Family chamber music series draws kids’ enthusiasm

	Contributed photo Daniel Pailthorpe, left, plays the flute with fellow Conchord musicians Julian Milford and Emily Pailthorpe during a chamber music series for children.(Click for larger image)

BUSHKILL, PA — “I want to see a show of hands of everyone who hates classical music,” said Glen Roven as he opened discussion at the Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing Arts chamber music concert series.

Five concerts in October and November are designed to educate and inspire young people to enjoy classical music, and the first performance on October 11 proved the existence of kids’ enthusiasm for classical music. Young children and teenagers became engrossed in the informal interaction with performers from the British chamber music group, Conchord, who were able to explain why they love the music, how they got started and how their instruments blend to create chamber music.

Glen Roven and internationally acclaimed violinist Ittai Shapira designed the series especially for Mountain Laurel to bring their love and excitement for classical music to children and adults in a creative interactive scenario that invites the audience’s vocal participation, questions and enjoyment of a world class chamber performance.

Roven has conducted the Israeli Philharmonic and arranged music for Whitney Houston, and he is able to bridge disparate cultures with references to Brittany Spears, the Beatles and Beethoven. His shows are similar to Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts, but Roven has his own style and enthusiasm.

“Each theme [in classical music] is a journey in the mind of the composer, and when you understand how composers create the journey, it doesn’t matter how many times you have heard a piece. You always hear something different,” Roven said.

The program will continue on Saturday, October 25 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lake House at Mountain Laurel. Violinist Hagai Shaham will call attention to the romantic appeal of a violin’s song during his performance.

The discussion begins at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch at 12:00 noon and a 1:00 performance.

Upcoming performances will feature the Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Group on November 15, Ittai Shapira on November 29 and Concertante on December 6.

Tickets cost $28 for adults and $14 for children under 12. Call 570/643-4100 or visit Ticketmaster.com.