Morning introductions

3SIX0 feasibility study presentation by Jack Ryan

Thank you! All of us at CMW are so grateful to the many, many supporters across Rhode Island (and some from much further afield) who made our 13th season such a success. In particular, I'd like to thank the 67 friends who responded to Kirby's appeal and helped us raise $18,407 between June 1 and June 30 to end our fiscal year with a balanced budget. (To see a complete listing of our generous corporate and institutional supporters on our website, click here.)

CMW's 14th season will be particularly exciting and challenging, as we undertake several in-depth artistic projects and experiment with newly redesigned youth programming and weekly curricular activities. During Saturday's all-day retreat, CMW's Board of Directors approved an operating budget that includes a 13% increase to support our ability to carry out our mission of community transformation with even greater effectiveness. How are we going to accomplish this? Stay tuned for more details about our projects and experiments coming this fall… And thanks again for playing your part in ensuring our success!

-Heath Marlow, CMW staff

Congratulations to Kareem Roustom, longtime friend of CMW (and Chloe's husband), on his recent Emmy nomination!

Kareem earned this national recognition for the original musical score that he composed for the 2009 documentary film The Mosque in Morgantown. You can listen to several tracks by clicking here.

In this photo from March 2004, Kareem, playing the oud, leads CMW students in Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (using an Arabic scale) during a Musical Workshop at The Met School.

Next month, CMW's 14th season gets under way. From the performance perspective, here are a few morsels to whet your appetite.

Funded by an American Masterpieces grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Providence String Quartet will present a season-long survey of the 20th century depicted through the narrative of the chamber music of American composers Charles Ives, Samuel Barber, Steve Reich, and Osvaldo Golijov. The four featured works are…

Something written in 1896 by Charles Ives (photo: Halley Erskine)

A Romantic work by Samuel Barber completed in 1936

A work about pre- and post-war America by Steve Reich composed in 1988

An evocative composition by Osvaldo Golijov from 1994

In November, expect a collection of related events and concerts featuring the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Fred Jodry, harpsichordist and Brown's Director of Choral Activities will play a central role. Psyched for a marathon concert of Bach's works for solo strings? We are…

Spring brings an experimental music festival, including collaborations between CMW musicians and a number of our Providence friends and colleagues. Undoubtedly, the return of Laura and Mark Cetilia will make Mem1's presence felt.

-Heath Marlow, CMW staff