July 13, 2007

Chesapeake Orchestra Jeffrey Silberschlag, music director With Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center Violinist José Cueto

(St. Mary's City, MD) June 28, 2007-On Friday, July 13, music director Jeffrey Silberschlag and the Chesapeake Orchestra will be joined by violinist José Cueto, concertmaster of the Chesapeake Orchestra and renowned soloist, whose performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center have received rave reviews. The evening's performance includes Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream Overture," Stravinsky's orchestral showpiece, "Petrouchka," and a rediscovered violin concerto by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, not performed since Heifetz performed it in the 1940's. This spiritual work is based on Old Testament prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah. Details are on the River Concert Series Web site at www.riverconcertseries.com or call 240-895-2024. The free outdoor concerts overlook the St. Mary's River and begin at 7 p.m., but the grounds open at 5 p.m.

Cueto has performed as soloist in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Asia, and currently serves as artist-in residence and head of the strings department at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Born in Puerto Rico, Cueto graduated from the Pablo Casals Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. He was later awarded scholarships from the Institute of Culture of Puerto Rico and the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. Cueto has performed at the Kennedy Center, Washington Chamber Society, and Alba Music Festival in Italy. STRAD magazine called Cueto's Carnegie Hall performance at Weill Recital Hall, "grounded, confident, and superb in all particulars."

The Washington Post calls the River Concert Series, "a Southern Maryland answer to Wolf Trap." Come early and visit the many community vendors selling food, drinks, jewelry and more. Picnic baskets are welcome. Concert-goers are reminded that the College has designated smoking and non-smoking areas and that pets are not allowed on campus.

Also this week as part of the River Concert Series (RCS) Summer Events:

RCS On Location
River Series On Location brings world-class music into the community.

Wednesday, July 18: The Francis Bridge Jazz Quartet performs at noon on the Square in Leo-nardtown, Maryland.

Wednesdays - RCS Movies in Cole Cinema
The RCS hosts, free of charge, movies and music on Wednesday nights. Films are introduced by Robin Bates, SMCM professor of English. Each film is chosen to complement the music or theme of the Friday night concert.

July 18: "32 Short Films about Glenn Gould," a collection of vignettes about a brilliant pian-ist, will screen in St. Mary's Hall at 7 p.m. The film is followed by a special performance by pi-anist Brian Ganz, also in St. Mary's Hall.

Saturdays-RCS Cutting Edge
Fine food and fabulous music come to the shores of Solomons Island on "Cutting Edge" Satur-days.

July 21: Don Stapleson, saxophonist, performs at 7 p.m. at Vincenzo's Mediterranean Grill. The restaurant is located at 14415 Dowell Road at the Calvert Marina. Dowell Road is off of Route 2/4 in Calvert County.

The River Concert Series has become the cornerstone of growing arts activities at St. Mary's College and throughout St. Mary's County. St. Mary's College of Maryland is ranked one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Kiplinger's. With roots going back to 1840, SMCM is the state's only public honors college, of-fering the academic excellence of a top private college with the openness and affordability of public education.