Campbell & River (10–11:30 a.m.), the River Walk at Campbell & River on the south side of the river (10–11:30 a.m.).

Ash Wednesday is preceded by the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 9, at 6 p.m. in the Murphey Gallery. The tradition of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday comes from the need to use up such ingredients as sugar, fat, and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the ritual fasting associated with Lent (“Mardi Gras” is French for “fat Tuesday”). Proceeds from this fun night of fellowship and yummy food ($7 person/$20 family) prepared by the J2A youth and parents go toward the J2A pilgrimage. At 7 p.m. we will transition from Epiphany to Lent with the Burning of the Palms in the Fishpond Garden.

On Wednesdays during Lent, the J2A youth and their parents host Lenten Soup Suppers at 6 p.m. in the Murphey Gallery. Hearty, homemade soups (including a vegetarian option each week), bread, salad and dessert ($7 person/$20 family). Why cook when you can support the J2A pilgrimage, share a Lenten tradition, and enjoy fellowship over a delicious bowl of homemade soup at the same time?

At 6:45 p.m., the Rev. Canon Ted Holt leads an evening class. He invites you to explore sin, evil, and guilt as realities that have affected us all ever since the mythical days of Adam and Eve and that Slippery Serpent. Weaving Biblical, theological, and psychological ways of viewing the themes of sin, evil, and guilt, he will do so in a way that will likely be quite new to you, and along the way expand your understanding of how each functions (as well as malfunctions) in your life and the lives of those around you. The class will end with Close of Day Worship at 7:30 p.m.

Miranda Agnew, trumpetOn Thursdays during Lent, Friends of Music presents noontime recitals beginning at 12:15 p.m. Entitled “Rising Stars in the Next Musical Generation,” the series showcases young high achievers in the Tucson area who will dazzle with their professional polish, maturity and technical prowess. Listen to the newest generation of musicians as they ascend to the professional stage — an entertaining and relaxing way to spend your lunch hour. All concerts are held in the Bloom Music Center. Suggested admission is $10. The series begins on Thursday, February 11, with trumpeter Miranda Agnew performing contemporary classical works. Click here to read more about the series.

rob voyleOn Saturday, February 27, St. Philip’s offers a special Lenten Retreat Day: entitled “Discover Your Purpose” with the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle. Click here to read more about this offering and to register.

Click here for a schedule of Lenten services, classes, recitals, and other events.

Thursday Noontime Recital Series

St. Philip’s Friends of Music presents noontime recitals during Lent on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. beginning February 11, 2016 in the Bloom Music Center. Entitled Rising Stars in the Next Musical Generation, young high achievers in the Tucson area will dazzle with their professional polish, maturity and technical prowess. St. Philip’s Friends of Music proudly showcases the newest generation of musicians. Listen to them as they ascend to the professional stage — an entertaining and relaxing way to spend your lunch hour.

Miranda Agnew, trumpetThe series begins on Thursday, February 11 with Sound the Trumpet: Miranda Agnew, trumpet. A participant in the Arizona All State Concert Band for the past two years, Miranda is a member of the Tucson Jazz Institute’s award-winning Ellington Band, selected for the Essentially Ellington competition in New York City in 2015 where she received special honors. In this concert of contemporary classical music, Miranda will play works by Stevens, Arutunian and Tchaikovsky.

 

Grace Sheppard, guitarOn Thursday, February 18, Guitar Masterpieces: Grace Sheppard, guitar. With international competition acclaim and her own YouTube channel, Grace Sheppard is unsurpassed as an “under 18” soloist and chamber music ensemble performer for guitars and harp. Grace’s program includes works from Rodrigo, Brouwer and Barrios.

 

 

Daniel Rosenberg, baritoneOn Thursday, February 25, The Life of the Wanderer: Daniel Rosenberg, baritone. Daniel Rosenberg began his career as a treble in the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. He’s had national first place vocal recognition for four years running, plus Best Actor at the National Musical Theater Awards places Daniel in stratospheric musical territory.

 

 

Carissa Powe, violinOn Thursday, March 3, Voice of the Violin: Carissa Powe, violin. Hailed by the Arizona Daily Star for her “warm, rich tone,” at age 16 Carissa Powe is a rising talent not to be missed. Current concertmistress of the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra, Carissa takes top prizes in local competitions and has been showcased in performances with several regional orchestras, including the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

 

Cameron Williams, pianoOn Thursday, March 10, 10 Fingers, 88 Keys: Cameron Williams, piano. In only seven years Cameron Williams has become a rising constellation. In addition to winning Tucson Young Composers competitions, his latest public acclaim was performing Saint Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in 2014. Cameron Williams brings breathtaking interpretive technique and expression to this memorable concert.

