Press Releases

Phoenix Symphony Tickets On Sale August 3rd

The Phoenix Symphony — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:12:54 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Tickets On Sale August 3rd

2008-09 Season Brings Superstars to the Valley and Inaugurates World Music Festival

PHOENIX - Individual tickets for The Phoenix Symphony's 2008-09 Season will go on sale Sunday, August 3rd. Tickets can be purchased through The Phoenix Symphony Box Office by phone at 602-495-1999 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org beginning at midnight. This exciting season includes the Classics, Pops and Family series, as well as the inaugural Target World Music Festival and superstar performers such as Joshua Bell, Lang Lang and Doc Severinsen. The year encompasses a staggering diversity of music with more than 275 concerts and presentations in downtown Phoenix, throughout the Valley and across central Arizona.

Season highlights include the inaugural "Target World Music Festival" (September 11-21), "Pictures at an Exhibition" (November 28-29), "Handel's Messiah" (December 10-21), "Doc Severinsen - El Ritmo de la Vida" (January 30-February 1), "Stravinsky: The Firebird" (February 19-21), "Mahler: Symphony No. 4" (April 9 and 11), "Carmina Burana" (April 23 and 25), "A Salute to Rodgers & Hammerstein" (May 15-17) and "Joshua Bell in Concert" (May 23). The season also offers a number of unique offerings such as puppeteer Basil Twist performing in "Stravinsky: Petrushka" (November 6-8), the audience-favorite "Bugs Bunny on Broadway" (January 3-4) and the energetic string trio Time for Three performing on "Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances" (April 2-4).

More information about the upcoming 2008-09 season can be found at www.phoenixsymphony.org and a free concert guide detailing the 2008-09 season is available by calling the Box Office at 602-495-1999.

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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 275 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 Ed Wolf.

The 76-member 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, Tempe, Prescott and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

Phoenix Symphony Appoints Four New Musicians to Begin the 2008/09 Season

The Phoenix Symphony — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:17:35 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Appoints Four New Musicians to Begin the 2008/09 Season

Concertmaster Steven Moeckel and Three Violists Are the Newest Members of the Symphony String Section

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Symphony has appointed four new musicians for the upcoming 2008/09 season. These positions include Concertmaster, Acting Associate Principal Viola, Acting Assistant Viola and Section Viola.

Steven Moeckel will join The Phoenix Symphony as Concertmaster beginning on Opening Night, September 6, 2008. In this capacity, he will perform in concerts in all of The Phoenix Symphony's concert series. Before coming to The Phoenix Symphony, Steven Moeckel was Concertmaster of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for six seasons where he also performed as a soloist with the orchestra each year.

An internationally acclaimed violinist, Steven Moeckel, has appeared as soloist and concert artist throughout Europe, South America and the United States. As a chamber artist, Moeckel has performed as violinist of the Makart Trio Salzburg with Erika Frieser and Dana Micacoi, and as first violinist of the Auraeus quartet in concerts throughout Europe. His notable US appearances include the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, where he performed with Leon Fleisher and Menachem Pressler, and the Sewanee Festival where he performed with Andres Diaz.

Mr. Moeckel was appointed by a search committee comprised of members of the orchestra and Music Director Michael Christie after a season-long search for a new Concertmaster. One of twelve candidates, Mr. Moeckel was the first violinist to audition in the fall of 2007. The audition process included a week of Classics concerts with the orchestra as acting Concertmaster followed by an audition for the Concertmaster audition committee.

"The hiring of a Concertmaster represents a major opportunity for a symphony orchestra," says the Virginia G. Piper Music Director, Michael Christie. "Steven and the orchestra clicked in wonderful ways during his audition period early last season. He and I share strikingly similar perspectives on music and orchestras in general and I look forward to this exciting new chapter where I believe anything will be possible and The Phoenix Symphony will no doubt benefit from his insight, curiosity and presence in this most important chair."

