Music @ Bethel series opens Sept. 11 with Italian violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua

Posted August 29, 2022 11:00 pm

Submitted by Bethel United Church of Christ

Acclaimed Italian violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua will open the 24th annual "Music @ Bethel" series on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst. Courtesy of Music at Bethel

Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst recently announced the opening concert of the 24th season of "Music @ Bethel," with a performance by internationally acclaimed Italian violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua.

Winner of several international competitions, Bevilacqua was awarded first prize, audience award and Special Bärenreiter Award at the 2020 International Mozart Violin Competition in Salzburg, Austria.

Bevilacqua will perform the Mozart Sonata No. 35 in A major, the Brahms Sonata No. 1 in G major, the Poulenc Violin Sonata, FP 119 and the Gershwin/Heifetz Fantasy on "Porgy & Bess." She will be accompanied by artistic director Jeffrey Panko on the piano.

After livestreaming the last two seasons entirely from PianoForte Chicago, Music @ Bethel is happy to announce all concerts will now be performed live and in person from the church's sanctuary.

The concert will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the church, 315 E. St. Charles Road in Elmhurst.

The Sept. 11 concert will offer VIP seating for $35; general admission is $20. Online fees apply. For tickets, find the "Music @ Bethel Concert Series" on Eventbrite.com.

On Oct. 15, pianist Jeffrey Panko, left, will be joined by cellist Tim Archbold and violinist Jennifer Leckie, as well as violinist Yuriy Geyer and violist Uli Widmaier (not pictured). Courtesy of Music at Bethel

The series will continue on Saturday, Oct. 15, with Jeff Panko and Friends at 7 p.m.

Music at Bethel Artistic Director Jeffrey Panko joins fellow Indigo Ensemble members, violinists Jennifer Leckie and Yuriy Geyer, violist Uli Widmaier and cellist Timothy Archbold, in a program featuring Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12, Granados Piano Quintet, and the famous Dvorak Piano Quintet in A major. Tickets are $20.

On Sunday, Nov. 20, it will be "A Cole Porter Celebration" at 3 p.m., featuring soprano Felicia Filip Burkovskiy, mezzo-soprano Lara Filip, tenor Vince McPherson, and baritone Nathan Rago.

Fall in love all over again with some of the cleverest, funniest and most romantic songs ever written in the 20th century by American composer Cole Porter. They will perform tunes from Broadway musicals such as "Kiss Me Kate," "Anything Goes," "The Gay Divorcee" and "Paris," as well as well-known classics from Tin Pan Alley. Felicia Burkovskiy and Lara Filip are both regular contributors to our concert series, but this will be a first-time appearance for McPherson. Rago has served as the worship leader at Bethel United Church of Christ since the start of the pandemic.

On Nov. 20, "A Cole Porter Celebration" will feature soprano Felicia Filip Burkovskiy, upper left; mezzo soprano Lara Filip; tenor Vince McPherson, upper right; and baritone Nathan Rago. Courtesy of Music at Bethel

On Saturday, March 25, Music@Bethel is proud to announce the return of Guitarra Azul, one of its most popular bands, performing live and in person from the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Enjoy an exciting mix of rumba, flamenco and Latin jazz with intoxicating percussion and fiery Spanish guitars. With breathtaking technique, unforgettable melodies and spirited dance, Guitarra Azul promises to transport you to the warmth of a fragrant summer evening. This will be Guitarra Azul's sixth appearance in our concert series, which will feature songs from their newest CD "Café Bolero."

On April 30, pianist Zarin Mehta will be featured in the "Rising Star Series." He also will perform his own prize-winning composition, "Glimpes." Courtesy of Music at Bethel

New this season is the "Rising Star Series" showcasing up and coming musical talent.

On Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m., pianist Zarin Mehta will bring his virtuosity and musical passion to the Music at Bethel audience in a program featuring music of Bach, Schubert, Lizst, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and his own prize-winning composition, "Glimpes."

Mehta recently tied for second place at the International Young Artist Concerto Competition a Chicago-based competition in which 76 musicians from around the world age 18 and younger submitted video auditions of concerti. A student at Chicago's Francis Parker School, he has been studying piano for 10 years and currently is coached by Winston Choi and Jeff Panko, and has previously worked with Mary Sauer. He also has appeared in performances with WFMT Classical Radio, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, and at Grant Park in Chicago. He also performs in a piano trio coached by Desiree Ruhstrat and David Cunliffe of the Lincoln Trio, and studies composition under Matthew Hagle of the Music Institute of Chicago. Zarin has performed with the Chicago Arts Orchestra twice under conductors Vladimir Kulenovic and Conner Gray Covington.

For information, visit www.musicatbethel.com.

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