Dazzling Centennial Season
Scheduled at Chandler
By Sara Nelson

Three world premieres by local composers, a broadcast of NPR’s "From the Top," and concerts by superstars such as Arlo Guthrie and Natalie MacMaster are just some of the highlights in a highlight-studded centennial season that begins Sept. 15 at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph.

Chandler Executive Director Rebecca McMeekin said this week that she began preparations for the celebratory season several years ago, starting with the commissioning of the new works.

"It’s amazing to me that this little community has three excellent composers," she said.

The first of the premiers, by internationally-known Braintree composer Gwyneth Walker, will be in October, and will coincide with Walker’s 60th birthday. Thirteen choruses will perform Walker’s works and will join together to sing the newly-commissioned piece, "Every Life Shall Be A Song."

On Nov. 3, a new suite composed by Kathy Wonson Eddy, also of Braintree, will be premiered by internationally renowned vocal chamber group the Hilliard Ensemble.

And in March, the Chiara Quartet premieres Brookfield composer Erik Nielsen’s full-length quartet. It will be the "marvelously dramatic" ensemble’s fourth appearance at Chandler.

Other performances of classical music will include a broadcast of "From the Top," a radio showcase of America’s top young classical musicians, in September, and virtuoso musicians Zuill Bailey and Simone Dinnerstein performing a complete program of Beethoven’s Sonatas for Cello and Piano in April.

However, there will also be plenty of shows for jazz, folk, and world music fans, including performances by blues singer Marcia Ball, the Eric Mintel Quartet, country-folk singer Brady Cain, and Peru Negro, an Afro-Peruvian music and dance ensemble.

In February, audiences will be treated to iconic folk legend Arlo Guthrie, "unstoppable" fiddler and step dancer Natalie MacMaster, and snazzy swing group, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, now directed by Calloway’s grandson.

For local flavor, the ever-popular Mud Season Variety Show, an intergenerational talent show, and its companion youth talent showcase, Mini Mud, will take place in March and April.

"There really is something for everyone," McMeekin said. She noted that many of the shows are low-cost or free for students.

A Truly Big Bash

Fittingly for such a broad-ranging season with so many premieres, the first show of the season at Chandler will consist of a gala review of premieres from the entire century of the Music Hall’s existence.

Organized by Tony Keller, who described it as "unique" and "the most ambitious show ever staged" at Chandler, the Sept. 15 season opener will be a marathon of excerpts from 101 works of art, music, dance, poetry and film, one for every year between 1907 and 2007, starting with a parade from the founder’s "Mari-Castle" home on South Main Street.

Directed and performed by more than 100 community volunteers, McMeekin said "101 Premieres: Albert’s Big Bash," was designed to "appeal to lots of people." Tickets can be purchased for all or half of the premieres, or by the year for a suggested donation of 25 cents each. Audience members who stay for all seven hours will be entered into a drawing to win 2007-2008 season tickets.

McMeekin said local businesses were to thank for the star-studded season.

"We’re really grateful to the business community. We couldn’t do it without them," she declared.

McMeekin was also pleased that the Vermont State Legislature passed a resolution congratulating the centennial anniversary of the Center and designated August 20, 2007 as Chandler Center for the Arts Day.

The centennial is also being commemorated in a new 100-page large-format historical book by Herald editor Dick Drysdale and a gallery show of Chandler photographs and memorabilia curated by Ken Goss, who is both a photographer and a Randolph selectman.