As well as the hiring of a new Concertmaster, The Phoenix Symphony has obtained three new additions to the viola section. Two of the Symphony's violists--Associate Principal Chiara Kingsley Dieguez and Assistant Principal Gregory Falkenstein--are on sabbatical for the upcoming 2008/09 season. Three new symphony members were hired for one-year viola positions, Mark Deatherage as Acting Associate Principal, Bonnie Yeager as Acting Assistant Principal and Christopher McKay as a Section Violist.

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More About Steven Moeckel: Born in Germany, Steven Moeckel began his musical career at an early age, first as violinist, then performing at the age of eleven as principal soprano soloist for the renowned Vienna Boys Choir. After leaving the choir, he resumed violin studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, graduating with honors at the age of nineteen. He immediately assumed the position of Co-Concertmaster of Germany's Ulm Philharmonic, where he remained for three seasons. Moeckel's principal teachers include Helmut Zehetmair, Leonidas Kavakos and the distinguished American violinist Miriam Fried.

About Mark Deatherage: Mark Deatherage received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University where his primary instructors included Mimi Zweig, Alan de Veritch and Michael Strauss. He has performed with the Indiana University Orchestras, the New World Symphony and as substitute for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

About Bonnie Yeager: Bonnie Yeager received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as a diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy. Her primary instructors include Raymond Stilwell and Marna Street of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, David Holland of the Interlochen Arts Academy and Lynne Ramsey of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her performance experience includes solo viola with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, principal viola for the Lexington Beach Festival and the Viva! Vivaldi Festival and section viola for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra.

About Christopher McKay: Christopher McKay has served as principal viola of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and assistant principal of New Jersey Opera, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the Owensboro Symphony. His summer engagements include fellowships at Tanglewood Music Center (1998 and 2006), Spoleto Festival USA, and the Artur Balsam Chamber Music Workshop, and for six years, he was violist of the Eykamp String Quartet, the resident string quartet for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of Evansville. Mr. McKay's teaching experience encompasses positions at the University of Evansville, Indiana University-Bloomington, Blue Lake Arts Camp and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (Indiana) Summer Music Clinic. Mr. McKay received performance degrees from Louisiana State University and Indiana University.

About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie begins his fourth season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2008/09 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.

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

Target World Music Festival Kicks Off The Phoenix Symphony’s 2008-09 Season

The Phoenix Symphony — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:46:46 GMT

Target World Music Festival Kicks Off The Phoenix Symphony's 2008-09 Season

Inaugural Festival Features Two Weeks of Outstanding Guest Artists and Unique Concerts

PHOENIX - With the support of Target, The Phoenix Symphony presents its inaugural Target World Music Festival around the Valley September 11-21. The Festival features a stunning roster of world-renowned guest artists including Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster, Chinese pipa sensation Wu Man and the Kronos Quartet. "We wanted to both explore and celebrate the incredible diversity of music around the globe," says Music Director Michael Christie. "The Target World Music Festival gives us the opportunity to bring traditional music from South America, Pacific islands, Europe and Asia right here to the Valley." The broad series of concerts includes Classics, Pops and Family concerts performed at Symphony Hall as well as Special Event performances at the Orpheum Theatre and the Mesa Arts Center. "At Target, we are committed to making the arts affordable and accessible to youth and families across the country," said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. "By partnering with The Phoenix Symphony on the first-ever Target World Music Festival, we hope to foster an appreciation and understanding of various cultures, traditions and points of view through the power of music." Single tickets to the Target World Music Festival concerts go on sale to the general public on August 3rd and can be purchased by visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at 602-495-1999.

Wu Man and the Romashka Gypsy Folk Troupe

World Music phenomenon Wu Man joins The Phoenix Symphony as they open the 2008/09 Classics Concerts and the inaugural Target World Music Festival with "Bartók Concerto for Orchestra: The Heritage of World Folk" September 11 and 13. Wu Man is the world's foremost Chinese pipa virtuoso (an instrument similar to a lute with a rich, centuries-long tradition in China), and was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "the artist most responsible for bringing the pipa to the Western world." She has performed as soloist with many of the world's major orchestras including the Symphony Orchestras of Boston and Chicago and the New York Philharmonic, and was the first artist from China to perform at the White House. She performs American composer Lou Harrison's Pipa Concerto, a work she premiered and recorded.

