I’Onissimo! Announces Spring 2002 Concerts, the Ensemble Season. Image Right - Mt. Pleasant Amphitheater under Construction, Jan. 2002, site of the May season finale.

For immediate Release - February 12, 2002

 Mt. Pleasant, SC - Concerts in pubs, on street corners, readings of orchestral music and a finale in the new Mt. Pleasant amphitheater will enliven Sunday afternoons this spring as part of the I’Onissimo! series of community concerts beginning February 24.

I’Onissimo! is the chamber music ensemble of I’On Village and gathers musicians from within and without I’On to present family friendly concerts that are free and open to the public.  Members are amature and professional musicians  from Brickyard, Awendaw, Dunes West,  the Old Village, I’On, The Isle of Palms, Snee Farm and other areas.  This spring’s series has been titled, The Ensemble Season and focuses on how neighbors working together enrich community through music.

Interested members of the public can request email notices on upcoming concerts through www.awod.com/hamilton/ the group’s website, which also contains location maps, details on each concert and background on the composers. Schedule cards are available at O’Brion’s Pub and The Square Onion on I’On Square and Mt. Pleasant Chick-fil-A.  Persons wishing to distribute schedules at their place of business are welcome to contact the group at hamilton@awod.com or 216-2646 to have schedules delivered.

All concerts are free.  Children are welcome.  A blanket or folding chair are suggested for law seating at the outdoor concerts.

Image, Left, Some of the Musicians of I'Onissimio!

The series will begin on Sunday, February 24, at 4:00 pm with an indoor concert entitled “Mixed Grill” at O’Brion’s Pub on I’On Square, 361 N. Shelmore Blvd in Mt. Pleasant.  This program will bring bring together savory offerings by small groupings drawn from the Brass, Woodwind and String Ensembles.  Food and drink will be available from the O’Brion’s kitchen.  Detailed press release on this program.

The series moves outdoors on Sunday, March 24, at 4:00 pm for a program called “Winds in the Bend”  I’On’s Prescient Street bend (18 Prescient) will be the setting for a flower season outdoor concert by the Woodwinds, including  flute choir, classical and sacred music for Palm Sunday.  This program will be Hosted by the Allen family. 

The I’Onissimo! Brass will shine on Sunday, April 14, at 4:00 pm in a program entitled “Brass In C.”  The I’Onissimo Brass Quintet will play the Fanfare for I’On Village (composed by members Dr. Tom Kindell and Julia Hamilton), Patriotic and celebratory music of American community.  The program will include Sousa, pop, classical and more.  Follow the signs from I’On Square (161 N. Shelmore Blvd.) to this concert.  This concert will be sponsored by New Directions Medical Staffing.

The Finale of the 2001-2 I’Onissimo! Season will be held on Sunday, May 26, at 4:00 pm at the beautiful new Mt. Pleasant Amphitheater on Westlake in I’On.   Musicians from all the I’Onissimo! groups will share new music and highlights from this year’s concerts.  The audience is invited to bring their picnics.  The program and season end with “Echo Taps” sounded from around the lake as a Memorial Day weekend tribute to our community’s veterans by the Brass.  This concert will be sponsored by Simonini Builders.

In addition to the public concerts, interested musicians are invited to join the I’Onissimo! Orchestral reading group which meets under the leadership of Maestro Dennis Burkh to “read” orchestral music on selected Sunday afternoons. 

Image, Right, I'Onissimo musicians participating in a musical reading with Maestro Dennis Burkh, seated facing musicians at left.

Maestro Burkh has conducted the London Philharmonic, Santa Cecelia of Rome and Gateborg Symphonies among many others. He has been a distinquished professor of conducting at two Universities.  This is a wonderful opportunity for amature musicians to meet and work through the exploration of great music by composers such as Dvorjak, Struass and Motzart.  The readings are a way for musicians to experience this great music without the pressure and commitment to immediate public performance a rehersal would impose. 

The public is welcome to listen in on the readings as well, which are in the nature of a group of people reading a play together, not polished performances.  At present the reading group would welcome several additional violins, violas and selected brass and woodwind instruments. 

I’Onissimo! is supported by the I’On Trust, a non profit community foundation dedicated to the improvement of civic and cultural life in the East Cooper area.  Printing costs for spring’s scheduled have been donated by Mt. Pleasant Chick-fil-A.®  Full information on the group is available on its website at www.awod.com/hamilton/.

Note to Editors - The text of this press release is available in electronic form by request to William Hamilton 216-2646 or hamilton@awod.com.  Images of the venues and performers are available as well.

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