HARRISBURG SYMPHONY
SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2010
SPRING 2010
Organ Blast at Opening Masterworks The HSO will unleash the 3,841-pipe Forum Organ in all its glory on the first Masterworks program of the 201011 season. Eric Riley, Director of Music and Organist at Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, will join Stuart Malina and the HSO for a performance of the “Organ Symphony” by the 19th century French composer, Camille Saint-Saëns. The symphony is famous for exploiting the full dynamic range and grandeur of the “king of instruments,” from the quietist pianissimo to the most floor-rattling fortissimo. Also on the program, pianist Jeffrey Biegel returns to Harrisburg to perform two contrasting works for piano and orchestra. First, Chopin’s Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Brillante combines the composer’s trademark melting lyricism with pianistic fireworks. Then, Biegel will perform the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer fame. Opening the concert will be conductor Leopold Stokowski’s spectacular transcription for modern orchestra of a work originally written for organ, J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Made forever famous by its use in the original version of Walt Disney’s Fantasia, the Stokowski arrangement quickly became a concert favorite in its own right. Guest Artists L. Jeffrey Biegel R. Eric Riley
ALL SINGLE TIX ON SALE
SEPT 1st
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MANcini SHARON ISBIN plays rodrigo moonlight All the favorites that define the inimitable Henry Mancini style will open the Capital BlueCross Pops season on October 30-31. You’re invited to take a stroll down lover’s lane as Stuart Malina, vocalists Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler and the HSO perform lush arrangements of Moon River, The Days of Wine and Roses, Dear Heart, Charade, plus orchestral favorites such as the Baby Elephant Walk, the Theme from Peter Gunn, The Pink Panther, and Victor Victoria. Guest Artists L. Nat Chandler R. Teri Dale Hansen
Renowned classical guitarist Sharon Isbin will make her HSO debut on November 13 -14. Hailed as “the pre-eminent guitarist of our time” by the Dallas Morning-News, Ms Isbin will perform what is easily the most popular and widely performed guitar concerto, the Concierto de Aranjuez, by 20th century Spanish composer, Joaquin Rodrigo. Ms. Isbin has appeared as soloist with over 160 orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony, and many more. She has also recorded extensively, including three recordings of the Rodrigo concerto, the most recent one with the New York Philharmonic.
TARA SIMONCIC
NEW TO THE HSO & HYSO! Tara Simoncic joins the Harrisburg Symphony as the new Assistant Conductor and Harrisburg Youth Symphony Music Director. Tara Simoncic joins the HSO from the Norwalk Youth Symphony in Norwalk, Connecticut. While with the NYS she founded and conducted the Chamber Orchestra which performed free and benefit concerts and collaborated with the Greenwich Ballet Academy. Ms. Simoncic will assist Maestro Stuart Malina as his Assistant Conductor and will take over as the new Harrisburg Youth Symphony Music Director, filling the position of the recently retired Dr. Ronald Schafer.
HARRISBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA n www.HarrisburgSymphony.org
NUTCRACKER RETURNS
THE
Accomplished HSO violinist Susan Aquila bridges the gap between rock and classical music. Ms Aquila has traveled throughout the world performing in France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Korea and Japan. Susan has even shared the stage with such musical giants as Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Alicia Keys, Tony Bennett, John Mayer, k.d. lang, Josh Groban, and Whitney Houston! She has an artistic vision and crossover styles that make her a dynamic musician and an HSO gem!
Nationally and internationally recognized Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) will again produce
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker TM Saturday, December 18th at 1 & 5 PM Sunday, December 19th at 2 PM at the Hershey Theatre with live orchestral accompaniment by the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Stuart Malina. Travel with Marie through her dream-filled world of mice, soldiers, dancing snowflakes, a Sugar Plum Fairy, and a celebration that takes you around the world in a single night!
GET TO KNOW
HSO! SUSAN
AQUILA
Joe Lewin Named HSO Board Chairman
Mr. Joe Lewin has assumed the role of Chairman of the HSO’s Board of Directors effective July 1. Mr. Lewin succeeds Dr. William Murray, who served as Board Chair for three years. Mr. Lewin is President & General Manager of WHTM-TV abc27. He has been a visible and enthusiastic supporter of the region’s arts scene for many years. In addition to the Symphony Board, he also serves on the Board of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art.
