May 26, 2020

The San Diego Museum of Art Partners with Art of Elan for Virtual Summer Concert Series

Partnership continues for 13th season to bring visual and musical interpretations of art to the public

SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego Museum of Art is pleased to announce its partnership with Art of Elan to host an online video series featuring musical performances inspired by works of art from the Museum’s permanent collection. The concert series will kick off with its first performance on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, with a violin performance from Art of Elan Executive and Artistic Director Kate Hatmaker.

Building on the 13-season partnership between the two arts organizations, the video series will feature short musical responses to works of art from the Museum’s permanent collection that are meant to inspire and uplift the community. The schedule of performances (each under 10 minutes in length), will be available for viewing every other Tuesday at 6 p.m. PST on the Museum’s YouTube channel and includes:

  • June 9: Kate Hatmaker – Violinist; artwork pairing: Virgin and Child with Saint John by Francisco de Zurbarán. Art of Elan Executive and Artistic Director Kate Hatmaker has been a part of the San Diego Symphony since 2006, and has participated in various American orchestras in the country, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony.    
  • June 23: Demarre McGill – Flutist; artwork pairing: Notre Dame by Maximilien Luce. Internationally recognized artist and Sphinx Medal of Excellence winner, McGill has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and more. McGill is the current principal flute of the Seattle Symphony.
  • July 7: Julie Smith Phillips – Harpist; artwork pairing: In the San Felipe Valley by Charles Reiffel. Recognized as one of the most prominent young harpists, Phillips is the principal harpist of the San Diego Symphony since 2007. Having made her debut with the National Symphony Orchestra in 2003, Phillips has been honored for her playing, including the 2004 USA International Harp Competition silver medal.
  • July 21: Keir GoGwilt – Violinist; artwork pairing: Doors I by Claudia Fernández. A violinist, writer and musicologist, GoGwilt is also a founding member of the arts company, AMOC. GoGwilt has soloed with groups like the Chinese National Symphony, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and others.
  • August 4: Rose Lombardo – Flutist; artwork pairing: Las Tres Virgenes Volcano at Sunset. Spanning the globe from Boston, to Europe to China, Lombardo has performed at top music halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall and more. Lombardo performs regularly with the San Diego Symphony Chamber Music Series as well as Art of Elan.
  • August 18: Stephanie Richards – Trumpeter; artwork pairing: Circle, Blue-Violet by DeWain Valentine. Not only a trumpeter but also a conductor and composer, Richards’ works featuring avant-garde jazz have premiered at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Blue Note in New York. Richards has also debuted records of her work titled Fullmoon, Take The Neon Lights and the upcoming SUPERSENSE. Richards is on the faculty at UC San Diego.

The musical series with Art of Elan is part of the Museum’s Virtual SDMA+ programming, which features unique online experiences offered in collaboration with local performing arts institutions to inspire a robust appreciation of the arts and a deeper exploration of the Museum’s permanent collection. Additional art-inspired performances will be held this summer by The San Diego Shakespeare Society, San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory, and Black Xpression.

“The Museum is delighted to continue its long-time partnership with Art of Elan to bring our renowned collection into the homes of our local community as well as art aficionados and music lovers from around the world,” said Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director of The San Diego Museum of Art. “We hope people will be inspired by the communicative power of the musical performances combined with our sublime works of art.”

In addition to Virtual SDMA+ programming, the Museum continues to inspire, educate, and cultivate curiosity through its Virtual SDMA offerings, including the Masterpiece Minute podcast where museum-goers can listen to 60-second mini episodes led by curators spotlighting works from the Museum’s permanent collection. The SDMA mobile app offers virtual tours, audio clips, games, and much more. In addition, the Museum’s social channels feature new challenges to engage with the arts at home, while SDMA at Play offers educational activities for art students of all ages.

For more information on The San Diego Museum of Art visit https://www.sdmart.org. Visit the Museum’s YouTube channel for Virtual SDMA+ programming, as well as ArtStops, lectures, artist interviews, and more.

About Art of Elan

Known for its collaborative spirit, Art of Elan has been pioneering unique events and bringing exciting classical music to diverse audiences for over 12 years through innovative partnerships and bi-national initiatives that have cultivated curious audiences on both sides of the border. Its consistent track record of sold-out performances stems from its commitment to commissioning new work, collaborating with world class artists and composers, programming colorful and thought-provoking concerts, and expanding its impact in the region through meaningful community engagement programs.  By drawing inspiration from the word élan, which represents vigor, style, and spirit, Art of Elan continues to engage and energize audiences in new ways. http://artofelan.org/

About The San Diego Museum of Art

Providing a rich and diverse cultural experience, The San Diego Museum of Art houses some of the world’s finest art. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Museum’s internationally renowned collection of more than 20,000 works–dating from 3000 BC to present day–includes Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings including the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of Indian paintings, East Asian art, American art, and Modern and Contemporary paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults. It also hosts engaging experiences that invite visitors to explore art through music, dance, film, food, and so much more. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.

The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif., 92101. General Information, (619) 232-7931, Group Sales: (619) 696-1935, Website: https://www.sdmart.org Twitter: @SDMA, Instagram: @SanDiegoMuseumofArt Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSanDiegoMuseumOfArt.