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    Health & Wellness

    Mayo Clinic Announces Three Performances in September for the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program

ROCHESTER, Minn. — August 23, 2012.  The public is invited to enjoy three Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program concerts in September. Performances will be on Mondays from 12:10 to 1 p.m.

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The schedule is:

Sept. 3: Labor Day, no concert.

Sept. 10: Maritza will perform a Balkan and klezmer concert in Barbara Woodward Lips Atrium, subway level, Charlton Building, 10 Third Ave. NW. Band leader and accordionist Pine Wilson developed a love of Balkan music through 20 years of exposure to Eastern European folk dance. She then traveled to Bulgaria and Greece and studied with an Albanian accordionist. Wilson also plays tupan and doumbek. Other band members include Ann Streufert on violin, viola, flute and percussion; Elizabeth Finanger, on mandolin, guitar and percussion; Erik Berg on percussion; and Hannah Breckbill on double bass.

Sept. 17: Matuto will perform a world-music concert in Hage Atrium, subway level, Siebens Medical Education Building, 100 Second Ave. SW. Clay Ross, founder of Matuto, discovered world folk music in Brazil and named his band after the Portuguese slang for "a man from the back country." His style mixes North American folk songs such as Blind Willie Johnson's "John the Revelator" with South American rhythms typical of northeastern Brazil. Ross and his musical partner Rob Curto have created an extensive library of Pan-American-influenced music. Matuto employs renowned musicians from New York City's diverse jazz, roots and world-music scenes. Regular band members include vocalist Richie Barshay, percussionist Ze Mauricio, bassist Skip Ward, and violinist Mazz Swift.

Sept. 24: The Alaska String Band, from Juneau, will perform an old-time blues and swing concert in Lips Atrium. The band's repertoire also includes bluegrass, gospel and Celtic arrangements. Much of the music dates from the pioneer days of the Gold Rush era. The band includes husband and wife Melissa and Paul Zahasky and their children, Laura, Abigail and Quinn. The band's album, "The Alaska String Band," was released in 2005 and features performances from the Alaska Folk Festival. The DVD, "Southeast Alaska Odyssey," has scenic photographs accompanied by the band's music.

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program is coordinated by Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester. The series is generously funded by the late Rosemary Willson in memory of her husband, Meredith Willson, who wrote the Broadway musical "The Music Man." The gift is made in gratitude for the couple's care at Mayo Clinic. More information can be found online.

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About Mayo Clinic:

Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.orgwww.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.


Media Contact: Rebecca Eisenman, 507-284-5005 (days), 507-284-2511 (evenings), newsbureau@mayo.edu

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