PROMISE PROGRAM BENEFIT CONCERT West Chester University Symphony Orchestra Joseph Caminiti, Director
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 8:15 PM
It is the privilege of the WCUSO to join hands with West Chester University’s Promise Program to help raise funds and awareness for students on campus with monetary and material needs. If you are so inclined and able, you may donate to the program through the following means: -The purchasing of food and drink in the lobby -The purchasing of WCUSO shirts and mugs in the lobby -The purchasing of raffle tickets for gift baskets displayed in the lobby -The donation of goods from the Wish List. See the bins in the lobby -The donation of money via pledge cards in the lobby -By visiting the donation webpage through the WCU Foundation via this QR Code.
Thank you for joining us in this cause and for choosing to spend your time listening to great music! We hope to see you at our many upcoming concerts and events. Visit our website at www.wcuso.org for event information.
PROGRAM APU: TONE POEM FOR ORCHESTRA (2017) ........................................ Gabriela Lena Frank (b. 1972) From the composer: In Andean Perú, spirits are said to inhabit rocks, rivers, and mountain peaks with the intent of keeping a watchful eye on travelers passing through highland roads. The apu is one of the more well-known spirits that is sometimes portrayed as a minor deity with a mischievous side who is rarely seen. Simple fold song and a solemn prayer often successfully placate the apu to ensure safe passage through the mountains. Apu: Tone Poem for Orchestra begins with a short folkloric song inspired by the agile pinkillo flute, a small slender instrument that packs well into the small bas of travelers who must travel light. It is followed by the extended haillí of the second movement, a prayer to the apu, which flows attacca to the third movement in which the apu makes its brief but brilliant and dazzling appearance before disappearing once again into the mountain peaks. SYMPHONY NO. 5 [IN MEMORY OF MY PARENTS, AGNESS AND ALEXANDER] (1976) ............ Giya Kancheli (1935–2019) Giya Kancheli died in his hometown of Tbilisi, Georgia in the Caucasus region (between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea). Due to the shifting political scenes in Russia over his lifetime, he fled to both Germany and Belgium for periods of his life. By selfadmission, Kancheli said, “From piece to piece, my [musical] language becomes simpler, and I can’t do anything about it.” Symphony No. 5 is strongly representative of Kancheli’s habit of alternating profoundly calm and slowly unfolding moments with violent outbursts. The late Russian composer, Alfred Schnittke said of Kancheli’s music, "within a comparatively short span of time . . . we are able to live through a whole life or perceive a complete history." INTERMISSION SYMPHONIE E UT (1940) ................................................................................. Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) I. Moderato alla breve II. Larghetto concertante—Doppio movement—Doppio valore III. Allegretto—meno mosso—Tempo I IV. Largo—Tempo giusto, alla breve—Largo—A tempo—Poco meno mosso Live concert annotations by guest artist and composer, Ron Thomas. Please silence all cell phones and electronic devices.
MUSICIANS
VIOLIN I Ben Weaver, Concertmaster Olivia Choi Brian Robbins Abigail Stratton Amari Rickards Kyla de Guia Riley McGowan VIOLIN II Sharon Chen, Principal River Cobain Michael Susan Altemose Katrina Cwiertniewicz Madeline DeBlois Sean Devers Katelyn Norman VIOLA Freddy Contreras-Romero, Principal Isaac Meyer Ruth Frazier Nina Cottman Joseph Cosgrove CELLO Elisa Aquino Gomez, Principal Lia Crisuolo Taylor Cope Ally Paino Ceara Caisido Bonnie Calhoun Emily Zook Connor McPartland Lily Eckman
DOUBLE BASS James Devor, Principal Darby MacAdams Tim Ragsdale Caleb Sharp Grace Wible Saven Wright Sarah Rentz Brian Lynch Amber Kowal FLUTE Chloe Leed, Principal Allie Finney Katie Stidham Morgan Turner, alto flute OBOE Theoron Hershey, Principal John DeBiase ENGLISH HORN Hannah Shields CLARINET Tess Pierontoni, Principal Paige Rehill BASS CLARINET Nadine Silverman BASSOON Meghan Freer, Principal Andrew Gifford
HORN Felicia Quinn, Principal Michael Antonacci Destinee Bebout Thomas Lloyd Brittany Saunders TRUMPET Maeve Bartra, Principal Adrianna Korey Choe Francis Nick Neu TROMBONE Kyle Jackier, Principal Joe Carano Josh Ladonis, bass trombone
TUBA Tim Goman TIMPANI Luke Thurston, Principal Timpanist PERCUSSION Jacob Scheidt, Principal Percussion Jon Partridge Adrianna Cunning Dan Farnum HARP Sarah Higgins-Benz, Principal Mike Rublesky Piano and Harpsichord Elvira Kobzeva
~Special Thanks To~ WCUSO Creative Cabinet Darby MacAdams, Project Manager and Co-Marketer Riley McGowen, Marketer: Web and Facebook Designer/Maintainer Ceara Caisido, Marketer: Video, Photography, Instagram Grace Wible, Concert and Outreach Coordinator Luke Thurston, Concert and Outreach Coordinator Assistant Olivia Choi, Librarian Promise Program Collaborators Helen Hammerschmidt, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Tori Nuccio, Interim Associate Director, Single Point of Contact for Unaccompanied Homeless and Foster Youth SAI Reception and Logistics Volunteers
GUEST ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Introduced to the piano by his father "Buddy" Thomas, Ron was attracted to the classical music and the jazz he heard growing up. During his High School years, he studied Piano with Marthe Morhange-Motchane, a student of Alfred Cortot. He has a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Arts degree in Composition from Long Island University. Additionally, Ron studied privately with Karlheinz Stockhausen, Stefan Wolpe, and Roland Hanna. He enjoyed the friendship and counsel of John Cage and Herbie Hancock, and has been performing as a jazz musician professionally since 1965. In 1972 Ron recorded “One, Two, Free” with Saxophonist Eric Kloss, and “Pat Martino Live” with Guitarist Pat Martino. His own recorded work can be found on Vectordisc records and Art of Life records. Ron is an effective teacher and is admired widely for his lyrical, well-crafted jazz playing and his impressive catalog of classical works. He has long been associated with West Chester University as a guest jazz artist and an influential lecturer. www.ronthomasmusic.com
UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 Saturday, December 7, 2019, 3:00 PM *98th Annual Holiday Program Ryan Kelly, director Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building Saturday, December 7, 2019, 7:00 PM Kennett Symphony Children's Chorus Concert Eileen Keller, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center Sunday, December 8, 2019, 3:00 PM Wind Ensemble Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center Sunday, December 8, 2019, 7:30 PM Collegium Musicum Recital Mark Rimple, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building Monday, January 27, 2020, 7:30 PM Faculty Recital: Vincent Craig, piano Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
*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/ArtsAtWCUPA 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