‘American Dances’ tonight at Riverwalk

BRECKENRIDGE — The Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra will present “American Dances,” featuring Corigliano’s Gazebo Dances, Mizesko’s A Little Dance Suite, Adams’ Chairman Dances from Nixon in China, Gould’s American Salute (with guest conductor Jack Thomas) and Bernstein’s Selections from “West Side Story” on Friday, Aug. 15. at 7:30 p.m.

Bass trombonist Terry Mizesko received his B.M. in Theory/Composition from East Carolina University where he studied composition and trombone. His original compositions and arrangements have been played by several orchestras including Atlanta, Baltimore, Canton, Philadelphia, Louisville, Fort Worth, Syracuse, Buffalo, Virginia and his own North Carolina Symphony. Mizesko’s most recent orchestral work, “A Little Dance Suite” was commissioned by the Canton Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets for the concert at the Riverwalk Center in Breck are $22, $27 and $32 for adults and $7 for juniors. Call (970) 547-3100 or visit www.breckenridgemusicfestival.com to get tickets.

BMF season finale is Saturday

BRECKENRIDGE — The Breckenridge Music Festival will present the 2008 BMF 28th Season Finale featuring BMF Orchestra members including flautist Helen Blackburn, harpist Megan Stout and winner in the Advanced Competitive Division Group II of the Wells Music/Yamaha Piano Competition Christina Lan on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge. The evening will feature Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Nielsen’s Concerto for Flute (1926), Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor, Mvt. III, Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and Rossini’s Overture to “William Tell.”

Helen Blackburn is principal flutist with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and a member of “Voices of Change.” Blackburn has been a member and a featured soloist with the Aspen Music Festival, the South Bohemia Music Festival, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Brevard (NC) Music Center, and the Chicago Civic Orchestra.

Megan Stout is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral harpist in the Indiana area. She is principal harpist for the Evansville Philharmonic in Indiana, Owensboro Symphony in Kentucky, and is a regular second harpist at the St Louis Symphony as well as a substitute for the principal position.

Christina Lan, 14, will be a sophomore this fall at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch. She started piano lessons at the age of 6 and is currently a student of Larry Graham of Boulder. As a roster or alternate member of the prestigious Young Musicians Foundation of Colorado since 2003, Lan has won numerous piano competitions statewide and nationally.

Join maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann, the BMF Orchestra and these special guests for the 28th anniversary “Orchestra Finale Showcase.” Tickets are $22, $27 and $32 for adults and $7 for juniors, and can be purchsed by calling (970) 547-3100 or visiting www.breckenridgemusicfestival.com.