MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—Courtesy of Vice President for Language Schools, Schools Abroad and Graduate Programs Michael Geisler and the directors of the 10 Middlebury College summer Language Schools, here’s a “Top 10” list of highlights during the 2008 summer session—one event for each language studied.
All events are free and open to the public. Please check the College calendar for details on these and many other summer events, including the International Film Festival.
Language Schools Top 10
Arabic
Al-Sharq Ensemble Concert
Friday, July 11, 8 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts (CFA)
The Al-Sharq Ensemble is a Chicago-based musical group that studies and performs Arab Art Music, or Arab Classical Music, which was developed out of royal courts in the 7th century. This music is known for its intimate, spiritual and entertaining nature, dominated by a vocal component over the instrumental which often draws on Arab classical poetry.
Chinese
Music from China Concert
Saturday, July 26, 8 p.m., CFA
Reception to follow in CFA lower lobby
Founded in 1984 by Director Susan Cheng, Music from China is currently under the artistic direction of erhu virtuoso Wang Guowei. The group performs a variety of both traditional and contemporary Chinese music, extending the music beyond traditional boundaries with innovate works mixing Chinese and Western instruments in an exciting repertoire.
French
Vent du Nord Concert
Monday, July 7, 7 p.m., McCullough Student Center
In a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Québec, Vent du Nord will perform their award-winning Canadian folk music. The group, which was formed in 2002, was awarded the Juno for traditional album of the year in 2004 and in 2005 was also chosen album of the year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. The group has also appeared on the top-10 charts of a few radio stations, including No. 1 on CIBL Montréal and No. 5 on BBC3 in the United Kingdom.
German
Camilo: The Long Road to Disobedience
Saturday, August 2, 7 p.m., McCardell-Bicentennial Hall 220
Director Peter Lilienthal will present the film and lead a discussion following the screening.
This documentary tells the tale of controversial antiwar activist Camilo Mejia, a Nicaraguan native who moved to the United States at the age of 18 and joined the US army. After being sent to Iraq for six months and then refusing to return for duty, Camilo was charged with desertion and sentenced to one year in prison.
Hebrew
Concert with Amir Milstein
Sunday, June 29, 5 p.m., CFA
Amir Milstein is an internationally recognized flutist, who has performed with the Israeli-Arab group Bustan Abraham.
Italian
Piano concert with Julian Gargiulo
Wednesday, July 2, 9:30 p.m., CFA
Julian Lawrence Gargiulo is a dynamic classical pianist who renders the compositions of renowned masters with extraordinary passion and precision, and fills the concert hall with his personal brand of charm, humor and charisma. He has performed in the United States, Italy, France, Germany, England, Russia, Singapore, and Australia, meeting with both public and critical acclaim.
Japanese
Rakugo (storytelling) and Kamikiri (paper cutting)
Friday, July 11, 8 p.m., Wright Theater
Rakugo is a traditional Japanese comedic storytelling performance. The performer sits on a cushion on the stage, but must never stand, and tells a story which may involve several characters, using only a fan and Japanese towel as props. Kamikiri is a performance where the player receives a request from the audience (e.g., the Statue of Liberty) and cuts an image out of a plain piece of paper without drawing any outline. The paper-cutting lasts only a few minutes, and the performer asks for another request.
Portuguese
Richard Miller Concert
Saturday, August 2, 8:30 p.m., CFA
A Brazilian jazz musician, Richard Miller has become well-known in the Washington DC area for his performances of both classical guitar music and popular Brazilian and Latin-American music. He has performed in such places as the Brazilian-American Cultural Institute, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress, and with performances such as Lilo Gonzalez, Alaor Macedo and frequently with Patrick de Santos.
Russian
Russian jazz and classical music concert with Julian Milkis, clarinet, Daniel Milkis, violin, and Serafima Kustanovich, piano
Sunday, August 3, 7 p.m., CFA
Julian Milkis is a well-known international soloist and chamber musician, performing in venues all over the world. His son, Daniel Milkis, began studying violin at the age of six in Toronto and now in Moscow with legendary pedagogue Maya Glezarova. Serafima Kustanovich received a Masters in Music from the St. Petersburg Conservatory and performed with the famed Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater. A renowned pianist and esteemed teacher, Serafima now serves on the faculties at Clark University and the Walnut Hill School for Performing Arts.
Spanish
“¡Que vivan los muertos!” parade and performance
Saturday July 5, 8 p.m., McCullough Lawn
Beginning at Ross and parading their way to McCullough, the Spanish School will present a cultural celebration. Once at the McCullough Lawn, there will be performances on the marimba, brief speeches, dramatic readings of spooky prose and poetry, a short play, and cultural displays to be enjoyed by all.