A Weekend of Star Wars and A Night in Vienna | Program Notes

GEEK • 2015-2016 A WEEKEND OF STAR WARS COLORADO SYMPHONY ANDRES LOPERA, conductor TRISTAN RENNIE, host

Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 1:00 pm Boettcher Concert Hall

JOHN WILLIAMS

Main Title from Star Wars

JOHN WILLIAMS

Here They Come” from A New Hope

HOLST

“Mars” from The Planets

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Leia’s Theme” from Star Wars

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Yoda’s Theme” from Star Wars

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Cantina Band” from Star Wars

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Duel of the Fates” from Phantom Menace — INTERMISSION —

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Imperial March” from Star Wars

JOHN WILLIAMS

“The Asteroid Field” from The Empire Strikes Back

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Parade of the Ewoks” from Return of the Jedi

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Across the Stars” from Attack of the Clones

JOHN WILLIAMS

“Throne Room and End Title” from Star Wars

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 1

GEEK SERIES BIOGRAPHIES ANDRES LOPERA, conductor Colombian conductor Andres Lopera is one of the leading Latin-American artists in the United States with nearly a decade of engagements in both North and South America. A passionate conductor who believes in the transformational power of music, Lopera has recently led the Oregon Symphony, Toledo Symphony, New World Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared with professional and youth orchestras throughout Central and South America, including Honduras, where he led the Youth Orchestra of the Americas in a musical camp for both young and professional musicians. In 2012, Lopera was appointed Music Director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, for which he oversaw 12 different orchestral ensembles with more than 450 students. Also an accomplished trombonist, Lopera’s musical development started with the Red de Bandas de Antioquia and Red de Escuelas de Musica de Medellin, both El Sistema like programs developed in Colombia. Lopera earned a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from New England Conservatory of Music and in Trombone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to these programs, he was awarded degrees in Conducting and Trombone from the Universidad EAFIT in Medellin, Colombia. His principal teachers were Hugh Wolff and David Loebel, with additional studies with Ludovic Morlot, Michael Tilson Thomas and Marin Alsop.

PROGRAM 2 SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

HOLIDAY • 2015-2016 A NIGHT IN VIENNA COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor DR. MICHAEL G. GUNDZIK, guest conductor Tonight’s concert is gratefully dedicated to St. Anthony’s Hospital Centura Health Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 6:30 pm Boettcher Concert Hall

STRAUSS, J. JR.

Thunder and Lightning Polka

LEHAR

Gold and Silver Waltz

STRAUSS, J. JR. AND JOSEF

Pizzicato Polka

COPLAND

“Saturday Night Waltz” from Rodeo

STRAUSS, JOSEF

Feuerfest Polka

ANDERSON

The Typewriter

STRAUSS, J. JR.

Wiener Blut Waltz — INTERMISSION —

SUPPÉ

Overture to Light Cavalry

GLAZUNOV

Concert Waltz No. 1 in D major

SIBELIUS

“Valse triste” from Kuolema

STRAUSS, J. JR.

Champagne Polka

Dr. Michael G. Gundzik, guest conductor

STRAUSS, J. JR.

On the Beautiful Blue Danube

STRAUSS, J. JR.

Radetzky March

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 3

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon began his appointment as Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/16 season.

In 2013 he was appointed the inaugural Assistant Conductor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, a title he holds until the end of 2015.

This role provided him with the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch in addition to numerous other engagements.

In April of 2015 Dragon made his debut at the Sydney Opera House conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with Australian singer/ songwriter Josh Pyke. In 2016 he will be making his debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Dragon is a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program through which he has worked with orchestras in Australia and New Zealand under the guidance of Christopher Seaman and the orchestras’ Principal Conductors.

In 2014 Christopher was invited to conduct the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra in Thailand and earlier that year participated in the Jarvi Winter Academy in Estonia where he was awarded the Orchestra’s Favourite Conductor Prize. Dragon has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

DR. MICHAEL G. GUNDZIK, guest conductor Dr. Gundzik was born in Cleveland, Ohio where he studied French horn, Piano and voice as a child. He was a fan of George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra who nurtured his love for Symphonic music. Dr. Gundzik moved to Colorado in 1971 from Austin, Texas leaving theoretical physics and choosing to pursue a new career in business allowing him to enjoy his passion of skiing in the Colorado Mountains. He founded Gundzik & Associates, Inc and developed a successful business as a financial advisor. Dr Gundzik has been involved with music in Denver from the early days of the Denver Symphony Orchestra through the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a Trustee on the Board of the Colorado Symphony Association. Dr. Gundzik and his wife, Francie, are busy with music, theatre, travel and their combined family of five children and 9 grandchildren. He debuted as Guest Conductor of the Colorado Symphony in 2010 and conducted again in 2012 and 2014.