The St. Andrewβs Bach Society is bringing in a nationally acclaimed pianist as part of its 2017 four-concert summer series.
William Wolfram, who performed Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra last November, is set to play Bachβs Goldberg Variations on June 11 at Grace St. Paulβs Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St.
That’s where all of the group’s performances will be held. Concerts start at 2 p.m. and tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students; season passes are $40 and available online at standrewsbach.org or at the door. But here’s a caution: Many of the group’s concerts fill up, so door tickets might be limited. Call in advance at 808-2122.
The season at a glance:
- Season opener, Bach and Wolfram, June 11: Among the pianistβs many accolades and trophies is a silver medal from both the William Kapell and the Naumburg International piano competitions and a bronze from the prestigious Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. He will play one of Bachβs most iconic works, the Goldberg Variations. In past seasons St. Andrewβs Bach Society has presented its namesakeβs Brandenburg Concertos and B Minor Mass alongside a trove of treasured Bach masterpieces; the Goldberg, organizers said, is βa real milestone for the series.β
- Woodsmusick and Richard Faith, July 16: With roots in Tucson β patriarch Rex Woods teaches at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music β the family ensemble has been performing off and on for more than 25 years. Its latest reason for uniting: The chance to premiere Tucson-based composer Richard Whiteβs Divertimento, written for them, and other pieces by Faith. The ensemble is comprised of violinist/violist Alexander Woods, violinist Aubrey Woods, cellist Garrick Woods, Rex Woods on piano and bassoonist Christian Smith. The program also includes works by Bach and Mozart.
- Moeckel and Binkley reunited, Aug. 6: This is one fans of former TSO concertmaster Steven Moeckel and former TSO principal oboist Lindabeth Binkley have been waiting for. It will be the first time weβve seen Binkley β who ran the Bach series from 2007 to 2011 β on a Tucson stage in years; she left Tucson in 2012, two years after she moved to her native Michigan to teach at Central Michigan University . Moeckel also has been rarely seen in Tucson in recent years, although after leaving the TSO in 2008 to take the concertmaster post at the Phoenix Symphony, he was a fairly regular guest of the Bach Society. Tucson pianist Paula Fan is joining the pair.
- Season finale and newcomers, Aug. 27: Theyβve been in Tucson barely a year, but violinists Tim Kantor β a UA prof β and Michelle Abraham β newly installed TSO associate concertmaster β are already making a splash.
