SPOTLIGHT 2023/24 VETERAN’S DAY CELEBRATION WITH YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY WILBUR LIN, conductor TBD, emcee JULIE BRADLEY, vocalist Friday, November 10, 2023 at 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall
SMITH GERSHWIN SOUSA BERLIN STEFFE STEPHENSON BUTLER HOLDRIDGE WILLIAMS WILLIAMS MANCINI BUTTERWORTH SOUSA WARD ARR. LOWDEN SOUSA
The Star-Spangled Banner Strike Up the Band The Thunderer God Bless America Battle Hymn of the Republic Fanfare for Democracy Cosmopolitan American March Tuskegee Airmen Suite Selections “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan “With Malice Toward None” from Lincoln Soldiers in the Rain The Banks of Green Willow Fairest of the Fair America the Beautiful Armed Force Salute Stars and Stripes Forever
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 15 MINUTES WITH NO INTERMISSION FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 19 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT! PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
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PROGRAM I
SPOTLIGHT 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.
PROGRAM II
C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G
SPOTLIGHT BIOGRAPHIES JULIE BRADLEY, vocalist Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Julie Bradley graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education from Wichita State University. Prior to joining the U.S. Air Force in 1999 she was a vocal music director at both the middle and high school levels. For the majority of her career she was assigned to The United States Air Force Academy Band and performed with many groups including Blue Delta, The Falconaires, Galaxy Brass, Blue Steel, Wild Blue Country, Clarinet Quartet, Stellar Brass, Concert Band & Marching Band. From 2015 to 2018 she was assigned to U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific in Tokyo, Japan where she served as vocalist and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Pacific Trends. She deployed to Southwest Asia in 2008 and again in 2017 in support of troop morale and diplomatic relations in the region. During her career, she has performed extensively in the United States and abroad appearing in 45 states & 30 countries. In addition, she was a featured soloist with American Idol winner Kris Allen and finalist Melinda Doolittle, the Air Capital Big Band, Wichita State University Jazz Arts Ensemble, The Wichita Jazz Festival, The University of Kansas Jazz Singers, The Mid-Atlantic Symphony, and The Colorado Springs Philharmonic. In 2021 she retired from the U.S. Air Force and is working as a freelance vocalist and Corporate Wellness Specialist. Above all, she is a proud wife & mother of two amazing humans!
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PROGRAM III
Two Titans: Mozart & Mahler DEC 1-3 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✤ SUN 1:00
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
POPS 2023/24 REVOLUTION: THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES WITH YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor PAUL LOREN, vocals COLIN SMITH, vocals DANIEL BERRYMAN, vocals CYNTHIA MENG, keyboard BRIAN KILLEEN, bass OSCAR RODRIDGUEZ, guitar JON EPCAR, drums Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall
REVOLUTION: THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES. A SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE. a Schirmer Theatrical/Greenberg Artists co-production Arrangements by Jeff Tyzik GET BACK originally released on Let It Be (1970) TICKET TO RIDE originally released on Help! (1965) DRIVE MY CAR originally released on Rubber Soul (1965) YESTERDAY originally released on Help! (1965)
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 5 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION. Saturday’s concert is dedicated to Lang Investment Group PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
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PROGRAM V
POPS 2023/24 PENNY LANE originally released on Magical Mystery Tour (1967) IF I NEEDED SOMEONE originally released on Rubber Soul (1965) LADY MADONNA originally released on Past Masters: Volume Two (1988) BLACKBIRD originally released on The Beatles (1968) IN MY LIFE originally released on Rubber Soul (1965) PAPERBACK WRITER originally released as a single (1966) ELEANOR RIGBY originally released on Revolver (1966) HELLO, GOODBYE originally released on Magical Mystery Tour (1967) HERE COMES THE SUN originally released on Abbey Road (1969) HEY JUDE originally released on Past Masters: Volume Two (1988) — INTERMISSION — GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE originally released on Revolver (1966) THE FOOL ON THE HILL originally released on Magical Mystery Tour (1967) MAXWELL’S SILVER HAMMER originally released on Abbey Road (1969) WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS originally released on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) COME TOGETHER originally released on Abbey Road (1969) SOMETHING originally released on Abbey Road (1969) SHE’S LEAVING HOME originally released on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) I AM THE WALRUS originally released on Magical Mystery Tour (1967) LET IT BE originally released on Let It Be (1970) GOLDEN SLUMBERS/CARRY THAT WEIGHT/THE END originally released on Abbey Road (1969) TWIST AND SHOUT originally released on Please Please Me (1963)
PROGRAM VI
C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G
POPS BIOGRAPHIES ALL MUSIC AND IMAGERY UNDER EXCLUSIVE LICENSE FROM SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING, HARRISONGS LTD, & THE BEATLES BOOK PHOTO LIBRARY TO SCHIRMER THEATRICAL, LLC THE SHOW IS NOT ENDORSED BY OR CONNECTED TO APPLE CORPS OR THE BEATLES Creative Team Robert Thompson, Creative Producer Jeff Tyzik, Producer & Arranger Jami Greenberg, Producer & Booking Agent Alyssa Foster, Producer Alex Kosick, Associate Producer Eric Tarlo, Technical Coordinator Ilana Becker, Stage Direction Alek Deva, Technical Supervisor (Black Ink Presents) Mike Kasper, Assistant Technical Supervisor (Black Ink Presents) Paul Bevan, Sound Designer Adam Grannick, Video Director & Animator Andy Roninson, Synth Consultant
For more information on the music and artists featured in Revolution: The Music of The Beatles, use this code below to access the Digital Concert Program.
