October 27, 2007
"Nurture Nature - Create Tomorrow Together"
Venue: Chicago Humanities Festival, Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL. 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Tickets: www.chfestival.org



A multi-media performance of Music, Art, Poetry and Theater delves into the relationships between generations as we re-address our relationship with the world and consider: How do we take care of the world? What are we passing on to future generations and last but not least: What is our role as stewards of the earth? Performed by the Fulcrum Point Ensemble, The Albany Park Theater Project, the Merit School of Music Choir and the Side Project. Suitable for ALL AGES.

Pre-show presentation by Barrel of Monkeys

"Wake Up Time!" -- The Side Project Theater Company
"Just a Dream" -- Randall Woolf/Chris van Allsburg
"Dig, Pull, Pat" -- The Albany Park Theater Project
"Phoenix Rising" -- Paul Oehlers/Jerry Smith
"For the Love of Music" -- Jacalyn Rauch/Stephen Burns
"We are Able" -- Jacalyn Rauch/Stephen Burns

This program is created in collaboration by Adam Webster (TSPTC), David Feiner (APTP), Jacalyn Rauch (MM), and Stephen Burns (FPNMP) Artistic Director, commissioned by the Chicago Children's Humanities Festival for Oct 27, 2007 opening night performance.

December 11, 2007
"Songs of Love and War"
Venue: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL.  7:30 p.m.
View the press release

"The concert was a kind of meditative bearing witness – I loved it and you were a jewel in the despair and compassion of the emotions! The first songs about the poems in the camp – were so surreal in a sense – putting such grim poetry to beautiful music….a very different kind of bearing witness where my feelings ranged from horror to amazement at the courage to write and to sing this…and the songs of love were heartbreaking – thank you so much for allowing me and my friend to experience it!"

Fulcrum Point marks this 10th Concert for Peace by presenting four Midwest premieres exploring relationships and the nature of love and war through music and poetry from the perspectives of soldiers, spouses and prisoners. The program includes Midwest premieres of “Songs of Love and War” by Paul Moravec, “Three Letters from the Unknown Soldier” by Poul Ruders, “Camp Songs” by Paul Schoenfield and “Peace” by David Schiff.

The audience is invited to stay for a post-concert reception and discussion with the composers and performers.  There will be complimentary wine from VinDiVino and refreshments.

Featured Artists:
Stephen Burns, trumpeter/Artistic Director
Julia Bentley, mezzo soprano
Kuang Hao Huang, pianist
Jeffrey Strauss, baritone
Mary Stolper, flutist
New Classic Singers, Lee Kesselman, conductor

"Peace" - David Schiff
World Premiere
"Camp Songs" - Paul Schoenfield
Midwest Premiere
"Three Letters from The Unknown Soldier" - Poul Ruders
"Songs of Love and War" - Paul Moravec
Mid-west Premiere




January 29, 2008
"Alpha: Air and Water"
Venue: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL. 7:30 p.m.
View the press release



The culmination of a five-year visceral exploration of music, visual art and literature inspired by the essential elements of water, earth, wind and fire, this is the second-to-last concert of the ESSENTIAL ARTS: ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS series dramatizing the forces of nature as metaphors for physical, passionate and spiritual energy, generators of renewal and a fundamental force in both the creation and destruction of civilization. This program depicts the very beginning of time with premieres of “Nightmaze” by Sebastian Currier; “Lux Solis Aeterna” by Geoffrey Gordon. "River of Light" by Richard Danielpour and "The River Suite" by Edward K. "Duke" Ellington.  The audience is invited to stay for a post-concert reception and discussion with the Fulcrum Point Ensemble featuring complimentary wine from Vin DiVino and refreshments catered by C'est Si Bon!

Featured Artists:
"Nightmaze" - Sebastian Currier
Midwest Premiere
"Lux Solis Aeterna" - Geoffrey Gordon
World Premiere
"River of Light" -- Richard Danielpour
"The River Suite" -- Edward K. "Duke" Ellington

March 18, 2008
"Omega: Earth on Fire"
Venue: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL. 7:30 p.m.
View the press release



“Essential Art: Essential Elements” concludes with a searing, earth-moving performance featuring “Continental Divide” by Derek Bermel, “Ground Swell” by Steve Mackey with guest artist Hsin-Yun Huang (Violist), “Inner Demons” by Stacy Garrop, “Racconto dall'Inferno” by Louis Andriessen. In the beginning there was light and water, but in the end the earth rises up and is consumed in flames!

The audience is invited to stay for a post-concert reception and discussion with the composers and performers.  There will be complimentary wine from VinDiVino and refreshments.

Featured Artists:
Hsin-Yun Huang, violist
Tony Arnold, soprano

"Continental Divide" - Derek Bermel
Midwest Premiere
“Ground Swell” - Steven Mackey
Midwest Premiere
"Inner Demons" - Stacy Garrop
American Premiere
"Racconto dall'Inferno" - Louis Andriessen
 

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Legacy Music Series: "A Celebration of Diversity in Music"
Venue: Horticulture Hall at the Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL
7:00 p.m. performance

Featured Artists:
-- Stephen Burns (trumpet)
-- Foday Musa Suso (a 7th generation Mandinka Griot)
-- Kalyan Pathak (tabla)
-- Jim Gailloreto (saxophone)

Program:
"Lullaby and Doina" -- Osvaldo Golijov
"String Quartet op. 15, Mvt. 2" -- Reza Vali
"Sanvare Rang Rachi" -- H. Mangeshkar/Kalyan Pathak
"Bhaj Govindam" -- Adi Sankara/Kalyan Pathak
"Oonchi Talavadi" -- A. Vyas/Kalyan Pathak
"Seven Popular Spanish Songs" -- Manuel de Falla
"Witch Hunt" -- Wayne Shorter/Jim Gailloreto
"Well You Needn't" -- Thelonious Monk/Jim Gailloreto
"Shadow Puppets" -- Jim Gailloreto
"Sunjata / Serekunda / Debo" -- Foday Musa Suso

Tickets: General Admission - $10
Reservations: www.garfieldconservatory.org