Program - A Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops

SYMPHONY POPS • 2017/18 Colorado Symphony 2017/18 Season Presenting Sponsor:

BOSTON POPS COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor JULIE THORNTON, piccolo JOHN SIPHER, trombone RICK LEWIS, guest percussionist Tonight's Performance

is

Gratefully Dedicated to Rob and Jane Scofield.

Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall MOZART

Overture to The Magic Flute

MASCAGNI

Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana

SMETANA

Three Dances from The Bartered Bride — INTERMISSION —

GARY SCHOCKER Orch. Dianna Link

Piccolo Italiano

TOMASI

Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra — INTERMISSION —

GERSHWIN

Strike up the Band

PORTER Arr. Campbell-Watson

Begin the Beguine

JOHN WILLIAMS

Theme from Jurassic Park

ANDERSON

Syncopated Clock

JOHN WILLIAMS

Main Title from Star Wars

SOUSA

Stars and Stripes Forever

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 1

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his third season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony and continues his position as Principal Guest Conductor with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. For three years, Christopher previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Christopher works regularly in Australia and has conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with Josh Pyke and the Sydney Symphony has been released on CD by ABC Music. In 2017, Christopher returns to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for a subscription concert. In 2016, he made his Brazilian conducting debut with the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre. He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, both resulting with invitations to return. At the beginning of 2016, Christopher conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 2014, Christopher was selected from 100 international applicants 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. Christopher began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program 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.

JULIE THORNTON, piccolo Julie has been a member of the Colorado Symphony since 1997. She played the 1998-99 season with the New York Philharmonic, recording and touring with them, and has also performed with the Saint Louis Symphony, the Houston Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra. Each summer, Julie performs as Principal Flute with the Washington Island Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin. She has also performed with the Grand Tetons Festival Orchestra and Strings in the Mountains. As a student, Julie performed with many prestigious ensembles. These include the Solti Orchestral Project at Carnegie Hall, the National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute, the Music Academy of the West and she held the Piccolo Fellowship with the Aspen Music Festival for three summers. In High School, Julie was a finalist in the Seventeen Magazine General Motors National Concerto Competition and the National Flute Association High School Solo Competition. A native of Mercer Island, Washington, Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. She also completed her coursework towards a Doctoral degree at Rice University. Her primary teachers include Walfrid Kujala, Bonita Boyd, Leone Buyse, Carol Wincenc, and Anne Diener-Giles. Julie is married to Michael Thornton, Principal Horn of the Colorado Symphony. They are the proud parents of their two young daughters.

PROGRAM 2

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

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES JOHN SIPHER, trombone John Sipher joined the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as principal trombonist in 2015. He was born and raised in Roanoke, VA, where he started his musical journey in the Roanoke College Children’s Choir. When he was in 4th grade, his parents bought him a trombone from a pawn shop for $180. His arms wouldn’t be long enough to properly play the instrument until he was in 8th grade. While in high school, John toured with ska bands up and down the East Coast, including a stint on the Vans Warped Tour. Following high school, he attended James Madison University, where he graduated with a degree in music education and a minor in jazz studies. He received his master’s degree in trombone performance at Yale University, studying under Scott Hartman. John then joined the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, for one season before winning the principal trombone position with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Following the Syracuse Symphony’s dissolution in 2011, John held positions with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra before coming to the Colorado Symphony. He has also served as guest principal trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. This summer, he will join the Grand Teton Music Festival. A fan of the outdoors, John and his wife Hitomi enjoy exploring beautiful Colorado’s mountains with their trusty dog Django. He also enjoys playing the ukulele and guitar, singing, photography, and making sushi.

For more information and recordings, please visit his website at www.johnsipher.org.

RICK LEWIS, guest percussionist For over two decades Rick Lewis has had the top morning radio show in Denver, Colorado on KRFX. Lewis has won numerous awards for his work on radio and TV, including Personality of the Year, Telly's, and an Emmy.

He recently added a daily talk show on KOA with Dave Logan and is also the color analyst for the Denver Broncos. Rick is also the founder and drummer for Rick Lewis Project. The band has shared the stage with James Brown, ZZ Top, The Who, and many others. Lewis has appeared in films and network TV shows as well as hosting syndicated radio shows.

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 3

John Williams: An American Journey FEB 9-10 FRI-SAT 7:30 Brett Mitchell, conductor Justin Bartels, trumpet Yumi Hwang-Williams, violin Jason Shafer, clarinet

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