Violin
As a classical violinist, she performs with the HSO as well as solo and chamber music recitals at The White House for Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton and at Weill and Merkin Halls in New York City. Her Broadway credits include “Wicked,” The Lion King,” and “Annie Get Your Gun.” She most recently performed an onstage role in the smash revue “The Rock Tenor” at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. Since 2008, Susan has become one of the nation’s most visible performers on the Viper 6-string electric violin. She has made solo appearances on the instrument with, among others, The Concert Pops of Long Island, the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra, and in the renowned Off-Broadway show, “Spider Dance.” Recently, Ms. Aquila unintentionally received over a million hits on YouTube by being directly in the main camera shot of singer Susan Boyle when she appeared with string orchestra on The Today Show and The Early Show.
Dear Symphony Society Members and Friends, Summer 2010 has been a chance to enjoy what the HSO does best- perform great music! I was fortunate to hear the outdoor concert at Summerfair in Carlisle – such fun and a huge audience that contributed to a free will offering at intermission- a very successful first time effort at “passing the hat.” And by the time this is published I will have been to the HSO sponsored “Backstage Pass” weekend at Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony. I am excited about attending this wonderful weekend, and so glad that the HSO has made it possible. Recapping our very successful 2009-10 year, the Society was able to contribute $80,000 to the HSO budget! The Neiman Marcus fashion show led by Mary Zimmerman and Patti Brenckle brought in $72,000 of that amount! We again owe many thanks to all sponsors and supporters and committee members of this event.
He formerly served as Chairman of the Allied Arts Fund and helped guide that organization through its rebirth as the Cultural Enrichment Fund. He has also served on the Boards of the YMCA, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Baltimore Opera, the Richmond Symphony, and the Cincinnati May Festival.
The fundraiser for 2011 is the Hidden in Harrisburg event. A clues committee is already secretly at work on a superstitious and scary Friday, May 13th event.
When asked about his role as Symphony Board Chair, Mr Lewin stated: “I am a firm believer in the role of the Harrisburg Symphony as one of the cornerstone cultural institutions in our community. I want to ensure that organizationally we are prepared to match what Stuart Malina and our wonderful musicians are presenting to the public from the Forum stage.”
Sincerely,
We are all anticipating the start of another season of beautiful music and I hope to see many of you at the first Masterworks weekend in October.
Pat Ferris, Symphony Society President
HARRISBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA n www.HarrisburgSymphony.org
Check out all the great things we’ve been up to since our last FanFare Newsletter! Cresendo Club Picnic
Dali Project
Harrisburg Symphony Society Neiman Marcus Fashion Show Fundraiser
Maestro Circle Dinner
Harrisburg Symphony Society Annual Luncheon
Harrisburg Symphony Society Past Presidents
Summer Concert Series (Lemoyne, Lebanon Valley College, Harrisburg, Carlisle and Mifflintown)
HARRISBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA n www.HarrisburgSymphony.org
Share the Magic of Ireland with Stuart & Marty Malina Stuart and Marty Malina invite you to join them on an unforgettable journey to Ireland’s spectacular Ashford Castle, situated in picturesque western Ireland near the city of Galway. Ashford Castle has been described as a “romantic wonderland.” Conde Nast magazine has rated it Europe’s 2nd finest resort.
The tour will depart from Harrisburg on May 18, 2011 and return on May 25. First class accommodations, fabulous dining, unparalleled sight-seeing, tantalizing shopping, and a range of recreational and musical activities will be included in the itinerary. The tour is being organized by Irish-born Mari Atchason of Travel Professionals in Lemoyne. Space is limited. For more information, call 717-233-5641.
Immerse yourself in a night of Parisian ambiance with wonderful French Bistro cuisine, music, and art. Surrounded by strolling musicians, artists-in-progress, and can-can dancers, you can stroll the Champs-Élysées for our silent auction, and wander through Montmartre for our special event selections. After dinner, enjoy performances by special guests Edith Piaf and Mimi, from La Bohème, (accompanied by Stuart Malina)...and so much more! We hope we see you there. C’est magnifique!
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7 5 PM HERSHEY LODGE CHOCOLATE BALLROOM Visit HarrisburgSymphony.org for more details!
HARRISBURG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA n www.HarrisburgSymphony.org
HarrisburgSymphony.org 800 Corporate Circle, Suite 101 Harrisburg, PA 17110
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