A Musical Grand Tour-Festival City

1A Musical Grand Tour

Monte Perkins, Conductorpresents

A MUSICAL GRAND TOUR

with oboe soloist Bonnie Cohen

April 29, 20123:00 PM

Pabst Theater144 E. Wells

2 Festival City Symphony

PROGR A M

Hebrides Overture ........................................................................................ Felix Mendelssohn

A Walk to the Paradise Garden ....................................................................... Frederick Delius

Oboe Concerto in C Minor ........................................................................Benedetto MarcelloAllegro moderato.Adagio.Allegro.

Bonnie Cohen, oboe

Intermission

Symphony No. 2 “Romantic” .........................................................................Howard HansonAdagio.Andante con tenerezza.Allegro con brio.

CONGR ATUL ATIONS TO FCS MUSIC IAN — ED DOEML AND

Join us in congratulating Ed Doemland, Principal Percussionist for Festival City Symphony and retired teacher, as this year’s winner of the Civic Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement in Music award. Thanks, Ed, for your talent and your untiring dedication.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Festival City Symphony would like to take this opportunity to thank its sponsors, without whom these programs would not take place.

Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Franklyn and Barbara Esenberg Fund

United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) for operational expenses

CAMPAC – recipient of “Matching Grant” funds for operational expenses

Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, through in-kind contribution


FCS WELCOMES SPEC IAL GUESTS

SUPER READERS—children who have earned free tickets for themselves and their families by participating in Milwaukee Public Library’s SUPER READERS program.

PAJAMA JAMBOREE FANS—families who attend our children’s pops concerts and earn an opportunity to sample one of our “Symphony Sundays” programs.

CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION PARTICIPANTS—Young music students who have participated in CMA’s audition for scholarship awards have received a complimentary pass for themselves and their family to en-joy great music, well performed at a ”Symphony Sundays” concert of their choice.

STRING ACADEMY OF WISCONSIN—winners of this year’s Practice Competi-tion These diligent music students earned the privilege of entering a raffle to win complimentary tickets for themselves and their families to today’s program by practicing EVERY DAY in the month of February. This year showed the largest number of participants in the history of the competition and 51 of those partici-pants practiced every day.

***Festival City Symphony is a member organization

of Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras,

the Creative Alliance Milwaukee, VISIT Milwaukee, an

affiliate member of UPAF, and a program partner at the

Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. FCS made the Business

Journal’s “Book of Lists” 2002 – 2007, 2010 and 2012.***


CONDUCTOR ’S NOTES “A MUSICAL GR AND TOUR”

Good afternoon and welcome to the final concert for this sea-son by Festival City Symphony, a program we call “A Musical Grand Tour”. Today we’ll take you to Scotland, Italy, the Ameri-can Midwest and even Paradise.

Two distinguished compositions were the result of a visit to Scot-land in 1829 by the then twenty year old Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847). His many detailed musical and visual sketches led

to the Scottish Symphony and the Hebrides Overture, also known as Fingal’s Cave. He finished the Overture in December of 1830 while in Rome, but continued to revise it for two more years saying … “the whole working out smells more of counterpoint than of train oil, seagulls, and salt fish, and must be altered”. The Overture was pre-miered in London on May 14, 1832, and was an immediate success.

Frederick Delius (1862-1934) was born in England, but spent the last forty-eight years of life in France. His music was influenced heavily by Grieg, Wagner, and American folk music. His opera A Village Romeo and Juliet was produced in 1910 by Sir Thomas Beecham at Covent Garden. It was declared to be an opera of “…great beauty, but ineffective as drama”. One instrumental section, the “Intermezzo”, was singled out for praise and was excerpted for the concert hall under the name of A Walk to the Paradise Garden. This Intermezzo depicts the dreamlike mood of young lovers in the “Paradise Garden” of a small village they stop at as they elope. The impressionistic harmonies and lyrical melodies make this work seem more French than English or German. Its beauty has kept it in the concert repertoire now for more than a century.

Next we take you to Venice at the height of its dominance of Italian Baroque mu-sic. Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739) was from a prominent Venetian noble family who lived a life respected in law, public service and music. A contemporary of the now better known Antonio Vivaldi (1675 – 1741), Marcello wrote church music, oratorios, and hundreds of chamber works for solo instruments. Today we will perform his Oboe Concerto in C Minor. As soloist we are very pleased to present the long-time principal oboist of FCS, Bonnie Cohen.

