march 2017volume 30, number 4 “on the beautiful blue danube” · pdf filewaltz...
TRANSCRIPT
“On the Beautiful Blue Danube”
Inside this issue:
Maestro’s
Notes
2
Youth
Concerts
3
On the
Town
5
Meet the
Musicians
6
2017-2018
Season
7
Mark your
Calendar!
8
March 2017 VOLUME 30, NUMBER 4
Following a sold-out
concert with Tracy Byrd, the
we continue our “Symphony
Fantastique” season by go-
ing back to the classics and
performing great works from
Johann Strauss, Johannes
Brahms and Robert Schu-
mann. The SOST Chorus
also joins in for the tradition-
al choral concert on Satur-
day, March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
at the Julie Rogers Theatre.
This season, we are
showcasing the many talents
of our musicians as they per-
form a wide range of music
from symphonic to popular
to country-western. Going
back to our roots, this choral
concert is one that features a
choral style that interweaves
many voices to produce har-
mony and lyrical style that
goes beyond straight sym-
phonic style. The orchestra
is enhanced by the cho-
rus of the SOST to add
to the sonic beauty.
Guest Conductor
Dr. James Han will lead
the SOST Chorus in
Robert Schumann’s
Requiem, opus 148.
Schumann, a German
composer, was an influential
music critic widely regarded
as one of the greatest com-
posers of the Romantic era.
Also featured with the cho-
rus will be soloists Amanda
Kingston, soprano, Ashly
Evans, mezzo soprano, Jason
Choi, tenor, and Dorian
McCall, baritone.
Also on the program is
Johann Strauss’s classic
waltz “On the Beautiful Blue
Danube.” Commonly known
as “The Waltz King,” Jo-
hann Strauss captures the
rhythmic style of riding on a
boat that gently travels down
a river. Most known for its
soothing sounds played on
New Year’s Day from Vien-
na, his homeland.
The well-known Johan-
nes Brahms’ “Variations on
a theme by Haydn, op. 56a”
was a tribute to the earlier
symphonic master he
revered. Haydn’s St. Antho-
ny Chorale is used as the
choral tune, and then played
in true orchestral style, a
hallmark of Brahms. The
piece was originally written
for piano, thus, the “a” indi-
cator on his opus 56. In form
as well as thematic material,
these variations make us
hear Haydn’s chorale in en-
tirely new ways.
The traditional SOST
Choral concert is always
a grand event!
Sponsored by Rosine
McFaddin Wilson;
guest artist sponsored
by Baptist Hospitals.
Saturday, March 11 · 7:30 p.m. · Julie Rogers Theatre
Han
SOST Chorus
We have a stunning concert of
music to share with the community
this weekend. The Schumann Req-
uiem is one of those rare jewels that
is just exquisite music that we know
the audience will appreciate. On
this concert, I will be sharing the
podium with Dr. James Han, Lamar
University Professor and Director of
Choral Activities. On the second
half of the concert we will be per-
forming the Brahms’ “Variations on
a theme by Haydn” followed by the
ever popular “Blue Danube Waltz”
by Johann Strauss, which I will con-
duct.
We will be closing our season
on April 1 in a truly “Fantastique”
fashion! The scope of music that
we have covered in our concerts this
season has been breathtaking. We
have had acrobats on stage with
orchestra, Tracy Byrd serenading
our audience, the Tchaikovsky Vio-
lin Concerto and everything in be-
tween. This has been the grandest
season yet in our 64 year history of
the Symphony of Southeast Texas.
We will close out the season in
a grand style with piano virtuoso
Christopher O’Reilly performing
the Rachmaninov “Variations on a
theme of Paganini” filled with beau-
tiful variations that display the vir-
tuosity, the beauty and majesty of
the piano and orchestra.
The grand finale on April 1 will
be the monumental “Symphonie
Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz.
This symphonic jewel will put the
SOST musicians’ artistry on full
display.
Get your tickets now, you do
not want to miss this one. Go
SOST!!!
Maestro’s
Notes
2
“Symphony Fantastique” Saturday, April 1 · 7:30 p.m. · Julie Rogers Theatre
We wrap up our spectacular 64th
season with an extraordinary evening
of great artistry fulfilling the season’s
“Symphony Fantastique” theme. Piano
soloist Christopher O’Riley joins the
SOST for the season finale concert on
Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Julie Rogers Theatre featuring Rach-
maninoff’s “Variations on a theme by
Paganini” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie
Fantastique.”
“This season has been an amazing
adventure in many ways,” said SOST
Executive Director Doug Fair. “We’ve
presented outstanding artists, featured
new dimensions of musical perfor-
mances, and by including some locally
treasured music, welcomed new faces
to our audiences. We hope that many
of our “first time” concert goers will be
back again and again. Our season fina-
le includes beloved classics like the
Rachmaninoff variations, and the ex-
citing epic symphonic story of a crazed
artist. Pianist Christopher O’Riley’s
wonderful talents will make the varia-
tions sparkle in his unique way!”
Wit, charm, romance, rhythmic
verve, and masterly orchestration com-
bine in what many consider to be one
of Rachmaninoff’s greatest composi-
tions – his “Paganini Variations.” The
orchestra performs this masterwork
with the amazing Christopher O’Riley
as the piano soloist. Acclaimed for his
engaging and deeply committed per-
formances, O’Riley is known to mil-
lions as the host of NPR’s “From the
Top.” As a classical pianist, he per-
forms around the world and has gar-
nered widespread praise for his untir-
ing efforts to reach new audiences by
performing piano arrangements of pop-
ular alternative music from Radiohead,
Pink Floyd, Nirvana and more. His
playing has been described as being
“laced with an otherworldly elegance
that can’t be duplicated.”
