Musically Speaking

Musicologist Dr. Greg Carroll and Maestro Peter Perret explore the history and backstory behind the evening’s composers and repertoire in a casual, conversational atmosphere during EMF’s summer season (Fridays and Saturdays). Whether you are nurturing your love of classical music or a veteran of EMF performances, you’ll be delighted and enlightened by these pre-concert talks. Free and open to the public.

WHEN:

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 7:00PM
June 26 – July 31, 2021

WHERE:

MOON ROOM AT DANA AUDITORIUM
GUILFORD COLLEGE

Maestro Peter Perret (left) & Dr. Greg Carroll (right)
Dr. Greg Carroll

Dr. Greg Carroll is Professor Emeritus in the UNCG School of Music, where he taught music theory, composition, history, and literature from 1981-2020. He graduated BA in music at St. John’s University (MN), and MM and PhD in Composition/Theory at the University of Iowa.  Prior to coming to UNCG, he taught at the University of Iowa and Indiana State. He was the first winner of the Outstanding Teacher Award in the School of Music in 1995, and after his music appreciation course Musicopolis won international honors in 2010, UNCG created a new Excellence in Online Education Award with Dr. Carroll as its first recipient. He also lectures for the Greensboro Symphony and the UNCG Emeritus Society.     

Maestro Peter Perret

Maestro Peter Perret is the conductor emeritus of the Winston-Salem Symphony, having served as Music Director from 1978 to 2004. Previously, Perret served the Buffalo Philharmonic as Exxon/Arts Endowment Conductor for three years and was principal conductor of the Capetown Symphony (South Africa). He received advanced music degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and the Academia Chigiana in Siena. Currently, Perret leads frequent workshops on his co-authored book, A Well-Tempered Mind: Using Music to Help Children Listen and Learn.

Community Outreach

EMF has a long history of bringing classical chamber music into the community to perform at retirement homes, libraries, children’s camps, city parks, museums, Rotary Clubs, and more. Full schedule of community performances during the summer season coming soon.

Open Rehearsals

Experience the magical sound only eighty musicians can create, in the informal and more relaxed setting of an open rehearsal. Bring your children and observe the symphony orchestra as it prepares for its weekly performance. The rehearsal opens at approximately 10:30am when the orchestra takes a brief break. Free and open to the public!

Credit - Julie Averette for Eastern Music Festival

EMF Explorers

It’s never too early to nurture young musicians. The EMF EXPLORERS camps cater to a young child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn. Led by The Music Academy of North Carolina’s music education specialists, EXPLORERS enjoy interaction with EMF faculty and students. Each day campers explore and discover music through a variety of activities including instrument demonstrations, instrument making and playing, singing and a unique introduction to melody, harmony and rhythm. All children are welcome to register, and acceptance is not based on musical experience. Each student will receive two complimentary tickets to an EMF orchestral performance.

Credit: Jacob Warren for Eastern Music Festival

EMF Welcomes EMF Explorers Camps Back in 2023!

Curriculum and instructors are provided by The Music Academy of North Carolina. For more information about MANC’s summer camps, including registration and daily schedules, visit or contact:
www.musicacademync.org | camps@musicacademync.org | (336) 379.8748 Ext. 104

The Music Academy of North Carolina is a non-profit community music school, committed to enabling students of all ages, interests, abilities and backgrounds to discover, develop, realize and express their inherent talents.

Enrollment on a first-served basis. This includes tuition, a goodie bag, two tickets to the fun and popular EMF Family Night Concert, and supplies.

 
Where

The first four days of EMF Explorers are located at the Guilford College campus, the home of the Eastern Music Festival. The final day is held at The Music Academy of North Carolina.

 
Tuition

Explorers receive an introduction to classical music and the orchestra through hands-on learning. Experienced instructors provide a kid-friendly and creative approach to music through instrument demonstrations, orchestra rehearsal visits, making and playing instruments, singing, and engaging activities with melody, harmony, and rhythm. Campers will be up-close and personal with some of the nation’s top student orchestral musicians.

$160 (Includes two tickets to the Thursday evening EMF concert!)

Please note: Returning students may be placed on a waiting list.

 
Registration

Visit the Music Academy of North Carolina camp registration pages to register for 2022 EMF Explorers Camps.
Open for children ages 5 to 8 (week 1) and 9 to 11 (week 2).

 
Typical Daily Schedule
9:00 – 9:30Circle time for making music-singing, listening, and playing instruments
9:30 – 9:45Individual instrument demonstration by EMF faculty or staff
9:45 – 10:15Hands-on experience with orchestra instruments
10:15 – 10:35Snack break
10:35 – 10:45Music through movement
10:45 – 11:05Visit the orchestra
11:05 – 11:30Ensemble development using percussion instruments
11:30 – 12:00Circle time for making music-singing, listening, and playing instruments
Experiential Learning

EMF EXPLORERS campers experience music in a variety of ways. Campers will:

  • Sing age-appropriate songs while tapping or playing the beat on rhythmic instruments
  • Learn characteristics of each family of instruments through demonstration, listening, and conversation
  • Explore music through movement
  • Learn basic rhythmic notation by writing and feeling rhythmic patterns
  • Create speech and rhythmic ensembles
  • Discuss and explore the characteristics of music through movement, playing instruments, and listening to music
 
Visits to the Orchestra and Instrument Family Demonstrations

EMF explorers take daily trips to the orchestra to watch and listen to our professional conductors and student musicians, and also meet 1-on-1 with an EMF musician who will give a demonstration and lesson on one of the four instrument families (strings, brass woodwinds, percussion).

EMF Encircling The City

Developed by EMF faculty member Dr. Diane Phoenix-Neal – and now in its ninth year – EMF Encircling the City is an educational performance and service-learning project designed in collaboration with the Greensboro Public Library.

EMF String Fellows quartets travel to branches of the library to offer a free short program of major works from classical literature in informative and family-friendly settings.

Hailed as a successful program by the library and the families they serve, EMF Encircling the City and the EMF String Fellows engage children and invite their imagination and desire to learn – a shared mission with the Public Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Credit: Khadejeh Nikouyeh for News & Record

EMF Encircling the City was generously supported by the Lincoln Financial Foundation as part of a 2019 grant that supports EMF community engagement and audience development efforts.

Credit: Khadejeh Nikouyeh for News & Record
Greensboro Public Library Branch Locations

Glenn McNairy Branch

4860 Lake Jeanette Rd.

(336) 373-2015 

McGirt Horton Branch

2501 Phillips Ave.

(336) 373-5810

Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch

1420 Price Park Rd.

(336) 373-2923

Hemphill Branch

2301 W. Vandalia Rd.

(336) 373-2925

Glenwood Branch 

1901 W. Florida St.

(336) 297-5000

Benjamin Branch

1530 Benjamin Parkway

(336) 373-7540

Central Branch

219 N. Church St.

(336) 373-2471

Vance Chavis Branch

900 S. Benbow Rd.

(336) 373-5858

Chamber Crawl

On the Saturday before the opening of EMF, the EMF Chamber Crawl is an annual free music performance event at downtown Greensboro venues. An afternoon of musical, culinary, and cultural adventures. Free and open to the public.

Past performers and venues include:

Wally Wallace and the Sonnonauts, Sirocco Quintet, Railyard String Quartet, Totally Slow, and The Zinc Kings. Triad Stage, Blue Denim, Scuppernong Books, the Bearded Goat, Fainting Goat Spirits, Cheesecakes By Alex, Elsewhere, Jerusalem Market, and more