{"id":664,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:38","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/music-fest-america-at-ives-concert-park\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T17:44:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T17:44:17","slug":"music-fest-america-at-ives-concert-park","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/music-fest-america-at-ives-concert-park\/","title":{"rendered":"WCSU 2016 – Music Fest America at Ives Concert Park"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 The premier banjo player in the world, B\u00e9la Fleck<\/a><\/u>, and mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile<\/a><\/u> have individually accumulated more Grammy Awards and accolades than you can count. On Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016<\/strong>, they\u2019ll share the stage during Music Fest America<\/a> at Ives Concert Park<\/a><\/u> on the Western Connecticut State University<\/a> Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.<\/p>\n

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Music Fest America will celebrate our nation\u2019s musical traditions, presenting free performances from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on two stages at Ives Concert Park. Appearing will be Six String Soldiers<\/a> and some of Connecticut\u2019s best bluegrass, jazz, folk, roots, gospel and classical artists.<\/p>\n

After a brief intermission, the Ives gates will re-open for paid ticket-holders at 6 p.m. for an evening of unforgettable music from Fleck and Thile on the Ives gazebo stage. The ticketed event featuring Fleck and Thile begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.ticketfly.com\/purchase\/event\/1263563<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Many say Fleck is the premier banjo player in the world. The 15-time Grammy Award winner has been nominated in more categories than any other artist in Grammy history, and remains a powerfully creative force globally in bluegrass, jazz, classical pop, rock and world beat. Fleck divides his time between various touring situations. He performs his concerto worldwide with symphonies, and collaborates in a duo with Chick Corea and in a trio with Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer. He performs in banjo duet with his wife, Abigail Washburn, and returns to bluegrass with his old friends Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan and Bryan Sutton. He is also the namesake of B\u00e9la Fleck and the Flecktones, which continues to perform together 25 years after the band\u2019s inception.<\/p>\n

Thile is also a multiple Grammy Award winner and a MacArthur Fellow. A mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist, he is a member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek. He also recently was named Garrison Keillor\u2019s successor on the popular live radio show, \u201cPrairie Home Companion.\u201d Thile\u2019s repertoire includes classical, rock, jazz and bluegrass, creating a distinctly American canon. As a soloist, Thile has released five albums including his most recent, \u201cBach: Partitas and Sonatas, Vol. 1,\u201d produced by renowned bassist Edgar Meyer. In February 2013, Thile won a Grammy for his work on \u201cThe Goat Rodeo Sessions,\u201d collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Stuart Duncan. In September 2014, Thile and Meyer released their collaboration, \u201cBass + Mandolin,\u201d which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Punch Brothers released their latest album, \u201cThe Phosphorescent Blues,\u201d in January 2015.<\/p>\n

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Six String Soldiers<\/a>, part of the United States Army Field Band, is a four-member acoustic group performing Americana, folk, bluegrass, and Irish music. The soldiers perform on mandolin, guitar, banjo and bass.<\/p>\n

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Part of the Newtown Savings Bank Fine Arts and Family Series, Music Fest America is presented by Ives Concert Park and Western Connecticut State University. The event will take place rain or shine.<\/p>\n

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For more information, visit\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/ivesconcertpark<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/p>\n

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