Program Notes: Elvis Christmas & John Denver Christmas

HOLIDAY 2023/24 ELVIS CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR WITH YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY WILBUR LIN, conductor TERRY MIKE JEFFREY, vocals, piano, guitar DEBBIE JEFFREY, vocals, keyboard ADAM JEFFREY, vocals, sax, piano, percussion THOMAS MICHAELS, lead guitar STEVE WALSTON, drums KEVIN SYANAN, bass guitar TIFFANY FERRELL, vocals Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall

Arr. SEBESKY

Christmas Scherzo

LIEBER, STROLLER arr. SHOUP

Santa Claus is Back in Town

KENT arr. SHOUP/GANNON

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

GELBER arr. SHOUP

On a Snowy Christmas Night

KNIGHT arr. HARDIN

The Wonder of You

LINDE arr. HARDIN

Burning Love

LIVINGSTON/EVANS arr. MOTYCKA

Silver Bells

SCHROEDER/DEMETRIUS arr. BOARDMAN

Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

SOUNDINGS 2 0 2 3/ 24

PROGRAM I

HOLIDAY 2023/24 BALTHROP/PRESLEY arr. BOARDMAN

It Won’t Seem Like Christmas Without You

WEST arr. SHOUP

If Every Day was Like Christmas — INTERMISSION —

ANDERSON

Sleigh Ride

TRAD arr. SHOUP

O Little Town of Bethlehem/O Come All Ye Faithful

HALDEMAN/AUTRY arr. BYARS

Here Comes Santa Claus

BERLIN arr. BYARS

White Christmas

FRISCH arr. SHOUP/TOBIAS

The Wonderful World Of Christmas

SCHROEDER/WYCHE arr. HARDIN

A Big Hunk Of Love

BAXTER/LOU/MOORE/ JOHNNY

Merry Christmas Baby

JAMES arr. HARDIN

Suspicious Mind

HAYES/JOHNSON arr. BOARDMAN

Blue Christmas

GRUBER/MOHR arr. MOTYCKA

Silent Night

DRAKE/GRAHAM/SHIRL/ STILLMAN arr. SHOUP

I Believe

Tuesday’s concert is dedicated to Liberty Global CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS WITH A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION PROGRAM II

C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES

PHOTO: LAI YUEH-CHUNG

WILBUR LIN, conductor Known for his creative programming and inviting stage presence, Wilbur Lin’s career has taken him to symphony halls and opera theaters across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Taiwan. Recently appointed Music Director of the Missouri Symphony, Lin also joins the conducting staff of the Colorado Symphony as assistant conductor in 2023.

Lin’s 2022/23 season saw his debuts with the Rochester Philharmonic, Oak Ridge, Ann Arbor, and Elgin symphonies, and a return to Indiana’s Richmond Symphony. His other recent highlights include his debut with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, opening its 2021/22 season, a new studio recording with pianist Eric Zuber and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and conducting and covering the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops where he recently finished his tenure as assistant conductor (2019-2022).

In addition to his positions with the Colorado, Cincinnati, and Missouri symphonies, in recent years, Lin has conducted the Chamber Philharmonic Taipei, Manchester Camerata, Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil (El Salvador), Taipei Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony, Liverpool Mozart, Academy Orchestra of Taiwan Symphony, Richmond Symphony (IN), and LaPorte Symphony orchestras. As a cover conductor, Lin has worked with, notably, the Taiwan Symphony, Cincinnati Ballet, and Minnesota orchestras. In his role as the assistant conductor of the Colorado Symphony, Lin also serves as the Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra.

A graduate of Riccardo Muti‘s Italian Opera Academy, Lin’s operatic endeavors include conducting Verdi’s Macbeth at Teatro Alighieri (Ravenna, Italy), Die Zauberflöte and Barber of Seville with the Winter Harbor Music Festival (Winter Harbor, Maine), Menotti’s The Medium and Amelia Goes to the Ball as the conductor of Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, IL), and has coached and performed as a pianist with the Indianapolis Opera, Indiana University Opera Theater, Reimagining Opera for Kids, and the Cincinnati Ballet. In 2022, Lin led a new workshop production of Robeson by Scott Davenport Richards at the Cincinnati Opera.

Lin held the position of Taiwan Symphony Orchestra International Talent Fellow (2019-2021), Weiwuyin Opera (Taiwan) Conducting Fellow (2019-2020), Lord Rhodes Scholar (2013-2014), was a two-time recipient of Mortimer Furber Prize for Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), and holds a doctoral degree in orchestral conducting from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Lin has studied with Arthur Fagen and David Effron at Jacobs, Clark Rundell and Mark Heron at the RNCM, and Apo Hsu at the National Taiwan Normal University.

