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Dillon church launches community concerts

KIMBERLY NICOLETTIsummit daily news

Len Rhodes, a world-renowned musician who landed in Dillon a couple years ago, has wanted to create a concert series for many years. And why not? He’s already compiled an impressive amount of composing and arranging credits internationally.Having polished his performance skills in London, he has based the new Concert Series at Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church on English traditions he’s familiar with.”Many churches there encourage serious music for the community, and Lord of the Mountains is an ideal performance venue,” Rhodes said.Though the church is hosting the series – and fully supports it – a grassroots music committee formed to run the events. Rhodes is the artistic director of the series, and church and other residents fill out the group.”Through my experience, contacts and awareness of exciting artists who were available for the season, I was able to put together the series of concerts,” Rhodes said.The concert season runs from October through May, so as not to compete with other music offerings, such as Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival, Breckenridge Music Festival or National Repertory Orchestra.The varied repertoire includes seven concerts and starts with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado on Sunday.”They are a very unique ensemble,” Rhodes said. “There are not many opportunities to hear Baroque music played to the highest standard. This ensemble is certainly leading the way in period music in the state of Colorado.”Rhodes said people have shown renewed interest in early music and early instruments worldwide throughout the past 25 years or so, and the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado has energized Denver’s classical music scene. “It is an exciting time, as the standards in performance of Baroque music are ever increasing. The director, Frank Nowell, is a leading harpsichordist- this is a tremendous opportunity for Summit County audiences to hear this instrument as a part of an ensemble performing music specifically written for the instrument.”Other artists in the ensemble are: Stacey Brady (Baroque violin), Linda Lunbeck (recorder) and Lara Turner (Baroque cello). They will present rarely performed treasures from the 17th and 18th century, as well as chamber music by J.S. Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann and Antonio Lucio Vivaldi.In addition to the concert, a Harpsichord Education Class takes place at 3:15 p.m. All who are interested in this unique instrument, its history and its music are welcome to attend and ask questions.Future concerts in the series include: Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” along with sacred Christmas music performed by the Lord of the Mountains Sanctuary Choir in December; an organ concert offered by Rhodes in January; Duo Esprit – a performance by harpist Ann Marie Liss and violist Basil Vendryes in February; a concert by flautist Paul Nagem in March; and a performance by violinist Brian Hanly and pianist Rhodes in May.


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