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Abendmusik Overview
The Abendmusik: Lincoln Fine Arts Series offers a
unique quality concert series at an affordable price that provides diverse
programming and appeal to a cross-section of audiences. We import international
and nationally known ensembles, composers, conductors and soloists in
conjunction with high quality local performers. As its central core, special
emphasis is placed on the presentation of a variety of choral/orchestral works.
We offer programming which best compliments the unique cathedral-like acoustics
and the aesthetic beauty of one of Lincoln's finest architectural gems,
First-Plymouth Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.
The programming offered by Abendmusik is
complimentary to the programs of other established fine arts organizations in
the Lincoln area. Abendmusik is the only series in Nebraska that uniquely
contracts and combines imported artists, local artists, conductors and ensembles
in conjunction with major choral/orchestral concerts. Abendmusik achieves its
mission through ever increasing involvement of artists and audiences in the
shared creation, understanding and enjoyment of music that is enriching for
people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds.
Abendmusik has brought a host of world-renowned
composers and conductors to perform at First-Plymouth, as well as to conduct
performances over the years. These include Robert Shaw, Aaron Copeland, Randall
Thompson, Sir David Willcocks and his son Jonathon Willcocks, John Rutter and
Marie-Madeleine Duruflé. Audiences have also enjoyed a wide variety of musical
groups including The Vienna Boys Choir, Paul Winter Consort, The Estonia Male
Choir, Chanticleer, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers and the Academy of St.
Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble.
Funding Sources
Funding for Abendmusik: Lincoln stems from
the in-kind contributions of the performance facility, office space, and the
artistic director's salary from First-Plymouth Church. Abendmusik is a
registered non-profit corporation with 501(c)3 status and is wholly owned by
First-Plymouth Church. Other sources of funding include private and corporate
contributions, concert sponsorships, ticket sales, grants from local, regional,
state and national arts organizations including the Nebraska Arts Council and
Mid-America Arts Alliance, planned giving and memorial fund programs, and a
limited amount of program advertising. Senior citizen discounts and half-price
student tickets are available for all performances.
Awards
The Abendmusik: Lincoln Fine Arts Series was
created in 1972 by founder and artistic director/producer John Levick, who was
the recipient of the 1985 Lincoln Mayor's Arts Award. "Perhaps the
real genius lies with those who mastermind the Abendmusik programs." - The
Lincoln Journal. In 1988, the series won the Governor's Arts Award. In
2003 Abendmusik was awarded the Lincoln Arts Council Mayor's Arts Award for Arts
Organization Excellence for providing a unique quality concert series at an
affordable price with diverse programming. The series has enjoyed a growing
national reputation for excellence and has been honored for its nationally
distributed recordings, Cathedral Pageantry and Horatio Parker's "Hora
Novissima."
Collaborative Projects
Everyone associated with Abendmusik: Lincoln
feels an obligation to increase collaborative opportunities for local, national
and international performers and increase awareness in the arts community.
The Abendmusik Chorus, First-Plymouth Choir, Plymouth Brass, Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony
Orchestra and Omaha
Symphony Orchestra have combined with area college and high school singers
to provide an experience enriching the musicianship of young singers, exposing
them to the great choral masterpieces which might otherwise be beyond the reach
of any single group.
Special Programming for
Young People
We hope to encourage new audiences by
including programs which appeal to a wide cross-section of the Lincoln
community, especially the minority, senior citizen and student communities.
Future Plans
Abendmusik: Lincoln's future plans involve
continuing to build on the creative and unique programming which has made the
series the success it is today. The series will continue to feature a wide
variety of visiting specialty ensembles along with producing major
choral/orchestral works thus creating a complimentary avenue to existing series
in Lincoln that offer a particular medium of music. As a result of the
increasing positive national trend towards choral music, as well as presenting
in the finest possible acoustic source for the medium found in Lincoln,
Abendmusik will continue to build on its reputation of contracting as well as
producing only the highest quality choral performances.
Abendmusik: Lincoln offers a unique quality
concert series at an affordable price that provides widely diverse programming
and appeal to a cross-section of audiences. We import well-known ensembles,
composers, conductors and soloists to perform in conjunction with a number of
our high quality local performers. As its central core, special emphasis is
placed on the presentation of a wide variety of choral/orchestral works. We
offer programming which best compliments the unique cathedral-like acoustics and
the aesthetic beauty of one of Lincoln's finest architectural gems -
First-Plymouth Congregational Church. The programming offered by Abendmusik is
complimentary to the programs of other established fine arts organizations in
the Lincoln area. Abendmusik is the only series in Nebraska that contracts and
combines imported artists with local artists, conductors and ensembles for major
choral/orchestral concerts. Abendmusik achieves its mission through ever
increasing involvement of artists and audiences in the shared creation,
understanding and enjoyment of music that is enriching for people of all ages,
cultures and backgrounds.
http://hurstharps.com
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