Program - At Last – A Tribute to Etta James and Drums of the World

2021/22 SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR:

POPS 2021/22

AT LAST – A TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES PERFORMED BY YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY SCOTT O’NEIL, conductor CRYSTAL MONEE HALL, vocalist KOJO LITTLES, vocalist JOSHUA SKLAIR, music director DONTO JAMES, drums SAMETTO JAMES, bass Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall

Program to be Announced from Stage

CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES WITH A 20-MINUTE INTERMISSION

FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 7 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT! PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY SOUNDINGS

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PROGRAM I

POPS BIOGRAPHIES SCOTT O'NEIL, conductor As a conductor, Scott O’Neil recently completed a nine-year tenure as Resident Conductor with the Colorado Symphony in Denver. During his time there he performed with some of the classical world’s elite soloists, such as Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Pinchas Zukerman, Lang Lang, Van Cliburn, Christopher O’Riley, Cameron Carpenter and Sharon Isbin, as well as leaders in the larger musical world, such as Steve Vai, Chris Botti, Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Tracy Silverman, Eileen Ivers, Sarah McLachlan, Ben Folds, Ingrid Michaelson, Amos Lee, Rufus Wainwright, Gregory Alan Isakov, Devotchka, The Lumineers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Susan Egan and Will Chase.

Mr. O’Neil has also created and developed an extensive series of concerts, entitled Inside the Score, which combine art, entertainment and enlightenment to engage audiences in explorations of a wide variety of music and ideas. Under the umbrella of Inside the Score fall a number of sub-series, including biography (Letters from Mozart, The Best of Beethoven, Brahms: A Life in Music, Rachmaninoff: From Tragedy to Triumph), individual masterpieces (Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony – This I Believe!, Eroica!, Beethoven’s Fifth, Stravinsky’s Petrushka, Debussy’s La mer, the “The Debussy Code”) and a cross-genre concert – Shuffle – which includes everything from Bach, Elgar, and Prokofiev to Metheny, Björk, and Philip Glass, as well as a feature concert with cross-over artist Kip Winger. (Once the front man for the band Winger, he now composes “classical” music reminiscent of Honegger and Messiaen.) In this vein, O’Neil has also presented Masterworks programs with “cross-over” elements, notably featuring Victor Wooten, performing the premiere of his own Bass Whisperer concerto, co-written with Conni Ellisor.

Mr. O’Neil’s engaging manner in addressing audiences has led to extensive speaking engagements, including a TED-talk on music he composed for Arrow Electronics.

As an arranger/orchestrator, Mr. O’Neil has created and orchestrated numerous works for the Colorado Symphony (Arrow: Five Years Out! – an original composition, Pat Metheny’s “The First Circle” as well as Minuano, Björk’s Overture, “107 Steps” and “New World,” a live version of Philip Glass’s Changing Opinions); he has also written orchestrations for Ingrid Michaelson, Eileen Ivers and Bela Fleck.

Scott O’Neil continues to guest conduct and to lead his own ensemble, the Rosetta Music Society, in Denver, creating new, innovative programming and constantly seeking to draw wider audiences to live performances of music from Bach to today’s cutting-edge artists.

PROGRAM II

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

POPS BIOGRAPHIES CRYSTAL MONEE HALL, vocalist Crystal Monee Hall is a singer/songwriter, composer, vocal arranger and producer and music director based in New York City. Her varied career has included roles on Broadway (RENT and Kristen Chenoweth’s For the Girls), sold out tours with Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead) and Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), and guest appearance on the CW’s Walker and HBO’s High Maintenance. She has released three original albums, with work from her most recent EP If You Breathe called ‹riveting› by Billboard Magazine.

Composing, arranging, directing, performance and vocal production credits include: Ayodele Casel (Chasing Magic), Walker (CW network), A Beautiful Noise (Gospel Arrangement, Biden/ Harris Campaign), Ben Platt: Live From Radio City Music Hall, Donkey Hodie (PBS Kids), Nature Cat (PBS Kids), Alma’s Way (PBS Kids), Fearless (Mandy Gonzalez’ Album), Black Ink Crew (VH1), Broadway Inspirational Voices, Craig David’s «All We Needed,» (official song of the BBC›s 2016 Children In Need campaign), Cynthia Erivo (PBS Special), Mickey Hart Band, Kristen Chenoweth (For the Girls, Broadway), After the Storm (Ahrens and Flaherty), Quilters (NYU Tisch New School on Broadway), Sister Act (NYU Tisch New School on Broadway), Thomas Rhett, Renee Elise Goldsberry, John Legend, Patti Austin, Oleta Adams, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Kesha (Grammys 2018), Roy Ayers, Scott Alan, Shayna Steele, Jason Mraz, Spencer Day, Mandy Gonzalez, Ledisi, Kanye West, The Last Internationale. Find our more about Crystal at crystalmoneehall.com, and follow her on social media @crystalmonee.

