The 60th Anniversary of the American Liszt Society

2024 ALS FESTIVAL: "The Composer-Pianist"

University of Georgia, Hugh Hodgson School of Music
October 13-16, 2024

The 2024 American Liszt Society Festival celebrates:

The ongoing legacy of Liszt
The 60th anniversary of the American Liszt Society
The centennial of the death of Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924)
The work and life of composer-pianists from Liszt to Busoni to Gabriela Montero and Marc-André Hamelin

Please visit the website of the American Liszt Society to learn more about the Society's mission and activities!

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

The festival program includes lectures, concerts, a special exhibit in the Georgia Museum of Art about Liszt's connection to Russia, a documentary on the life of Josef Hofmann (produced by ALS Medalist Gregor Benko), and more.

Two headlining events are presented in partnership with the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 4 PM: GABRIELA MONTERO, PIANO AND THE CALIDORE QUARTET
Program includes a new Piano Quintet by Montero co-commissioned by the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center. Montero will also give a workshop on improvisation on Monday, October 14 at 1pm.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 7:30 PM: MARC-ANDRE HAMELIN, PIANO RECITAL
Program includes the WORLD PREMIERE of a new work by Hamelin commissioned by the American Liszt Society as well as Liszt Réminiscences de Norma, Busoni Sonatina No. 2, and Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata. Hamelin will also give a piano masterclass on Wednesday, Oct 16, at 11am.

Tickets to both events are included in the ALS Festival registration.

SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday, October 13

4pm: Opening Concert (Gabriela Montero and Calidore Quartet, in partnership with the UGA Performing Arts Center)
After the concert: board meeting and rehearsals

Monday, October 14

All day: registration and festival sessions ("Two Pianos," "Hexameron," and more)
7:30pm: Evening Concert "Liszt & Medtner"

Tuesday, October 15

All day: festival sessions ("Wings," "ALS Composers," and more)
5pm: Festival Banquet at the Georgia Center
7:30pm: Marc-André Hamelin recital, including world premiere of a new work commissioned by ALS (presented in partnership with the UGA Performing Arts Center)

Wednesday, October 16

Morning festival sessions ("Hungary")
11am: Marc-André Hamelin piano masterclass
Departure

FEStIVAL SESSIONS (*subject to change)

LISZT’S HEIR: BUSONI AND WEIMAR Erinn Knyt, lecturer Carmen Fantasy by Busoni, Turandot’s Frauengemach by Busoni Nadejda Vlaeva	BUSONI’S INTERACTION WITH LISZT’S STUDENTS Richard Zimdars, lecturer
THE SHADOW OF BACH Suite, Op. 1 (excerpts) by d’Albert Nicholas Susi Prelude and Fugue, Op. 6 by Sgambati Paul Barnes Fantasy and Fugue on BACH by Liszt Kemal Gekic	LISZT/MEDTNER RECITAL Fairy Tale, Op. 51/3 by Medtner, Sonata Reminiscenza, Op. 38/1 by Medtner Yakov Kasman Lieder by Liszt and Medtner Kevin McMillan, baritone; Gabriel Dobner, piano Liszt cello works: Romance oubliée, Première Elégie, Consolation No. 3 James Kim, cello; Liza Stepanova, piano Sonata in B Minor by Liszt Terrence Wilson
LATE SCRIABIN LECTURE-RECITAL Selected late short pieces Sonata No. 6 Matthew Bengston, Dmitry Rachmanov, Evgeny Rivkin	CROSSING GENRES: IMPROVISATION AND JAZZ Music by Friedrich Gulda, Billy Mayerl, James Weidman, and more Daniel Horn, Martin Jones Greg Satterthwaite, James Weidman
JOSEF HOFMANN: GENIUS AND DREAMER Documentary produced by ALS medalist Gregor Benko. With footage never before seen, it explores the art and life of pianist Josef Hofmann. With Marc-André Hamelin, Charles Rosen, Garrick Ohlsson, Ruth Slenczynska, Constance Keene, Will Crutchfield, the 105-year-old Eleanor Sokoloff, and others discussing Hofmann.	WINGS: LECTURE RECITAL Liszt: St. Francis’ Sermon to the Birds Jorge Luis Mododell, lecturer St. Francis’ Sermon to the Birds by Liszt Spencer Myer Birds of Paradise by Shulamit Ran Angela Jones-Reus, flute; Alan Woo, piano
TWO PIANOS Improvisation on Bach’s “Wie wohl ist mir” by Busoni Meeyoun Park, Matthew Gianforte Sonata for Two Pianos by George Walker Alexandre Dossin, Brian Hsu New work (first performance) by Eric Tran/ Nathan Cheung Nathan Cheung, Eric Tran	LISZT AND THE SUBLIME Robert Doran, lecturer HEXAMERON Liza Stepanova, Alan Woo, and members of their studios
FROM THREE CENTURIES Berceuse, Op. 22 by Zarebski Eva Polgar Polonaise, Op. 16 by Zarebski Derek Parsons Vocalise by Rachmaninoff Caroline Hong, Ryan Behan Preludes by Ronn Yedidia Gila Goldstein	WOMEN COMPOSER-PIANISTS: LECTURE-RECITAL Femmes de légende by Mel Bonis Anna Hawkins, lecturer, Grace Huang, piano Sonata, first movement by Agi Jambor Heather Hancock, lecturer, Ji-Hyang Gwak, piano Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 57 by Dora Pejačević Jieun Lee Puzzles by Borislava Taneva (US Premiere) Elena Cholakova
ALS COMPOSERS Alone by Kemal Gekic Movement by Kemal Gekic Kemal Gekic Picture No. 2 for violin and piano by Eric Tran Avita Duo: Katya Moeller, violin Ksenia Nosikova, piano Poem by Asiya Korepanova Brandon Quarles, saxophone Asiya Korepanova, piano	FROM HUNGARY Dance Suite (excerpts) by Bartok Robert Satterlee Sonata, Op. 21 by Dohnanyi Avita Duo: Katya Moeller, violin Ksenia Nosikova, piano Lisztomania by Péter Eötvös Sonatina by György Ligeti Caroline Owen, David Kalhous, piano Sonata by Bartok Michael Boyd

INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES

CONFERENCE HOTELS

University of Georgia Continuing Education Center and Hotel ("Georgia Center")

$149 per night for a room with one king bed or two queen beds
15-minute walk to the festival site | possibility to reserve limited (10-person) shuttle service to the School of Music |
official stop on the airport shuttle route | site of Tuesday banquet

NOTE that availability is limited to 40 rooms. Cutoff to secure the group reservation rate is September 13, 2024.

RESERVE NOW

Hotel Indigo (Downtown)

$159 per night for a room with one king bed or two queen beds
8-minute drive to the festival site

NOTE that availability is limited. Cutoff to secure the group reservation rate is September 13, 2024.
Use the link below to reserve. The hotel can also be booked by calling IHG Hotel Reservations directly at 1-866-808-1483 with reference to "Overflow for American Liszt Society Block" (block code: ALN).

RESERVE NOW

REGISTRATION

Registration opens on July 10. A Link will appear here.

Registration fees*

Professionals:

ALS members: $90
MTNA, NATS, AMS members: $140
All others: $180

Registrations include tickets to Marc-André Hamelin and Gabriela Montero concerts ($40 value)

Students:

ALS student members: $25
MTNA, NATS, AMS student members: $40
All others holding a valid student I.D.: $50

Student registrations include tickets to Marc-André Hamelin and Gabriela Montero concerts ($10 value)

FESTIVAL BANQUET (on Tuesday, October 15, at 5pm): $50

*Please note that joining the American Liszt Society for 2024, in addition to a lower festival registration fee, offers receipt of the ALS Newsletter and the next issue of the Journal of the American Liszt Society.

ALS annual dues: Member - $50, Student Member - $25
Visit www.americanlisztsociety.net/join-als to become a member.

TRAnSPORTATION

TRAVEL
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the closest major airport to the University. Ground transportation to and from the airport is available via shuttle (https://groometransportation.com/athens/) or rental car. The Groome shuttle always stops at the Georgia Center, one of the ALS Festival hotels. A stop at the Indigo Hotel can be arranged at the time of reservation. Please review the Groome shuttle departure and arrival times as you plan your travel. If renting a car, allow for time at the rental counter and a driving time of 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic.

PARKING
The School of Music is located at 250 River Road, Athens, GA, 30602. Parking in nearby campus lots (E11, E07) is free on weekends and after 5:00 PM on weekdays. Paid parking on weekdays is available in the Performing Arts Center Deck (E20) located at the back of the faculty parking lot.

DINING
Meals are available for purchase at the Joe Frank Harris Commons cafeteria, located a 5-minute walk from the School of Music. Quick coffee and sandwiches are on the first floor of the Commons. Athens is also known for its award-winning restaurants, and most offer delivery: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g29209-Athens_Georgia.html.

WHY ATTEND A LISZT FESTIVAL?

Franz Liszt was perhaps the most misunderstood musician in the history of our art. His image has been used as a model of showmanship and shallow virtuosity. In fact, one important source on the history of piano playing includes a chapter on Liszt entitled "Thunder, Lightning, Mesmerism, and Sex"! (Harold Schonberg, The Great Pianists.)

One has only to read a few pages of Alan Walker's monumental three-volume biography of Franz Liszt before realizing that, in truth, Liszt was a deep thinker, and he had a profound effect on the musical minds of his day. His inspiration, genius, and generosity influenced the development of musical thought well into the twentieth century.

His was an attitude of service to his fellow musicians and to humanity. The paradox of the notoriety of his worldly existence has, for over a century, obscured the deep religious conviction evident in his music.

The Annual Conferences, also known as Festivals, of The American Liszt Society, hosted by various universities or other organizations throughout North America, provide an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating musician through lectures, recitals, master classes, and concerts. Often, a sumptuous banquet and informal receptions are included in the itinerary, which most often covers a three-day time span. Perhaps equally important is the camaraderie enjoyed by Festival participants and the new musical friendships that are established as an outgrowth of the event.

Each Conference/Festival has a theme that presents Liszt's music and the music of his contemporaries and successors in public venues. Some Liszt Festival themes have included "An Exploration of the Italian Aspect of Liszt: Spirituality, Italian Art and Poetry, and Virtuosity,"; "The Works for Piano and Orchestra,"; "Heaven on Earth: Exploring the Sacred in Music,"; "A Celebration of Liszt and Matthay"; "Liszt in Paris"; "Anniversaries and Connections"; "Liszt in Weimar"; "Liszt and the Future"; "Celebrating Liszt and Chopin"; "Liszt as Missionary,"; "Liszt and Hungary,"; and "Liszt and His Pupils." to name just a few.

The yearly Conference/Festival and its partner events will appeal to scholars, performers, and music lovers of all ages,from professional musicians to young students.

Hopefully, by attending these festivals, an image of Liszt will emerge for you that will contribute to a reassessment of his treasury of uplifting music, his importance in the dissemination of music throughout Europe in the nineteenth century, and his beneficence that allowed both the mighty and the meek to attain a higher spiritual and musical good. We sincerely hope it will be possible for you to join us in an unforgettable musical experience!

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