Classical Music Concerts
Fischoff Soirée
1st Source Bank and Patron of the Arts Terry Trimmer are the proud presenters of the 2018 Fischoff Soirée to be held Friday, May 11, 2018, at 6pm in the Ruthmere Game Room.
Ruthmere is pleased to announce that the performing artists for the 2018 Ruthmere Fischoff Soirée will be the award-winning Vera Quartet. In 2017, the quartet was invited to participate in both the Robert Mann String Quartet Seminar and the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar in New York City, and was also one of five artists selected by NPR’s Performance Today to spend a week as the show’s Young Artist in Residence. The Vera Quartet has taken part in the Chamber Music Residency program at the Banff Centre in Canada, and this past summer attended the Center for Advanced Quartet Studies at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where they gave the Aspen premiere of Augusta Read Thomas’ Selene for string quartet and percussion quartet after working closely with the composer.
The Fischoff is the nation’s largest chamber music competition, which brings together young musicians from across the country and around the world. At the Ruthmere Soirée guests will enjoy refreshments when they arrive followed by 30-40 minutes of music from the ensemble’s competition repertoire. The musicians will also entertain questions from the audience about their music, their experiences and the journey that brought them to Fischoff. Tickets are $20. For reservations to Fischoff Soirée at Ruthmere, click the green button, or call 574-264-0330 ext. 104 or email jjohns@ruthmere.org.
Coming for 2018 - Robert Beardsley Annual Piano Prize
Ruthmere Museum is proud to announce the First Annual Robert B. Beardsley Piano Prize Competition. In what is sure to become a new cherished Ruthmere tradition, Ruthmere seeks to discover the next piano virtuoso in the music world.
Preliminary Round: Deadline August 1, 2018
Entrants for the Beardsley Competition are required to prepare a video
audition, 5 to 10 minutes long, showcasing two contrasting musical
styles or time periods. Video
submissions via YouTube links are preferred. Applicants please follow instructions below when submitting your entry. Up to 6 Finalists will be selected.
Finals Round: Live Competition on September 15, 2018
Finalists will perform 15-20 minutes of music for the judging panel and the general public at the Ruthmere Game Room. Competition performances begin at Noon, with individual performance times yet to be determined. Tickets are available to the general public for just $5 per seat. Each finalist will receive $100.
Grand Prize Winner’s Performance: October 11, 2018
Competition Winner is required to perform for 15-20 minutes as part of the opening concert
of the Ruthmere Fall Concert series at 7pm. Grand Prize winner will receive a cash award of $1,000 presented at the concert, and have his or
her name displayed alongside the Beardsley Cup on permanent exhibit at Ruthmere.
Joining the Grand Prize Winner on October 11 will be a concert performance by Drs. Luke and Mary Rose Norell, better known as the Norell Piano Duo.
The Norells have also agreed to serve as judges for the Beardsley Competition along with Dr. Daniel Lin. Dr. Mary Rose Norell is the director of the Community School of the Arts located at the Goshen College Music Center, and Dr. Luke Norell is the Community School of the Arts piano program director. Dr. Daniel Lin is Assistant Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, and brings an impressive résumé of international performances and prizes to his credit.
The Beardsley Cup, composed of sterling silver and manufactured in 1907 in London, resides in a new custom built display case with the names of the winners of the Beardsley Competition. The inaugural recipient in 2017, Nicholas Roth, was named in recognition of his long devotion to Ruthmere and its Fall Concert Series. The 2018 winner’s name will be added to the display, enhancing the lore of piano performances at Ruthmere. Please contact Ruthmere Museum at (574) 264-0330 ext. 107 if you have any questions regarding the competition or the entry requirements.
2018 Fall Concert Series
Thursday, October 11 Norell Piano Duo/Beardsley Prize Winner -7pm Game Room
Thursday, October 25 Euclid Quartet -7pm Game Room
Thursday, November 8 Jeff and Anne Barnhart, Ivory&Gold -7pm Game Room
Friday, November 23 Nicholas Roth -7pm Game Room
ASK ABOUT OUR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND TO ATTEND THE PRE-CONCERT ARTIST PREVIEW RECEPTION AT EVERY CONCERT! BECOME A SPONSOR FOR AS LITTLE AS $500. For information on becoming a sponsor call Executive Director Bill Firstenberger at 574-264-0330 ext. 105 or email bfirstenberger@ruthmere.org.