Along with Wu Man and the Chinese pipa, these concerts will feature traditional sounds from East and West, with Bartók's revered Concerto for Orchestra - in which the composer disguised traditional Hungarian folk songs - to works by Japan's seminal composer Toru Takemitsu. The Romashka Gypsy Folk Troupe also joins the Symphony with traditional Gypsy song and dance, demonstrating how classical composers like Bartók were informed and influenced by folk music. Formed in 2003, the troupe moved from cafes and all-night jams, apartment parties and subway stops to museums and music festivals, quickly becoming a driving force in the burgeoning New York gypsy and Balkan music scene. Both Thursday evening's 7:30 p.m. concert and Saturday evening's 8:00 p.m. concert are at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Kronos Quartet

The groundbreaking Kronos Quartet performs around the Valley September 12 and 14. Over their decades-long performing and recording career, the Kronos Quartet has commissioned new works and fearlessly incorporated elements and arrangements of rock music in their concerts. In the process, they have become one of the most celebrated and influential groups of our time by performing thousands of concerts worldwide, releasing more than forty recordings, collaborating with many of the world's most eclectic composers and performers from Terry Riley and Philip Glass to David Bowie and expanding the literature and context of the string quartet. The Kronos Quartet has been featured prominently in such films as Requiem for a Dream, 21 Grams and Dracula, and has garnered numerous awards, including a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance and 2003 "Musicians of the Year" award from Musical America.

September 12 - Friday evening's 8 p.m. performance at the Orpheum Theatre showcases the Kronos Quartet's wide repertoire as they perform selections by composers from around the globe.

September 14 - Special guest Wu Man performs Chen Yi's multimedia work Ancient Dances and joins the Kronos Quartet in a work Terry Riley wrote specifically for these five extraordinary performers: The Cusp of Magic. This Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center.

Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on these concerts.

Tania Libertad

Peruvian singer Tania Libertad performs her distinctive Afro-Peruvian style of soulful song September 17 at the Orpheum Theatre. Tania Libertad, born in the small town of Zana in northern Peru but a long-time resident of Mexico, has amassed an amazingly diverse discography of three dozen albums that includes forays into the stylistic realms of salsa, nueva cancion (protest songs), Brazilian music, her trademark boleros and other genres. Despite this versatility, it is consistently the spirit of Peru's small but culturally vibrant Afro-Peruvian community that shapes her artistic life. The Wednesday night concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on this concert.

Natalie MacMaster

The exciting fiddler Natalie MacMaster joins The Phoenix Symphony to kick off the Pops series with performances September 19 and 20. A consummate entertainer, Natalie MacMaster delights audiences around the world with high-energy Celtic fiddling and step-dancing. She has appeared with dozens of distinguished symphony orchestras, has been on national television programs such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has shared the stage with a diverse range of musical stars including Santana, Paul Simon, Faith Hill and Luciano Pavarotti. While her albums consistently receive accolades, such as the 2005 East Coast Music Awards "Best Female Artist of the Year" and "Best Roots/Traditional Solo Recording," it is the popularity of her music and the intensity of her performance that makes her an audience favorite again and again, and a Pops experience not to be missed. Both Friday and Saturday night performances begin at 8:00 p.m. and are located in Symphony Hall. Natalie MacMaster also opens the Symphony's Family series with "Celtic Fiddlin'" on September 20. As with all The Phoenix Symphony's Family concerts, pre-concert activities begin at 1:30 p.m. and the performance in Symphony Hall begins at 2:30 p.m.

