Celebrating Gerhart’s Golden Anniversary
The Gerhart Chamber Music Festival is 50 years old! We have a special line-up of events to celebrate this special golden anniversary during the 2022 Gerhart Chamber Music Festival.
The 2022 Gerhart Festival is October 13, 15 and 16 on the campus of Snead State Community College, 220 North Walnut Street, Boaz, Alabama. Admission is free to all Gerhart Festival events.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13
Gerhart Celebration Gala
7 p.m. in Fielder Auditorium (located in the Story Administration Building at 220 North Walnut Street)
The Gerhart Celebration Gala features the Gerhart Festival artists: Michael Davis, violin; Peter deVries, violin; James Davis, viola; Wayne Roden, viola; Bion Tsang, cello; and Jeffrey Cohen, piano. The festival artists will be joined by Snead State’s own Concert Choir (comprised of Snead State students) and the Masterworks Chorale (comprised of members from the community).
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Alexander Technique Seminar
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Maze Music Building, Room 103 (located at 107 Elrod Street)
The Alexander Technique Seminar is open anyone who suffers from neck or back pain, breathing difficulties during everyday activities, bad postural habits, or excess muscle tension. Snead State’s Fine Arts Division Director/Music Instructor Dr. Barbara Hudson, certified by Alexander Technique International, will guide attendees through various techniques that can be incorporated in everyday activities and may alleviate difficulties with neck, back and muscle pain, posture, and breathing.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Gerhart Master Classes
2-3:45 p.m. in the Maze Music Building, Rooms 103 and 109 (located at 107 Elrod Street)
Students must pre-register for the Master Classes. Registration information is listed below.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Gerhart Golden Anniversary Concert
2 p.m. in Fielder Auditorium (located in the Story Administration Building at 220 North Walnut Street)
The Gerhart Golden Anniversary Concert will feature the Gerhart Festival Artists as well as the Gerhart Festival Chorus Alumni Ensemble.
About the Music Festival
The Gerhart Chamber Music Series began in 1972 as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization called Youth Makes Music. The organization sought to further the performance and appreciation of classical chamber music in North Alabama. Chamber music is a unique form of art that has been referred to as “the music of friends.” The Festival held its first Homecoming Concert on the shores of Lake Guntersville before moving to Indian Springs School, located south of Birmingham. The Festival returned to Marshall County in 1985, when it coined its name after the late Russell Gerhart, the Huntsville Symphony conductor and well-known string teacher. The Gorham’s Bluff Institute later became the host of the annual event with a variety of activities held in Gorham’s Bluff, Hoover, Guntersville and Rainsville. In 2006, Snead State Community College became the host of the Gerhart Chamber Music Festival. In 2013, patrons of the Gerhart Festival enjoyed the concerts in the newly-restored historic Fielder Auditorium, located in the Administration Building on Snead State Community College’s Boaz campus.
The Festival includes concerts, a Master Class, and educational opportunities for Snead State students and students within the local school systems. Admission to all of the Gerhart Festival events is free.
Gerhart Master Classes
As part of the Gerhart Chamber Music Festival, Snead State will sponsor a Master Class with the guest artists. The master class is open to string players (violin, viola and cello), pianists, and/or chamber groups. A concert of the student performers will follow. Time limitations will restrict the number of applicants we can accommodate, so please register early. Click this link for the registration packet. To register for the Master Class, contact lindsey.hubbard@snead.edu for a registration packet.
