Madera Vox in Music at Noon: The Logan Series April 11, 2011

Make no mistake—Madera Vox is not your mother’s double reed-based ensemble.

The final performer in the 2010-11 season of Music at Noon: The Logan Series brings a unique combination of instruments and aesthetics to Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, for a Monday, April 11, performance in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. The concert begins at noon and is free and open to the public; reserved parking will be available in the Reed lot.

Madera (“wood”) Vox (“voice”) is an unusual combination of oboe, bassoon, piano, percussion and voice, an array of instruments and blend of timbres that clamor for an equally distinctive choice of repertoire. Understandably, the group gravitates towards programming the music of composers whose creative paths are equally unconventional or whose music is intensely coloristic.

“When you create a unique ensemble, your repertoire has to be personalized” Dr. Gary Viebranz, director of The Logan Series, says. “Madera Vox brings a balance of original works and adaptations that fit like a glove, molded perfectly to its distinctive sound.”

Emily Upham, founder of the vocal ensemble ArtSong Nouveau, agrees. “I have reached an age and a stage whereby I judge music and music-making by whether or not I’d like to hear it again or would I rather go to the movies,” she says. “I am happy to say that Madera Vox is something I will listen to over and over again. Its charm, its wistfulness, its juxtaposition of the ‘classical’ to the non-classical is refreshing and seductive. The players are terrific.”
In addition to the public performance, the Madera Vox will give two concerts for students at Diehl Elementary School.

Music at Noon, an innovative program to introduce classical music in an informal atmosphere rather than an intimidating concert hall, is celebrating its 21st anniversary season. Founded at Penn State Behrend by Warren philanthropist and arts advocate Kay Logan, the series’ unique musical outreach has been honored with an Adventurous Programming Award by Chamber Music America and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The series receives major support from the Kay Logan Trust and additional funding from the Penn State Behrend Student Activity Fee, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts and the Erie Arts Endowment of ArtsErie.

For more information about The Logan Series or Madera Vox’s free public performance, contact Viebranz at 814-898-6289.