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2005 Events
February 2005 Press Release
Classical Music Festival in Cortland
A Classical Music Festival will be hosted by The Blue Frog Coffeehouse: 64 Main St., Marketplace Mall, Cortland on Sunday February 13th from 12-4PM. There is no admission fee (although listeners are encouraged to buy a cup of coffee, tea, or other beverage). The festival is a slightly more formal version of the Classical Sundays program offered every week at The Blue Frog. Festival musicians will offer a wide variety of music from the Renaissance to jazz classics, from Haydn to Astor Piazzolla.
The Classical Sundays program at the Blue Frog is a weekly opportunity for classical musicians to enjoy an atmosphere that is considerably less formal than the usual concert stage. Musicians meet on Sundays beginning about noon to play music and exchange comments, while the coffeehouse customers read the paper, have quiet conversations or actively listen to the performers. Some of the participants in the Classical Sundays program expressed an interest in having an event that was a little more structured, and a little better publicized that the weekly event. The result is the Classical Music Festival.
An important part of the festival will be a performance by "Random Acts of Music", with Lois Pfister (violin), Jim Weiss (Cello) and Bill Tei (piano). They will present music with an emphasis on the romantic by Haydn, Brahms, Lehar and others, from 2-3PM. Mr. Tei and Mr. Weiss have been playing sonatas together for many years. Mrs. Pfister joined the group last summer to form the trio, which gave an inspiring performance at The Blue Frog last fall.
Also on the program will be composer/pianist Emmanuel Sikora, who will be performing some of his own compositions. An 8th grader at Cortland Junior High School, Emmanuel is also preparing for a performance of his Piano Concerto in F#minor as part of the Grace Moore Concert Series in Mexico, NY in June. Guitarist John Sikora (Emmanuel's father), will be playing works mostly from the Renaissance and Classical periods (Milan, Dowland, Sor). And Tim Myers will perform a collection of piano jazz classics by Teddy Wilson and others.
Dr. Gina Sikora (soprano) and Dr. Stephen Wilson (piano) will also participate in the festival. They have just returned from a lecture/performance concert in San Jose, Costa Rica featuring the music of Astor Piazzolla (who is sure to be on the program). They have also given concerts at SUNY Cortland and Cornell University, featuring music of Spanish poet Garcia Lorca, the tangos of Carlos Gardel and the music of Agustín Lara.
The Classical Music Festival is an opportunity for musicians and listeners alike to enjoy great music in a relaxed setting. You can stop by for a few minutes, or stay all afternoon. Bring a friend, bring a book, or just enjoy the music. If you want more information about the February 13th Classical Music Festival or the weekly Classical Sundays program, contact Karina Murphy at The Blue Frog Coffeehouse (607) 758-7989. Or you can email John Sikora at jps13@cornell.edu.
John Sikora