Greenwood Music Festival

Mooch the Messy, a new children’s opera

Director — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:14:17 +0000

Mooch the Messy, a new children’s opera by Marcus DeLoach, based on the book by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat with illustrations by Ben Shecter, will be given its world premiere in September.

UPDATE: The opera performances will take place at the Arts Center at the Federal Building at 120 Main Street, due to the delayed construction/opening of the new Library. We apologize for any inconvenience. Dates and times of the performances remain the same.

Mooch the Messy is a 30-minute opera tells the story of Mooch the Rat, who learns about neatness and organization when his father comes for a visit. He also learns to be himself. A delightful mix of humor, music, and fun. The opera will feature Keith Jameson as Mooch, Marcus DeLoach as Mooch’s Father, and Lynn Baker on piano. This world premiere production of Mooch the Messy is presented by the Greenwood Music Festival, the Greenwood County Library, and the Friends of the Greenwood County Library, in honor of the Grand Opening of the New Greenwood County Library this fall.

FREE ADMISSION! Seating is limited, so please call the Arts Center at (864) 388-7800 for reservations. Arts Center is located at 120 Main Street in Greenwood.

Thursday, September 9 – 5:30pm (with Reception to follow)
Friday, September 10 – 11:00am and 2:00pm
Saturday, September 11 – 11:00am and 2:00pm
Sunday, September 12 – 3:00pm

Keith Jameson and Greenwood Music Festival featured in Opera News

Director — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:31:20 +0000

Keith Jameson, photo by Dario Acosta

Keith Jameson, Founder and Director of the Greenwood Music Festival, was featured in the 2010 June issue of Opera News, the national publication of the Metropolitan Opera. The two-page article focuses on Jameson’s career, the town of Greenwood, and the Greenwood Music Festival. We are delighted and humbled to receive this prestigious national and international exposure. We hope that opera lovers from all over the world can visit Greenwood to see our world premiere children’s opera Mooch the Messy in September and the United States premiere of George Frideric Handel’s Scipione in May 2011. You can read the entire article here

2010 Festival filled with French delights

Director — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:51:36 +0000

Tonna Miller, with Keith Jameson

Tonna Miller as Zémire

Keith Jameson as Azor

Ryan Kinsella and Jamin Flabiano

Kate Janssen, Tonna Miller, Cabiria Jacobsen

“Vive la France!”, Our Fourth Annual Greenwood Music Festival was a huge success, with attendance of people from nine states and England. The opening night audience was ushered into Greenwood Community Theatre by the Emerald Brass, and then enchanted by the opera “Beauty and the Beast”. Fantastic singers from the world of opera, orchestra, period costumes, and fairy-tale sets along with English titles projected on the side of the stage (for our sung French text) delighted the crowd. Afterwards, everyone walked over to the Arts Center for a “Let Them Eat Cake!” Reception catered by Friends and family of the Greenwood Music Festival, and Cake Décor. SC State Senator Floyd Nicholson and his wife Maime were in attendance and he even helped serve punch during the Reception! A wonderful evening of lovely French music and delectable desserts! (Photos by TM James/Index Journal)

GreenWood Winds at the Museum

The GreenWood Winds, featured in a scene of the opera, played a special concert at the Greenwood Museum before the showing of the classic 1938 film Marie Antoinette at GCT. Pianist Douglas Weeks brought his artistry, skill, and incredible virtuosity to a concert of Beethoven and Chopin at the Arts Center at the Federal Building on Saturday evening.

MLK Jr. Mass Choir at First Baptist Church

The MLK Jr. Mass Choir sang spirituals and gospel music at First Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon.

Yasuko Oura and Susanna Phillips following their recital, with Kenneth Richard

And Susanna Phillips, a Metropolitan Opera star and the 2010 Beverly Sills Artist of the Year, gave an outstanding concert of French songs and arias and English songs, along with pianist Yasuko Oura at the Arts Center on Monday Evening. It was a spectacular finale to our French-inspired Festival.

We hope you enjoyed this fourth season of the Greenwood Music Festival, and look forward to hopefully seeing you for our world premiere children’s opera Mooch the Messy at the grand opening festivities in September of the new Greenwood County Library. Thanks to all our wonderful artists, our incredible Music Director and Conductor Lynn Baker, orchestra members, instrumentalists, co-sponsors, patrons, friends and family, and our many volunteers for making this season a tremendous success. Have a terrific year and see you in September for Mooch!