Symphony Orchestra

YoungArtistsCompetitionWinner

PROGRAMNOTES

Overtureto“L’ItalianainAlgeri” GioacchinoRossini

Rossiniwasthebest-knownItalian operacomposerbeforeVerdiand PucciniduringtheXIXcentury.He wrote39operasbeforehisretirement in1830. L’italianainAlgeri (TheItalian GirlinAlgiers)premieredonMay22, 1813,attheTeatroSanBenedettoin Venice,isanoperatic dramagiocoso withamixtureofelementsfromthe operabuffa andthe operaseria.In 1832,thefulloperawaspremieredin NewYork. L’italianainAlgeri tellsthe storyoftheItaliangirlIsabellawho persuadesMustafa,theBayofthe Algiers,tofreeherandLindoro,her lover,fromhispalace.Theoverture adherestothe“archetypicalRossini overture”structurewhichconsistsofa slowintroductionandafast“sparkling” sectionsomewhatsimilartothe sonatinaform.Inthisoverture,theslow introductionbeginsquietlywiththe stringpizzicatosinterruptedbyaburst chordinfortissimojustbeforethe melodicoboesolostarts.Whenthe allegrobegins,aseriesofvivacious, briefwoodwindsolosdenotewhythis acclaimedovertureisoneofthemost likedbywindplayers.Closetothe end,thetypical“Rossinicrescendo”, whichbeginswithfragmentsofscales andalternatesbetweenthetonicand thedominantharmonies,becomes graduallylouderthusgivingRossini’s characteristicdramaticfinaleffect.

~AlexandroLucero

AspirationsofaWanderingHeart RyanMowers

Faithisafunnything.Liketrust,it's veryhardtogainandveryeasytolose. Istartedthisprojectbyaskingmyself onething,"Ifsomeonelostfaithin everyone,whatwouldittakeforthem tobelieveagain?"Withthat,Istarted writing. AspirationsofaWandering Heart tellsthestoryoftwopeople, AlexandChelsea,verymuchalike,but

stillverydifferent.Alex,ayoungman whohasgrowndisillusionedwiththe worldhelivesin,loseshisfaithin everyonearoundhim,andyet,he dreamsofsomanythings.Writing musicisthethingthatcomesmost naturallytohim,sohewritesaboutall ofhisregretsandhowhewishedthe worldwouldbe.It'sinoneofhis performancesthatanunlikelyaudience memberhearssomethingthatchanges herlife.Chelsea,ashyyounggirlwho wasjustlikeAlex,realizedsomething onthatfatefulday.Ifyoufocusonwhat somethingmightbecome,it'salways betterthanfocusingonwhatitactually is.Fromthenon,sheseestheentire worldinanewlight.Sheneverreally hadanydreamsofherown,butafter listeningtoAlexagainandagain,she startswonderingwhathislifecouldbe likeifheknewwhatsheknew.After hearinganespeciallyheartbreaking song,sheknowsthataboveallelse, shewantstohelphim.So,shefinally mustersuphercourageandtalksto him.It'shereinthestorythat movement5begins.Chelseaisgoing todoherbesttoshowAlextheworld thathemadehersee,butsheknows thatitwon'tbeeasytoconvincehim thatit'soutthere.Shetalksaboutthe darkplacethatshewasin,andhow easyitlookedforhertogiveupon everything.But,shekeptongoing,for thisverymoment,totellhimhowher lifechanged,andallthedreamsthat shenowhasbecauseofhim.WillAlex acceptwhatshe'stellinghim,orwillhe choosetocontinuedownhisownpath?

Composedin1954forthe50th anniversaryoftheLondonSymphony OrchestraVaughanWilliams Concerto forBassTubaandOrchestra was premieredbyrenownedtubistPhilip Catelinet,asthesoloist.Vaughan WilliamsindicatedthathisConcerto

ConcertoforBassTubaandOrchestra RalphVaughanWilliams

resemblestheBaroqueconcertoform ratherthantheViennesestyleof MozartandBeethoven.Insteadofthe standardlengthiersoloconcerto characteristicoftheRomanticperiod, the TubaConcerto isstructuredin threemovementsofrelativelyshort duration,stillshowcasingVaughan Williams'ownharmonicandrhythmic language.Theopeningmovement Prelude isabriskmarchthatshowsoff thesoloist’sagilityperformingfast movingnotesandswiftscalepassages. Afteramorecalmedmiddlesection themovementrecapitulatesbackto theopeningmarch,endingwithasolo cadenzathatexploitstheveryextreme registersoftheinstrument,followedby aseriesofwideleapsandaslowreturn ofthemaintheme.Thesecond movement Romanza isabeautiful lyricalsongthatdemonstratesthe singingqualityoftheinstrumentinits highregister.Theopeningthemein folk-songstyleistraditionalinmost VaughanWilliams’compositions.The musicthenbecomesmorerestlessand themainthemeishighlyembellished asitmovestowardsaclimaxthatleads backtothelyricalmoodofthe opening.TheFinalemovement Rondo allatedesca (RondoinGermanstyle),is highlyenergeticwithrocket-like arpeggiosandlivelytrillsthatalternate withcontrastingepisodes.Inthevery firstrecordingoftheworkalsofrom 1954,itwasstatedthat"thetuba rompsamidthedancingstrings,like FalstaffamongthefairiesinWindsor Forest"whilethecriticMichael Kennedycalledit"anelephantine romp,humorousandsalty".Justasin thefirstmovement,theFinaleends withavirtuosiccadenzaroundedoff withawildcascadeofsoundfromthe orchestra.

