Summer Music Series sees multiple cancellations

Each summer, the Jacobs School of Music extends its performance lineup to give summertime locals and students a chance to experience inspiring entertainment.

This year’s Summer Music Series promised a lineup of more than 50 free and ticketed events, scheduled to take place between June 14 and July 23, but the concert series saw more than a few cancellations and last-minute changes that might have left some guests hanging.

The first event in the series to run into problems was a July 3 performance of Beethoven sonatas by pianist John O’Conor.

Summer Music Series organizers sent out a press alert July 1 stating O’Conor was unable to travel to Bloomington for his performance, and that pianist Evelyne Brancart would perform in his place the evening of July 3.

However, Brancart’s commitment to perform her recital of works by composers Chopin and Schumann was canceled just two days later — the same day Brancart was scheduled to perform.

In a last-minute effort to provide ticket-buying guests with entertainment — attendees paid between $12 and $26 to see O’Conor’s originally scheduled recital — the music series made yet another substitution to its lineup.

Hans Boepple, a pianist and instructor from Santa Clara University in California, became the series’ final replacement for the July 3 concert, announced at 2:41 p.m. that same day.

Ticketholders for the canceled O’Conor and Brancart recitals were reimbursed for single tickets and the Boepple concert was provided at no cost to the public.
A second scheduling hiccup occurred with the Summer Band Concert, originally scheduled to play the Musical Arts Center lawn at 7 p.m. July 10.

Rainy weather conditions moved the concert indoors to the Musical Arts Center auditorium, and the event remained free and open to the public.

But the music series had not seen the last of its problems.

Another cancellation was announced via email media alert 2:25 p.m. July 9.

The free lecture by Evan Rothstein  at 6:45 p.m. July 15 in Sweeney Hall was canceled, and was rescheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. July 13 with a new topic — the work of Prokofiev.

A final media alert went out 11:30 a.m. July 18 that Jacobs faculty member Carol Vaness’ Opera Workshop performance would be canceled without a substituted event to take its place.

The Summer Music Series concluded July 23 with a large-scale chorus and festival orchestra performance at Auer Hall.

The final event continued as originally scheduled.

The Jacobs School was unable to be reached for comment on the scheduling issues this summer.

- Amanda Jacobson