The concert will be re-broadcast in its entirety, beginning with Barber’s Adagio for Strings, which was played as a tribute to longtime Akron Symphony violinist, Ping Yu, who passed away in March.

Following the Adagio for Strings, listeners will hear America the Beautiful, performed by the Akron Symphony Chorus from the top balcony at EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall. The full concert program will then follow, starting with Chris and Dave Brubeck’s Ansel Adams: America followed by Roger Zahab’s Akron Chronogram, which made its World Premiere at this concert. The Akron Symphony’s 60th anniversary concert concludes with Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.”

For WKSU’s complete classical music schedule, visit www.wksu.org/classical. WKSU is the Akron Symphony Orchestra’s official classical music partner.

This year’s FANFARE gala Co-Chairs are Donna Valentine and Brian Fortney. Honorary Chair, Summit County Executive, Russ Pry, will also be in attendance, along with the entire FANFARE 2012 Committee.

FANFARE 2012 is a black tie dinner and Sotheby’s-style oral auction that benefits the Akron Symphony. It’s an opportunity for supporters, patrons and community leaders to come together for celebration, music making, and philanthropy. We hope you will become part of our tradition by helping us celebrate our 60^th anniversary at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn on Saturday, May 19^th at 6 pm.

This year’s goal is to raise $60,000 in honor of the Akron Symphony’s 60^th anniversary.

“Our oral auction is the primary method by which we will raise funds at FANFARE 2012,” said Donna Valentine, co-chair of FANFARE 2012. “Proceeds will directly benefit the Greater Akron Musical Association and Akron Symphony programs.”

FANFARE 2012 will feature several amazing oral and silent auction items, including an original musical composition, a four-hand piano performance by the Westuizen Duo, Pierre and Sophia van der Westuizen, a trip to the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida at Tiberon, a Nashville Music City tour, a Rubber Baron’s Dinner, an Akron Symphony Stage Experience, a Paranormal Lights Out Tour of Simon Perkins Mansion, flight lessons, dinner with the Maestros, a barrel of wine, a couple of sports and arts packages, and more!

Entertainment will include exclusive mini-performances by opera singer, Dan Doty, the Akron Symphony Orchestra’s Poulenc Trio led by Assistant Conductor, Levi Hammer, a duet by Levi Hammer and Akron Symphony Chorus Director, Maria Sensi Sellner and Akron Symphony violinist, Steve Ostrow.

The FANFARE 2012 Committee has been hard at work planning a fabulous evening that will also include a historic dress display sponsored by the Summit County Historical Society and Goodwill’s Vintage Collection, an amazing 60th anniversary cake created by Acme, and a few fun surprises.

To commemorate the Akron Symphony’s diamond anniversary, a diamond ring valued at over $10,000 will also be raffled at FANFARE 2012. Only 100 tickets are available for this spectacular raffle. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased by contacting the Akron Symphony office or one of the FANFARE 2012 Committee members.

For 60 years, the Akron Symphony has invested in our community by providing quality music, innovative programs and educational opportunities. At FANFARE 2012, the greater Akron community will rally around the Akron Symphony to raise $60,000 in just one night to support the mission and vision of this musical treasure.

GAMA and the Akron Symphony are grateful to our FANFARE 2012 Sponsors, including: Brouse McDowell, Lisle M. Buckingham Fund of the Akron Community Foundation, FirstEnergy Foundation, First Merit Bank, Omnova Solutions Foundation, AkronLife, Cleveland Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com, Acme, Summit County Historical Society and Goodwill Industries.

For more information about FANFARE 2012, visit www.akronsymphony.org/fanfare2012, call 330-535-8131 or email fanfare@akronsymphony.org. Reservations are due no later than Monday, May 14. Tickets start at $175. Donations are also being accepted to help us reach our $60,000 goal.

THANK YOU TO THE FANFARE 2012 COMMITTEE

• Brian Fortney and Donna Valentine, co-chairs
• Russ Pry, Honorary Chair
• Joe Abraham
• Sophie Albrecht
• Rita Amonett
• Madeline Bozzelli
• Catherine Brulport
• Richard Dee
• Laura Fink
• Susan Flowers
• Teresa Good
• John Grafton
• Joanne Green
• Jason Hazen
• Mary Ann Jackson
• Debi Kilivris
• Rick Krochka
• Meghan MacDonald
• Tim Morison
• Ellen Otto
• Renee Pipitone
• Jim Simon
• Lisa Swan

There’s still time to make reservations for FANFARE 2012. Don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate our 60th anniversary at this one-of-a-kind gala.

Concerts for Kids presents the timeless tale of Peter and the Wolf with narration and actors provided by The Magical Theatre Company.

The Akron Youth Symphony’s Spring concert will feature the 2012 Concerto Competition Winner, John Mietus. Seniors will also be recognized at this concert.

Tickets are free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note the venue change for this concert. Refreshments will be served immediately after the concert.

Click here for the Akron Youth Symphony’s Chamber Concert on Tuesday, May 1.

The Akron Symphony’s 60th anniversary weekend continues with the Akron Symphony Chorus Spring Concert on Sunday, April 22 at 3:30 pm.

Join the Akron Symphony Chorus, led by Maria Sensi Sellner, at the beautiful St. Sebastian Church as we celebrate 60 years of musical excellence through song.

