Blair McMillen & Pam Goldberg Launch 1st Annual Rite of Summer Music Fest

Pianists and Artistic Directors Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg inaugurate the Rite of Summer Music Festival, taking place Summer 2011 on Governors Island, New York City. This marks the first classical-contemporary concert series on Governors Island, a place The New York Times has called a "Playground for the Arts." The aim of the Festival is simple: to present the highest quality live performances, and to bring free contemporary classical music to as many people as possible in a relaxed, fun, outdoor setting.
The kickoff concert will be a powerhouse performance of Terry Riley's infamous minimalist manifesto "In C," on the afternoon of Saturday, July 2nd. Led by keyboardist/conductor/musical impresario Jed Distler, this performance features some of NYC's most electrifying young new music ensembles, including members of the American Modern Ensemble, Newspeak, the Asphalt Orchestra, the Momenta Quartet and many other prominent NYC ensembles.
The second concert, on Saturday, August 13th will feature the genre-bending rock/electronica-inspired string quartet Ethel. The final concert will take place Labor Day weekend, on Sunday, September 4th. The show will feature the co-directors McMillen and Goldberg collaborating with two stalwart NYC-based violinists, Miranda Cuckson and Nurit Pacht, and will include rollicking violin/piano duos by John Adams, Mark Mellits, Manuel De Falla and Igor Stravinsky.

"Governors Island is home to an array of exhibits and performances; however it has never before had the opportunity to host a classical music concert," said Leslie Koch, President of the Trust for Governors Island. "We are thrilled that for the first time, the Rite of Summer Music Festival will bring renowned artists to perform free classical music concerts for Island visitors."

Each Rite of Summer show will be presented twice the same day, at 1pm and 3pm, for each respective *date. Audiences should feel free to walk by, stop and listen, lay down a picnic blanket and relax, eat lunch, intermingle, and take in these exciting live performances.
Governors Island is a short 5-minute ferry ride from South Ferry, in lower Manhattan and a 3-minute ride from Brooklyn. Ferries and concerts are free. For a full ferry schedule, please visit www.govisland.com.

For more information, visit www.riteofsummer.com.