RUSSELL – The Ad Astra Music Festival colors central Kansas with classical music during the month of July.

Bringing over 60 artists from all around the country, Ad Astra is a unique music festival, spanning three weekends in July and integrating emerging young artists, community members, and professional musicians.

The first weekend of performances includes the beloved Brahms Requiem on July 13, Jazz at the Barn on July 14, and Here Be Sirens and Charles Wesley & Charles Ives on July 15.

Brahms Requiem opens the 2018 season. The work will feature the Russell Community Choir, the High School Honor Choir, as well as the Chamber Choir, comprised of professional singers from all over the country. The piece’s humanity transcends age, and it brings people from all walks of life together.

Jazz at the Barn brings out a different side of Ad Astra and takes place at Granny Mae’s Barn. Cocktails and popcorn will be available.

Here Be Sirens, a 2014 opera by Kate Soper, will be at the Deines Cultural Center. The contemporary opera featuring three artist-in-residence sopranos explores sirens from different eras and follows them in their quest of what it means to be immortal.

To close the opening weekend, Ad Astra presents a Sunday Evening Series, beginning with Charles Wesley & Charles Ives on July 15. Join in a hymn sing of pieces by Charles Ives and hymns with text by Charles Wesley, honoring the Methodist tradition.

To learn more about our performances, please visit adastramusicfestival.org/calendar.

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