The Friends and Great Performers series continues this summer at the Eastern Music Festival integrating faculty members and two guest artists: harpsichordists Andrew Willis and Henry Lebedinsky, in a rendition of J.S. Bach's "Brandenburg Concerti 3-6."

The concert, taking place Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m., joins the musical efforts of various faculty members, combining flutes, strings and harpsichord in a celebration of Bach's renowned master works. This performance will be held in the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greensboro. Tickets may be purchased for $25 by calling the EMF box office at Triad Stage at 336-272-0160 or 866-579-TIXX, or online at www.EasternMusicFestival.org.

The "Brandenburg Concerti" comprise a collection of six instrumental works written by legendary German composer J.S. Bach, featuring a range of winds, strings and keyboard instruments as soloists. Consistently regarded as the most outstanding musical compositions of the Baroque era, they have become part of the standard repertoire and are continuously performed around the world. In these concertos, Bach explores the infinite possibilities of the instruments playing with the use of timbres and textures altogether. These exemplify the compositional traits that placed him as one of the superior musical figures of this period.

The evening joins harpsichordists Andrew Willis and Henry Lebedinsky with several EMF faculty members in a Baroque extravaganza. The program includes four of the six previously mentioned concertos: "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major BWV 1048," "Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major BWV 1049," "Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major BWV 1050" and "Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat major BWV 1051."

Now in its 48th year, the Eastern Music Festival and School is recognized for its prodigious contributions to the field of American music and its commitment to nurturing talented American and international youth through a collaborative learning process.

The program brings together a cross-section of America's most sought-after artists with pre-professional students in a five-week schedule of 100 concerts and music-related events.

Music Director Gerard Schwarz heads a distinguished list of participating artists scheduled for 2009, including Peter Serkin, Sarah Chang, Horacio Gutirrez, Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg, Xavier Phillips, plus many others.

The Festival also produces a popular EMFfringe series of alternative programming, featuring everything from Americana to alt country, blues, jazz and gospel with artists such as Mike Cross, The John Cowan Band, Laurelyn Dosett, Steep Canyon Rangers, Waybacks, The Chris Hicks Band, blues artist Larry McCray and more.

The 2009 Eastern Music Festival season is sponsored in part by the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, the North Carolina Arts Council, Lincoln Financial Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Southern Arts Federation, WFDD Triad Arts Station, Greensboro's News and Record, Continental Airways, Yes! Weekly, and Piedmont Music Center (Steinway Pianos).

For more information about EMF or its programs, please visit www.EasternMusic Festival.org, or call toll free 1-877-833-6753