The Akron Symphony Chorus Spring Concert will commemorate the Akron Symphony Orchestra’s 60th anniversary with a program of choral music composed in the last 60 years. Some selections will be accompanied by members of the Akron Symphony Orchestra. Featured pieces include American composer Leonard Berntein’s Chichester Psalms, John Rutter’s Gloria and Gerald Finzi’s Magnificat.

For a preview of the musical selections that will be featured in this concert, click here.

Tickets for the Akron Symphony Chorus Spring Concert are $25 (patron), $15 (general admission) and $7.50 (students). Patrons receive preferred seating and a listing in the concert program.

To purchase tickets, call 330-535-8131 or order online via PayPal below.

Chorus Concert Tickets

Patron $25.00 USD General Admission $15.00 USD Student $7.50 USD

The Akron Symphony’s series, Concerts for Kids, returns in 2012 with the timeless tale Peter and the Wolf.

BROCHURE  |  SCHEDULE  |  PROGRAM  |  SPONSORS

‘From Concert to Classroom’ Workshop Registration Form (PDF)  | Resource & Activity Guide (PDF)

Concerts for Kids are 45-minute concerts for children ages 2-6. Each performance features a narrator, actors, interactive storytelling, and the Akron Symphony Orchestra led by Assistant Conductor, Levi Hammer.

Buy tickets online below. For quantities greater than 10, call 330-535-8131 to place your order.

Concerts for Kids concert dates

May 1 – St. Joseph’s Family Center, Akron May 3 – Barberton YMCA May 4 – Green YMCA May 7 – Akron General Health & Wellness Ctr., Montrose May 8 – Akron General Health & Wellness Ctr., Montrose May 9 – First Congregational Church, Hudson May 10 – First Congregational Church, Hudson May 11 – First Congregational Church, Hudson

Concert Time

9:30 am 10:45 am

CONCERTS FOR KIDS 2012 SCHEDULE

• All concerts take place at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
• Tickets are $5 each.
• Call 330-535-8131 to order or reserve tickets.

TUESDAY, MAY 1

• St. Joseph’s Family Center, St. Joseph Melkite Catholic Church
• 610 W. Exchange Street in Akron (map)

THURSDAY, MAY 3

• Barberton’s Lake Anna YMCA
• 500 W. Hopocan Avenue in Barberton (map)

FRIDAY, MAY 4

• Green YMCA
• 3800 Massillon Road in Uniontown (map)

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, MAY 7, 8

• Akron General Health and Wellness Center
• 4125 Medina Road in Akron (map)

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, MAY 9, 10, 11

• First Congregational Church
• 47 Aurora Street in Hudson (map)

FROM CONCERT TO CLASSROOM: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

We offer a unique professional development opportunity to supplement the Concerts for Kids experience. In this four-session workshop, participants explore the concert experience, through hands-on activities and small group work, along with the benefits of symphonic music experiences on brain development, learning and socialization. This 10-hour module is approved for Step Up to Quality and Ohio Department of Education professional development credit. CEUs are available for an additional $10 fee. Download the registration form for complete details.

CONCERT PROGRAM:

George Bizet                                 Farandole

arr. E. Benjamin                          I am a Fine Musician

Ludwig van Beethoven              Symphony No. 3, ‘Eroica’ – 1^st movement

Sergei Prokofiev                         Peter and the Wolf

Igor Stravinsky                            Finale from The Firebird

THANK YOU TO OUR CONCERTS FOR KIDS PARTNERS AND SPONSORS!

The Akron Symphony is proud to partner with Magical Theatre Company for our Concerts for Kids performances. For several years, Magical Theatre Company has collaborated with the Akron Symphony, providing talent and creative support for our Concerts for Kids performances. Magical Theatre Company will be providing narration and actors for this year’s performances.

SERIES SPONSORS:

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MEDIA PARTNER:                         ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

The centerpiece of our 60^th anniversary season is a unique collaboration between the Akron Symphony and the Akron Art Museum, two distinguished area arts organizations – one a master of images, the other of orchestral sound. Both have deep roots in Akron’s community and culture.

Akron Chronogram, composed by Roger Zahab, will make its world premiere with videography by Laura Ruth Bidwell of the Akron Art Museum. Dave Brubeck and his son Chris will present a similar work they created, which was written to accompany 100 awe-inspiring Ansel Adams photographs. Dvorak – who advocated that American composers celebrate what is native to America – would certainly have approved. His Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” ties the evening together beautifully.

Click here to order tickets.

Roger Zahab, composer of Akron Chronogram, said of American Visions, “I believe that music = time + memory; and I have imagined Akron Chronogram as a time and space teleportation device which could be performed simultaneously with video by Laura Ruth Bidwell. I have tried to combine many strands of musical time, memories of the orchestra and the people who lived in it, as well as sound memories from Akron and its environs. I feel this will interconnect with Laura’s images in an unpredictable and beautiful way.”

The Akron Symphony Orchestra’s American Visions: 60^th Anniversary Concert takes place at 8:00 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at EJ Thomas Hall. Great seats are available now for this highly anticipated concert. To order tickets, call the Akron Symphony ticket office at 330-535-8131 or click here.