Bethlehem, Pa., January 21, 2015— Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane will perform a concert with his ensemble “Ayreheart” at Moravian College on Sunday, January 25 at 4 p.m. in Peter Hall, located on the Moravian College Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus (South). General Admission is $15 and admission is $10 for students and seniors.
This concert features music for the lute, and it is presented in ways that have never been heard before. With elements of Folk, Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, Celtic, Rock, New Age, and Impressionism, “Ayreheart” demonstrates the lute’s amazing flexibility. Founder, composer, performer, Ronn McFarlane, along with Will Morris, Brian Kay, & Mattias Rucht, bring this ancient instrument into the 21st century in a 19th century stained glass hall. This concert is sponsored in partby Martin Guitar, Nazareth, Pa.
Ronn McFarlane graduated with honors from Shenandoah Conservatory in guitar studies and continued his studies at Peabody Conservatory before turning his full attention and energy to the lute in 1978. McFarlane became a member of the Baltimore Consort in 1979, and since then, he has toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe with the Consort and as a soloist. McFarlane was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory in 1996 for his achievements in bringing the lute and its music to the world.
He has over 25 recordings on the Dorian label, including solo albums, lute songs, recordings with the Baltimore Consort, and “Blame Not My Lute”, a collection of Elizabethan lute music and poetry, with spoken word by Robert Aubry Davis. His original compositions are the focus of his solo CD, “Indigo Road”, which received a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Classical Crossover Album in 2009. His newest CD release, “One Morning”, features "Ayreheart," a new ensemble brought together to perform Ronn's new music.
Moravian College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Anyone who anticipates needing any type accommodation or who has questions about the physical access provided should contact Bill Bauman of the Music Department at (610) 861-1650 or email at music@moravian.edu.
Moravian College is a private coeducational liberal arts college, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, Moravian is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college and the first to educate women. The College emphasizes the deliberate integration of a broad-based liberal arts curriculum with hands-on learning experiences to prepare its 1,600 students, not just for jobs, but for successful careers. Moravian College excels at transforming good students into highly competent graduates who are ready to enter the workplace with confidence or shine in graduate school. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.