MEEmNlj~N~~~/~I~S - Williamsport Symphony Orchestra

-'------FALL
A Newsletter
for Supporters
2010
VOL.20
NO.1
and Friends of the Symphony
o t e
5
JOIN US FOR MEET THE MAESTRO
Meet the Maestro lunches are
scheduled this season at a location to be
announced on the Penn College campus.
Where possible, each menu will reflect the nationality of the music
featured in the concert. In October, guest artist pianist Martina
Filjack will join Gerardo Edelstein to talk about Rachmaninov's
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. December's guest performers
are the choirs of Williamsport
High School, and we hope
conductor Jeff Tedford will be our guest. February's theme is
Italian Connections, and soprano SashaPiastro is the guest artist.
In March, we are hoping that Ian Duh (winner of the 2009 Young
Artist Competition)
can leave school to be with us. May brings
Andrew Rammon, soloist for Haydyn's Cello Concerto in C Major.
Also on that program is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the
Lycoming College Choir and the State College Choral Society.
You may reserve a seat for individual luncheons at
$25 per lunch or pay in advance for all five at $100.
To reserve for individual luncheons, please call the
office a week in advance at 570.322.0227 .
•
MEEmNlj~N~~~/~I~S~
Williamsport Symphony Orchestra I 220 West Fourth Street. Third FloorI Williamsport. PA 1770 1-6 I02 I 570.322.0227 I www.williamsportsymphony.org
CONDUCTOR'S
CORNER
Dear WSO Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I have accepted
the position of Music Director/Conductor
the Williamsport
of
Symphony Orchestra, and I am
looking froward to many years of collaboration with this wonderful
organization. I can't wait to start making music with such a fine group
of musicians and to share with you my vision for the Symphony.
This coming season is entitled CONNECTIONS,
WILLIAMSPORT SYMPHONY
YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONCERT-FREE!
.tyovemb~.!...!.!.20 !2.!J:30
Monday
pm _.m
and it is my desire
to bring as many people as possible to our concerts. I would like to
__
connect through music and share with all of you the excitement that
happens on stage in every performance. Some all-time Masterworks
WILLIAMSPORT SYMPHONY OROHEST
BILLTOWN BRASS
are lined up for you this season and they are not to be missed! From
the fate theme in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.4 to the delightful
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••••
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"Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, we are offering music
that will touch your hearts and enrich your souls. Music is a universal
MEETTHE MAESTRO LUNCHEO
December
Frid
language and we will connect with different cultures to bring you the
10, 2010 I I 1:30am
best music from around the world.
HOLIDAYCONNECTIONS
Saturd
December
CONC
II, 2010 I 7:30
We are very fortunate to showcase in the first concert, Martina Filjak,
m
who is the winner of the 2009 Cleveland Piano Competition. She is
going to perform one of the most exciting and well known pieces for
MEETTHE MAESTRO LUNCHEON
Friday February
18, 20 I 0 I II :30 am
piano and orchestra: Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini.
This piece is based on the famous Caprice No. 24 for violin solo
ITALIAN CONNECTIONS CONCERT
Sunday February
20,2011
composed by the all time virtuoso. The concert will end with
I 3:00pm
Tchaikovsky's perhaps most popular symphony, a work which
transmits many moods, from the very somber and troublesome to
SPECIAL CONNECTIONS CONCERT
the finale with optimism, confidence and exhilaration.
Live and Let Die Symphonic Tribute to the music of Paul McCartney
Friday March
4, 2011 17:30p.:..;m:......
New this season is The Mystery Piece! At the end of each concert we
_
will play an encore without announcing the name of the piece. We will
MEET THE MAESTRO LUNCHEON
Monday
March
HOllYWOOD
Tuesday March
draw the correct answer from the audience "guess box" and the
14, 20 II I II :30 am
winner will get two tickets to a Meet the Maestro Luncheon.
A concert should be a very profound and unique event, and I invite
CONNECTIONS CONCERT
I 7:30pm
15,2011
you to come to our concerts to experience just that! I am looking
forward to seeing you there.?~
WILLIAMSPORT SYMPHONY
YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONCERT-FREE!
Monday
March
28, 2011 I 7:30pm
MEETTHE MAESTRO LUNCHEON
Fri~'!1 April 29, 20 II I II :30 am.