To conclude the concert (and our season) we take you to Boston via Wahoo, Nebraska. For the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra its conductor, Serge Koussevitzky, commissioned American composer How-ard Hanson (1896-1981) to write a symphony. Hanson’s Symphony No. 2, the Romantic Symphony, was premiered on Nov. 28, 1930. As composer, conduc-tor and educator (he directed the Eastman School of Music for forty years) Hanson believed in music’s direct connection to listeners. He wrote “Much contemporary music seems to me to be showing a tendency to become en-tirely too cerebral. I do not believe music is primarily a matter of intellect, but rather a manifestation of emotions. I have, therefore, aimed in this symphony to create a work that was young in spirit, lyrical and romantic in temperament, and simple and direct in expression.” It remains his most popular work and is the most performed symphony by an American composer.

We certainly hope you’ve enjoyed our concerts this season and will join us for the 2012-2013 season. Our programs will include several works you’ve requested. See you in the fall.

photo by Joseph A. Hartle


ABOUT OUR SOLOIST— BONNIE COHEN

Bonnie Cohen is a native of Milwaukee and has been actively working as a freelance oboist for many years. She received her music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under a full scholarship. Some of her teachers include Stephen Colburn, Paul Kramer, and Andre Ladrot when she studied at The Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Montreux, Switzerland.

She has been the principal Oboist with the Festival City Symphony, formerly the Milwau-kee Civic Orchestra, for the past 30 years. In addition to her Festival City Symphony duties, Bonnie has been performing as a member of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra since 1975.

Bonnie was also a member of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra for 26 years. She has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony, the Bel Canto Chorus, the Wis-consin Philharmonia, the Kenosha, Racine & Green Bay Symphony’s, the Skylight Theatre and Florentine Opera. Bonnie enjoys playing for Broadway road shows and traveling musical acts when she can!

Bonnie presently teaches at the Concordia University Wisconsin. She also main-tains a private studio in her Mequon home where she lives with her husband, Steven Meyerson. They have 3 grown children who all reside on the East Coast.

This final Pajama Jamboree of this season will feature versatile actress and singer soprano Kathy Pyeatt, performing popular arias and show tunes with the orchestra. Children will get to conduct the instrumental finale, Stars and Stripes Forever. Hosted by FCS Education Director Jayne Perkins, these classical ‘pops’ concerts are one hour in length and geared to children and their families.

FREE ADMISSIONMarcus Center for the Performing Arts, Bradley Pavilion

(Use the 123 E. State St. entrance)

414-963-9067 festivalcitysymphony.org

photo by Joseph A. Hartle

“SPRING SING” Wednesday, May 23, 2012 7:00 PM

with special guest, singer and actor Kathy Pyeatt


MESSAGE FROM EDUCATION DIRECTOR —JAYNE PERK INS

Forty-one years ago I began my career as a music educator. Since that time, what studies of the brain have taught us about the value of music in all our lives is phenomenal. Music is the universal lan-guage in more than cultural ways. It is also the universal learning language. In-tellectually, music stimulates the whole brain. The left brain analyzes the melody, rhythm, harmony, form and tone color whether you are performing or listening. The right brain reacts to the emotions evoked and the expression of the music. Studying music develops self-discipline and focus. Creativity is involved not only in the composition of music but in the thoughtful choices made in perfor-mance as well as imaginative listening.

Social skills are inherent in musical education. Students learn cooperation, leader-ship, compromise and patience when working together in a musical organization. Through it, they form relationships based on a common interest and purpose. Mu-sic performance at any level helps teach people how to deal with stress. At a young age this is a valuable experience that builds confidence and problem solving abili-ties. Learning to be a good audience is a life-long practice that everyone benefits from in all situations. Even private practice enhances essential life skills of intrinsic motivation and self- awareness. Auditory perception is vital for all children learning to speak and read. Singing and listening helps children’s ability to differentiate vowel and consonant sounds. Learning the minute difference between a short a, e, and i sound is much easier if the child can hear and sing whole and half steps.

The physicality of singing or playing an instrument involves eye-hand coordina-tion, laterality (doing different things with the left and right sides of the body), proper breathing, good posture, balance and strength.

Studies have proven that students who are engaged in a musical activity are more engaged in their academic work and are not as apt to get into trouble. Through music education they learn about their own culture and those from around the world. All of the arts help develop an aesthetic appreciation and shared standard of humanity. Music and art belong as a fundamental part of children’s education and development.

photos by Joseph A. Hartle


MEET FESTIVAL C IT Y SYMPHONY MUSIC IAN —JUANITA GROFF

Juanita Groff has played violin with Fes-tival City Symphony for about 15 years.

