NORWICH - Join the Monday Evening Music Club as they welcome Sarah Curtis and Johnny Elliott presenting “Springtime, Cherry Blossoms and Anime Studios: The Works of Great Japanese Composers.” The recital will be held on Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Norwich. A reception will follow. Admission is free. Donations in support of MEMC Music Scholarships are welcome. 

Sarah Curtis and Johnny Elliott met in graduate school at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. They quickly developed a close friendship that grew into a musical partnership as well. Sarah had recently returned to the US after living in Japan for four years, and began incorporating Japanese music into her studies as a way to stay connected with the country and its culture. As she began singing more Japanese music and Johnny began playing more Japanese music, the two grew fonder and fonder of Japanese composers, bands, harmonies, and artistry.

Japanese music has been featured frequently in Sarah and Johnny's music programs over the last couple years, and now "Springtime, Cherry Blossoms, and Anime Studios" represents their largest project yet to primarily feature compositions from Japan. The program uses the upcoming spring season as a starting point, beginning with an English-language repertoire about springtime and flowers, then launching into a Japanese repertoire on similar themes. From there, the program highlights the music of three outstanding Japanese composers: Yoshinao Nakada, Joe Hisaishi, and Kosaku Yamada. Attendees will leave the concert not just with a deeper understanding of these composers, but also with a deeper love for the beauty they have contributed to our musical world.

The Monday Evening Music Club began in Norwich 117 years ago as an exclusive group of musical, well to do ladies of society. Today the Club, a gathering of music teachers and supporters of music education, continues as a platform for supporting music education and culture in our area. Please consider making a donation to MEMC to support local music student scholarships. For more information follow them on www.Facebook.com/MondayEveningMusicClub.

— Information from Monday Evening Music Club