Marcia Henry Liebenow Presents “Irish Rhapsody”

Marcia Henry Liebenow teaches students.

On Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26, The Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra will perform Sir Charles Villiers Stanford’s “Irish Rhapsody #6” for violin and orchestra with violin faculty member Marcia Henry Liebenow as the featured soloist.

Liebenow is the Concertmaster of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and teaches violin at Bradley University. She first discovered Stanford’s rhapsody late one night while driving home and devoted hours to tracking down music for the piece while learning more about Stanford and his work.

Liebenow’s concludes that Stanford is the greatest British composer of sacred music since Henry Purcell. “His forty years of teaching had a profound effect on several generations of British composers,” she explained, “including Ralph Vaughan Williams.”

Symphony concerts at Birch Creek are held Thursdays through Saturdays, June 24 – July 3 at 8 pm with student prelude concerts at 7:30 pm. After the June 26 concert, Birch Creek invites the audience to a light reception in celebration of its 35th Anniversary Season.

Ticket prices are $29 for adults, $10 for students, and $6 for children. Birch Creek is three miles east of Egg Harbor on County Highway E. A picnic grove area is available for carry-in pre-concert suppers. For more information or to make reservations, call 920.868.3763 or visit http://www.birchcreek.org.