The purpose of this program is to encourage students and other citizens to pursue music as a vocation or avocation, give the community the opportunity to meet professional musicians in an "up-close and personal fashion," develop future audience, patrons and contributors for Riverside Concerts and introduce the community to a variety of musical instruments and genres. To achieve this goal Riverside Concerts engages artists-in-residence to present school-based lecture/demonstrations, community outreach mini concerts, and Capstone events. A typical residency lasts six days.
Riverside Concerts presents artists who are skilled at engaging children and the community for this program. Riverside Concerts collaborates with diverse artists, ranging from string quartets and brass quintets to folk singers and artists from other cultures, to make this program possible. It also works in partnership with the schools and community-based venues to ensure that the program is well planned and meets the needs of our various target audiences.
This general arts education nature of the program seeks to turn students and the community on to the joy music has to offer, to give them an "entry-level arts experience" and hook them. Through this program Riverside Concerts, the schools, and various community venues invest resources to develop audiences and cultivate donors for future concerts. This collaborative approach results in communicating to citizens that music is part of the stuff that makes Rochester a great community in which to work and live.
This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Minnesota State Arts Board, General Mills Foundation, and Land O'Lakes Foundation.
Riverside Concerts is a fiscal year 2012 recipient of an Institutional Presenters/Operating Support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Riverside Concerts will present a week-long residency, February 27 through March 3, featuring Russian folk music from MOSCOW NIGHTS. The residency will consist of a series of lecture/demonstration services at local and surrounding elementary schools; plus a free 'Concert Preview' mini-tour of a handful of Southeastern Minnesota libraries; concluding with a full-length ticketed performance at the Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall on Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 PM.
Award-winning musical ambassadors from Russia, Moscow Nights is 
an exciting, versatile trio of world recognized, prize-winning musicians from Russia. In a little over two years, they have already established themselves as one of the fastest rising folk groups in the U.S. These classically trained artists first took Western Europe by storm and now have brought their dazzling, toe-tapping music to North America. The repertoire is centered on masterpieces of Russian folklore and represents the diversity of the culture, ranging from gently humorous songs, to elaborate lyrical suites, to pulsating dance numbers. Russian folk music expresses the national character, outwardly reserved and cool but brimming with vigor, mischievousness and vibrancy inside. Their lively program presents an authentic picture of Russian folk traditions and culture. Lilting Balalaikas, dynamic Bayan Accordion, unique Trashotky & Loshky, humorous Dances and superb Vocals combine for an exhilarating and educational performance for audiences of all ages!
ARTIST-IN-THE-SCHOOLS RESIDENCY PROGRAM
In celebration of National Music in the Schools Month, Moscow Nights will spend the week (February 27 through March 2) in our local and surrounding elementary schools. Part of Riverside Concerts' Artist-In-the-Schools Residency program which brings world-renowned artists directly to our young people while at school. With General Music and General Arts classes being dissolved and Band, Orchestra and Choir programs being pushed out of the curriculum, Riverside Concerts is committed, by way of our mission, to continue to bring artists to the local schools that will not only spark an interest in musical performance, but also to plant a seed that will help solidify our young people's future as ongoing arts patrons. This program builds community and camaraderie among the students while teaching them the history of different cultures and those culture's forms of musical art. Brought to you by Arts Midwest and the Mayo Clinic.
School Schedule: Central Intermediate School - Stewartville (2/27, 1:30 PM); Rushford-Peterson Elementary School (2/28, 9:50 AM); Sunset Terrace Elementary (2/28, 1:45 PM); Gage Elementary School (2/29, 1:30 PM); Hoover Elementary School (3/1, 9:20 AM); Franklin/Montessori at Franklin Elementary School (3/1, 2:15 PM); Southgate School - Austin (3/2, 9:30 AM); Gibbs Elementary (3/2, 1:30 PM)
FREE CONCERT-PREVIEW LIBRARY TOUR
Moscow Nights will also embark on a 5-city Southeastern Minnesota library tour featuring a 60 minute preview of their full-length concert. These mini-concerts are free and open to the general public. Attend the preview and receive a coupon for 10% off your ticket order for the full-length performance at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Part of Riverside Concerts' Cultural Exchange Network which provides live musical events for citizens of rural communities who might not otherwise have access to such opportunities. This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Brought to you by Arts Midwest and the Mayo Clinic.
Library Schedule: Cannon Falls Public Library (2/27, 7:00 PM); Lanesboro Public Library (2/28, 7:00 PM); Rochester Public Library (2/29, 7:00 PM); Harmony Public Library/JEM Theatre (3/1, 7:00 PM); Lake City Public Library (3/2, 7:00 PM)
CAPSTONE CONCERT
The week concludes with a full-length performance featuring Moscow Nights at the Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall on Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 PM. Brought to you by Arts Midwest and MLT Group.
Single tickets are $16 & $13.75, with a variety of discounts available, and can be purchased at Riverside Concerts in City Hall, the Mayo Civic Center and all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone through Riverside Concerts (members only) at (507) 328-2200 or (800) 657-3980, or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 , or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Riverside Concerts Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm. Tune in to Government Channel 19 for a sneak preview airing daily at 7am, 12 noon, 6pm and 11pm. For more information, call (507) 328-2200 or (800) 657-3980 or visit us online at www.riversideconcerts.com.
This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Minnesota State Arts Board, General Mills Foundation, and Land O'Lakes Foundation.
Riverside Concerts is a fiscal year 2012 recipient of an Institutional Presenters/Operating Support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