Birthplace: Milwaukee

Education: Ron Melby, who currently works with MYSO, first recruited and lit a fire under me! I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music education from UW-Milwaukee. After graduation I studied violin with Larry Shapiro, at that time a member of the Fine Arts Quartet. His warm and encouraging teaching style nurtured my love for the violin and played a major role in shaping my approach to both teaching and performing.

What I enjoy most about playing the violin: The stresses and sorrows of life all melt away while I am engrossed in making music.

What I find most challenging about playing the violin: Organizing my time well enough to fit in sufficient practice and “body maintenance” (stretching, apply-ing heat, acupuncture, etc.) to feel happy and comfortable while playing.

Other instruments I play: I am currently renewing my acquaintance with that funny clef, teaching a sweet, young viola student.

Other musical involvements: The first time I played a wedding “gig” with a string quartet, I was sure I had died and gone to heaven! I spent the evening playing music with my friends, eating prime rib and cake, and drinking (not too much) champagne. They gave me a check at the end. It doesn’t get any better than that! I am a very longtime member of the Milwaukee String Quartet and a longtime member of Chamber Music Artists, a flute, violin and cello trio - still happily play-ing music with my friends! My home becomes a buzzing private studio in the evenings. My Brussels Griffon, Buster, is the beloved mascot. He occasionally lets out a groan when someone plays a particularly high and/or squeaky note.

Non-musical activities: Walking and spoiling Buster Preventing water from leaking into places in my house that it doesn’t belong Watching late night reruns of hospital and crime shows

Music I play on my iPOD, CD player: My taste in music is fairly eclectic, but I listen primarily to music I am currently teaching and performing.

Favorite musical memory: An intense, exciting season playing with the Dallas Opera Orchestra.

Advice to someone considering a career in music: If you can’t imagine yourself in any other field, and if you are willing to work really hard for a modest income, then go for it! The non-monetary rewards are spectacular!


FESTIVAL C IT Y SYMPHONY

Conductor/Artistic Director ...............................................................................Monte PerkinsExecutive Director ................................................................................................. Linda E. JonesEducation Director ..................................................................................................Jayne PerkinsArtist and Development Coordinator ............................................... Lesley Conger-HatchLibrarian .................................................................................................................. Christine TreterAssistant Librarians .......................................................................Robert and Martha Kriefall

Board of DirectorsFranklyn Esenberg, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Theodore Zimmer, Secretary/ TreasurerJoAnn Norris • Charlane O’Rourke • Robert Stack

PERSONNEL

FIRST VIOLINRobin Petzold

ConcertmasterCatherine Bush

Ass’t ConcertmasterMarvin Suson Christine Hauptly-AnninSharon SlatteryMary StryckErin Dupree JakubowskiAl BartosikIsabel EscalanteCarol Christensen

SECOND VIOLINEllen Scott

PrincipalJuanita GroffAndrea BuchtaMelissa MannCheryl Ann FuchsShannon O’LearyHilary MercerTassia HughesEmily Stodola VIOLAChristine Treter

PrincipalOlga Tuzhilkov Lynne Fields Jenna DickJulie RoubikSarah ChristieMary Pat Michels

CELLOTom Smith

PrincipalIngrid TihtchevaElizabeth Bender

Martha KriefallCarol WittigSacia JeromeJared Snyder

BASSKathryn Jursik

PrincipalAliscia BenettiJohn BabbittLarry Tresp

FLUTELesley Conger-Hatch

Principal Heidi Knudsen

FLUTE/PICCOLOKristen Fenske

OBOEBonnie Cohen

PrincipalSuzanne Swenson

Assistant Principal Suzanne Geoffrey

ENGLISH HORNSuzanne Geoffrey

CLARINETDan Roberdeau

PrincipalLinda E. Jones

BASS CLARINETChristopher Zello

BASSOONLori Babinec

PrincipalSteve WhitneyRobb Seftar

CONTRABASSOONRobb Seftar

HORNWes Hatch

PrincipalNancy ClineAnne MaliborskiKathryn Krubsack TRUMPETGerry Keene

PrincipalJoe BurzinskiWilliam Dick

TROMBONEMark Hoelscher

PrincipalJonathan WinkleKeith Hertig

TUBAPaul Haugan

TIMPANIRobert Koszewski

PERCUSSIONEd Doemland

PrincipalRobert Kriefall

HARPAnn Lobotzke

A Musical Grand Tour-Festival City

Documents

Transcript of A Musical Grand Tour-Festival City