The Akron Symphony is proud to announce dates for the 2008-2009 season. The new season offers a musical medley of musical experiences, from Tchaikovsky to Mozart to Beethoven and beyond. With something for everyone, the season includes a variety of programming such as a Classical celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday; a swinging Pops performance of Frank Sinatra’s hit songs; and an out of this world musical Odyssey featuring the music and myth of the Star Wars film saga. Look here and in your mailbox for more details. In the meantime, here’s what the Akron Beacon Journal had to say about the new season.
Also, new subscribers can save up to 50% when they purchase either a Classic, Odyssey, or Pops series subscription. Call 330-535-8131 and reserve your seats today!
Saturday’s concert to feature orchestra, chorus, guest vocalists
Akron—The Akron Symphony will present Haydn’s master work, The Creation, this Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall on the campus of The University of Akron. Music Director Christopher Wilkins will lead the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, and guest vocalists Joyce Guyer (soprano), Karl Dent (tenor), and Timothy Jones (bass-baritone) through Haydn’s musical depiction of the seven days of the creation of the world as recounted in the Biblical book of Genesis. The Creation is the seventh and final Akron Symphony Classic concert of the 2007-2008 season.
Shawn Klush and Imperials headline Elvis tribute concert May 17 at Civic Theatre
/>Akron, OH—The Akron Symphony will present Fanfare 2008: The Ultimate Elvis Experience on Saturday, May 17, 2008. The event will begin with a dinner and live auction at the Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre and culminate in a one night only concert celebrating the music of Elvis Presley at the Akron Civic Theatre.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and feature an Elvis-themed menu of fine southern cuisine. During dinner, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of exciting live auction items including several trips to see other symphony orchestras in cities around the United States. Those attending dinner will enjoy complimentary transportation to the Akron Civic Theatre for the concert.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. and will star award-winning Elvis tribute artist, Shawn Klush— winner of the BBC’s “World’s Greatest Elvis” competition and recently crowned by Elvis Presley Enterprises as the “Closest to the King.” Performing with Klush will be Elvis’ longtime backup singers, the legendary Imperials Quartet. A special post-concert dessert reception, compliments of West Side Bakery, will follow the performance.
Listen to a commerical for The Ultimate Elvis Experience!
Akron Symphony Assistant Conductor Christopher Lees was joined by “Uncle Remus” of Madcap Puppet Theatre for an appearance on WKYC’s Good Company this morning. The pair were promoting the Akron Symphony’s A Fairy Tale Fantasyconcert this Sunday at E.J. Thomas Hall at 3 p.m. The collaboration between the puppets of Madcap and the ASO will bring fairy tales to life through the magic of puppetry and music. Tickets are still available. Call (330) 972-7570 or order online at Ticketmaster. Click here to watch the ASO and Madcap on Good Company.
Akron Symphony Brings Fairy Tales To Life With Giant Puppets Of Madcap Cincinnati-based Puppet Theatre Company joins ASO on final Odyssey of 08-09 season
Akron—The Akron Symphony’s new Odyssey series wraps up the 2008-2009 season with A Fairy Tale Fantasy on Sunday, April 13th at 3:00 p.m. at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall. A Fairy Tale Fantasy brings the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the giant puppets of Madcap Puppet Theatre together for an enchanting program of fairy tales set to great orchestral music, led by Akron Symphony Assistant Conductor, Christopher James Lees. Works to be performed during the concert include Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte: Overture, Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance in C Major, and Copland’s Hoe Down from Rodeo, among others.
Odyssey, which made its debut this season, is a series of concerts that explore music through narration, dance, drama, and the visual arts. The series is aimed at bringing the entire family together to experience symphonic music combined with informative, engaging, and entertaining visuals.
For those who were not at the concert on Saturday, here is an idea of what you missed in the clip below. Guest violinist Feng Ning brought the audience to their feet as they demanded an encore from the Paganini Winner. Feng obliged them with an impromptu performance of Paganini’s Duo For One Violin. Just more proof that you can’t afford to miss a single Akron Symphony concert.
Akron Symphony’s March 15 Concert Goes All Beethoven Concert To Feature Award-Winning Violinist, Feng Ning
Akron—The Akron Symphony will present Gold Medal Beethoven on Saturday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall on the campus of The University of Akron. Music Director Christopher Wilkins will lead the Akron Symphony through three transcendent works from the legendary composer, including the Coriolan Overture and Symphony No. 4 in B-flat. Guest violinist and 2006 Paganini Gold Medalist Feng Ning will perform with the orchestra during Violin Concerto in D. Gold Medal Beethoven is the sixth Classic concert for the ASO and the penultimate for the 2007-2008 season.
Maestro Wilkins had originally wanted Feng Ning for a concert last season, but there were some problems. Wilkins explains:
I first worked with Feng Ning in New Zealand as part of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, which he eventually won. I was so taken with his musicianship and technical fluency that shortly thereafter I invited him to perform with the Akron Symphony. This was to have been during our 2006-2007 season, but due to visa issues we were unable to secure a date. When I approached him again this season, he accepted immediately and then asked gently whether I knew that he had just won the Paganini Competition. Attached to his e-mail was a photograph of Feng playing Paganini’s Stradivarius. It will be a privilege to present him to Akron.
Music Director Christopher Wilkins and guest conductor Raymond Wise have been on the road promoting the 15th Anniversary Gospel Meets Symphonyconcert coming to E.J. Thomas Hall on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.From WAKR’s Akron News Now and WKYC’s Good Company, to articles in the Akron Beacon Journal (here and here) and West Side Leader, the team of Wilkins and Wise have been spreading the gospel about, well, Gospel.
The Akron Symphony is proud to announce dates for the 2008-2009 season. The new season offers a musical medley of musical experiences, from Tchaikovsky to Mozart to Beethoven and beyond. With something for everyone, the season includes a variety of programming such as a Classical celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday; a swinging Pops performance of Frank Sinatra’s hit songs; and an out of this world musical Odyssey featuring the music and myth of the Star Wars film saga. Look here and in your mailbox for more details. In the meantime, here’s what the Akron Beacon Journal had to say about the new season.
Akron—The Akron Symphony will present Haydn’s master work, The Creation, this Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall on the campus of The University of Akron. Music Director Christopher Wilkins will lead the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, and guest vocalists Joyce Guyer (soprano), Karl Dent (tenor), and Timothy Jones (bass-baritone) through Haydn’s musical depiction of the seven days of the creation of the world as recounted in the Biblical book of Genesis. The Creation is the seventh and final Akron Symphony Classic concert of the 2007-2008 season.
Akron—The Akron Symphony’s new Odyssey series wraps up the 2008-2009 season with A Fairy Tale Fantasy on Sunday, April 13th at 3:00 p.m. at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall. A Fairy Tale Fantasy brings the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the giant puppets of Madcap Puppet Theatre together for an enchanting program of fairy tales set to great orchestral music, led by Akron Symphony Assistant Conductor, Christopher James Lees. Works to be performed during the concert include Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte: Overture, Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance in C Major, and Copland’s Hoe Down from Rodeo, among others.
Invitations
Akron—The Akron Symphony will present Gold Medal Beethoven on Saturday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall on the campus of The University of Akron. Music Director Christopher Wilkins will lead the Akron Symphony through three transcendent works from the legendary composer, including the Coriolan Overture and Symphony No. 4 in B-flat. Guest violinist and 2006 Paganini Gold Medalist Feng Ning will perform with the orchestra during Violin Concerto in D. Gold Medal Beethoven is the sixth Classic concert for the ASO and the penultimate for the 2007-2008 season.
WKSU
