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GREENSBORO — Pianist Peter Serkin.

Violinists Sarah Chang and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg.

Fiddling storyteller Mike Cross. Newgrass singer John Cowan. Hard-rockin' Chris Hicks.

They illustrate the melodic medley that the annual Eastern Music Festival brings to Guilford College and other venues for five weeks this summer.

The festival trains young pre-professional musicians from the United States and abroad and entertains the public in venues from Elon to Boone. Musicians arrive Saturday; concerts start Monday.

The musical mix makes for an appealing staycation or just a night out.

Here are highlights. Find the complete schedule and ticket prices at www.easternmusicfestival.org.

CLASSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

(Dana Auditorium, Guilford College)

Peter Serkin

The famed pianist joins EMF Music Director Gerard Schwarz and the faculty's Eastern Festival Orchestra for a July 4 concert featuring Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1.

Tickets: $51 reserved, $41 general admission

Sarah Chang

Now 28, this former child prodigy has been playing violin since age 4. She performs the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto on July 11 with Schwarz and the orchestra.

Tickets: $55 reserved, $45 general admission

Horacio Gutiérrez

Gutiérrez plays Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in this July 18 concert led by Schwarz. Guest conductor Bright Sheng, this summer's composer-in-residence, leads the orchestra in his Tibetan Swing.

Tickets: $51 reserved, $41 general admission

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg

The violinist known for her passionate performance made her EMF debut in 2005. She returns July 25 in a concert led by Jahja Ling.

Tickets: $55 reserved, $45 general admission

Xavier Phillips

EMF's season ends Aug. 1 with the popular cellist performing with Schwarz and the orchestra.

Tickets: $47, $37 general admission

EMFfringe

Fiddling storyteller Mike Cross and newgrass singer John Cowan and his band will headline this year's EMFfringe series of alternative music.

The series will feature eight events in July, with six shows at Triad Stage. Ticket holders also will receive free admission to concert after-parties at downtown restaurants and wine bars.

Kickoff party, July 2

Chris Hicks Band, July 9

Steep Canyon Rangers, July 18

The Waybacks, July 23

The Larry McCray Band, July 24

The John Cowan Band, July 25

The New Familiars, July 26

Mike Cross, July 30.

Tickets: $22-$27; season tickets $114, $109 seniors. July 2 and 26 events are free. Details: www.easternmusicfestival.org/fringe.php.

CHAMBER CONCERTS

Check out the Monday night series at the UNCG School of Music Recital Hall, the Tuesday night series at Guilford College's Hege Library and Sunday afternoon concerts on July 5 and 26 at Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem.

PIANO

Four faculty pianists play at the Steinway Piano Gala at 8 p.m. July 1. $29 reserved, $23 general admission. Or see students perform with two hands, four hands and even eight hands at Pianopalooza at 8 p.m. July 29. $19 reserved, $16 general admission. Both events are in Dana Auditorium.

FOR KIDS

Summer camps: The EMFkids camp for ages 4 and 5 has filled, but spaces remain for ages 6-8 (July 13-17) and in the EMFexplorers camp for ages 9 and 10 (July 20-24). Cost is $160. Information: www.easternmusicfestival.org/kids.php or nana@easternmusicfestival.org

EMFkids concerts:

What: Shana Banana returns with a musical show about ocean animals and environmental awareness, geared to ages 2-7.

When: 10:30 a.m. July 11

Where: Triad Stage, 232 S. Elm St., Greensboro

Tickets: $10 adults, $6 children

What: Grammy Award-winning Dan Zanes & Friends perform in English and Spanish.

When: 7 p.m. July 17

Where: Greensboro Day School, 5401 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro

Tickets: $18 general admission; $59 for family four pack

FOR ADULTS

Elderhostel: EMF will host the Elderhostel program July 25-28, featuring lectures, concerts and trips. Its 50 spaces are filled, but others can be placed on a waiting list. Information: (877) 426-8056 or www.elderhostel.org. Mention program number 17873.

Carolina Band Blast: Adult amateur musicians can join this regional band camp July 17-19 at the Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St. in Greensboro. $75. Information: 373-2549.

FREE STUFF

Holy Ghost Tent Revival performs at the EMFfringe kickoff party at 6:30 p.m. July 2. Natty Greene's Pub & Brewing Co., 345 S. Elm St. in Greensboro.

At 7 p.m. each Friday and Saturday, join musicologist Greg Carroll and conductor Peter Perret as they discuss the evening's composers and repertoire. Moon Room, first floor of Dana Auditorium, Guilford College, 5800 W. Friendly Ave. in Greensboro.

Watch student orchestra rehearsals at 10:30 a.m. July 7, 14, 21 and 28. Dana Auditorium, Guilford College.

Conductor Chelsea Tipton II leads the student orchestra in a Pops concert at 6 p.m. July 12. Part of the Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park series. Founders Lawn, Guilford College.

Catch a repeat of the student Pops concert at 7:30 p.m. July 13. "Under the Oaks," Elon University.

EMF faculty and students will present a chamber concert at 7:30 p.m. July 13. Hayworth Fine Arts Center, High Point University in High Point.

Students will present chamber recitals at 1:30 p.m. July 20, 21, 27, 28 and Aug. 1. Sternberger Auditorium, Guilford College.

The New Familiars play folk, blues and bluegrass at 6 p.m. July 26. Part of the MUSEP and EMFfringe series. Founders Lawn, Guilford College.

NEW VENUES

Temple Emanuel, 1129 Jefferson Road in Greensboro, will host July 21 and 22 performances of "One Enchanted Evening: Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein," a joint concert with the Greensboro Opera Company. Both performances have sold out; call 272-0160 to be added to a waiting list.

First Presbyterian Church, 617 N. Elm St. in Greensboro, will host an organ concert on July 8, the Northwest Boychoir of Seattle on July 12 and a performance of the Brandenburg Concerti July 15.