Claire Thai, harpThe series concludes on Thursday, March 17 with Glissando! Claire Thai, harp. Internationally recognized harpist Claire Thai fell in love with the harp when she was 2, began lessons at age 5 and never looked back. She has won acclaim locally, nationally and internationally through competitions as one of the most accomplished high school harpists in the U.S.A. She will delight us with virtuosity and her personal musical portrayals of harp repertoire gems.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot. All concerts are held in the Bloom Music Center which is just south down the breezeway from the north parking lot. Suggested admission is $10 to St. Philip’s Friends of Music. Friends of Music provides support to the music program at St. Philip’s, through sponsoring concerts, special musical events, commissions, scholarships, and community outreach programs. For more information click here or call (520) 222-7277.

Lenten Retreat Day: Discover Your Purpose

Listen to the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle talk about his program.

dod for lentSt. Philip’s is sponsoring a special Lenten retreat day entitled “Discover Your Purpose,” led by the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle, on Saturday, February 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here is your opportunity to have your own personal “Day of Discovery,” to look at your own future using the same Appreciative Inquiry process we used at the Parish Day of Discovery last fall. Learn how what you love to do is your spiritual fingerprint; do an Appreciative Inquiry into your own life and discover yourself at your best; discern, from you at your best doing what you love, your core God-given purpose for rob voylebeing. The Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle is a leader in the development and use of appreciative coaching. Rob will enhance your ability to delight in yourself, your neighbor, and God through his insightful, practical, loving, professionally grounded, appreciative, and often mischievous coaching and teaching skills. No charge; lunch included. To register click here, or call 299-6421 and give your information to the receptionist.

To learn more about the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle, click here.

Note: this is a separate event from the in-service training for Southern Arizona clergy and other professionals entitled “Teach Them How to Forgive.” For information about that event and to register, click here.

Friends of Music Presents the Bolton Guitar Quartet

Processed with Rookie Cam

Nicholas Epple, Grace Sheppard, Bin Hu, Misael Barraza Díaz

On Sunday, January 31, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in the Church, St. Philip’s Friends of Music presents the Bolton Guitar Quartet.

Presenting a showcase of musical treasures from the traditional Spanish repertoire for guitar, this concert features four competition winners studying under University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music Professor Tom Patterson: Misael Barraza (Mexico), Nicholas Epple (South Korea), Bin Hu (China), and Grace Sheppard (U.S.A.). Not only will the audience listen to artists from different parts of the world playing as one; this thrilling debut performance offers a combination of ensemble settings.

The suggested concert admission is $20 per person. The mission of Friends of Music is to enrich the musical experience of the parish and community through events such as concerts, outreach, education, scholarships, commissions, and support of special musical events. For more information click here.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue at River Road. Ample parking is available in the north parking lot or under our solar parking structure on the east side. The Friends of Music phone number is (520) 222-7277.

Additional Information:
Misael Barraza is one of the most talented Mexican guitarists of his generation. Born in Hermosillo, Mexico, in 1990, Misael began his guitar studies at age eleven; and one year later was invited to join the classical guitar ensemble “Staccato” at the University of Sonora, with whom he recorded a CD in 2005 entitled “Aire Latino.” In 2008, Misael was accepted at the University of Arizona to study classical guitar performance with Professor Thomas Patterson.

Misael graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Master Guitarra Alicante, where he studied with world renowned musicians such as David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Ignacio Rodes, Paul O’dette, Hopkinson Smith, Fabio Zanon, Roberto Aussell, and Shin Ishi Fukuda. Misael holds both a Master’s degree from the Master Guitarra Alicante (Spain) and a second Master’s degree from the University of Arizona (U.S.). Misael was presented as the guest guitarist in the “Gala Importantes” in Alicante, Spain — an annual event attended by the most important figures in Spain. Misael was also the featured solo guitarist for the World Premiere of “Passionately, Piazzolla!” — a collaboration between Tucson Desert Song Festival, Ballet Tucson and the Tucson Guitar Society. Misael has been awarded first place at numerous international and local competitions, most recently first place at the “David Russell Bach Prize”, the “Indiana International Guitar Competition”, and the “Montreal International Guitar Competition.” In March 2015, he was awarded second place at the Culiacán International Guitar Competition, the largest guitar competition in México. Misael is pursuing his Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Arizona.

