Chautauqua Opens Series at Each Campus July 7, 8, 9
The Twilight Performance Series sponsored by the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) returns this summer with a new line-up to include a bit of music and history. Bring a picnic and lawn chair and enjoy music under the stars. The free family-friendly series will feature artists performing a variety of music from reggae, jazz and Celtic tunes at each of the campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick.
Performers will be at the Leonardtown Campus on Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28; at the La Plata Campus on Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22 and 29; and at the Prince Frederick Campus on Thursdays, July 9, 16, 23 and 30. All performances will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The annual Chautauqua will kick off the Twilight series at each of CSMs campuses July 7-9. This year, the Chautauqua program will travel to all three campuses featuring a different character at each campus. Chautauqua is an educational program of the Maryland Humanities Council presented in partnership with the College of Southern Maryland.
Chautauqua includes opening musical acts at 6:30 p.m., followed by theatrical performances at 7 p.m. from Chautauquan actors who portray historical figures. The theme for this years Chautauqua is Rights and Reformers, featuring the historical portrayals of Woody Guthrie on the Leonardtown Campus, Jackie Robinson on the La Plata Campus and Eleanor Roosevelt on the Prince Frederick Campus.
Other Twilight performances include the Unity Reggae Band on July 14, 15 and 16; The Joshua Walker Jazz Trio on July 21, 22 and 23; and Darcy Nair performing traditional Celtic tunes with Craig Williams and Chelle Fulk on July 28, 29 and 30.
Formed in 1990, the Baltimore-based Unity Reggae Band has been playing together for more than 18 years. They have an extensive collection of original works, popular cover songs, as well as four releases and three national tours. They have shared the stage with reggae artists such as The Wailers, Yellowman and Eek-A-Mouse.
The Joshua Walker Jazz Trio performs a variety of jazz styles as well as original compositions by Walker. The groups sound ranges from contemporary to modern progressive jazz. The group has performed throughout the United States and Canada in a variety of jazz festivals as well as on cruise ships.
Darcy Nair performing with Craig Williams and Chelle Fulk specialize in Celtic music. Since 1990 Nair has performed as a soloist and with a variety of folk groups, especially groups specializing in Celtic music. She has performed at renaissance fairs, coffee houses, pubs and festivals, playing the hammered dulcimer and the mandolin. Her repertoire includes historic and modern music from Ireland, Scotland, Great Britain and Wales, as well American folk and maritime traditions.
This years Twilight Performance Series is sponsored in part by Comcast; Raley, Watts & ONeil; St. Marys Hospital; Ed and Candice Kelly; The Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery; Davis, Upton, Palumbo & Keffler, LLC, Taylor Gas Company Inc.; Computer Sciences Corporation, as well as by a grant from the Community Foundation of Charles County. Also, this series is made possible in part by a grant from the St. Marys County Arts Council, awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council. The Twilight Performance Series is also supported by in-kind donations from community partnerships with Kool Productions LLC, and the Calvert County Minority Business Alliance.
For information on sponsorships, call 301-934-7636 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499, or 443-550-6169, Ext. 7636, e-mail Toni Kruszka at ToniK@csmd.edu or visit www.csmd.edu/alumni_foundation/.
In the event of inclement weather, performances will move indoors. On the La Plata Campus performances will move to the Center for Business and Industry, BI-113, on the Leonardtown Campus to Building A, Auditorium, and on the Prince Frederick Campus to Room 120.
For information on the Twilight Performance Series call 301-934-7861 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499, or 443-550-6169, Ext. 7861 or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.
Chautauqua is a program of the Maryland Humanities Council presented in partnership with the College of Southern Maryland. The Maryland Humanities Council, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization which receives support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Maryland Division of Historical and Cultural Programs, corporations, foundations and individuals.
A regionally accredited community college that provides programs and services with a special focus on local workforce development to maintain and grow a healthy economy and community, the College of Southern Maryland is a two-time silver level recipient of the Maryland Performance Excellence Award. CSM, founded in 1958, is the fifth largest community college in Maryland with campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Marys counties. For information about CSM, call 301-934-7765 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7765 or visit www.csmd.edu.