Goshen College announces 2011-12 Performing Arts Series lineup

GOSHEN, Ind. – The 2011-12 season of the Goshen College Performing Arts Series will again bring extraordinary and top quality arts performances to the college, including Manhattan Transfer; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Carolina Chocolate Drops; Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg; Choral Masterpieces With Vance George, Toledo Symphony and GC Choirs; Mark O’Conner Hot Swing; and Cherish The Ladies. In addition, this year’s lineup includes a family-friendly performance of Zoo Zoo by the innovative Imago Theater.

The line-up was publicly announced April 1 at the final concert of the 2010-11 season, which featured the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Initial reservations were available immediately following the concert, and season tickets are on sale to the public at the college’s Welcome Center.

The 2011-12 line-up is:

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer vocal quartet has received multiple Grammy Awards and is widely recognized as one of the world’s top jazz ensembles. Making history in 1981, the quartet was the first group to win Grammys in both pop and jazz categories during a single year. Recently celebrating their 40th anniversary, Manhattan Transfer released their ambitious and highly anticipated new album, The Chick Corea Songbook.
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $50, $45, $30

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter has sold more than 13 million records and won five Grammy awards to date. Her unique hybrid of country, folk and pop ranges from humorous country-rock to slow, introspective ballads about social issues. The New York Times called her recent performance in Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series a “spellbinding concert” performed “in the low, steady voice of someone confiding her thoughts in a journal.”
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $45, $40, $25

Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are the newest and youngest players in a long lineage of Black String Bands and also in the newest class of Grammy winners, having just won for their album Genuine Negro Jig in the Traditional Folk Album. Band members add vocals to their banjo playing and fiddling, along with ceramic jugs, bones, quills and kazoos as their new-time vibe rockets roots music to the stage.
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $30, $20, $15

Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg in Recital
One of the world’s preeminent concert violinists, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg combines brilliant technique with passionate emotion to produce consistently stunning performances. Called a “breathtakingly daring and original artist” by The Washington Post, she has performed as orchestral soloist and recitalist around the world, as well as being featured on “60 Minutes” and “The Tonight Show.” Her Sauder Concert Hall appearance will be with pianist Anne-Marie McDermott.
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $40, $35, $20

Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 – 7:00 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Choral Masterpieces With Vance George, Toledo Symphony and GC Choirs
Maestro Vance George will be joined by the Toledo Symphony and Goshen College choirs to perform Gabriel Faure’s much-loved Requiem, in addition to music by Bach, Haydn and Copland. George has conducted throughout the U.S., as well as Europe, Australia and Asia, and for 23 years he was director of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, one of the finest of its kind in the world.
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $45, $40, $25

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Mark O’Conner Hot Swing
Called a “riveting virtuoso” by the L.A. Times, violinist Mark O’Conner is considered one of the greatest collaborating musicians alive today, having performed and recorded with a wide range of musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Wynton Marsalis, Ricky Skaggs and Alison Krauss. Here, the two-time Grammy winner and former sideman for the great jazz master Stephane Grappelli will be joined by other musicians for a performance that crosses genres to celebrate some of the best in American swing.
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $40, $35, $20

Saturday, April 14, 2012 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall
Cherish The Ladies
Cherish the Ladies, the popular and highly acclaimed Irish-American band, combine a spectacular blend of virtuosi instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing. Recently celebrating their 25th Anniversary, this all-female band delights audiences with their performances around the world. The Boston Globe writes, “It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do.”
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $40, $35, $20

Friday & Saturday, April 27 & 28, 2012 – 7:30 p.m., Umble Center
Imago Theater – Zoo Zoo
The innovative Imago Theater brings its celebrated Zoo Zoo show to GC’s Umble Center. The Portland (Ore.) based company’s hit show received rave reviews in its recent two-week run on Broadway. See frogs, polar bears, anteaters, penguins and more in this amazing and hilarious production enjoyed by both children and adults.
Nonpackage ticket pricing: $30, $20, $15

This year’s regular series season ticket includes six concerts. Four performances are set for each season ticket: Manhattan Transfer, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Mark O’Conner Hot Swing and Cherish the Ladies. Those buying the basic season ticket package then can choose the additional two performances, one each from these two pairs of contrasting shows: Mary Chapin Carpenter / Choral Masterpieces; Carolina Chocolate Drops / Imago Theater – Zoo Zoo. The six-show ticket packages are again discounted around 15 percent over individually priced tickets: $210 for A section seats (main floor, front sides, front of balcony), $180 for B section seats (main floor back, back sides, raised back and back of balcony) and $115 for seats in the C section seats (upper side balconies). Anyone can also create a seven or eight-show package that includes either or both of the remaining shows at an additional cost.

Season tickets went on sale to the public on Monday, April 4. A nonrefundable deposit of $20 per seat will hold season tickets and seat preference. Full payment is due July 15. Seats will be assigned according to the date received. Individual tickets, if available, will go on sale Monday, Aug. 8 at the Welcome Center. This year’s series packages reflect a 15 percent discount over individually priced tickets.

For information about ticket availability, prices, reservations or more information, contact the Welcome Center at (574) 535-7566, e-mail welcomecenter@goshen.edu, or visit www.goshen.edu/events/performingarts.

Seating for those with disabilities is available and the minimum age of attendees is 5 years old, except for Zoo Zoo. And tickets are nonrefundable.

The Goshen College Performing Arts Series debuted on Sept. 21, 1997. Since then, the college has hosted more than 90 concerts by some of the world’s greatest performers as part of the program.

Editors: Photos of all performers are available upon request. For more information, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report‘s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.