HAPA

The inaugural Target World Music Festival comes to a festive finale with the island sounds of HAPA performing at the Orpheum Theatre September 21. Like the Hawaiian Islands themselves, HAPA's Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of influences ranging from ancient genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fishermen, Spanish cowboys and the inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. HAPA's self-titled debut album swept the 1994 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii's equivalent of the Grammy Awards), becoming the best-selling CD by any group in the history of Hawaiian music. Recording success has consistently translated into performance success with sold-out shows across the globe from Tokyo to New York. Topped off with a bit of American acoustic folk/rock, HAPA's sound exemplifies the all-encompassing scope of the Target World Music Festival. The Sunday matinee performance begins at 2:00 p.m. Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on this concert.

Festival Events

The Phoenix Symphony Education and Community Engagement Office will present two fun-filled afternoons of activities in conjunction with the Target World Music Festival. Wu Man's performance with the Kronos Quartet on September 14 coincides with the Chinese Moon Festival, the second most important event in Chinese culture. Before the concert, audience members can learn about the Moon Festival and the fascinating Chinese pipa. This event will take place at the Mesa Arts Center from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Similar pre-concert festivities will precede HAPA's Orpheum Theatre concert on September 21. Downtown Phoenix will come alive from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. in an event for the whole family to explore Pan-Polynesian song, dance and culture.

Target Family Matinee Package

Thanks to the generosity of Target, a limited number of tickets will be available for the Target World Music Festival matinee performances at a special price of $15 adults, $10 children. These specially-priced tickets are located throughout the theatre and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Let the child in your life experience the wonders of world music! To order, ask for the Target Family Matinee price when calling the Box Office, or enter TARGET as a promo code when ordering online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

TARGET WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

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BARTÓK: CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA
THE HERITAGE OF WORLD FOLK
Symphony Classics Concert No. 1

SEPT 11 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
SEPT 13 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Wu Man, Chinese pipa
With special guest, Romashka Gypsy Folk Troupe

Take a musical tour around the world without leaving your seat in Symphony Hall. As a part of The Phoenix Symphony's inaugural World Music Festival, the orchestra explores folk music from across the globe including the exotic sounds of the Chinese pipa and the Hungarian folk songs disguised in Bartók's mesmerizing Concerto for Orchestra.

Tickets: $72, $62, $52, $42, $32, $22

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KRONOS QUARTET
Special Event Concerts

SEPT 12 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre

The Kronos Quartet--David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola) and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello)--is arguably the most celebrated and influential group of our time. With its extraordinary creativity, the Kronos Quartet encompasses a spirit of fearless exploration as it expands the range and context of the string quartet. Join us for this fascinating journey as one of the outstanding quartets of today displays its fresh and exciting approach to music-making.

Tickets: $56, $46, $36, $26

SEPT 14 - Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Mesa Arts Center

With special guest, Wu Man, Chinese pipa

Wu Man joins the renowned Kronos Quartet for an evening of unique and captivating music. She performs Chen Yi's multimedia work, Ancient Dances, and shares the stage with the quartet in performing a work Terry Riley wrote specifically for Wu Man and the Kronos Quartet: The Cusp of Magic.

Tickets: $58, $48, $38, $28 (includes $2 facility fee)

*Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on these concerts.

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TANIA LIBERTAD
Special Event Concert

SEPT 17 - Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre

Born in Peru and based in Mexico City, the intoxicating singer Tania Libertad's fearless and evocative voice has established her as one of the most important singers in World Music today. She has a truly multi-cultural style; drawing inspiration from the African influence along Peru's Costa Negra to the boleros and romantic ballads sung all across Latin America. Tania brings her unique style to Phoenix for one night only for this soulful and stirring concert.

Tickets: $45, $35, $25

Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on this concert.

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NATALIE MACMASTER
Pops Concert No. 1

SEPT 19 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
SEPT 20 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Natalie MacMaster, Celtic Fiddle

With a talent that remains both raw and wondrously refined, Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster continues to delight crowds around the globe with her feverish fiddling and rhythmic intensity. Performing with an "irresistible, keening passion" (Los Angeles Times), Natalie joins The Phoenix Symphony for the Target World Music Festival to kick off the Pops Season with this spectacular, high-energy concert.

