A gala dinner, ice cream social and music in between

Summer is almost upon us and once again music will pour forth from the Shed,  located on Yale University’s Summer School of Music campus in Norfolk. On Saturday, June 16, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival will commence its 71^st season.

A gala evening  will launch the season as a benefit concert for the much needed restoration of the music shed. Cabaret star, John Pizzarelli, will provide the talent. He was hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” He is the featured guitarist on Paul McCartney’s acclaimed new recording of jazz standards, along with pianist Diana Krall. For this kick-off event, the shed will be transformed into an intimate setting with elegant decorations, candlelit tables, drinks and food. Prices will range from $25 to $500. An anonymous donor has made a 2:1 challenge grant of $1 million dollars to improve and renovate the shed and festival programs.

Other summer highlights will include performances of all sixteen of Beethoven’s string quartets; an evening of baroque concerti; solo vocalists and the Tokyo String Quartet, who have made Norfolk their summer home for over 30 years.

The festival concludes with the Norfolk Choral Workshop under the direction of Simon Carrington- an annual treat.

Free of charge is the Norfolk Fellows’ Performance Series, which is held Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings throughout the summer. These concerts showcase the work of emerging musicians, many of whom go on to have successful professional careers. Also free of charge are the Wednesday evening In Context talks and Norfolk Listening Club with live music, hosted by Festival Manager James Nelson. Finally, July 8 is Family Day, with a special children’s concert at 1 p.m., and one for the family at 4 p.m. The afternoon will include events for children and the annual open house and ice cream social.

More information can be found at www.norfolkmusic.org or by calling  203.432.1966