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•••• ••_ •••••••
m
AUSTRO-GERMAN CONNECTIONS CONCERT
Sunday May I, 20 II I 3:00pm
ANNUAL YOUNG ARTIST'S COMPETITION
May 1 date and time to be announced
_
PLUS MORE EVENTS TO COME!
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notE'S
FALL 2010
OCTOBER GUEST ARTIST.MARTINA FILJAK
At the opening concert of this season, the Williamsport audience will
be treated to a piano performance of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a
theme of Paganini by the 2009 winner of the Cleveland International
Piano Competition,
Martina Filjak. From a field of 32 contestants,
Filjak won - the 5th woman to win this prize.
The Cleveland competition was founded in 1975 at the Cleveland
Institute of Music as the Robert Casadesus International Piano
Competition and was given its current name in 1995. Held every two
years, the final round is judged in a performance with the Cleveland
Orchestra in Severance Hall after which the winner is announced.
The winner receives an award package including a record deal, a
$50,000 cash prize, and a recital at Carnegie Hall. Martina's
recording with Naxos is expected to be out by the end of the year.
Martina was bom and grew up in Croatia, the daughter of pianists.
In an interview on her website, she describes the difficulties of
her early teen years when her country was at war. After an
orchestra debut at age 12with the Zagreb Chamber Orchestra,
she graduated from the Music Academy of Zagreb and the
Vienna Conservatory. Currently she studies at the Hochschule
for Music and Theater in Hanover, Germany with Professor
Mi Kyung Kim. Her performance resume is extensive, having
played with orchestras in Zagreb, Strasbourg, Morocco, and
Belgrade and with the Torina Philharmonic and the Chamber
Orchestra of South Africa. Winning the Cleveland competition,
however, opens other doors.
Williamsport audiences will remember the previous Cleveland winner,
Alexander Ghindin, from our 2008 season in a performance of
Prokofieff's Third Piano Concerto. After delivering a powerhouse of
a performance, you may recall that he doffed his tux, came to the
The mission
oftheWSO
is to be a
cultural asset
to the community
by providing
quality
orchestral music,
education,
and
performance
opportunities for
post-concert reception in casual attire, and escaped recognition at
first looking like a backstage technician.
In June of this year, Ghindin and Filjak played a duo-recital at
Severance Hall. Critic Donald Rosenberg wrote in the Cleveland Plain
Dealer the next day "Ghindin and Filjak confirmed their statures as
victors while also proving that contestants can function as team
players." Their two-piano selections included pieces by 20th / 21st
century composers George Gershwin, Bill Bolcolm, and Wendell
Keeny in addition to Rachmaninov's Suite # I.
Martina will join those who attend the Meet the Maestro lunch the day
before the concert at le Jeune Chef.
regional talent
to an
ever-expanding
audience.
rrvr
HUDOCK
Concert Sponsor
•
MOYER •
GENETTI
Guest Artist Sponsor Hotel
&
Conference
Center
~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------~.
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A NOTE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT
YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
MOVES TO MAY
The date for the WSO Young Artist Competition
The WSO Board has accepted the resignation of Executive Director
Stephanie Jeffreys whose last day in our employ was September 2.
is
Stephanie's reasons were personal. Her work in the past ten months
being moved to May this season. The winner will
perform in the following season's March WSO concert.
Heads-up to students and teachers who are preparing
to enter. Dates for submitting applications and tapes
has positioned us well for a new season - and, though we will miss
her organization and leadership, we wish her well. She has helped in
transitioning the office and has worked with Executive Assistant Hind
Jabbour who is managing the office as we look to fill Stephanie's
will be announced in the next newsletter or you can
position. A search committee is well into the process of receiving
call the office for information-570.322.0227.
and interviewing applicants, and by the time the newsletter goes to
press, we may have additional office coverage.
Also in August Kate Brosky, Orchestra Manager, stepped down. With
a lot on her plate particularly this fall, Kate couldn't make the time
for the job. She's been gracious in helping Gerardo get music to the
musicians and will continue to play in the violin section. Short-term
interim arrangements for this position are in place; look for more in
the next newsletter.
Though the seas we've been navigating have not been smooth, be
assured that the WSO ship is strong and seaworthy and she sails on.