Tickets: $76, $66, $56, $46, $36, $26

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Celtic Fiddlin'
Family Concert No. 1

SEPT 20 - Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
Symphony Hall

The Phoenix Symphony
Michael Christie, conductor
Natalie MacMaster, Celtic fiddle

Take a journey to the Emerald Isle as Natalie MacMaster and The Phoenix Symphony bring the magic of Celtic and folk music to life. Kids of all ages will enjoy this rollicking, foot-stomping afternoon as fiddles and step-dancing take center stage.

Tickets: $18, $14, $10

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HAPA

SEPT 21 - Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre

HAPA's Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of influences: from ancient chants to their strummed ballads; from the majestic tones of the oli (chant) and mele (song), to the elegant movements of the sacred dance known as hula. This ground-breaking group transports audiences to a heavenly place of beauty and serenity, and shows why they are considered the most exciting contemporary Hawaiian music group on the planet.

Adult Tickets: $25
Kids Tickets: $15

Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on this concert.

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Call for Christine: Symphony holds community audition for New Year's Eve Gala Vocalist

The Phoenix Symphony — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:28:30 GMT

Call for Christine

Symphony holds community audition for New Year's Eve Gala Vocalist

PHOENIX - Are you the next "Christine"? Win a chance to sing the role of "Christine" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The Phoenix Symphony is hosting a statewide competition for the opportunity to sing at their annual New Year's Eve Gala, one of the Valley's premier social events. The proceeds from the Gala help support the Symphony's Education and Artistic Programs which are dedicated to providing music education and learning opportunities for music lovers of all ages and backgrounds.

The vocal competition is open to female Arizona residents ages 8 through 18 years old. Semi-finalists and finalists will perform in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner of the competition will perform "All I Ask of You" live with The Phoenix Symphony and Franc D'Ambrosio, the "World's Longest Running 'Phantom'". A fellowship will be awarded to the winner including season tickets to The Phoenix Symphony Classics Concerts series, a monetary gift and vocal coaching sessions. Entries are now being accepted for this once in a lifetime performance opportunity.

For detailed contest information and official entry form visit our Special Events page.

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About Franc D'Ambrosio: Franc D'Ambrosio, a multifaceted vocalist, is best known for his role as the "Phantom" in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Being the youngest "Phantom" ever cast, D'Ambrosio has performed the part of the "masked man" close to 3,000 times. He is now known as the "World's Longest Running 'Phantom'" due to the uniquely large amount of performances of this role. While cast in The Phantom of the Opera he spent a year and a half on the road with the Original National Tour and five years with the production in San Francisco's famed Curran Theater.

After his run in the musical, D'Ambrosio stared as the male lead, "Tony", in the pre-Broadway tour of Copacabana. Later, he moved from stage to silver screen when cast in the role of "Anthony Corleone", the opera-singing son of "Michael Corleone" played by Al Pacino in the seven-time Academy Award nominated film The Godfather: Part III. With this role he sang the Academy Award winning theme song, "Speak Softly Love" (Brucia la Terra) on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. When filming for The Godfather, D'Ambrosio met and later studied with Luciano Pavarotti in Italy. Throughout his career, D'Ambrosio has been recognized for many awards including, an Academy Award nominated film, three Emmy award nominated television shows, two Grammy considerations, and a National Theatre Award nomination for his stage work.

His television appearances include "Entertainment Tonight", "MTV's Spotlight", & "Access Hollywood" (as the red carpet correspondent for coverage of the opening night for the film version of The Phantom of the Opera). D'Ambrosio also appeared on a CD titled "In Good Company" (LML Music) which released spring 2005 and received the 2006 Mac Award.

Franc D'Ambrosio has had a successful solo career with a 3 year, 200 city, sold-out national tour for his one man show "Franc D'Ambrosio's Broadway" - a celebration of the music that established Broadway as an American art form. His new show, "Franc D'Ambrosio's Hollywood", debuted in the spring of 2007, at the world famous Plush Room in San Francisco sold out the three week run. D'Ambrosio kicked off 2008 by co-starring with Dorothy Hamill in the critically acclaimed "Broadway On Ice", produced by Bietak Productions, Inc.

