The Hubbard Music Center lives up to its billing once again as a “hub for all things music at Loomis Chaffee,” with upcoming guest performances by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Wind Ensemble and violinist Ameen Mokdad’s The Curve featuring the Cuatro Puntos ensemble and the Ekklesia Ballet. 

“The Performing Arts faculty are thrilled to offer programs that respond to and further generate energy and student interest in interacting with our guest musicians,” Performing Arts Department Head Susan Chrzanowski said. 

The visits by guest musicians stretch beyond the performances. 

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) Wind Ensemble will be on campus Monday, January 29, to perform in the Hubbard Performance Hall from 9:55 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. for the LC Wind Ensemble and Chamber Music classes and others who wish to attend. Later in the morning, there will be instrument-specific master classes. The HSO marks its 80th season in 2023–24. The HSO performers are Steve Wade (oboe), Sanwon Lee (clarinet), John Michael Flavetta (horn), Dillon Meacham (bassoon), and Dominique Kim (flute). 

Mr. Mokdad’s The Curve, featuring the Ekklesia Ballet, will be performed on Tuesday, January 30, at 7 p.m. The Curve is a collection of pieces composed by Mr. Mokdad when he was hiding from the Islamic State. At 8:30 p.m. there will be a question-and-answer session with Mr. Mokdad organized by Richard Karrat, a modern & classical languages faculty member and an associate of the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies. The Q&A is a collaboration between the Alvord Center and the Middle Eastern Society. Earlier in the day the Ekklesia Ballet will participate in a workshop with the Loomis Chaffee Dance Company. 

Mr. Mokdad was on campus in May working with students (shown in photo). Cuatro Puntos previously has performed in Hubbard. 

Adding the Ekklesia Ballet to the mix has been “an essential part of telling the story,” Mr. Mokdad said. “The magic of the human body and movements empowered the music to the highest levels, with wonderful dancers and brilliant choreography made by my good friend Elisa Schroth. All the movements were well crafted, and I feel extremely connected to each single element in the group; it does represent me as much as the music does, and sometimes more.” 

The visits from the guest musicians are made possible with support from the Joseph Stookins Lecture Fund. Both performances are free and open to the public.