7JiaIlIle YeeliIl<j
5treet Light
fhotograph'y
Wedding - Portrait
Special Events
Photographers
Stephanie Carey
and
Ralph Wilson
570-547-6224
TICKETS
~
COMMUNITY
$25·45
CALL 570·326·2424 OR 800·432·9382
VISIT WWW.CACLlVE.COM
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ARTS CENTER
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RED
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on the web at www.streetlightphoto.com
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RUSSIAN CONNECTIONS Tuesday October 5, 2010 I 7:30pm
Russian and Ludmila Overture M. Glinka,
Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini s. Rachmaninov,
Soloist-
Martina Filjak, 2009 Cleveland Piano Competition Winner,
Symphony No.4, Op.36 in FMinor P.1.Tchaikovsky
I---lV1
GENETTI
HUDOCK
Concert Sponsor
•
MOYER·
Guest Artist Sponsor
Hotel & Conference Center
HOLIDAY CONNECTIONS Saturday December II, 2010 J 7:30pm
Suite from Nutcracker P.I.Tchaikovsky,Festive Sounds of Hannukah B. Holocombe,
White Christmas I. Berlin, Sleigh Ride L. Anderson,
Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage from "Christmas Oratorio" J.S. Bach,
There Shall Come a Star Out of Jacob
Christmas Sing Along J. Finnegan,
F.Mendelssohn,
with special guests the Williamsport High School Choirs
'*HYSICIANS
Concert Sponsor
to be announced
Guest Artist Sponsor ,
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MUS
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ITALIAN CONNECTIONS Sunday February 20,2011 .I 3:00pm
The Barber of Seville Overture G. Rossini, I Crisantemi G. Puccini,
Arias for Soprano G. Puccini and G. Donizetti Soloist - SashaPiastro,
Preludes to Aida and La Traviata G. Verdi, Pines of Rome O. Respighi
Concert Sponsor
~M&TBank
Understanding
what's important"
wnLIAl)fSPORT
Guest Artist Sponsor
SUN-GAZETfE
HOLLYWOOD CONNECTIONS Tuesday March 15,2011 j 7:30pm
Program includes music from the following movies: Lord of the Rings,
Titanic, Schindler's List ,Star Wars, E.T., and Harry Potter,
37th Annual WSO Young Artist Competition Winner, Ian Duh
playing first movement of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto #2 in C Minor
Pennsylvania College
01Technology
•
Concert Sponsor PENNlii;SrA;:cJE"--
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~Jersey
Shore
State Bank
Guest Artist Sponsor ~
CO~NECTI_~NS Su..nday~.~ I, 20.~~i 3:00p_"-,_
Adagietto from "Symphony No. 5"G. Mahler, Cello Concerto in C Major F.J.Haydn
oloist - Andrew Rammon, Symphony No.9 Op. 125 in D Minor L.van Beethoven
Soloists - Meredith Mecum, Lorie Gratis, Tim LeFebvre, Jerry Grahame,
the Lycoming College Choir, and the State College Choral Society
Concert Sponsor LYCOMING COLLEGE
~
Guest Artist Sponsor ATIORNEYS
FOR
THE
ARTS
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FALL
20 I 0
THE WILLIAMSPORT SYMPHONY
YOUTH ORCHESTRA-
This Season
CELEBRATING
have played in the CAC lobby before the WSO concerts. There have
The students had a summer "retreat" and played one summer concert
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ITS
(this summer at Central Oak Heights) -a
ANNIVERSARY
U4-:e~~
pops repertoire. Ensembles
also been side-by-side concerts - WSO/WSYO
players together on
the stage. New this year is a WSYO-sponsored concerto competition
What do Walt Straiton, Amy Dowling, Rick
and a collaboration with the Uptown Music Collective for a pops
Coulter,Kathleen
concert, scheduled for January 8 as well as field trip to hear the
Mondell, Jason Hurwitz,
Jennifer Sacher Wiley, Matt Radspinner,Jeff
Northeastern
Philharmonic.
and Marc Thayer, and Kristin Schwanbeck
have in common? The WSYO -
This season's classical concerts will occur November I and March 28.
at some
The repertoire ranges from Mozart - Horn Concerto No.3
point in its 25 years' life.
featuring William Kenny as soloist-to
The Leaders
It began with Walter Straiton, then faculty member in the Williamsport
Dvorak Symphony No.8.
Where Are They Now?