DanceoftheHoursfrom“LaGioconda”

AmilcarePonchielli

WrittenbytheItaliancomposer

AmilcarePonchielli,the Danceofthe Hours isthefinaleofActIIIfromthe opera LaGioconda.Itservesasan intermezzobetweenActsIIIandIV.The

wholeoperawaspresentedforthefirst timein1876andshortlylater,this balletscenebegantobeperformedas astand-alonework.The Danceofthe Hours isdividedintofourparts,each representingaspecifictimeoftheday: morning,noon,afternoon,andnight.It openswithseveralverydelicate melodiesrepresentingthecalm environmentofthemorning,more specificallydawn.Then,aclimatic sectiondepictsthearrivalofnoontime withallbeingsnowfullyawake.Aftera brieftransition,thedanceoftheday makesitsappearance;itisthebest knownsectionoftheentireballet, madefamousbyAllanShermanwith hisnoveltysong HelloMuddah,Hello Fadduh(ALetterfromCamp) of1963. Wethenmovetothenighthours, transitioningintoaminormodewith thecellosperformingarathera sombermelodictheme.Ashort cadenzabytheharptakesusfromthe lighterhoursoftheeveningtothe darkesthoursatnight.Theballetends withveryabriskcan-can,anotherwellknown,verylivelyvirtuosodance. Nowadays,Ponchielli´soperaof La Gioconda israrelyperformedinits completeform,itisits Danceofthe Hours forwhichitisbetter remembered;ithasbeenused numeroustimesinpopularmedia includingtelevisioncommercials,films, cartoonsandsitcoms.Undoubtedly, themostcelebratedofallisDisney´s animatedfilm Fantasia of1940,where theballetisperformedbyalligators, ostriches,elephants,and hippopotamuses.Thishistorical theatricalversionwasledbyrenowed conductorLeopoldStokowski (1882-1977).

~ManuelMonge

Overtureto“OrpheusintheUnderworld” JacquesOffenbach

Strugglingtofindsuccess,Jaques Offenbachwasmetwithadead-end

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whenthemanagementoftheParis Opera-Comiquecompanyhadno interestinstaginganyofhiscomic operas.In1855hewasfinallyableto showcasedhisworksattheBouffesParisiensTheatrewherethreeyears later,Offenbachwouldcomposehis firstlarge-scaleopera, Orpheeaux enfers (OrpheusintheUnderworld), whichbecameabox-officesuccess, bringinghimandthecompanyoutof thebrinkoffinancialruin.Thestoryof thisoperaisaparodyofthelegendof OrpheusandEurydicewithslight differences(nottobeconfusedwith theopera OrpheoandEuridice by ChristophGluck,whichstaystrueto theoriginallegend).Inthisrendition, Orpheusisthesonofaviolinteacher insteadoftheGodoforacles,Apollo. Heispleasedtoberidofhiswife, Eurydice,whowascapturedbyPluto, theGodoftheunderworld.Coerced bypublicopinion,Orpheusbeginshis journeytotheunderworldtorescuehis wifeandreturnhertomortality.The behaviorofthegodsofOlympuswas viewedassatireoftheregimeof NapoleonIII,EmperorofFrance.Even thoughthisoperawasablockbuster

hit,itreceivedmixedreviewsfromthe public.Highlypraisedbysome,others criticizedandexpressedoutrageat Offenbach’sandtheperformer’s disrespecttowardsGreekmythology instead.Howthisopera,despite dishonoringtheEmpireand temporarilytarnishingthecomposer’s reputation,wasabletosee internationalsuccessandcontinuesto seerevivalsinthe20thand21st centuriesisamarvelousfeatonits own.Theoverturewasarrangedtwo yearsaftertheopera’soriginalrelease byAustriancomposerCarlosBinder andthusisnotapartoftheoriginal score.Itcontainsvariousthemesused intheopera,mostnotablythegalop sectionusedattheopera'send.After Offenbach’sdeath,thegalopwould becomeoneofthemostfamousand world-renownedpiecesofmusic, cementingitselfasapillarofthecancanstyle.Thisbelovedgalophas founditswayintosocialmediaand televisionproductionssuchas The LittleMermaid,BugsBunny, and Pinky andtheBrain, tonameafew.

~AndrewStahlman

SpringConcert

JOSEHERNANDEZ,PIANO

AZDRUBALLMONTEMAYOR

Tuba,UTRGVYoungArtistsSoloCompetitionWinner

AzdruballJavier“Archie”Montemayor isinhisfourthyearasmusiceducation majorattheUniversityofTexas-Rio GrandeValleywherehestudieswithDr. ScottRoeder.Asatubaplayer,he regularlyperformswiththeuniversity ensemblessuchastheUTRGV SymphonyOrchestra,WindOrchestra, andtheTubaandEuphoniumStudio Ensemble.Azdruballhasparticipatedin severalnationalandInternational competitionsincludingtheprestigious InternationalFalconeTubaand EuphoniumCompetitioninMichigan wherehewassemi-finalistin2019and Silver-Medalistintheyoungartist divisionthefollowingyear.Azdruball startedplayingtubabackwhileinsixth gradein2013,hisfirstinstructorwas EmmanuelGarciabeforecontinuing lessonswithDr.ScottRoedertwoyears later.Heisayoungmusicianwithbig dreams;tobeabletoperformin

EMILYSALDIVAR Mezzo-soprano

renownedensemblessuchasmilitary bandsorprofessionalsymphony orchestras.Hismaingoalinlifeistoplay musicwhileconveyingemotionanda messagethroughhisinstrument.

BornandraisedinBrownsville,TX, Mezzo-sopranoEmilySaldivarstudied atNorthwesternStateUniversityof Louisiana.Shehasperformedunderthe

directionofDr.NicholausCumminsand vocalcoachDr.MarcyMckeestarringin numerousproductionswiththeNSU OperaTheatreincludingHanselfrom Humperdinck’s HanselandGretel, Bizet’s Carmen,Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte andothers.Emilyhadthe opportunitytoappearwiththe Natchitoches/NorthwesternSymphony Orchestrainvariousoccasionsincluding thePremierofRichardBurchard’s The FallingStars withtheNSUChamber Choir.ShehastouredwiththeNSU ChamberChoirthroughoutEurope, performinginimportantstagesin Prague,Czechia,Bratislava,Slovakia, ViennaandBaden,Austria,earning thirdplaceworldwidewiththeChamber ChoirattheAveVerumcompetition. SaldivarwillbegraduatingthisMay fromNorthwesternStateUniversityin Louisianalookingtoreturntothevalley toteachHighSchoolchoir.

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GABRIELTREVINO Baritone

GabrielTreviñoistheAssistantChoir DirectoratJamesNikkiRoweHigh School,andiscurrentlyinhis4thyear ofteaching.HeisaGraduateofTexas TechUniversity,earninghisBachelors DegreeinMusicEducation,while takingvoicelessonsunderthetutelage ofKarlDent.DuringhistimeatTexas TechUniversity,heperformedrolesin OperaandMusictheater,ofwhich includetheGunnerandChorusinThe PhantomoftheOpera,andElder GleatoninCarlisleFloydsSussanah. Gabrielalsoperformswiththe professionalchoir,Pasíon,andhas previouslyperformedwiththeSan AntonioChamberChoir.

RYANMOWERS StudentComposer

RyanMowersisamusician/composer whocurrentlyresidesinSouthTexas.A

manofmanyinterests,Ryancurrently holdstwodegreesinmusic performanceandmathematicsfrom theUniversityofTexasRioGrande Valley,andheiscurrentlypursuinga master'sdegreeinbothmathematics andpianoperformanceatUTRGV. Overtheyears,hehasdevelopedas anartistinbothpianoandtrumpet, andhashadmanyperformance opportunities,bothlocallyand nationally,someasfarastherenowned CarnegieHallinNewYorkCity.Ryan's loveformusicstartedatanearlyage whenhebeganlearningthepianoand ithasneverstopped.Heisalways beendrawntoorchestraland cinematicmusic,aswellasmusical theater,hiscompositionalstyleclearly suggeststhat.Inhissparetime,he enjoysreadingandwatchingmovies.

ALEXANDROLUCERO-QUINTANA GuestConductor

AlexandroLucero-Quintanawasborn inMexicoCity.Hehasplayedviolafor twentyyearsandgraduatedfromthe NationalAutonomousUniversityof MexicowithadegreeinMusic Performance.In2017,hebeganhis conductingstudiesinworkshopswith DavidRochaandSergioCardenasin Mexico.Alexandrohasconductedthe QueretaroSymphoniettaandthe ConsortiumSonorusChamber OrchestrainMexico.Since2017,he hasbeenconductingtheColegioSan JuanSigloXXIYouthSymphony OrchestrainMatamoros.Alexandro Lucero-Quintanaiscurrentlyworking onhismaster´sdegreeinorchestral conductingattheUniversityofTexas RioGrandeValleyundertheguidance ofDr.NormanGamboa.

MANUELMONGE-MATA GuestConductor

Manuelbeganhismusicstudiesatthe ageof4,learningfirsttheviolin,then guitarandlaterFrenchhorn.Inhewas

acceptedbothinconductingand compositionattheUniversityofCosta Rica,studyingwithcomposersCarlos CastroandCarlosEscalante.Healso tookcompositionlessonsonelectronic musicwithOttoCastro.In2017he obtainedaMasterofMusicdegreein windconductingatMiddleTennessee StateUniversitywithDr.ReedThomas. Manuelhastaughtatseveralmusic schoolsinCostaRica.Hiscompositions havebeenperformedwidelyinCosta RicaaswellasintheUnitedStates.In 2021hepublishedtwoworkswithRising TideMusicPressandalsoparticipatedas conductorandproducerofthenewly releasedCDDavidMaslanka:First Recordings;thethirdalbumhehas producedandthefirstactingas conductor.AttheUniversityofTexasat RioGrandeValleyheisastudentofDr. NormanGamboa.LastNovember2022, ManuelparticipatedintheLakeComo ConductingCompetitionatBellano, Italy.

ANDREWSTAHLMAN GuestConductor

eight.Hehasplayedtrombonefor fourteenyearsandgraduatedfrom SouthernIllinoisUniversityat EdwardsvillewithadegreeinMusic Performance.Neartheendofhis undergraduatecareer,Andrewbegan topursueaninterestinorchestral conducting.Andrewhasworkedwith manystudentsviaprivatelessons, sectionals,andfullensembles.He studiedwithDr.DarwinAquinoduring thepandemicandservedasassistant conductorwiththeGatewayFestival Orchestraduringthesummerof2021. AndrewStahlmaniscurrentlyworking onhismaster’sdegreeinorchestral conductingattheUniversityofTexas RioGrandeValleyundertheguidance ofDr.NormanGamboa.

Colorado,Nebraska,Kansas,Missouri, Texas,Louisiana,Oklahoma,Minnesota, Wyoming,California,Idaho,Nevadaand Pennsylvania.Worldwideengagements includeorchestrasintheCzechRepublic, Romania,Colombia,Brazil,Guatemala, Venezuela,CostaRica,Panama,Ecuador, Nicaragua,andHonduras.Dr.Gamboa hasledseveralballetandopera productionswithBalletMidwest,Aurora DanceArts,SantaRosaDanceTheater, FiestaColoradoDanceCompany,Rio GrandeValleyBalletCompany,Topeka OperaSociety,andOperaonTap Colorado.Hehasalsoparticipatedin variousrenownedmusicfestivalsin Europe,CentralandSouthAmerica,the Caribbean,theU.S.andCanada. Previously,heservedasMusicDirectorof thePowderRiverSymphonyandAurora Symphony,DirectorofOrchestrasat WashburnUniversity,CoverConductor oftheTopekaSymphony,Associate ConductorofLasVegasMusicFestival, AssistantConductoroftheWaco SymphonyandMusicDirectorofthe WacoYouthSymphonyOrchestra.

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Dr.NORMANGAMBOA Conductor

NormanGamboaistheDirectorof OrchestralActivitiesatTheUniversityof TexasRioGrandeValley,MusicDirector oftheSonomaCountyPhilharmonicin California,andconductorandfounderof theRioGrandeYouthSymphony.Oneof themostprominentCentralAmerican conductors,hehasappearedthroughout

AndrewStahlmanwasborninVirginia Beach,VA,andmovedtoIllinoisatage

VIOLIN

EldaaHernandez, Concertmaster

AngelaLlanes, Assistantconcertmaster

MariferGuerrero, Principal

DanielSantiago, AssistantPrincipal

OcielBarrera

PriscillaEspinoza

RubenGarcia,Jr.

AngelaGonzalez

JazminGutierrez

AlexandraHernandez

AstridHerrera

LeahLoera

JoelSanchez

JameelZuniga

VIOLA

MelanieCantu, Principal

DeniseAlanis

KatiaLuna

JacobMartinez

HarleyMassey

JoseSalinas

CELLO

JudithRecio, Principal

JairoGarza

SebastianGuerrero

IsaacIslas

ClarissaMartinez

RobertZuniga

DOUBLEBASS

SofiaLealdeLeon, Principal

AlyssaGonzalez

ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS AlexandroLucero-Quintana

AndrewStahlman

1PrincipalinRossini

2PrincipalinMowers

3PrincipalinVaughanWilliams

4PrincipalinPonchielli

5PrincipalinOffenbach

MarisolMejia

DavidMolina

*Guestplayer 11-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra2022-2023ConcertSeason