KOJO LITTLES, vocalist Raised in Daytona Beach, FL, Kojo Littles encompasses the unique ability to captivate audiences of all backgrounds and musical preferences across the world. Since the age of four, Kojo’s talent and infectious personality have been recognized as undeniable assets to the entertainment industry. As a graduate of both Berklee College of Music and the Boston Conservatory of Music, Kojo is skilled in the worlds of Opera, Jazz, Gospel, Big Bands, Choir and Vocal Competitions. Some of the highlights of Kojo’s career include both live and television performances at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, The Lyceum Theatre in London, UK, The XFACTOR, The Voice, American Idol, Netflix’s Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall, The Juilliard School and Disney Pixar (Animation). Kojo has also shared the stage and worked with legendary artists including Aretha

POPS BIOGRAPHIES Franklin, Sir Elton John, Chaka Khan, Kirk Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Pattie Labelle, David Foster, and Celine Dion among many others. Driven by passion and service, Kojo’s desire to inspire is guaranteed to leave anyone he encounters with a fresh perspective, a long-lasting smile and contagious laughter that will fill any room.

JOSHUA SKLAIR, guitar player, producer, composer, arranger Musical Director for Etta James from 1985 to 2012, Josh has worked with the best in Jazz, Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Pop and Rock. Working on stage and or in the recording studio with Paul Anka (currently), Sophie B. Hawkins, Jon Lucien, The Jones Girls, Jeffrey Osborne, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Shirelles, Cedar Walton, The Coasters, Del Shannon, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Diane Warren, Albert Hammond, Lamont Dozier and so many others. After briefly attending Berklee School of Music in. Boston, Joshua graduated from the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles in 1979. Josh’s long and fruitful association with the iconic Etta James resulted in his receiving two GRAMMY® Awards for Producing, contributing his guitar playing, arrangements and compositions on over a dozen albums and countless concert performances.

During his tenure Josh witnessed Etta receiving much of the recognition and acknowledgement she had long deserved: Five GRAMMY® Awards, induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and many other prestigious awards for her invaluable and unique contribution to American music.

PROGRAM IV

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

FAMILY 2021/22

2021/22 SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR:

DRUMS OF THE WORLD PERCUSSIONISTS OF THE COLORADO SYMPHONY Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 2:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall

ROESTA TOSHA

Chonlima

BRIAN PRECHTL

What is Good

GEORGE CRUMB Kronos-Kryptos (Colorado Premiere) II. A Ghostly Barcarolle III. Drummers of the Apocalypse IV. Appalachian Echoes “Look Homeward, Angel” MICHAEL UDOW Four Movements I. Shake II. Scrape III. Rub IV. Strike Mudra

BOB BECKER

STEVE HEARN Caliente Cajon Trio (World Premiere) JULIE DAVILLA Bailando La Soca KHAYAT/GERMANOTTI Lady Gaga Medley Arr. CHRIS COLANERI Bad Romance

Just Dance STEVE HEARN Bring It Loud (World Premiere) CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 75 MINUTES WITH NO INTERMISSION

FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 7 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT! PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

FAMILY BIOGRAPHIES STEVE HEARN, assistant principal timpani and percussionist Assistant principal timpani/section percussion with the Colorado Symphony, Steve Hearn is also a founding member of the Lumos Percussion Group and the former principal timpanist of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Hearn previously held the position as Percussionist/Timpanist in the U.S. Army Field Band.

He has appeared with the Strings in the Mountains, Grand Teton, and Cabrillo music festivals and has been a featured concerto soloist with the Colorado Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, among others. He has performed at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions as a featured soloist and chamber musician. Similarly, he was a percussionist in the Colorado premier of Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun’s Water Passion after S. Matthew.

Hearn previously held the position as Percussionist/Timpanist in the U.S. Army Field Band, Washington, D.C., where he toured the 48 continental states performing concerts with the Concert Band and Chorus. Active as an educator, chamber musician, and drum set specialist, he was the assistant to Robert van Sice at Rotterdam’s Conservatory of Music and was the Director of Percussion Studies at New Mexico State University. He has performed recitals and chamber music in Holland, Belgium, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., as well as given master classes in nearly all 50 states. As a drum set specialist, he has performed various styles of jazz and rock throughout the Chicago area with the Ramesdell Jazz Quintet and the pop/rock group The Others.