A portion of the proceeds from productions of Revolution: The Music of The Beatles. A Symphonic Experience will be donated to the Penny Lane Development Trust (PLDT), a charitable community centre located in Liverpool, UK, offering an engaging environment to tourists and locals alike. In addition to hosting exercise classes and youth projects in theatre and music, the Trust features a number of Beatles-inspired installations including a “Penny Lane Wonderwall,” a “Sign Wall,” “Octopus Garden,” and “Penny Lane Gate.”
FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 7 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT!
S O U N D I N G S 2 0 2 3 / 2 4 PROGRAM VII
POPS 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
POPS BIOGRAPHIES PAUL LOREN, vocals Leading a new generation of soulful crooners, Paul Loren is a singer, songwriter, producer and consummate entertainer. A native New Yorker, Paul was raised on the rich legacy of soul, classic pop, and the Great American Songbook and in those musical idioms he feels most at home. Taking elements from early R&B, jazz and Brill Building pop, he crafts his music with an ear towards timelessness. “I started singing at 3 years old along with the little 45rpm records my mom would play and started playing piano at 4 years old. The voices I remember most and identify with are Ray Charles, Frankie Valli, Sam Cooke, Sinatra, Aretha, Otis, and Tony Bennett. Growing up in New York, Billy Joel was also a big influence.” Paul recently completed his first headline tour in 2019, also having performed in the past as a support artist for: The Temptations, as part of Stamford’s Summer Concert Series “Wednesday Night Live”, Brendan James, American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks, David Bromberg, and sold out Joe’s Pub at the Public in NYC multiple times. Paul was also selected by Jennifer Lopez to perform at her Birthday Gala in Las Vegas, showcased at The SoHo House NYC, was a featured artist at the AAA Radio Convention in Boulder Colorado, and shared the stage with Paul Shaffer, Queen Latifah, and Christie Brinkley at Target’s launch event for New York Fashion Week. Paul’s appearance on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” showcased his talents for millions of viewers; with a winning song and viral video to boot. In addition, Paul landed his first television sync recently on NBC’s “Mysteries of Laura”, performed on the Nationally Syndicated Radio Show America Weekend with Ed Kalegi, has partnered with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation, showcased at the headquarters of the world-renowned Leo Burnett Ad in Chicago, and had the unique honor of performing at the legendary STAX Museum in Memphis Tennessee. While in Memphis, Paul had the rare opportunity to record in the world-renowned Sun Studio in the same room as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and so many other pioneers of Rock and Roll. Paul was also a finalist in the “Unsigned Only” singer songwriter competition for 2018. His debut single “All By Myself ” was supported by radio stations Lighting100 in Nashville, SiriusXM’s The Pulse, WCOO Charleston and KPND Spokane, among others. His follow up single, titled “I Know A Place” premiered on Huffington Post and received rave reviews along with over 200K views in its first week. Paul’s latest single, “We’ll Be Together Again,” written and recorded at home during the early spring of 2020, continues to be a beacon of hope for those affected by the uncertainty of a tumultuous year. All of the proceeds from the song have been sent to a COVID-19 relief charity. During the pandemic’s first wave, Paul’s weekly online music show —“The Leisure Lounge”— was live streamed from his home in NYC and ran for 15 consecutive weeks, broadcasting to thousands of viewers around the world. SOUNDINGS 2 0 2 3/ 24
PROGRAM IX
POPS BIOGRAPHIES COLIN SMITH, vocals With a career spanning over 20 years, Irish born Colin Smith has led a musical life as varied as it is impressive. With his former band Mr North, while on RCA, they toured extensively with the likes of The Who, Van Halen, Sheryl Crow and Journey among many others. As a solo artist, songs from his two records have been licensed to movies and TV alike. Colin has been seen in live collaborations with Alicia Keys and has worked multiple times on Saturday Night Live as the featured vocal talent. Colin has been most recently been seen touring with Christina Aguilera, duetting with her on the GRAMMY winning Say Something to audiences across the globe, as well as performing background vocals for the show. Colin splits his time between NYC and LA.
