March "Free at the Kimmel" Offers Something for Everyone
MARCH 2, 2009Kimmel Center Presents 2008-09 Season Sponsored by Citi
Seventh Anniversary Season Marked with More Than 65 Free in the Plaza Performances, Nearly 20 Artist Chats, and Several Organ Postludes as well as Free Themed Tours Throughout the Week
Kimmel Center Presents’ Free at the Kimmel events continue in March through the seventh anniversary season with more than 90 free events and performances to take place throughout the center’s spaces this year.
Free at the Kimmel includes: Free in the Plaza with local artists performing classical, jazz, pop, country, world, dance and family fare on the Commonwealth Plaza stage; as well as Artist Chats with Kimmel Center Presents performers; PNC Grow Up Great concerts for kids in Commonwealth Plaza; and Organ Postludes on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall. Free themed tours, including Building & Theater Tours and Art & Architecture Tours, are conducted throughout the week by experienced volunteer guides.
Updates and complete schedules are available at www.kimmelcenter.org/free. All artists and programs are subject to change.
Free at the Kimmel events are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
Below is a full schedule of the Free at the Kimmel events in March 2009:
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 6:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
Kimmel Center Teen Summer Arts Camp Woodwind Quintet
Shining stars from the Kimmel Center’s Teen Summer Arts Camp will
perform in a Woodwind Quintet prior to the ticketed performance by
Hilary Hahn in Verizon Hall. Members of the quintet include Christina
Raczka, flute; David Rosenfeld, oboe; Anna Goebel, clarinet; Julie
Clement, bassoon; and Seth Kelley, French horn. To learn more about
Teen Summer Arts Camps, please visit www.kimmelcenter.org/education.
Saturday, March 7, 2009 | 11am
Commonwealth Plaza | PNC Grow Up Great
Barry Louis Polisar
Barry Louis Polisar is a true pioneer in the world of books and music
for children, influencing an entire generation of singers and
performers for kids. He is a four-time Parents’ Choice Award-winner.
Barry is also heard singing his song "All I Want is You" in the opening
credits of the movie Juno and on the film's Grammy® Award-winning
soundtrack. This performance is part of the PNC Grow Up Great series
which presents child-friendly programming at 11am on the first Saturday
of every month in Commonwealth Plaza, unless otherwise noted at www.kimmelcenter.org/family.
Saturday, March 7, 2009 | 2:15pm
Verizon Hall | Artist Chat
Artist Chat: Jane Parker-Smith
An Artist Chat with Jane Parker-Smith and Michael Barone, host of
American Public Media’s "Pipedreams," will take place in Verizon Hall
prior to Parker-Smith’s ticketed performance on the Fred J. Cooper
Memorial Organ.
Sunday, March 15, 2009 | 1:30pm and Post-Show (Approx. 5pm)
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
Ceol Mór
Ceol Mór ("big music" in Irish) is a band that came out of the
Philadelphia traditional Irish Music scene. It consists of Marian
Bradley Gittelman on fiddle; Thomas Gittelman on bouzouki, mandolin and
concertina; Michael Copeland on flute and whistles; and Bob Bender on
guitar. The band owes its inspiration to numerous local musicians past
and present. Ceol Mór will share this love of traditional Irish Music
prior to and following the ticketed performance by Paddy Moloney with
Chieftains and special guests in Verizon Hall.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 | 6:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
River of Life Martial Arts and Sword Demonstrations
Join us for martial art and sword demonstrations by members of the
River of Life Martial Arts Center on the Commonwealth Plaza stage prior
to the ticketed performance by the Kodo Drummers in Verizon Hall.
Friday, March 20, 2009 | 6:30pm and Post-Show (Approx. 10:30pm)
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
The Sean J. Kennedy Quartet
The
Sean J. Kennedy Quartet focuses on original compositions and new
arrangements of time-honored standards. The group features Sean on
drums, Erin Stroup on saxophones, John Stenger on piano, and Mark
Amentt on bass. Jazzreview.com describes the group as "creatively new,
but built on solid foundations of traditional jazz." The Sean J.
Kennedy Quartet will perform on the Commonwealth Plaza stage prior to
and following the ticketed performance by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in Verizon Hall.
Saturday, March 21, 2009 | Noon
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble
The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble celebrates Music in Our Schools
Month with a concert in Commonwealth Plaza. This concert is free and
open to the public.
Saturday, March 28, 2009 | 6pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Free in the Plaza
ArtJaz Gallery Exhibit
Experience the messages of jazz and more in this exhibit of paintings
and mixed media. The exhibit will be featured in Commonwealth Plaza
prior to the ticketed performance by Bobby Watson, part of the Jazz Up
Close series in Perelman Theater.
Tuesdays-Sundays | 1pm
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk | Free Themed Tours
Building & Theater Tour
Join us for a themed tour which includes a history of the Kimmel
Center; architectural and construction highlights; and visits to
Commonwealth Plaza, Perelman Theater, Verizon Hall, Merck Arts
Education Center and the Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden. This tour is
approximately one hour in duration.
Please note: Building & Theater Tours will not be offered March 14, 15, 18.
Saturdays | 10:30am
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk | Free Themed Tours
Art & Architecture Tour
Join us for a themed tour which includes an in-depth look at the Kimmel
Center's architecture, a walk along the Avenue of the Arts to view the
Center in the context of the cityscape, and a tour of artworks on
display throughout the Kimmel Center, including the Moore Galleries and
the recently installed Percent for Art collection. This tour is
approximately 90 minutes in duration.
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