Beach-steeped artistry bearing free concert fruit

Delaware’s Cape Region attracts artists.  The rhythm of the tides and waves beckons musicians. Light glowing in water-infused sunsets and splashing surf inspires painters to reach for their brushes. For poets and writers, characters attracted by the power of life on the edge offer endless variety and inspiration.

Sheridan Seyfried was born into that coastal summer magic.  His parents, Elise and Steve Seyfried, founded the Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre at about the same time he was born.  Summers meant living at the beach, developing an artistic vocabulary from listening to the chatter of his parents, helping haul sets between church and library stages, feeling the excitement and satisfaction of appreciative audiences. Nature and nurture hardwired performance into Sheridan’s persona.

Now, three decades later and with a deep classical music education from Curtis in Philadelphia fueling his artistic passion, Sheridan is once again heeding the call of the beach. But before I tell you why, let me note that in those intervening years he developed his skills as a composer and performer, married one of his Curtis classmates - Ya-Jhu Yang, also an accomplished musician - and together they are now raising, perhaps, another generation of artists.

Sheridan and Ya-Jhu direct choirs and play organ for churches in the Philadelphia area. They practice - she the piano, he the piano and violin - whenever the blur of making livings and raising children permits.  And they keep up with their fellow performers from Curtis, many of whom have gone on to careers as soloists, symphonic musicians, teachers and - like Ya-Jhu and Sheridan - parents.

Next week they will bring many of those experiences together when they return to the beach for two free concerts. It’s been several years since Sheridan and his mother produced a summer chamber music series in Lewes. He misses it.  The concerts, starting at 7:30 p.m., will be in the sanctuaries of Epworth Methodist Church in Rehoboth, Aug. 10, and St. Martha’s in Bethany Beach, Aug. 11.

Designed to be accessible to a lot of people and to get people back into their cars by 9, the program will present a blend of folk and classical music.

“Sometimes people go out for an all-classical concert,” said Sheridan.  “Other times they go out to hear a folk artist playing guitar and singing.  Both of those are great, but I’m interested in the gray area between the two.  I grew up classical, but in recent years I’ve gotten more into folk, bluegrass and blues - more vernacular styles.  I want to bridge the gap between those.  I’m a creative type, so creating a concert is the ultimate opportunity for me.  We will be presenting shorter portions of works in a variety of styles.  If you don’t like one piece, wait for the next.”

“This is very much about the audience. We’re looking for that ultimate middle ground so everyone - performers and audience - has a good experience. It will be a folk-influenced instrumental program with a sing-along at the end. It’s not folk unless the folk are participating!  We want to bring it back home.  Bring it back to America.”

Irish folk music, pieces from Bartok and Stravinsky, and a movement from one of Seyfried’s compositions are all part of the program.  “Mine is a slow movement, very lyrical, heartfelt and melodic,” said Sheridan. “Melancholy and hopeful passages flirt with one another and then come to a resolution at the end.”  

Sheridan said he hopes people will stay around afterward and meet the performers.  

“I’m excited.  We’re bringing a bunch of friends together again.  But this time no one’s being hired, no one’s being paid.  This time it’s just for fun,” he said.  “We’re doing this for the joy of getting together and playing music and sharing it with an audience. We know it’s a real blessing to be able to do this - a blessing not everyone has.”