Harpist Emily Levin and Classical Guitarist Colin Davin Perform Duet Concert at Bankhead Theater

Virtuoso harpist Emily Levin and classical guitarist Colin Davin will take the stage at the Bankhead Theater on First Street in downtown Livermore at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, for an intimate evening chamber music concert exploring the acoustic similarities and striking sonic contrasts of their two plucked-string instruments. Presented by Livermore Valley Arts, the autumn recital invites classical music audiences from Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, and Danville to experience one of North America's most inventive instrumental partnerships inside the 500-seat theater.

Levin currently serves as the principal harpist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, while Davin serves as director of guitar programs at the Shenandoah Conservancy in Virginia. The two musicians first met as fellows at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival in 2012 and began performing together formally as a touring duet three years later in 2015. Their collaborative artistry earned widespread international acclaim when Classical Guitar Magazine named the duo's debut live-concert album, titled "Banter" and released in 2020, as one of its top 10 favorite classical recordings of the year.

For their November 14 performance at the Bankhead Theater, Levin and Davin have curated a dynamic program spanning twentieth-century minimalism, American symphonic lyricism, contemporary chamber compositions, and French and Spanish impressionism. Concertgoers will hear specially arranged duet performances of works by Philip Glass, pioneering American composer Florence Price, contemporary composer Jonathan Cziner, Maurice Ravel, and Manuel de Falla. Music educators across the Tri-Valley noted that pairing the warm, resonant sustain of the concert pedal harp with the percussive articulation of the six-string classical guitar reveals intricate contrapuntal textures rarely heard in standard solo recitals.

To encourage youth arts participation across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the Livermore Valley Arts board and cultural district committee confirmed that general admission tickets start at $35 for adults while admission is completely free for patrons aged 21 and under. High school orchestra students, community college music majors, and local conservatory guitar pupils are encouraged to claim complimentary youth seats through the theater's community education funding program. Downtown Livermore restaurant proprietors along First Street also anticipate lively pre-concert dining ahead of the 7:30 p.m. curtain.

Classical music patrons and Tri-Valley families can purchase reserved seats or claim free youth tickets for patrons 21 and under in person at the Bankhead Theater box office at 2400 First Street, online at livermorearts.org, or by calling (925) 373-6800. Ample free evening parking is available in the municipal parking structure located directly behind the theater on Railroad Avenue.