Master Players spring finale is 'A Musical Hike' at Blue Ball Barn

8:16 a.m., April 18, 2016--The University of Delaware Master Players Concert Series has announced that its last event of the spring will be the finale of its mini-series, Verdant Soirées, on Sunday, April 24.

The intimate two-hour event with limited seating of 100 will be held from 5-7 p.m., Sunday, at the Blue Ball Barn in Wilmington.

Events Stories

June 5: Blue Hen 5K

University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

Titled “A Musical Hike,” it will celebrate Earth Day with music compositions and heavy hors d’oeuvres inspired by nature.

The previous Verdant Soirées event, titled “Musicians’ Brew,” was sold out one-week prior, and advance ticket purchase by Tuesday, April 22, is highly recommended.

Tickets are $40, and include live musical performances, heavy hors d’oeuvres created by a local culinary sensation, and selected wines to pair with the hors d’oeuvres.

“A Musical Hike” is directed and performed by UD’s Xiang Gao and his guest artists, and produced by Master Players special event producer Justin Chou. Audiences will hear a vibrant program that brings spring to the ears through works of Vivaldi, Piazzolla, Debussy and others.

Extraordinary artists featured during this event include Gao’s acclaimed ensemble 6ixwire, opera vocalist Megan Supina, pianist Matthew Brower, violinist and producer Chou, cellist César Colmenares, as well as the popular local acoustic band The Hook featuring Vince D'Amico, lead vocals; Glenn Regan, guitar and vocals; Greg Shriver, guitar; and Joe Williams, bass guitar and vocals.

The music repertoire inspired by nature includes Beau Soir by Debussy, Spring by Dominick Argento, L'Heure Exquise by Reynaldo Hahn, Primavera Portena from Las Cuatros Estate Estaciones Portenas by Astor Piazzolla, and Sunshine by Gang Chen and arranged and performed by 6ixwire.

The menu of hors d’oeuvres inspired by nature includes farfalle in wild mushrooms sauce, teriyaki chicken with vegetables, Thai green curry with veggies and rice, pork dumplings, samosas, crab cakes, steamed cod in black bean sauce served over fried rice and vegetables, lo mein vegetables, tiramisu and cookies.

Selected wines also will be served.

In addition to the presentation and in partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club, ticket holders and the public (without tickets) are invited to participate in a guided hike through the beautiful Lums Pond State Park in Delaware the day prior, Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.

During the guided hike, there will be opportunities to interact with Verdant Soirées artists and producers including Gao and Chou, and learn more about music compositions inspired by nature. The hike is open to friends and family, and not required in order to attend the following evening’s musical happy hour.

Season of sell-outs

The Magic Flute concert opera presented by the Master Players Concert Series on April 16 was sold out ahead of the performance. It completed a 2015-16 season of sold out concert presentations.