ETV Salutes “Charles Wadsworth: The (Chamber) Music Man”

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ETV Salutes "Charles Wadsworth: The (Chamber) Music Man"

Documentary Airs During Wadsworth's Final Season
as Artistic Director of the Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music Series

For Immediate Release
May 19, 2009

Columbia, SC… Mention the name "Charles Wadsworth" to many South Carolinians, and their first response will be, "You mean, the chamber music man?"

And rightfully so. Wadsworth, who has built a career out of sharing his passion and enthusiasm for chamber music, has become synonymous with the musical genre. In the process, he has almost single-handedly transformed the perception of chamber music concerts. Under his careful direction, what was once viewed by some as a dry and stuffy performance by a string quartet has become a highly anticipated and popular event attended by people of all ages and backgrounds.

In fact, the birth of chamber music festivals across the country--and the world--can trace their roots back to him.

Even though he is known worldwide, he is frequently found in South Carolina, conducting his regular chamber music concerts, "Charles Wadsworth and Friends," around the state, including Beaufort, Camden, Columbia, Greenville, Hartsville and Hilton Head. And all of that is in addition to his role as the Artistic Director of the Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music Series in Charleston, which is produced for radio and distributed nationally by ETV Radio.

Turning 80 years-old on May 21, Wadsworth has announced that this will be his last year at the helm of the Spoleto music series. He has also decided to greatly reduce his rigorous touring schedule.

In honor of his birthday and his upcoming retirement, ETV presents the new hour-long documentary "Charles Wadsworth: The (Chamber) Music Man," premiering Monday, June 1 at 10 p.m. (Please note additional broadcast dates at the bottom of this release)

The program highlights some of Wadsworth's greatest accomplishments, including being hand-picked by Gian Carlo Menotti in 1960 to create the original Chamber Music Series for the Spoleto Festival in Italy, and recreating that success with the Spoleto Festival USA in 1977. He formed the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 1969, played for several presidents, and helped launch the careers of many musicians including famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

But the documentary will also present a picture of the man behind the music, with a tour of his hometown of Newnan, GA led by Wadsworth himself. From his boyhood home to his elementary school, to the place that sparked his career with his first paying gig (five whole dollars!), Wadsworth relays his trademark stories about each, providing viewers with an intimate picture of the man who had the world at his fingertips, but never forgot where he came from.

"We are just so lucky to have Charles as an adopted son of South Carolina," said Elaine Freeman, founder and former executive director for the ETV Endowment, who is personally underwriting this program as a way to say 'thank you' to Wadsworth. "I'm glad to say it's been a mutual adoption. He's done so much to enhance our joy of chamber music throughout his many years of association with ETV Radio and our Spoleto programming."

Encore broadcasts of "Charles Wadsworth: The (Chamber) Music Man" can be seen on ETV on Thursday, June 4 at 9 p.m. and Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. It will also air on the South Carolina Channel on Monday, June 8 at 7 p.m.

South Carolina ETV is the state's public educational broadcasting network with 11 television and eight radio transmitters, and a multi-media educational system in more than 2,500 schools, colleges, businesses and government agencies. Using television, radio and the web, SCETV's mission is to enrich lives by educating children, informing and connecting citizens, celebrating our culture and environment and instilling the joy of learning.

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For more information, contact Rob Schaller at (803) 737-6556 or rschaller@scetv.org.

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Charles Wadsworth at the Piano.