Composer William Bolcom, mezzo Joan Morris to headline Norris Cultural Arts Center fundraiser
Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning composer/pianist William Bolcom and his wife, the acclaimed mezzo soprano Joan Morris, will headline a fundraising concert on Saturday, April 16 to benefit the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.
Venue for the performance will be one of the Fox Valley's most historic and iconic private residences, known locally as the "Wild Rose Inn" or "Wild Rose Mansion." Originally the home of one of St. Charles founders, James T. Wheeler, it was built in 1848 and extensively remodeled and expanded in 1909 by later owner Herbert Crane, heir to the Crane Plumbing of Chicago. It is located on a bluff, a mile north of downtown St. Charles on Route 31.
The fundraiser will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails with full bar and hors d'oeuvres stations (hot and cold appetizers), sweets, coffee/tea. The performances will be 7:30 to 9 p.m. with a post-concert reception to meet and greet the performers from 9 to 10:30 p.m.
Tickets, which are $100 per person, include an opportunity to meet one of America's most beloved husband-and-wife musical duos. It will include the performance of specially selected songs by Bolcom and Morris, who recently announced the curtailment of their public appearances, and a performance by the Delphi Trio.
The dean of American composers, Bolcom has published more than 200 works spanning nearly all genres of classical and contemporary music, including symphonies, operas, songs, chamber music works and piano solos.
Bolcom and Morris have performed together as a duo since the early 1970s, specializing in familiar American songs of the 20th century, as well as songs composed by Bolcom for his wife.
The duo have performed throughout the U.S. and around the world since 1973. They have 25 recordings to their credit, from their Grammy-nominated debut "After the Ball" in 1974 to recent collections of songs by Yip Harburg, Gus Kahn and Arnold Weinstein/William Bolcom.
Their newest CD, "Autumn Leaves," is a collection of 21 popular cabaret songs, including "Am I Blue," "Swinging on a Star," "Can't We Be Friends," and "As Time Goes By."
In honor of their local appearance, St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina officially will proclaim April 16 as "William Bolcom and Joan Morris Day in St. Charles" during a city hall ceremony with the couple on April 15.
Also performing at the April 16 Norris fundraiser will be the Delphi Trio, a California-based chamber music ensemble featuring St. Charles native, pianist Jeffrey LaDeur, Canadian-born violinist Liana Berube and American cellist Michelle Kwon. The ensemble will perform classic and contemporary piano trios.
The Delphi Trio's repertoire is grounded in the rich classic literature combined with great works of our time. Delphi have commissioned and premiered works by Sahba Aminikia and Max Stoffregen and are currently developing a new project with William Bolcom.
For more information and to purchase tickets, call (630) 584-7200 or visit norrisculturalarts.com/event/fundraiser.