Nicholas Epple, born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Bozeman Montana, has played music since the age of 5 when he began learning the violin.  He was self-taught on the guitar until receiving formal training during his Bachelor’s degree at Montana State University, graduating with highest honors, studying both classical guitar and violin.  During his time at MSU, Nicholas studied under Michael Videon (guitar), and Angella Ahn (violin), of the internationally renowned Ahn Trio.  In 2010, Nicholas spent the summer in Siena, Italy, where he studied the guitar with Dario Vannini.  Nicholas was awarded his Master’s in Guitar Performance from the University of Arizona in the spring of 2015, studying under Tom Patterson and artists in residency, David Russell, Odair Assad, and Sergio Assad.  He has continued his studies in this program currently pursuing his DMA.  This last summer, Nicholas was awarded a scholarship to study in Volterra, Italy with Antigoni Goni and Rene Izuierdo.  Nicholas has been a finalist in the David Russell Bach Prize and the Douglas Sholin memorial competition.  Nicholas has taken master classes from Christopher Parkening, Paul O’Dette, Denis Azabagic, Pavel Steidl, and Judicaël Perroy.

Bin Hu was born in 1987 in Tianjin, a city near Beijing in China. He began his guitar study under Zhiwei Li and Jiajiong Li, who are, among others, the leading guitar educators in China. In 2005, he was admitted to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre for his bachelor studies. Since then, he started his 10-year experiences studying abroad. During that time, he has visited 9 European countries and the United States — attending master classes with world renown guitarists such as David Russell, Sergio Assad, Leo Brouwer, Manuel Barrueco, Ricardo Gallén, Timo Korhonen and Thomas Müller-Pering. In 2002, he completed his Master Degree at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg under Professor Marco Tamayo with the best grade.

Bin has been awarded a great number of top prizes in various guitar competitions around the world, including 2nd prize in the VII Guitar Competition of Nordic Countries and Baltic Academies, 3rd prize in the IV Annual Indiana International Guitar Festival and Competition, 2nd prize in the 2014 Sholin Memorial Guitar Competition and 1st prize in the Tucson Flamenco Festival VI Guitar Competition. He was also selected as one of the finalists in the First David Russell Bach Prize. His exquisite performing style and flawless technique have earned him the highest praise from audience and critics. “Hu played with a commanding technique and stoicism, captivating the audience with his pensive interpretations. Hu managed to convey a meditative aura underscored with shades and hints of tastefully applied power and delicacy.” — a concert review by Adam Brown from Indiana University.

As one of the most active guitarists of his generation in China, his performances have taken him throughout Europe, the United States and China. He was featured as soloist in various symphony orchestras and collaborated with conductors such as Jorma Panula. With the Pärnu City Symphony Orchestra (Estonia), he gave the world premiere of the guitar concerto Dos mundos written by Spanish composer Jorge Rodriguez-Caballero in 2008. As chamber musician, he also works on the enlargement of repertoire by arranging works of other instruments. In 2013, his arrangement of the Ouverture de I Masnadieri by Giuseppe Verdi was recorded in a CD dedicated to Verdi’s 200 years anniversary.

Bin Hu is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the University of Arizona, where he also serves as the teaching assistant in Bolton Guitar Studies Program under Pofessor Thomas Patterson. He is invited regularly to perform at festivals, give master classes and judge guitar competitions. In 2014, he was selected by the GFA committee and featured in the GFA Regional Symposium Showcase Concert in Phoenix. As one of the pioneer classical guitar researchers in China nowadays, he has received numerous invitations around China to give lectures. In June 2015, he was invited to give a lecture at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Shandong International Forum of Classical Guitar Elites. His workshop “Baroque style and performance practice” aims on the comprehension of Baroque common performance practice and its influences on Classical Style. His 2015 concert tour in China took place in 9 cities and provinces. Several local music periodicals have written reviews on his activities.

Grace Sheppard began her study of the classical guitar at age 6. Grace has placed two years consecutively in the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition. Grace is distinguished by the fact that she is the only American female to win first place in the youth division. At the age of fourteen and in her very first guitar competition, Grace won the 2013 Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Division Competition, held in Louisville, Kentucky. The following year, she placed second as a fifteen year-old in the 15-18 year old division. This highly talented guitarist also took gold medals in the youth division of the 2013 and the 2014 annual Tucson Flamenco Festival.

Grace regularly performs at the Tucson Guitar Society’s “Guitar In The Woods” and at the University of Arizona’s Guitar Area Recitals. She has an active YouTube Channel, with over 100,000 views. Grace regularly contributes to the Tucson community with volunteer concerts for various local charities, nursing homes and for children autism programs.  In addition to solo classical guitar repertoire, Grace has performed chamber music works for multiple guitars and guitar and harp. She studies annually in master classes with acclaimed classical guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad, and David Russell. Grace currently studies with Professor Tom Patterson, Director of the Bolton Classical Guitar Studies Program at the University of Arizona. Grace is a sophomore at Catalina Foothills High School and also enjoys singing, drawing and being a big sister to triplet siblings.