Mayo Clinic announces four October concerts for the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

ROCHESTER, Minn. — October's Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program schedule features talented musical performers from around the region. Performances can be viewed by inpatients on televisions throughout Rochester Methodist and Saint Marys hospitals. Patients, visitors, staff and the Rochester community are also invited to attend the live concerts from 12:10 to 1 p.m. on three Mondays in October. A fourth concert Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. honoring deceased loved ones is also open to the public. The schedule is:

Oct. 6: Bill Isles will perform in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium, subway level, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. N.W.

After a near-fatal heart attack caused him to re-examine his priorities in 2000, Isles dedicated his life to writing and performing music that reflects his perspective on life and the spiritual journey. He has recorded four albums since 2000. The latest is "The Shores of My Hometown." In 2002, Isles' song, "I Can't Take You Home," was nominated for the Minnesota Music Awards Song of the Year. In 2003, he was nominated for Acoustic/Folk Recording of the Year.

Oct. 13: Soprano Carla Thelen Hanson will perform classical Scandinavian music with pianist Ainhoa Urkijo in Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Building, 100 Second Ave. S.W.

Thelen Hanson has performed in leading roles with opera companies nationwide. She recently performed as Tosca with the New York City Opera. She is also scheduled to perform the role of Elektra with the Nashville Opera. Urkijo is a native of Bilbao, Spain. Both performers are faculty members at Rochester Community and Technical College.

Oct. 20: Charles Lazarus will perform in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium, subway level, Rochester Methodist Hospital, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. N.W.

Lazarus, a trumpeter with the Minnesota Orchestra, made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City while completing studies at The Juilliard School. Since then, he has toured with dozens of orchestras across the United States. He played with the Canadian Brass in 2005. Lazarus also composes music, has been on the faculties at St. Olaf College and Princeton University, and has taught and performed master classes in every U.S. state and throughout Europe and Asia.

His original music video "Java" won Montreal's Musique Plus Democlip of the Year award. His most recent recording, "Solo Settings," contains original music performed with other members of the Minnesota Orchestra.

Oct. 27: The annual "Meditation and Memorial" concert honoring deceased loved ones will be presented by the Artaria String Quartet at 7:30 p.m. in the Saint Marys Chapel, Domitilla Building, first floor, 1216 Second Street S.W.

The group will perform the first nine movements of "The Seven Last Words" by Joseph Haydn. Quartet members are Ray Shows, violin; Nancy Oliveros, violin; Annalee Wolf, viola; and Laura Sewell, cello. Formed in Boston in 1986, the group is now based in St. Paul. Artaria is nationally known for its performances and role in music education. Each year, group members teach courses through Artaria Chamber Music School. Quartet members also teach at St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota.

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program is coordinated by Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester. In its 10th year of performances, the series is generously funded by Rosemary Willson in memory of her late husband, Meredith Willson, who wrote the Broadway musical "The Music Man." The gift is made in gratitude for the couple's care at Mayo Clinic. More information can be found online at www.mayoclinic.org/humanities-in-medicine.

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