On
the sec-
ond
half of
the pro-
gram is
one of
the
greatest
orchestral masterpieces, “Symphonie
Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz. This
symphony describes the tortured
dreams of a sensitive artist in lovesick
despair who becomes haunted by vi-
sions of an unattainable woman. You’ll
actually hear the “Dies Ire” theme in
both the Rachmaninoff and Berlioz
works. This will be the first time the
SOST has performed this exciting
piece, which features two tuba players,
a rarity for any symphonic work.
“Symphonie Fantastique” is co-
sponsored by Regina Rogers and the
Symphony League of Beaumont.
O’Riley
SOST awarded at
SETAC Hearts for the Arts
SOST Executive Director Doug
Fair accepted the award from the
Southeast Texas Arts Council
(SETAC) for Creative and Collabora-
tive Community Outreach on behalf of
the SOST at the 2017 Hearts for the
Arts event.
According to SETAC, the SOST
was recognized for our “innovative
and entertaining approach to music
and diverse programming.” They
commended our collaborations both
locally and internationally last year,
including bringing Cirque de la Sym-
phony to the Beaumont stage and our
pops concert with Connor Bogart
O’Brien. They also recognized our
free July 4th concert and our Sympho-
ny at Shangri La concert.
We greatly appreciate the honor
from SETAC and congratulate all the
winners from our arts community.
Concerto Competition names winner
Rachel Clark was chosen as the first place winner
of the 2017 SOST Concerto Competition. She will
perform at our Youth Education Concerts on May 16
and 17 at the Jefferson Theater.
Clark performed on the harp and was awarded the
$750 prize for first place.
Second place winner was Christian Jack, who per-
formed on piano, and won $500.
Third place was awarded to Mary Catherine Ol-
iverio, who performed on violin, and won $250.
The competition included a total of 11 students
representing violin, French horn, piano and harp.
Thank you to the Symphony League for funding
the cash prizes for the top three winners.
4
Rachel Clark
6 p.m., Thursday, May 4
Edison Plaza Lobby
More details coming soon…
SAVE THE DATE
6:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk
Arrive early to the concerts on
March 11 and April 1 for a
pre-concert talk with
Maestro Tipton and special guests.
5
Meet the Musicians
6
Q: What instrument(s) do you play? A: I primarily play bass trombone for the SOST, but I have also played tenor trombone the past few years. Outside of the SOST I ac-tively play alto, tenor, and bass trombones, tuba, euphonium, and percussion. Q: When and how did you get started in music? A: My older brothers played in the public school band in south Texas... So for me it wasn't IF I would be in band... Instead it was WHAT would I choose to play??? Q: When did you begin playing with the SOST? A: I moved to Beaumont from San Antonio in 1997. I called Wayne Dyess (principal trombone back then) and asked about subbing with the group... I timed it just right... Two weeks later there were audi-tions for a permanent position... I won the audition and have enjoyed every season! Q: Educational background?
A: I have my Bachelor of Music with a concentration in jazz and commercial music from McNeese State in Lake Charles. I received my Texas education certificate from Lamar University. Q: Who has been your greatest in-fluence in music? A: I have many influences... But I would say that Jimmy Pankow, trombonist of the rock band "Chicago," is my biggest influence. His playing was my reason for play-ing trombone in the beginning. His writing has influenced my commer-cial writing tremendously over the past 20 years. Q: What is your “day job?” A: I am one of the band directors at Buna ISD. Q: Hobbies or activities outside of SOST? A: I am very involved at my church, Calvary Baptist Church, in Beaumont. I serve as the orchestra director and also write for the choir and orchestra. I have been in the recording industry for over 20 years. I've had the opportunity to
back up many superb artists and have been involved with 3 Grammy nominated projects and 1 Grammy winning project. Several of my ar-rangements have also been recorded over the years. Outside of playing instruments... I am an avid gun collector and shoot regularly. I love the outdoors, espe-cially the beach, having grown up near South Padre Island. I am also a rabid fan of the San Antonio Spurs! Go Spurs Go!!! But my favorite thing is spending time with my family, which includes my wife, daughter, her husband, and my pre-cious granddaughter! Q: Favorite music? A: As a brass player this my seem strange... But my favorite piece of music is Barber's Adagio for Strings played by the New York Philhar-monic conducted by Bernstein. Anything played by Stan Getz (tenor sax) is just the best! And for commercial music I really enjoy the groups Toto, Chicago, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.
To meet more
of our musicians,
click here to
visit the
orchestra page
on our website!
Dean McCarty, Trombone
If your schedule prevents you from attending a concert, PLEASE consider releasing
your tickets prior to the day of the concert by calling the Symphony office at
(409) 892-2257.
Date, time Event Location
March 11, 6:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk Julie Rogers Theatre
765 Pearl Street
March 11, 7:30 p.m. Classics Series Concert
“On the Beautiful Blue Danube”
Julie Rogers Theatre
April 1, 6:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk Julie Rogers Theatre
April 1, 7:30 p.m. Classics Series Concert
“Symphony Fantastique”
Julie Rogers Theatre
May 2, 6:30 p.m. Annual Meeting Julie Rogers Theatre stage
May 4, 6 p.m. “SOST On the Town” Concert Edison Plaza Lobby
350 Pine Street
July 4, 8 p.m. July 4th Concert Julie Rogers Theatre
Upcoming Events
The Symphony of Southeast Texas
4345 Phelan Blvd, Suite 105 • Beaumont, TX 77707
(409) 892-2257 • www.sost.org • [email protected]
www.facebook.com/TheSOST
@TheSOST
8
www.youtube.com/SOSETX