SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 7:30 PM, VIRTUAL CONCERT – $15
The Sun Also Rises
A program of American music named for one of Hemingway’s great novels.
Axel Strauss, violin
Jean-Michel Fonteneau, cello
Stas Venglevski, bayan
Stephanie Jutt, flute
Jeffrey Sykes, piano
Artist Bios…
David Baker: Roots II for violin, cello and piano
Eve Beglarian: I will not be sad in this world for flute and electronics
Margaret Bonds: The Negro Speaks of Rivers for baritone and piano, poem by Langston Hughes
Zez Confrey, arr. Holcombe: Dizzy Fingers for flute and piano
Astor Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for flute, bayan, and piano trio
SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 7:30 PM, VIRTUAL CONCERT – $15
Great Expectations
Named for Charles Dickens’ novel of promises both fulfilled and unfulfilled.
Timothy Jones, bass-baritone
Axel Strauss, violin
Jean-Michel Fonteneau, cello
Stephanie Jutt, flute
Jeffrey Sykes, piano
Artist Bios…
Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Sonata in E-flat Major for flute and piano
Margaret Bonds: Three Dream Portraits, poems of Langston Hughes
Jessie Montgomery: Peace (2020) for violin and piano
Ludwig van Beethoven: Trio in G Major for violin, cello and piano, op. 1, no. 2
SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 7:30 PM, VIRTUAL CONCERT – $15
The Master and Margarita
Named for one of the greatest novels of Soviet-era Russia.
Timothy Jones, bass-baritone
Axel Strauss, violin
Jean-Michel Fonteneau, cello
Stas Venglevski, bayan
Stephanie Jutt, flute
Jeffrey Sykes, piano
Artist Bios…
Sergei Prokofiev, Five Melodies, op. 35, for flute and piano
Modest Mussorgsky: Songs & Dances of Death for baritone and piano
Dmitri Shostakovich: Trio No. 2 in E minor for violin, cello and piano, op. 67
Stas Venglevski: Eastern European originals for flute and Bayan
SATURDAY, JULY 3, 7:30 PM, VIRTUAL CONCERT – $15
Stranger in a Strange Land
Named for Robert Heinlein’s 1961 science-fiction novel.
Timothy Jones, bass-baritone
Axel Strauss, violin
Jean-Michel Fonteneau, cello
Stas Venglevski, bayan
Stephanie Jutt, flute
Jeffrey Sykes, piano
Artist Bios…
Leonard Bernstein: Overture to Candide arr. BDDS, for flute, cello and piano
Robert Owens: Borderline for baritone and piano, poems by Langston Hughes
Rebecca Clarke: Trio for violin, cello and piano
Astor Piazzolla: Le grand tango for piano trio and other arrangements for ensemble 
 
					
 Michael Bridgeman is the retired Communications Director for Wisconsin Public Television where he oversaw promotion, public relations, design, special events and online services. He has been active in historic preservation and neighborhood organizations and served for ten years on the Madison Arts Commission, including two as chair. Michael has attended BDDS concerts since the first season and also enjoys orchestral music, opera and theater.
Michael Bridgeman is the retired Communications Director for Wisconsin Public Television where he oversaw promotion, public relations, design, special events and online services. He has been active in historic preservation and neighborhood organizations and served for ten years on the Madison Arts Commission, including two as chair. Michael has attended BDDS concerts since the first season and also enjoys orchestral music, opera and theater. Norma Sober, now retired, had a long career as an arts administrator in Madison as the director of outreach at the Madison Civic Center and as director of development and education at Madison Repertory Theatre. She is a member of the Madison Arts Commission and is an occasional consultant to cultural organizations, for which she sometimes gets paid.
Norma Sober, now retired, had a long career as an arts administrator in Madison as the director of outreach at the Madison Civic Center and as director of development and education at Madison Repertory Theatre. She is a member of the Madison Arts Commission and is an occasional consultant to cultural organizations, for which she sometimes gets paid. David Polet was born in Holland, Michigan into a family of Dutch immigrants.  One of his passions was living in Russia, studying language and literature, and attending the St. Petersburg Philharmonic.  Having worked at Epic Systems, and CUNA Mutual Group, he is currently employed at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board as a project manager.  He likes to attend Chamber Orchestra concerts and is a member of the Salon series at Farley’s House of Pianos.
David Polet was born in Holland, Michigan into a family of Dutch immigrants.  One of his passions was living in Russia, studying language and literature, and attending the St. Petersburg Philharmonic.  Having worked at Epic Systems, and CUNA Mutual Group, he is currently employed at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board as a project manager.  He likes to attend Chamber Orchestra concerts and is a member of the Salon series at Farley’s House of Pianos.
 Sarah Best is the award winning CEO/chief strategist of Sarah Best Strategy, a social media company.  She has been invited to speak at various conferences around the country, and is an avid traveler, foodie, and multi-faceted creative.  Sarah is also a poet who has been published in The Yale Review.  She is a visual artist and film curator who has shown work at many significant Chicago institutions as well as the Echo Park Film Center, in Los Angeles.  She is a Madison Downtown Rotarian and is secretary of the board of New Harvest Foundation.
Sarah Best is the award winning CEO/chief strategist of Sarah Best Strategy, a social media company.  She has been invited to speak at various conferences around the country, and is an avid traveler, foodie, and multi-faceted creative.  Sarah is also a poet who has been published in The Yale Review.  She is a visual artist and film curator who has shown work at many significant Chicago institutions as well as the Echo Park Film Center, in Los Angeles.  She is a Madison Downtown Rotarian and is secretary of the board of New Harvest Foundation. Teri Venker has led arts marketing as the director of marketing for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, from which she recently retired, and for the Wisconsin Union Theater.  Teri enjoys bicycling and international travel.  She also volunteers at Lakeview Elementary School and with the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation.
Teri Venker has led arts marketing as the director of marketing for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, from which she recently retired, and for the Wisconsin Union Theater.  Teri enjoys bicycling and international travel.  She also volunteers at Lakeview Elementary School and with the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. Larry Bechler grew up playing music: first piano, then trumpet all the way through college marching band and into post-college bands. He has a love of live chamber music, spawned by BDDS and the Spoleto Festival in Charleston. He practices law at Murphy Desmond S.C and has served on various committees and commissions throughout his life.
Larry Bechler grew up playing music: first piano, then trumpet all the way through college marching band and into post-college bands. He has a love of live chamber music, spawned by BDDS and the Spoleto Festival in Charleston. He practices law at Murphy Desmond S.C and has served on various committees and commissions throughout his life. Miriam Simmons served as the Assistant Dean for Professional Development in the Graduate School at UW-Madison. A major responsibility was directing the Wisconsin Idea Seminar, a five-day tour of the state that immerses forty faculty and academic staff members in the realities of Wisconsin. She is on the board of the Madison Civic Club and considers BDDS her new BFF.
Miriam Simmons served as the Assistant Dean for Professional Development in the Graduate School at UW-Madison. A major responsibility was directing the Wisconsin Idea Seminar, a five-day tour of the state that immerses forty faculty and academic staff members in the realities of Wisconsin. She is on the board of the Madison Civic Club and considers BDDS her new BFF.