Phoenix Unites to Support Music in Community by Completing $3 million Herberger Challenge for The Phoenix Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:40:53 GMT

Phoenix Unites to Support Music in Community by Completing $3 million Herberger Challenge for The Phoenix Symphony

Community responds to philanthropists Gary and Jeanne Herberger's challenge to support Symphony endowment.

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Symphony announced today that it has reached the $3 million goal for its Herberger Challenge, exhibiting the tremendous support and good will the community has for the Orchestra.

The Herberger Challenge, conceived in December 2006 by Gary and Jeanne Herberger, is an initiative to build The Phoenix Symphony's Endowment Fund. The cornerstone of the Challenge was a $1 million pledge made by the Herbergers, to be contributed to the Phoenix Symphony's Endowment Fund upon the community's matching support of $3 million in contributions. As of Friday, June 6, 2008, with over three hundred and thirty donations from individuals, corporations and foundations, the $3 million goal was reached making the Challenge an unprecedented success. Inspired by the generosity and leadership of the Herberger family, the Valley has shown an overwhelming support for the Symphony by coming together in a spirit of giving throughout the duration of the Challenge.

With this achievement, the Symphony's endowment is now over $10 million and marks the completion of the first step of a four-step transformation towards enduring fiscal solvency for the Symphony. Previously, The Phoenix Symphony had one of the lowest endowment funds of any full-time orchestra in the United States but by completing the Herberger Challenge the community has taken a step towards positioning the Valley as one of the great American cities. This challenge and future philanthropic investments leveraged from the Endowment will provide vital resources needed for The Phoenix Symphony to achieve its ambitious goals and artistic greatness.

"We congratulate the Board of Directors and the Staff for their part in making this challenge a reality. Financial stability for The Phoenix Symphony is paramount for this vital and vibrant cultural institution. We were so encouraged by the widespread support for the symphony; it demonstrates that although we are a young state, the community cares tremendously about symphonic music and ensuring it is always a part of our cultural heritage. The completion of this challenge paves the way for raising a $60M endowment for The Phoenix Symphony."

- Gary and Jeanne Herberger

"A massive thank you and deep appreciation to Gary and Jeanne Herberger who have the leadership, passion, and vision in our symphony and who inspired us to take some important and strategic steps to ensure our community has great orchestra music making."

- Maryellen Gleason President and CEO, The Phoenix Symphony

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The 76-member 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 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

Phoenix Symphony Names Benjamin Rous Assistant Conductor

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:43:22 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Names Benjamin Rous Assistant Conductor

Accomplished Conductor Will Lead Education Initiatives and Family Concerts

PHOENIX - Benjamin Rous will join The Phoenix Symphony as Assistant Conductor beginning with the 2008-09 Season. Appointed by a search committee comprised of members of the orchestra, staff and Music Director Michael Christie, Mr. Rous will conduct education ensembles for classroom concerts and two subscription Family concerts. On March 7, he will lead "The Magic Horn" with the Magic Circle Mime Company and on April 18 will conduct "I Want to Be a Bach Star!". Community concerts led by Mr. Rous will include classroom performances by the Woodwind Ensemble and the Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Connections programs presented in partnership with the Maricopa Community Colleges, and special event concerts such as the annual Target Music in the Park.

"We are thrilled to have Mr. Rous join our organization as our new Assistant Conductor. He will work closely with our Education Department and with our Music Director Michael Christie," says Maryellen Gleason, Symphony President and CEO. "He brings many exciting attributes to the organization, and we look forward to seeing him grow with The Phoenix Symphony."

Mr. Rous comments, "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to help bring music to the Valley. The Phoenix Symphony is enjoying a period of remarkable artistic growth, and I'm proud to be joining the conducting staff during this exciting time."