He has also received conducting coaching with, notably, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Riccardo Muti, Sir Mark Elder, Helmuth Rilling, and has assisted Louis Langrée, James Gaffigan, and John Morris Russell, among others.

FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 19 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT! SOUNDINGS 2 0 2 3/ 24

PROGRAM III

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES TERRY MIKE JEFFREY, vocalist Veteran singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Terry Mike Jeffrey began singing on stages at the age of 3. Fronting his own band since the early ‘70’s, he has performed all over the planet. A unique entertainer singing musical styles from most genres all of his life, Terry Mike is especially known world-wide for his presentation of Elvis Presley’s music. In recent years he has performed the King’s songs with symphony orchestras across the country, including those in Detroit, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Denver, St Louis, 5 concerts with the Nashville Symphony, and 19 shows with the Memphis Symphony. With the unique blessings of Graceland/EPE and the original orchestra charts from the official Elvis archives, TMJ and his band blend with full orchestras in presenting their salute to the King, minus the impersonator element. Terry Mike is also a frequent guest deejay and performer on Sirius/XM’s Elvis Radio, and routinely sings with Elvis’ own former band members and background singers.

His other career highlights include: A 1997 Emmy Award nomination (songwriting for TV’s Sesame Street) Live performances in Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Russia, Canada, and Hawaii.

Musical director and starring role in Elvis – An American Musical, a New York-produced multimedia show from the producers of Grease and Beatlemania. Toured the US and Canada with a Broadway run in the late ‘80’s. His other musical theater adventures include regional productions of Beehive, Hairspray, Always, Patsy Cline, and a 2-year run in Stand By Your Man – The Tammy Wynette Story, which was featured at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, 2001-2002.

56 performances on TNN’s Music City Tonight with Crook & Chase (mid ‘90’s). A regular solo vocalist and musician on the show, Terry Mike shared the stage with country music legends such as Eddy Arnold, Shania Twain, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Eddie Rabbitt, Ray Price and Chet Atkins.

Network TV appearances on NBC’s Today Show (twice!), CBS This Morning, CNN’s Showbiz Today, and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. Live shows with Jewel, Dixie Chicks, Fats Domino, Travis Tritt, the Jordanaires, Leon Russell, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Steve Wariner, Boots Randolph, Ricky Skaggs, Fabian, 2002 American Idol Top 3.

Terry Mike Jeffrey has recorded 15 full CD albums which can be found along with info about upcoming shows on his web site – www.terrymike.com – TMJ’s music is also available on iTunes.

Terry Mike and his wife (since 1973) and long-time band member, Debbie, still reside in their hometown of Paducah, KY. They have two children and 7 grandchildren.

PROGRAM IV

C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G

HOLIDAY 2023/24 JOHN DENVER HOLIDAY CELEBRATION WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor MACK BAILEY, guitar CHRIS NOLE, piano ALAN DEREMO, bass NATE BARNES, drums Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall

Selections to be announced from stage.

CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS WITH A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION

FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 19 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT!

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

S O U N D I N G S 2 0 2 3 / 2 4 PROGRAM VII

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is the Music Director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. He joined the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/2016 Season as Associate Conductor – a position he held for four years. For three years prior, Dragon held the inaugural position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch.

Dragon has a versatile portfolio ranging from live-to-picture performances including Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a wide variety of collaborations with artists such as the Wu-Tang Clan, Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Bell, to standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire such as Danny Elfman’s Violin Concerto, Eleven Eleven; all areas of which he has become highly sought after. Christopher has become known for his charisma, high energy and affinity for a good costume, consistently delivering unforgettable performances that has made him an audience favourite.

Recent highlights include his successful debut with the San Francisco Symphony, performances of Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Danny Elfman reprising the role of Jack Skellington and historic performances with Nathaniel Rateliff at Walt Disney Concert Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Upcoming debuts include the WRD Funkhausorchester, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Christopher is highly sought after as a guest conductor and has worked with San Francisco Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In Australia, he has guest conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with John Pyke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, with both resulting in immediate re-invitations. At the beginning of 2016 Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Art Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Christopher began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program in Australia under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

PROGRAM VIII C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES JOHN DENVER With more than 33 million records sold and seven Billboard Top Ten albums, John Denver released 23 studio albums over his lifetime. He is best known for the beloved songs “Leaving On a Jet Plane,” “Sunshine On My Shoulders,” “Annie’s Song” and “Rocky Mountain High,” which is a co-state song of Colorado, and “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which is a co-state song of West Virginia. In addition to his numerous awards and recognition, Denver was instrumental in championing environmental and humanitarian causes. His popularity and continuing influence on popular culture still grow more than a decade after his untimely death. Denver was a true adventurer, exploring all that the world had to offer. Throughout his life’s journey he challenged himself on every level, which is an integral part of what made him an extraordinary man, an uncommon friend, and a rare human being. While the frontiers of the American West satisfied his spirit, less-traveled frontiers appealed to his imagination. Denver was an experienced airplane pilot and collected vintage biplanes. His interest in outer space was so great that he took and passed NASA’s examination to determine mental and physical fitness required for space travel. He then became a leading candidate to be the “first civilian in space” on the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Denver planned to write a song in space, but circumstances kept him from joining the ill-fated expedition, which exploded during take-off in 1986. Among his many gifts, Denver was also a talented photographer. He photographed images of the people and places he experienced in his travels and showed his work professionally, often in connection with speeches made at colleges, universities and government and business facilities across the country. Many of Denver’s songs reflected his relationship with nature, and one of his greatest pleasures was spending time outdoors. He spent as much time as possible backpacking, hiking, climbing, and fishing. He was an avid golfer and skier, regularly participating in celebrity charity events for both sports.

Today, millions of fans old and new enjoy the work of this extraordinary performer. Decades after he began, John Denver’s music is as relevant as ever. His humanitarian work continues to strengthen our global village, and his dynamic celebration of life, spirit and nature is a powerful inspiration to us all. More on John Denver at www.johndenver.com

SOUNDINGS 2 0 2 3/ 24

PROGRAM IX

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES MACK BAILEY, guitar Using John Denver’s music, Mack taught himself to play the guitar, so it was a thrill for Mack when he had the privilege of trading verses to “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” with Denver in front of 9000 people shortly before John’s death. Today, his experiences with the Limeliters and John Denver continue to play an active role in Mack’s professional life, even as he pursues his successful solo career. Mack has caught the attention of national folk music audiences with not only his Limeliters performances, but also with his prominent role in the nationally touring show “A Musical Tribute to John Denver” with many of John’s former band members and production crew.

JON CONLEY, guitar+ Jon Conley is a mainstay of the Nashville music industry. Jon began playing guitar at seven (wanting to play like Roy Clark) and has branched out to include mandolin, fiddle, banjo, vocals and songwriting in his portfolio. Perhaps best known as the lead guitarist for the Kenny Chesney band, he has credits on recordings by a number of artists and attributes his success to practicing and taking every opportunity to perform seriously.

CHRIS NOLE, piano A former member of John Denver’s band, songwriter/composer, accomplished session musician, producer, and recording artist Chris Nole performs around the world. Nole has toured and recorded with numerous top recording acts including Faith Hill, Travis Tritt, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Shelby Lynne. Chris Nole’s songs have been recorded by various recording artists ranging from Faith Hill to The Swamphonky’s and have been used in such television productions as Men of a Certain Age, Heroes, and E! True Hollywood Story.

PROGRAM X

C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G

HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES ALAN DEREMO, bass guitar A member of John Denver’s band from 1994 until Denver’s passing in 1997, Deremo has performed and/or recorded with a diverse assortment of artists including Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Eric Marienthal, Glenn Frey, Jesse Colin Young, Kathy Mattea, Dave Alvin, John Doe, Exene Cervenkova, Bo Diddley, Jules Shear, Jack Tempchin, Thelma Houston, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Captain and Tenille. For much of the last decade Deremo has toured and recorded with Men at Work singer/guitarist Colin Hay and served as musical director for Tony Hawk’s annual Boom Boom Huck Jam arena tours.

NATE BARNES, drums, percussion As drummer for the band Rose Hill Drive, Nate Barnes has toured the world headlining shows and opening for acts including The Who, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots, The Black Crowes, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Jane’s Addiction, and shared the stage with Pete Townshend (The Who), Warren Haynes, Leslie West (Mountain), Grace Potter, Matisyahu, Mike Watt, and others. In addition to collaborating and recording with legendary producers/engineers Brendan O’Brien and Nick DiDia, he has also co-produced and co-written three critically acclaimed, full-length albums with the band Rose Hill Drive. Specializing in Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, and Funk styles, Nate has earned a reputation as one of the premier live and studio drummers in the Rocky Mountain area.

SOUNDINGS 2 0 2 3/ 24

PROGRAM XI