UMD School of Music’s Common Tone Connects Young Artists with Community

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Missy McTamney
mmctam@umd.edu
301.405.8102

The University of Maryland School of Music introduces Common Tone, a program of events that brings young artists and creative musical experiences into nearby communities beginning March 9 and April 6, 2014 at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville, MD.  Common Tone performances abandon traditional concert ritual, celebrate curiosity and encourage participation.  The events are free and begin at 7:00PM.

In its first performance on March 9, Common Tone presents invoke, an ensemble inspired by the present that aims to reinvent the string quartet for the 21st century. The group collaborated with expert Busboys and Poets mixologists to fuse American music with American beverages that will be served during the performance.

Common Tone’s second performance on April 6 features the District5 Woodwind Quintet in Throw Caution to the Wind.  In a program of colorful and virtuosic works for wind quintet, Distrcit5 will perform in an interactive and relaxed style.  District5 is known for its contagious enthusiasm for its art, bringing creativity and authenticity to wind quintet works rarely heard in the United States.

Both invoke and District5 are School of Music chamber ensembles and curated these unique programs for Common Tone.  “These performers embody the School’s commitment to artistic entrepreneurship and connecting students with the nearby community,” said Robert Gibson, director of the School of Music.  “The School continually explores ways to make classical music more impactful for modern audiences through unconventional performance practices, technology and relationships with other artistic disciplines.”

The School of Music shares a space within the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, which has a growing international reputation for nurturing innovation and a commitment to training, mentoring and presenting the next generation of artists and creative innovators.  

More information can be found on our website or by calling (301) 405-ARTS (2787). The performances are free and unticketed and will both be held at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville.  Full menu and beverage service will be available. 

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Located on the University of Maryland campus and a part of the College of Arts and Humanities, the School of Music is a dynamic arts community committed to cultivating and transforming musical traditions and preparing students for meaningful engagement with their art, their culture and the world community.  The School of Music, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies and Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library share a space within the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, a premier presenting arts venue and collaborative laboratory for professional artists, teachers and students, serving the university and community.