N E W S   R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        June 17, 2009 

The Phoenix Symphony Honored for Adventurous Programming 

Award Presented by ASCAP and the

League of American Orchestras 

      PHOENIX – The Phoenix Symphony and Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie were honored on June 11^th by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the League of American Orchestras for excellence in Programming of Contemporary Music for the Symphony’s 2008/09 Season.  The awards recognize orchestras of all sizes whose most recent programming demonstrates a strong commitment to contemporary music.

      Some of the pieces used by the selection committee to commend the Symphony’s 2008/09 Season include Osvaldo Golijov’s Three Pieces for Soprano and Orchestra, Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto 4-3 and Percussion Concerto as part of the Symphony’s season-long “spotlight” on Ms. Higdon’s music, Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Pipa and the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s March of the Metro, which was commissioned by Clem and Mary Jo Hellmann to commemorate the completion of the METRO Light Rail in Phoenix.

      “ASCAP has discovered what we have known all along here in Phoenix. We have a treasure in Michael Christie” said C.A. Howlett, Board Chairman of the Phoenix Symphony Association. “His adventurous programming and exceptional leadership has brought great energy to our community and we are so pleased to see him receive national recognition.” Under the guidance of Music Director Michael Christie, The Phoenix Symphony has experienced a steady growth in attendance, with the 2008/09 Season reporting record ticket sales and sell-out performances, despite the economic downturn. Twelve concerts were completely sold-out and twenty three concerts were sold at over 90 percent capacity.  

      Mr. Christie was the only recipient to be recognized with two ASCAP awards this year; the second award was given for his programming for the Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra where he also serves as Music Director.

      Awards are based not only on the number of works performed which were written in the last 25 years, but also on the variety and creativity of new-music programming and presentation during the season. The independent jury gives special attention to commissioned works and to world, U. S. and local premieres.

      About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie begins his fifth season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2009-10 season. He also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as with the Finnish National Opera, Queensland Opera, and Zürich Opera. In 1995, Mr. Christie was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony. Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Daniel Barenboim, Robert Spano, Eiji Oue, and Peter Jaffe.

      About The Phoenix Symphony: The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with almost 200 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond. 

      Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman C.A. Howlett.

      The Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, as well as concerts in Scottsdale, Mesa, Prescott and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 80,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.