Area School District who was the WSYO Director until 1993, at which
News about other alumni of the WSYO as well as highlights from
point Rick Coulter, a WASD Supervisor (of the Essentials,as Rick explains
the past are being sought so as to ensure
his responsibilities) took over through 2006 when the baton shifted to
that the "history" is both accurate and
Bucknell University's Christopher
Director, Jeff Tedford; and-for
complete. E-mailed information
Para and to WASD Orchestra
the past two seasons-to
to
the WSO office will be welcome.
Jennifer
Wiley, Associate Professor of Music at SusquehannaUniversity. Music IS
We know that music
a lifelong enterprise as is obvious from the resumes of all of the directors:
education
Straiton works for Yamaha'sEducation Division in California; Coulter
lifelong benefits that go
provides
beyond the discipline
conducts the Billtown Brass and oversees the WHS music program
(one of the "Essentials"); Para and Tedford remain in academe; Wiley also
required.
directs the Susquehanna University Orchestra and plays with the WSO.
has proven itself as an
The WSYO
Similarly, music is a lifelong enterprise for many of the WSYO musicians.
appropriate and valuable resource/byproduct
of the WSO.
The Alumni
The brothers Thayer are connected to symphony orchestras; Marc
ORCHESTRAL ROCK PROJECT.UPTOWN/WSYO COMBINED EFFORT
as the Education Director of the St. Louis Symphony and Jeff, as
concertmaster with the San Diego Symphony. Jeff was a WSO Guest
Artist several years ago, bringing with him the Stradivarius violin
he regularly plays. Two - Kathleen Mondell and Matt Radspinner-are
Save the date! The January 8th collaboration between
music teachers in the Williamsport School District; Kristin Schwanbeck
the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra (WSYO)
and the Uptown Music Collective will be a
continues her music studies at Colorado State University.
Amy Dowling's commitment
to music has taken the form of helping
to raise funds for the WSO through its Friends organization; former
concertmistress for the WSYO in 1999 and also a violinist for the WSO,
she is helping to keep the musicians on the stage. Jason Hurwitz was
in town as a member of the cast of Barrage; he left to play the electric
violin with Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and was in Atlantic City this
summer. Then he shifted to Cincinnati for his Master of Arts/MBA
Arts Administration
in
studies.
first for this area - a concert with rock
band and live orchestra supported in
part by a grant from the WilliamsportLycoming Foundation. All performers
will be area high school students who
will spend the day in rehearsal and that
evening in performance. Williamsport
musician Rob Byham is doing the orchestra
arrangements. The score includes
The Organization
music from the Beatles, Moody
The student musicians audition for the WSYO; over the years, the
Blues, and others. Uptown's
number of musicians on stage has ranged from 45-85. In the beginning,
Dave Brumbaugh and Youth
the students came from the "valley"-
Symphony's Jennifer Wiley
primarily local schools; now, they
hail from Mansfield, Coming, State College, Selinsgrove, and Lewisburg
are co-directing.
in addition to the local schools; most are senior high students; most
from ticket fees will be split
participate in their school bands and/or orchestras.
by the two organizations.
Proceeds
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WilliamsportSymphonyOrchestra
I
Nonprofit Organization
US Postage
220 WEST FOURTH
STREET,THIRDFLOOR
WILLIAMSPORT,
PA , 17701-6102
PAID
Williamsport. PA 1770I
Permit No, 295
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tlits iflii"
fAll
2010 VOL.20
I
NO.1
Meet the Maestro luncheon
20 I 0-11 Calendar of Events
Conductor's Corner
Young Artist Competition
Orchestral Rock ProjectUptown and WSYO
New Season Concert Series
WSYO Silver Anniversary
Soloist-
Martina Filjak! RUSSIAN
Tuesday
October
CONNECTIONS
5, 20 I 0 ! 7:30pm
GUESSTHE MYSTERYPIECE!
You could
2 tickets to a
Meet the Maestro luncheon
Thank you Penn College- The Board of Trustees and WSO staff are grateful to Penn College
for sponsoring this Fall 20/0 newsletter,
($50 value)! Hear the details
Symphony Notes- A publication of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, 220W. Fourth St., Third Floor, Williamsport, PA 17701-6102
Phone: 570.322.0227Email:
info@williomsportsymphony,com
Visit us at: www.williamsportsymphony,org
at our concerts!
WSO Personnel-Gerardo
Edelstein Music Director/Conductor, Hind jabbour/ Executive Assistant, Lee Saville-Andree/Stage
Symphony Notes is produced by the staff of the WSO and published four times a year,
Manager