DANIEL BERRYMAN, vocals Daniel Berryman is thrilled to be a featured soloist in The Paul Simon Songbook. Daniel was most recently seen with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra celebrating 100 years of the MUNY under the direction of Ben Whitely. Credits include-New York: Call Me Madame(Ens/Encores!), Sweeney Todd (Vacation Swing/Barrow Street), The Golden Apple(Ens/ Encores!), The Fantasticks (The Boy/Theatre Center). National Tours: Les Miserables(Swing), The Sound of Music (Ens). Regional: Sweeney Todd (Anthony/Denver Center),Hello, Dolly! (Ambrose/MUNY), The Most Happy Fella (Ciccio/Goodspeed), and Rent (Mark/The 5thAve Theatre). Daniel received a BFA in musical theatre from the University of Michigan.
CYNTHIA MENG, keyboard Cynthia Meng is a New York-based music director and pianist. Broadway: Company (2020 revival) and Hadestown. Other recent favorites: The Last Five Years (Out of the Box Theatrics), We’re Gonna Die (Second Stage), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Frozen (1st National Tour), Moulin Rouge! (Emerson Colonial), In The Green (Lincoln Center Theatre), Lempicka (developmental lab), Witness Uganda (Wallis Annenberg Center). As a composer, she has been featured at 54 Below and NYMF. She also moonlights as a software engineer, and is currently working on SPIRITED, a Christmas movie featuring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer.
PROGRAM X
C O LO R A D O S Y M P H O N Y.O R G
POPS BIOGRAPHIES BRIAN KILLEEN, bass Brian Killeen is a NYC bassist that has enjoyed performing with many inspiring artists. Some of his favorite musical situations have included sharing stages with Chuck Loeb, Jarle Bernhoft, Liz Longley, A Great Big World, and Joe Sumner, as well as various on and off-Broadway theatrical productions. He is thrilled to be a part of Revolution: The Music of The Beatles.
OSCAR RODRIGUEZ, guitar Oscar Albis Rodriguez is a producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He grew up in Rhode Island, graduated with a jazz guitar degree from NYU, and made Brooklyn his home base in 2000. Since then he’s played every DIY venue and basement in North America with his punk/hardcore bands De La Hoya and Nakatomi Plaza, freelanced with innumerable NYC singer/songwriters and bands, performed in Broadway musicals (most notably Hedwig & The Angry Inch), and toured the world with the Grammy Award winning duo A Great Big World. Oscar started producing and engineering at Russell Street Recording in 2013, and soon after began collaborating with Zach Jones. Since then, the two have played in each other’s bands (Albis and Zach Jones & The Tricky Bits) and have co-produced records for artists such as Jenny Owen Youngs, Elizabeth Wyld, Hannah Winkler, Talay, Jesse Dylan & The Scaredy Cats, and A Great Big World. On his own, Oscar’s production credits include Jukebox The Ghost, Jon The Guilt, and Rikki Will. He’s also written and produced hundreds of songs for the YouTube Audio Library, the Facebook Sound Collection, Marmoset Music, Premium Beat, and is a co-founder of the music/media collective Track Tribe.
JON EPCAR, drums Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jon Epcar is a drummer and a composer. Jon has worked with many artists, including Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Rihanna, Bono, Gavin Degraw, Colbie Caillat, Natasha Bedingfield, Carly Rae Jepsen, The 8G Band on Seth Meyers, Klangkarussell, Cristian Castro, Frances Cone, Madison Beer, Katie Melua, Evan Rachel Wood, SYML, Diane Gordon, Jesse James, Joan Osborne, John Cameron Mitchell, Taryn Manning, and Danielia Cotton, among others. On Broadway, he originated the drum chairs for Spider-Man, Amelie, and Tina Fey’s Mean Girls. He has worked with multiple symphony orchestras, including the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Jon’s debut album as a songwriter, bandleader, and producer, MORNING DRONE, was released in 2017, with his sophomore release, Solo Duo Toot released in 2021. Jon appreciates the great people at Paiste Cymbals, Craviotto Drums, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Reflexx Drumpads, and Aquarian Drumheads for their support and incredible craftsmanship. SOUNDINGS 2 0 2 3/ 24
PROGRAM XI
A Colorado Christmas DEC 8-10 FRI 7:30 ✤ SAT 2:30 & 6:00 ✤ SUN 1:00 COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG