WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Voices Too Seldom Heard Joseph Caminiti, Music Director SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2021 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 7:30 PM
PROGRAM PETITE SUITE POUR PETIT ORCHESTRE (1957)...................................... Germaine Tailleferre (1892–1983) I. Prélude II. Sicilienne III. Les filles de la Rochelle Piece Profile: French composer, Tailleferre, was named among the iconic Les Six, a title given by Henri Collet to describe five French composers and one Swiss who sought a path quite different from their predecessors (particularly Wagner, and the Impressionists). Tailleferre is an expert composer of operas, film and television scores, piano, orchestral and wind band pieces, chamber, and vocal music. Two marriages to husbands jealous of Tailleferre’s talent made for a difficult life. In the midst of that, she has given us many stunning pieces to enjoy. SENSEMAYÁ (1937/1938) .............................................................................. Silvestre Revueltas (1899–1940) Piece Profile: The title “Sensemayá” is borrowed from a poem of the same name by Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén. The poem evokes a ritual Afro-Cuban chant for the sacrificing of a snake to a god. Mexican composer, Revueltas, first wrote the piece in 1937 for small orchestra and expanded it in 1938 to the version heard tonight. His output includes ballets, orchestral and chamber music, film scores and songs.
HUAPANGO (1941) ...................................................................................... José Pablo Moncayo (1912–1958) Piece Profile: Moncayo (Mexican composer) traveled with a fellow composer to Alvarado (a city in Veracruz on the eastern shore of Mexico) on a quest for folkloric music of the purest form. Of this venture he said, “The transcription of it was very difficult because the huapangueros never sang the same melody twice in the same way. When I came back, I showed the collected material to Candelario Huízar [Moncayo’s composition teacher], who gave me a piece of advice that I will always be grateful for: ‘Introduce the material first in the same way you heard it and develop it later according to your own ideas.’” INTERMISSION
Please silence all cell phones and electronic devices.
SYMPHONY NO. 1, “AFRO-AMERICAN SYMPHONY” (1930) .................... William Grant Still (1895–1978) I. Moderato assai II. Adagio III. Animato IV. Lento, con risoluzione Piece Profile: Born in Woodville, Mississippi and of Black, Indian, Spanish, Irish, and Scotch descent, William Grant Still has offered much thought and beauty to the world. His contributions include opera, ballet, chamber, orchestral, and vocal works. He studied with American composer, George Chadwick, at the New England Conservatory, and also with French composer, Edgard Varèse. W.G. Still espoused the tenets of the Harlem Renaissance (1920s–1930s), a movement which sought to reclaim African American worth and distinction from white exploitation. Sketches for this, the first of his 5 symphonies, began in 1924. He resumed work on it in 1930 after losing his job due to the Great Depression and completed the symphony in just 2 months.
Many thanks to the WCUSO Creative Committee for their generous work: Bonnie Calhoun, Executive Administrator Olivia Flickinger, Marketing Specialist Millie Slifer, Marketing Assistant Thomas Fitzpatrick, Marketing Assistant Brian Lynch, Concert and Outreach Specialist Natalie Repper, Concert and Outreach Specialist Sharon Chen, Concert and Outreach Assistant
CONDUCTOR BIO Joseph Caminiti is looking forward to his seventh year as Director of Orchestral Studies at West Chester University. He is committed to connecting with audiences through dynamic and thoughtful concerts. Experiencing music as a unique inspiration in life, he works to relate it to the increasingly diverse audiences of our day. His conversational and visually distinctive “Concerts in The Round” have grown audiences who participate by dialoguing with the performers. The smartphone-friendly features, in-concert conversations, multi-media elements, and pre-concert “round-tables” have all captured the interests of audiences. His “Concert on the Quad” annual series at West Chester University has included audience-selected film scores, Latin and American music, and collaborations with steel drum bands, Latin ensembles, and the Dalí Quartet. These concerts have received the attention of CBS News who spontaneously ran a spot on it. Joseph is continually seeking musical partnerships with arts and charitable organizations. In 2012 he organized and conducted two concerts with Advocates For the Homeless and Those in Need, Esperanza, and other organizations to help raise funds for underserved communities. In 2016, he combined with UrbanPromise International to help raise funds for a new school in Malawi, Africa. He now also serves on the Board of the Delaware County Red Cross. In 2017, he invited ARTOLERANCE to West Chester University to present a masterclass and concert on the power of art to promote tolerance and co-existence in a challenging world. This year he is offering benefit concerts for West Chester University’s Promise Program (aid for the homeless) and their Resource Pantry. Collaborations with living composers are a vital priority. Joseph has conducted world and regional premieres, including Judith Lang Zaimont’s Chroma: Northern Lights, Kile Smith’s Song of the Angels, Raoul Pleskow’s Quartet and Epilogue, Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano, Chamber Concerto for Saxophone and Ensemble, Piece for Four Instruments, and the world premiere of Joseph Harkins’ Symphony No. 1. Recently performed standard repertoire of the twentieth-century include Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Hovhaness’s And God Created Great Whales, Hindemith’s Apparebit repentina dies, and Plau’s Concerto for Tuba and Strings. In the 2019-2020 season, he is conducting world premieres of Ron Thomas, Joseph Harkins, and the winner of the composition competition he started entitled, “Quad Fanfares”. He will also be performing works of present-day composers, Gabriela Lena Frank and Giya Kancheli. He was also Music Director of the Delaware County Symphony from 2016 to 2019 where he collaborated with many soloists including clarinetist Ricardo Morales, hornist Jennifer Montone, and cellist Udi Bar-David, flutist Kimberly Reighley, pianist Jennifer Campbell, pianist ChingYun Hu, violinists Elena Urioste and Margaret Dziekonsky. At West Chester University, Joseph conducts the Symphony, Chamber and Opera Orchestras, and the newly founded Gateway Ensemble, consisting of faculty, select students, and alumni. He teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, runs the graduate orchestral conducting program, and teaches various other courses. As a horn player, Joseph is principal horn of the Riverside Symphonia (Lambertville, New Jersey), member of the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble (Philadelphia), and is a chamber recitalist with other professional ensembles throughout the Philadelphia region. He resides in Pennsylvania, with his wife, Kirsten. They are active birders and savor hearty conversations over coffee.
The West Chester University Symphony Orchestra’s annual Orchestra Festival will take place on February 26, 2022. This year's festival is for high school string players (grades 9-12) who will rehearse with the West Chester University Orchestra (WCUSO), attend string quartet master classes, and perform a concert with the WCUSO and the string faculty. SPECIAL FEATURE: we will accept 2 auditioned student string quartets who will solo with the WCUSO in the evening concert after being coached by our stellar string faculty in Mozart's Serenata notturna, K. 239. For further details and to sign up for the festival, follow this link: https://www.wcupa.edu/music/orchestraFestival.aspx The application deadline is 9:00 PM on February 5, 2022. Video submission deadlines for those auditioning for the string quartet special feature are due on January 15 by 9:00 PM. Festival Fee: $40 (includes dinner and refreshments)
ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS VIOLIN I Olivia Flickinger, Concertmaster Hope Linton, Associate Concertmaster Talita Solís Aamirah Hickman Abigail Stratton Dominick Conte River Michael Ben Weaver VIOLIN II Sharon Chen, Principal Natalie Repper Millie Slifer Emily Szal Daniel Dwyer Kat Norman Anastasia Galante Stephanie Feyh VIOLA Priscilla Paino, Principal Nolan Prochnau Isaac Meyer Katie Calderone John Griffin Joe Seifrit Eliza Carnes CELLO Lia Criscuolo, Principal Ally Paino Justin Miller Carlos Martinez Simon Perez Torres Bonnie Calhoun Thomas Fitzpatrick Grace Rich Michael Repko BASS Caleb Sharp, Principal Sarah Renz Brian Lynch Joseph Murphy FLUTE Grace Obert Emma Flinchbaugh Analiesia Hall Elizabeth Jones
OBOE John DeBiase Hannah Shields (plus English horn) Peyton Beebe CLARINET Paige Abramson Cat Pfahler Alex Kashparovskiy Benjamin Davan, bass clarinet BASSOON Joe Plavin Dominick Destefano Andre Harding HORN Frank Stroble Blaine Geubtner Brittany Saunders Dasen Stuligross Noah Schaefer TRUMPET Brand Davis Bonnie Callahan Madison Smith Nick Neu TROMBONE Julia Galdi Alen McElhenney Lucy Ferruzza (bass trombone) TUBA Andrew Baker PIANO/CELESTA Alexandra Tzitzikas HARP Julianna Kocher TIMPANI Jon Partridge PERCUSSION Omar Mendoza Kathleen Carter Craig DiGiamarino Zack Volturo BANJO Gavin Horning
UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 Sunday, November 21, 2021, 3:00 PM Liberty Youth Wind Symphony Concert Andrew Yozviak, conductor Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Sunday, November 21, 2021, 7:00 PM Wind Symphony & Concert Band Concert M. Gregory Martin & Adam Gumble, conductors Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Monday, November 22, 2021, 8:15 PM Chamber Winds & Chamber Orchestra Concert Andrew Yozviak & Joseph Caminiti, conductors Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, November 23, 2021, 8:15 PM Percussion Ensemble Concert Ralph Sorrentino, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Monday, November 29, 2021, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Nicholas Provenzale, baritone & Terry Klinefelter, piano Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 8:15 PM Trumpet Ensemble Concert Rob Skoniczin, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 12:00 PM Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series: Jazz Division Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Grand Foyer Performing Arts Center
Monday, December 6, 2021, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Elizabeth Pfaffle, guest artist Margaret Tung and WCU Chamber Winds Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building
*Tickets required for this event.
Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations. Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “School of Music Deans Fund” in the memo line. For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/WellsSchoolofMusic and LiveStream.com/wcupa. Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.
The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean