SYMPHONY IN SPACE

Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 2:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Ryan Tani, conductor

Matthew Huebsch, actor

Script written by James Fletcher

ABOUT SYMPHONY IN SPACE

We’re traveling to a galaxy far, far away during this concert to explore music inspired by the mysteries of the universe! Movements from Gustav Holst’s masterwork, The Planets, capture the astrological character of each planet. The endless variety of ideas and motives in Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst create a vivacious sparkle that also perfectly captures the title. Finally, we end with the groundbreaking Main Theme from Star Wars, composed by John Williams, who took his inspiration from several of the composers featured in this concert! The sun, moon, stars, and planets will align in this celestial symphonic celebration!

Program

RICHARD STRAUSS
Thus Spoke Zarathustra

GUSTAV HOLST, reduction by Nicholas Hersh
“Mars, the Bringer of War” from The Planets

JESSIE MONTGOMERY
Starburst

JOHN WILLIAMS
Flying Theme from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67 I. Allegro con brio

GUSTAV HOLST, reduction by Nicholas Hersh
“Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” from The Planets

JOHN WILLIAMS
Main Theme from Star Wars

The length of this concert is approximately 50 minutes and will be performed without intermission.

RYAN TANI , assistant conductor

Ryan Tani is in his first season as assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In 2021, he completed his two-year tenure as the Orchestral Conducting Fellow for the Yale Philharmonia under Music Director Peter Oundjian, where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Prize for artistic excellence in his graduating class. Committed to meaningful community music-making in the state of Montana, Tani has directed the Bozeman Chamber Orchestra, Bozeman Symphonic Choir, Second String Orchestra, and MSU Symphony Orchestras. He frequently serves as cover conductor for the St. Louis, Colorado, and Bozeman symphonies and also recently served on the faculty at the Montana State University School of Music.

Tani recently concluded his tenure as music director of the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore. A fierce advocate of new music, Tani curated over 20 commissions from Baltimore-based composers during his four-year directorship of OS. As resident conductor of the New Music New Haven series, he has collaborated, under the guidance of Aaron Jay Kernis, with Yale University composition students and faculty.

Tani is also a graduate of the Peabody Institute, where he studied conducting with Marin Alsop and Markand Thakar, and the University of Southern California, where he studied voice with Gary Glaze. In 2015, he was declared the winner of the ACDA Undergraduate Student Conducting Competition at their national conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to his studies at Yale and Peabody, Tani has also studied conducting with Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, Gerard Schwarz, Grant Cooper, and José-Luis Novo. Tani currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he can be found in the park with his dog, playing board games with friends and family, in the library with a good book, or in the practice room with his violin.

MATTHEW HUEBSCH, actor

Matthew Huebsch is a Milwaukee area actor. Over the past couple of decades, he has performed with a variety of Milwaukee theatres, including the Constructivists, Danceworks, and Skylight Music Theatre. He is also a co-founder of Kidsplay, a comedy theatre for kids, celebrating 20 years in 2024.

When not acting, Matthew spends time with his family and enjoys photography, motorcycling, and dabbling in digital video production. (He is also a huge sci-fi geek!)

PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES

• AWE (Artists Working in Education) Art Activity

• Bradley Symphony Center Scavenger Hunt

• Composer Station

• Conductor Station

• Selfie Station

• White House of Music Instrument Petting Zoo

A special thank you to our Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra volunteers.

ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES

Sensory Bags, Weighted Lap Pads, & Noise Canceling Headphones: Sensory bags containing special KultureCity VIP badges, fidget tools, noise canceling headphones, and other resources are available for checkout, at no cost, on concert days. Noise canceling headphones and weighted lap pads can also be checked out individually. Items can be checked out from the Coat Check in the Gallery. A photo ID will be requested as security.

Quiet Areas: The Bradley Symphony Center has a Quiet Room located in the pre-theater lobby on the first floor. The Quiet Room, equipped with a sink, comfortable seating, and warm lighting is available for anyone who needs a private space to escape for a few minutes. Additional Quiet Areas are located in the Historic Exhibit on the lower level and in the Phone Booth Area on the second level. These spaces can be an escape for those feeling overwhelmed for as little or as long as they need. If you need assistance finding any of these Quiet Areas, please find an usher or Front of House staff member.

Hearing Loop & Infrared Listening System: Allen-Bradley Hall is equipped with a tele-coil or T-coil Loop system. No additional assistive listening devices are required for patrons with compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants. Allen-Bradley Hall is also equipped with an infrared listening system. Assistive listening devices are offered free of charge and can be checked out from the house manager. A photo ID will be requested as security.