The World Premiere of
EARLY MUSIC ACCESS PROJECT
“Lafayette’s Fiddlers”
3-5 pm Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
PRESENTED AT:
Sydnor Performance Hall,
University of Lynchburg
Schewel Hall
PRESENTED BY:
AGAR in collaboration with
Early Music Access Project Charlottesville,
and the Lynchburg Arts Consortium of the
University of Lynchburg.
FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE:
There will be a short meet-and-greet between the performers and the audience.
EARLY MUSIC ACCESS PROJECT
“Lafayette’s Fiddlers”
3-5 pm Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
PRESENTED AT:
Sydnor Performance Hall,
University of Lynchburg
Schewel Hall
PRESENTED BY:
AGAR in collaboration with
Early Music Access Project Charlottesville,
and the Lynchburg Arts Consortium of the
University of Lynchburg.
FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE:
There will be a short meet-and-greet between the performers and the audience.
In November 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette visited his dear friend Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, VA. His visit was heralded with great fanfare, including a grand banquet at the Rotunda on the grounds of the University of Virginia. The Scott family fiddlers, of Black and Indigenous heritage, provided the musical entertainment for this event.
Early Music Access Project (EMAP) commemorates the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Virginia with this concert. Based on his research as a fellow of the International Center for Jefferson Studies, EMAP artistic director David McCormick has curated a program that includes music that may have been played for the occasion and French songs that Lafayette and Jefferson admired. Actor Brandon Lee will portray three Black historical figures who left written accounts of Lafayette’s visit.
Early Music Access Project (EMAP) commemorates the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Virginia with this concert. Based on his research as a fellow of the International Center for Jefferson Studies, EMAP artistic director David McCormick has curated a program that includes music that may have been played for the occasion and French songs that Lafayette and Jefferson admired. Actor Brandon Lee will portray three Black historical figures who left written accounts of Lafayette’s visit.
The musicians, all experts in 18th- and 19th-Century American Music,
taking the stage are:
taking the stage are:
David McCormick
Early Music Access Project (EMAP) Artistic Director and Baroque Fiddle
Early Music Access Project (EMAP) Artistic Director and Baroque Fiddle
Dominic Giardino
Historical Clarinets 
Brandon Lee
Actor and Percussion |
Benjamin Hunter
Baroque Fiddle, Voice, Banjo, and Percussion 
Rebecca Scout Nelson
Baroque Fiddle, Guitar, and Voice |
Carmen Johnson-Pájaro
Baroque Fiddle 
Sam Suggs
Baroque Double Bass |
Benjamin Hunter, Carmen Johnson-Pajaro and David McCormick are all nationally and internationally known baroque violinists. Rebecca Scout Nelson not only has made a name for herself as a baroque fiddler but also as a recording vocalist and guitarist.Dominic Giardino is an active freelance historical musician and historical interpreter at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Sam Suggs teaches bass at JMU as well as composing and performing on baroque double bass in early music. In addition to being Artistic Director of Early Music Access Project of Charlottesville, David McCormick is also Executive Director of Early Music America.
TICKETS
PURCHASE OPTIONS:
- University of Lynchburg (UL) affiliated students, faculty
and staff - FREE - $20 Non-UL affiliated ADULTS
- $10 Non-UL affiliated STUDENTS
- FREE VCA PASSPORT (Limited free VCA and VDH PASSPORT tickets are available to persons showing a WIC Card. For more information, click on this link: https://www.amherstglebeartsresponse.org/passport.html)
PURCHASE OPTIONS:
- AT THE DOOR: Cash or checks only; doors open at 2:15 pm.
- ONLINE: Reserve a ticket with credit card via Eventbrite
by using the button below.
