Harmony for Mayo, in its 10th Year, Renamed in Memory of Broadway Musical Composer Meredith Willson

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Now beginning its 10th year of performances, the Mayo Clinic music series Harmony for Mayo has been renamed the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program. The series is now generously funded by Rosemary Willson in memory of her husband Meredith Willson (1902-1984), who wrote the Broadway musicals "The Music Man" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." The gift is made in gratitude for the couple's care at Mayo Clinic.

The musical series provides talented musicians performing for the pleasure of Mayo patients, visitors, staff and the general public. January's concerts will be held on Mondays from 12:10 to 1 p.m. around the Mayo Clinic campus, unless otherwise noted. The January schedule is:

Jan. 7: Sidewalk Café will perform acoustic gypsy jazz in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium, subway level, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. N.W.

The group began their musical journey using the exciting sounds of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grapelli from the 1930s as their foundation and have developed a style that extends the gypsy jazz genre to today's listeners. The group is a collaboration among Gary Schulte, violin and viola; Reynold Philipsek, guitar; and Jeff Brueske, bass. Each member of Sidewalk Café brings a unique background and accomplishments to the group.

Jan. 14: Rochester Chamber Music Society's Young Artists will perform in Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Building, 100 Second Ave. S.W.

Dedicated to the art of intimate instrumental and vocal collaborations, Rochester Chamber Music Society promotes chamber music in a personal, accessible and artistically excellent manner. The organization's Young Artist concerts showcase the most talented students from across the region. This performance will include Carly Blazing, viola; Caitlin Johnson, violin; Kristin Sward, flute; Dan Scheitel, marimba; Brian Wille, cello; and Rafael Nuguid, violin. The group will be directed and accompanied by pianist Horacio Nuguid.

Jan. 21: Rochester Community Baptist Church Choir will perform a special concert to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 400 Fifth Ave. S.W., Rochester.

The Rochester Community Baptist Church Choir includes approximately 20 youth and adult members. The choir's style is patterned after the traditional African-American style of worship, song and praise. The choir is directed by husband and wife team, Juliane and Joshua Cross.

Jan. 28: Nicolas Carter will perform Latin American folk harp music in Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Building, 100 Second Ave. S.W.

Carter will be accompanied by Pedro Torres, guitar, and Mauricio Sánchez, bass guitar and Andean flute. The harp is considered the national folk musical instrument of Paraguay, and Carter learned to play it as a young child growing up in the country, where his parents were missionaries. The traditional techniques he learned involve playing by ear and memory, and using unique finger methods. Carter lives in Crystal, Minn., with his wife and three children. His most recent recording is "Aguije."

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program is coordinated by Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester. Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine thanks Mr. and Mrs. Tomas Furth of Caracas, Venezuela and New York City, who initiated the program through a generous financial gift to Mayo Clinic, and continued to help fund the series throughout the last nine years. More information about the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo can be found online www.mayoclinic.org/humanities-in-medicine.

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