RUSSELL — The Ad Astra Music Festival in Russell announces its events for the weekend of July 15. The public is welcome and tickets can be purchased online, at the Russell County Economic Development Office or at the door for $10 each or $50 for all concerts.
On Friday at 7:30 pm. the Ad Astra Chamber Choir will be featured in a performance of Mass Unordinary conducted by Max Holman, artist in residence, at St. Mary Queen of Angels in Russell. The choir is comprised of nearly all-professional musicians including the festivals young artist’s, artistic directors, artists-in-residence and special guest performers Mike Miller, Andrew Padgett, Erin Schwab, and Davone Tines. The a capella piece blends movements of Palestrina, Vaughan Williams, Rheinberger and a commissioned work from Michael Gilbertson.
Saturday, July 16, at 8:00 pm audience members will hear Brad Dawson and the Kansas City Jazz performing under the stars at Granny Mae’s Barn near Dorrance. Dawson, a Russell native now serving as Professor of Jazz Studies and Trumpet at FHSU will be featured with fellow musicians Matt Otto on saxophone, Roger Wilder on piano, Gerald Spaits on bass and Todd Strait on drums playing several sets of jazz standards. Cocktails and popcorn will be available for purchase.
Ad Astra will bring its performers to Hays on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in ‘Mass for Three Voices.’ Artistic directors Alex Underwood and John Irving will join young artist Nini Marchese in this late Renaissance English masterpiece composed by William Byrd. As with any Mass at St. Joseph’s, it is open to anyone free of charge.
Sunday afternoon’s event is set for 2:00 pm at the Deines Cultural Center in Russell. This performance of Schumann Song Cycles will feature Michael Davidson, tenor, Aani Bourassa, soprano, and Cesar Canon, piano. Davidson is the 6-12 vocal music teacher in Russell with degrees in vocal performance from Loyala University (New Orleans) and the University of Kansas. Bourassa is a Washington D.C. based singer joining the festival for the second year. Canon comes to Russell after completing his first year in a doctoral program in collaborative piano from the University of Michigan where he is a student of world-renowned pianist Martin Katz.