Celtic to Classical concerts kick off Aug. 13
The Celtic to Classical ensemble will return to Southern Delaware in mid-August for a fourth season of nine concerts featuring three different programs designed to appeal to audiences of all ages and musical tastes.
Led by composer, violinist and pianist Sheridan Seyfried, this year’s first program is Folk Waves, in which American folk music of the 1960s and works by Edvard Grieg, Bela Bartok, Stephen Foster and others are performed with guitar, violin, flute, piano, bass, and vocals.
American Originals, the second program, is anchored by immigrant Antonin Dvorak’s “American String Quartet” and features music entirely written by Americans, including some Celtic themes from American-born composers.
The third program, Brahms and the Blues, offers a selection of soulful, heartfelt music ranging from Brahms’ great piano quintet to blues by B.B. King and others.
The Folk Waves program will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13, at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Seaford; Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach; and Thursday, Aug. 15, at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church, Bethany Beach.
Musicians performing the Folk Waves programs include Sheridan Seyfried; Ya-Jhu Yang, composer, pianist and flutist; Nira Dayanim, vocalist; Yehuda Dicker, guitarist; NoaSapir Franklin, guitarist; and Gabriel Dayanim, bassist.
The American Originals program will be featured at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Rehoboth Beach; and at 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18, at Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware in Lewes.
The Brahms and the Blues program will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Milton; Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach; Thursday, Aug. 22, at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church, Bethany Beach; and Friday, Aug. 23, at Avenue United Methodist Church, Milford.
Musicians performing in the American Originals and Brahms and the Blues programs include Sheridan Seyfried; Ya-Jhu Yang; Jonah Kim, cello soloist; Moni Simeonov, violinist; Alexis Meschter, violinist; and Jessica Chang, violist. Vocalist Anne Marie Stanley will perform in the American Originals program.
In lieu of ticketed admission, Celtic to Classical accepts a freewill offering at all performances, with a suggested contribution of $15.
Seyfried, whose parents Elise and Steve Seyfried founded the venerable Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre in 1982, spent many summers at the beach while growing up. The Celtic to Classical summer performances are inspired by the musical eclecticism of Andrea Clearfield’s Philadelphia Salon concerts and motivated by a desire to find joy in different modes of musical expression.
