America’s
Home
for the Arts
Settlers named the northern Virginia valley Wolf Trap almost 400 years ago. Today it is the home of America’s only national park for the performing arts, and Yamaha celebrates the 2002-2003 season as the park’s official piano. Donated to the federal government in the late 1960s by owner Catherine Filene Shouse, the 128-acre park offers an uniquely American venue for artistic expression. The 7,028-seat indoor/outdoor Filene Center plays host to seasonal performances and educational programs of every type, while nearby, The Barns of Wolf Trap offers a smaller, intimate setting for up to 400 people.
In April 2003, a new $10 million Educational Center will open, providing space not only for Wolf Trap’s Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts but also for the renowned Wolf Trap Opera Company.
The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit organization that runs the park in partnership with the National Park Service. Since assuming the reins in 1996, president and CEO Terrence Jones has championed Wolf Trap’s role in commissioning new works of art. As he told the New York Times in August, “We’re a national park for the performing arts. We need to contribute to the national repertoire.”
“The ability to have Yamaha equipment readily available certainly will facilitate that process,” say Jones. “We’ve been extremely pleased with the quality of the pianos, and have gotten extremely positive responses from the artists. Yamaha understands our needs and is willing to cooperate with us.”
One special program Jones has instituted is “Face of America,” which combines music, dance, and other means of expression to shine a spotlight on a different national park each year, highlighting not only its natural wonders but the people who live in and around it. In 2002, the series highlighted Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, combining filmed and live performances by Doug Varone and his dance company on stage at the Filene Center.
The 2002 season also included performances by Harry Connick Jr., Tony Bennett, the B.B. King Blues Festival, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Bruce Hornsby, and Yo Yo Ma, along with scores of other performers.
Yamaha’s involvement with Wolf Trap began on a small scale, with a single CFIIIS concert grand piano used by Yamaha artist John Tesh at The Barns last winter. Now 15 pianos of various sizes are in use in the park.
Ann McPherson McKee, Wolf Trap’s Senior Vice President for Performing Arts and Education, praised the park’s new Yamaha instruments. “The pianos worked beautifully for us. They held their tuning versus other instruments we’ve had in the building before, which is significant since the Filene Center is an indoor/outdoor facility.”
Jones says he especially enjoys hearing piano performances in the smaller venue. “The facility in The Barns is like an extension of the piano, because it’s so acoustically pure,” he explains.
Up-to-date information about performances and educational programs at Wolf Trap is available online at www.wolftrap.org.
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The
stunning indoor/outdoor Filene Center
hosts concerts and shows of every variety at Wolf Trap |