Hearn is an active artist/educator for Adams Musical Instruments, Zildjian Cymbals, Freer Percussion Products, TheBoxKit.com, and Evans Drumheads. He also enjoys running, hiking, biking, and ice hockey. Learn more at hearndrum.com.

JOHN KINZIE, principal percussionist Prior to joining the Colorado Symphony as Principal Percussionist in 1985, John Kinzie was Principal Percussionist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, a position he won at the age of 19. John has appeared with Strings in the Mountains, The National Repertory Orchestra, and the Grand Teton music festivals, and has been a featured soloist with the Toledo Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, Yale School of Music, Grand Teton Music Festival, and the Colorado Symphony on numerous occasions. He also performs with the Colorado Symphony chamber group “Once Upon a Time,” a group formed to inspire the imaginations of young schoolchildren and to excite them about music. In 1996, John became the head of the percussion division of the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, where he teaches percussion and timpani performance as well as percussion ensemble, master classes, and percussion pedagogy and repertoire.

PROGRAM VI

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

FAMILY BIOGRAPHIES MICHAEL VAN WIRT, section percussionist Michael Van Wirt has established himself as an emerging professional percussionist across the United States. In addition to his appointment as Section Percussionist in the Colorado Symphony, Michael has performed with the Houston Symphony and was a New World Symphony Fellow during the 2014-2015 season. He is an alumnus of the Aspen Music Festival, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Alan Abel Summer Percussion Seminar. Michael has studied in Denmark at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, in Japan at the Nagoya Institute for the Arts, and performed in Australia and New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal.

Michael was given the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Performance and the Frank Toth Leadership Award from the University of Denver, where he received his Bachelors of Music under Professor John Kinzie. He attended the University of Miami under Matt Strauss and Svet Stoyanov and obtained his Masters Degree in music in 2012.

MICHAEL TETREAULT, percussion Michael Tetreault holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and a Master of Music Degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK. Michael is currently a member of seven professional orchestras in the Rocky Mountain region and is also part of the percussion faculty at the University of Colorado (Boulder). Michael has performed domestically and abroad with many ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Toronto Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Utah Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Roomful of Teeth, Quattro Mani and Alarm Will Sound among many others.

ELIZABETH VAN WIRT, percussion Elizabeth Van Wirt performs regularly as an orchestral percussionist, chamber musician, and soloist. Recent engagements include the Colorado Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, Grand Teton Music Festival, and Colorado Music Festival. Elizabeth was the 3rd prize laureate of the prestigious Universal Marimba Competition 2011 in Belgium. She is recorded as a soloist on Ney Rosauro’s disc Early Mallet Works and featured on the 2016 album Onyx, released by the Society of Composers, Inc. In addition to her varied performance career, she has maintained a schedule of teaching private lessons and in classroom settings. Elizabeth currently teaches Applied Percussion at Regis University in Denver. She holds two degrees from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and a Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Elizabeth lives in Denver, Colorado, and is a proud Yamaha and Vic Firth Artist..

SOUNDINGS

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FAMILY BIOGRAPHIES NICHOLAS RECUBER , assistant principal bass Nicholas Recuber was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began his studies on double bass at age 14. Initially interested in jazz, he completed his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Rowan University in New Jersey.

Eventually becoming more attracted to classical music, Recuber received his Master’s degree as a scholarship student at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Ms. Orin O’Brien. He continued his studies with Nico Abondolo at the University of Southern California where he received a graduate certificate. Previously he served as principal bass of the Santa Barbara Symphony, performed with the San Francisco Symphony, and spent two years as a fellow in the New World Symphony. Recuber’s festival appearances include the Pacific Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, the Lucerne Festival, and the Colorado Music Festival.

Face masks and proof of vaccination required Welcome Back We are looking forward to seeing you at Boettcher Concert Hall this season!

COVID-19 Protocols To protect audiences and the community from illness and to slow the transmission of COVID-19, the Colorado Symphony joins the resident companies of the Denver Performing Arts Complex — Colorado Ballet, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and Opera Colorado — in requiring both proof of full vaccination and face masks to attend indoor public performances starting October 1, 2021. Please see Coloradosymphony.org for full details.

Please see Coloradosymphony.org for full details.

PROGRAM VIII C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G