Program Notes - Inside The Score: Holst The Planets and Side-by-Side with DYAO

INSIDE THE SCORE • 2015-2016 INSIDE THE SCORE: HOLST THE PLANETS COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor WOMEN OF THE COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS, MARY LOUISE BURKE, associate director Tonight’s concert is gratefully dedicated to Phoebe Smedley

Friday, February 5, 2016 at 7:30 pm Boettcher Concert Hall

HOLST

The Planets

I.

Mars, The Bringer of War

II.

Venus, The Bringer of Peace

III.

Mercury, The Winged Messenger

IV.

Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity

V.

Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age

VI.

Uranus, The Magician

VII.

Neptune, The Mystic

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 1

INSIDE THE SCORE 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.

MARY LOUISE BURKE, associate director, Colorado Symphony Chorus Mary Louise Burke is in her 22nd season as Associate Chorus Director of the Colorado Symphony Chorus. In addition to assisting Chorus Director Duain Wolfe, she also prepares the chorus for various Colorado Symphony pops concerts and special chorus projects. She is also Associate Director of the Colorado Children’s Chorale, conducting the Concert Choir and acting as vocal coach for the Chorale. With an expertise in vocal technique, Burke frequently does seminars in vocal and choral techniques for area church and community choirs. She is the Assistant Music Minister at Montview Presbyterian Church and has taught classes in “Find Your Authentic Voice” at the University of Denver. She has a Doctorate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.

PROGRAM 2 SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

INSIDE THE SCORE BIOGRAPHIES COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS 2015/16 Colorado Symphony season marks the 32nd year of the Colorado Symphony Chorus.

Founded in 1984 by Duain Wolfe at the request of Gaetano Delogu, then the Music Director of the Colorado Symphony, the chorus has grown over the past three decades into a nationally respected ensemble. This outstanding chorus of 160 volunteers joins the Colorado Symphony for numerous performances (more than 25 this year alone), and radio and television broadcasts.

The Chorus has performed at noted music festivals in the Rocky Mountain region, including the Colorado Music Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, where it has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony. For over two decades, the Chorus has been featured at the worldrenowned Aspen Music Festival, performing many great masterworks under the baton of notable conductors Lawrence Foster, James Levine, Murry Sidlin, Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano and David Zinman. The Colorado Symphony Chorus is featured on a recent Hyperion release of the Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem and Hough’s Missa Mirabilis. In 2009, Duain Wolfe conducted the chorus on a concert tour of Europe, presenting the Verdi Requiem in Budapest, Vienna, Litomysl, and Prague. The Chorus will return to Europe in 2016 for concerts in Paris, Strasbourg and Munich. For an audition appointment, call 303.308.2483.

Duain Wolfe, Founding Director and Conductor; Mary Louise Burke, Associate Conductor; Travis Branam, Assistant Conductor; Taylor Martin, Staff Conductor; Eric Israelson, Chorus Manager; Barbara Porter, Associate Manager Brian Dukeshier, Joshua Sawicki, Danni Snyder, Accompanists

Soprano I Denelda Causey Gretchen Colbert Kaylin E. Daniels Laura Dukeshier Angela M. Hupp Mary E. Kirschner Krista Kuhn Anne Maupin Stephanie Medema Kelly G. Ross Kathi Rudolph Stephanie A. Solich Courtney Williams Cara Young

Soprano II Alex S. Bowen Athanasia Christus Christine M. Nyholm Erin Montigne Kim Pflug Rebecca E. Rattray Sue Von Roedern Lynne M. Snyer Sandy Woodrow

Alto I Kimberly Brown Amy Buesing Clair T. Clauson Jayne Conrad Aubri K. Dunkin Emily Haller Annie Kolstad Susan McWaters

Alto II Joyce Dominguez Hansi Hoskins Olivia Isaac Barbara Marchbank Kelly M. McNulty Beverly Mendicello Lisa Pak

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 3

JOIN THE COLORADO SYMPHONY

FREE

Fun, FamilyFriendly

concerts

at Boettcher Concert Hall

The Colorado Symphony is excited to announce the return of our Community Ticketing Initiative (CTI). Launched in October 2014, the program was created in an effort to reach new and diverse audiences. The CTI supports the City of Denver’s Imagine 2020 Cultural Plan which seeks to broaden access to the cultural arts for all Denver residents.

Through the CTI, the Colorado Symphony is pleased to offer complimentary tickets to children and families throughout the 2015/16 season. The Colorado Symphony offers something for everyone. Concerts include classical, holiday, family, even music from favorite movies, cartoons, and comic books! Colorado Symphony concerts are exciting for all ages – and an experience you won’t forget!

Who is Served by the CTI? Through partnerships with local agencies and community organizations, the CTI primarily serves low-income individuals and families for whom cost is a barrier to concert attendance.

How Does it Work?

Organizations that serve the target population may request concert specific vouchers that can be redeemed for a seat to that concert. If you are interested in becoming a partner organization or learning more about current partners, please visit coloradosymphony.org/CommunityTicketing.

FAMILY • 2015-2016 SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH DYAO: 100 YEAR CELEBRATION OF THE U.S. NATIONAL PARKS COLORADO SYMPHONY ANDRES LOPERA, conductor DENVER YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA

Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 2:30 pm Boettcher Concert Hall

TRADITIONAL/arr. Morden

Shenandoah

GROFÉ Grand Canyon Suite I. Sunrise III. On the Trail JEFFREY NYTCH Symphony No. 1, “Formations” I. Orogenies II. Rush!

COPLAND

Hoe-Down from Rodeo

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 5

FAMILY 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.

Carnival of the Animals and the Story of Babar MAR 13 T SUN 1:00

Andres Lopera, conductor SAINT-SAĂ‹NS Carnival of the Animals POULENC The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant

coloradosymphony.org T 303.623.7876 BOX OFFICE MON-FRI 10 AM - 6 PM T SAT 12 PM - 6 PM PROGRAM 6 SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

FAMILY BIOGRAPHIES DENVER YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA The mission of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra Association (DYAO) is to provide the finest possible youth orchestra programs, inspiring and educating young musicians through the performance of great works of music, and offering valuable cultural opportunities to the community. The Denver Young Artists Orchestra, now in its 38th year, nurtures the talents of the Rocky Mountain region’s finest young musicians as an integral part of their musical education, helping them to achieve their dreams. The organization’s five orchestras, chamber ensembles and group strings classes train nearly 300 students ages 7-23 from more than 80 schools across Colorado. The Young Artists Orchestra’s 2016 Season with Music Director, Wes Kenney, includes upcoming performances on March 6th, April 24th, June 10th and will culminate in performances and a world premiere at Carnegie Hall in June. Hear the future! www.dyao.org.

Violin Leigha Amick Forest-Amber Borealis Anna Cole Rachel Ervin Simone Hammett Lynch Sophia Helmkamp Mia Herlinger Eloise Hodges*(asst concertmaster) Michelle Hou Alisa Johnson Bethany Johnson Christina Johnson** (concertmaster) Anne Kern Amy Koo Artur Korotin Jenna Kramer Nathanael Leavitt Toby Lee Julie Minn Zoe Proett*(prin 2nd) Greer Ramsey-White Chloe Schans Alex Smith Grace Wills Viola Caleb Chen Ava Cosman* Corley Friesen-Johnson Maddie Noles Elissa Volling Leslie Wilburn* (asst prin)

Cello Nathaniel Bowe Elise Cole Sebastian Colsman Brenna Conlon Eliot Hodges Nicholas Johnson Teagan Kim Matthew Lei Ryan Mahon Dan Oliver Megan Rayl Benjamin Roberts*(prin) Sophia Rodawig Tim Saffold Paul Trainor Matthew Wiest* (asst prin) Bass Jeffrey Kaczmarek Mark Lillie*(prin) Dominick Ryan

Oboe Alec Chai Morrigane Dowler (F) Cheyanna Duran Bassoon John Parker Tatia Slouka Horn Taylor Blackley Cole Cantor Meiling Melzer Chandler Spoon (F) Trumpet Andrew DePree Jessica Erbe (F) Trombone Ben Garcia (F) Andrew Lee

Harp Claire Honl

Tuba Chris Phillips (F)

Flute Melissa Merkel Amelia Powell Jessica Shand

Timpani Gabrielle Costache Cameron Davison (F)

Clarinet Guillermo Ramasasa (F) Kevin Sakai

Piano Viktor Frolkov Baylee Schutte

SOUNDINGS 2015-2016 | COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG PROGRAM 7

< educational programs of the Colorado Symphony >

Your Colorado Symphony is excited to announce another season of educational opportunities for all ages. From Petite Musique to Symphony 101 Colorado Symphony Education is making great strides this year to provide education and entertainment to Colorado.

Are you Youth Concerts Q Open Rehearsals Q Inside the Score Q Half Notes Q Concert preludes Q Petite Musique Q Very Young Composers & many more!

Q

Learn more about all the opportunities at coloradosymphony.org/Education

?