A benefit for the Claremont Creative Center
June 3, 2023 @ 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Union Episcopal Church
Grammy nominated guitarist, and friend of WCCMA, José Lezcano performs during this benefit concert for the Claremont Creative Center, featuring works by Lezcano and more. Guest Melissa Richmond joins him on flute. The program will explore great classical and comtemporary works, including works by Lezcano, Piazzolla, Ibert, and more. All proceeds go to benefit the Claremont Creative Center Homecoming Campaign. Live in person and virtual/streamed online.
Tickets for this event include special refreshments and post concert meet and greet. Recommended donation: $25 per person, $40 per couple, and $45 per family.
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“Jose Lezcano … is a superb guitarist as well as a first-rate composer and arranger.” – New Millennium Guitar
As Professor Emeritus of Music at Keene State College, Dr. José Lezcano coordinates the guitar program, and teaches applied guitar, guitar orchestra, and courses in Latin American music. He recently retired from his full-time tenured position of Professor of Music after 30 years in the department, but continues to teach classes as a Lecturer. During Spring ’22, he served as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Morris, Minnesota. In Fall 2022, he started a new assignment as Artist Lecturer in Guitar at the University of Southern Maine (Gorham) while continuing to teach at Keene State. His guitar students have been frequent winners of the Keene State’s highest awards and scholarships. He has been a frequent guest artist at numerous chamber music series in New England, including Apple Hill, Electric Earth, Wisteria, Portland Chamber Music Festival, and Athaneum concerts in Portsmouth, NH. As a twice Grammy-nominated guitarist / composer (in two categories: “Best Contemporary Composition” and “Best soloist with orchestra) Dr. José Lezcano has captivated audiences on four continents. In programs of Spanish, South American and original works, he has appeared in major venues and festivals, including Carnegie Recital Hall, the NYC North-South Consonance Series, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Spain, Portugal, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, China, Germany, Crete, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic as recitalist, collaborative artist, and concerto soloist. Described by Fanfare Magazine as “an excellent guitarist as well as an imaginative composer,” Jose has earned numerous professional recognitions, including first prize in the MTNA National Guitar Competition, the NHSAC Individual Artist Fellowship, NHMTA Composer of the Year (twice), KSC Distinguished Research Award, and a Fulbright Award to Ecuador. In 2016 he received an Ewing Arts Award from the Keene Sentinel, in recognition of his international performing and teaching career, and contributions to the arts in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. Dr. Lezcano earned degrees from Peabody Conservatory (BM), University of South Carolina (MM), and Florida State University (Ph.D., Music Theory).
Burlington Taiko Group Performance
June 9, 2023 @ 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Outdoors at Union Episcopal Church
Join us for a performance of Japanese Taiko Drumming by Burlington Taiko Group. A popular annual Claremont community Tradition, this will be WCCMA’s first ensemble public performance since before the pandemic.
This performance will take place outdoors at Union Episcopal Church, the rain location will be inside the church. Please bring a chair or blanket.
This event is by free will sliding scale donation, suggested at $5-45. Students are free. Your donations help to support keeping live music and arts education live and local! This concert will be available in person and streamed. An HD version of the concert will be uploaded after the performance in the event in the event of streaming issues or imperfections.
About Burlington Taiko Group Since 1987, Burlington Taiko has been mesmerizing audiences with the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of the taiko.Burlington Taiko Group estimates it has introduced over half a million people to the power of taiko via public performances including feature performances at the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, annual performances at Burlington’s First Night, the Joseph Campbell – Keepers of the Lore festival, the Black Ships Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, and over 200 corporate, collegiate and public performances.In 2001, Burlington Taiko received First Night International’s Prism Award, first place recognition for Most Creative Programming.In 2002 Burlington Taiko participated in its first tour of Japan, performing a series of concerts in the prefecture of Tottori at the Gaina Matsuri in Yonago.The group has been honored 3 times by the International Taiko community having been selected as a feature performer at the 2008 40th International Taiko Festival in San Francisco, the 1999 North American Taiko Conference in Los Angeles, and the 1998 30th International Taiko Festival in San Francisco.Burlington Taikois the performance arm of our non-profit entity, Taiko AikoKai New England (TANE). Our mission: to promote the performance and practice of Taiko and provide education about Taiko and Japanese culture.
Missed a concert? Catch up on YouTube
Last week’s concert with the Villalobos Brothers is one you don’t want to miss. Throw it on your TV and dance along!