Mr. Rous studied at the University of Michigan with Kenneth Kiesler, and has since served as assistant conductor with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, as well as a preparation conductor at the Manhattan School of Music. He has worked with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in occasional assistant conducting roles, and in 2007 appeared in New York's Bargemusic Series with the Chelsea Symphony. In the summer of 2006 he was selected as an Academy Conductor at the Aspen Music Festival, where he worked under the guidance of David Zinman and George Manahan, and the next summer made appearances with the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, and with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris in Vendome, France.

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More about Benjamin Rous: Benjamin Rous enjoys a full musical life as conductor, violinist, and composer. He has served as Assistant Conductor of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, and works as a preparation conductor at Manhattan School of Music. He has also worked with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, where he has acted as cover conductor, conducted the Youth Orchestra, and was invited to perform with symphony musicians on the Pulitzer Concert Series. While studying composition at Harvard, Mr. Rous became music director of Harvard's Bach Society Orchestra during his senior year, and subsequently studied conducting with Kenneth Kiesler at the University of Michigan. As a violinist, he recently performed in The Mahler Chamber Orchestra and in Bologna's Orchestra Mozart, under the batons of Claudio Abbado and Daniel Harding. Mr. Rous's compositions have been performed by the Portland Youth Symphony, the New England Conservatory Preparatory String Orchestra and the Fromm Players at Harvard.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, 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 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

The 76-member 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, in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

Phoenix Symphony Presents the Harvard Glee Club in Concert

The Phoenix Symphony — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:01:05 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Presents the Harvard Glee Club in Concert

America's Oldest Collegiate Chorus Performs in Phoenix on its Landmark 150th Anniversary Tour

PHOENIX - The jubilant voices of the Harvard Glee Club perform in Phoenix June 7 at 8 p.m. The performance, under the direction of Dr. Kevin Leong, will showcase choral works both old and new, including Renaissance music, songs arranged specifically for the all-male chorus and works commissioned by the Glee Club for its 150th Anniversary. The Saturday evening concert takes place at Central United Methodist Church located in central Phoenix. Please note that The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on this concert.

The Glee Club's performance in Phoenix is part of a large-scale tour commemorating the 150th Anniversary of their founding. Other highlights of the tour include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. The concert program is selected from the Glee Club's vast repertoire, which spans centuries of choral literature and includes composers such as Palestrina, Rachmaninoff and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Dominick Argento.

Tickets to hear the Harvard Glee Club are just $25, and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or by visiting the Symphony's website at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

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About the Harvard Glee Club: America's oldest college chorus, the Harvard Glee Club was founded in 1858. Its luminous history has included numerous tours, recordings, and performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics. Many former members and assistant conductors have gone on to become leaders in American music, including Elliott Carter and Leonard Bernstein. Today's Harvard Glee Club consists of about 65 men from all over the world, studying various disciplines at Harvard. Dr. Jameson Marvin has conducted the group since 1978, leading the chorus on increasingly frequent and popular tours, as well as serving as Director of Choral Activities at Harvard University. Associate Conductor Kevin Leong has worked with the chorus for more than eleven years, and in addition to singing and conducting around the Boston area, holds a Ph.D. from Harvard in Biophysics.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, 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 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

The 76-member 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, in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

Harvard Glee Club Concert
Special Event Concert

June 7- Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church
1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix

HARVARD GLEE CLUB

Dr. Kevin Leong, conductor

Founded in 1858, the Harvard Glee Club is the oldest College choir in America and is considered by many to be the premier collegiate men's chorus of the country. This year they will come to Phoenix as part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations with a huge-scale spring and summer tour of the American east and west coasts. The Harvard Glee Club sings a range of repertoire spanning the centuries from Gregorian chant to the present day with special focus on Renaissance polyphony and on Folk songs from around the world. Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform at this concert.

TICKETS: $25

Phoenix Symphony Performs Osvaldo Golijov's Award-Winning Opera: Ainadamar

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:34:11 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Performs Osvaldo Golijov's Award-Winning Opera: Ainadamar

Opera-in-Concert Features Original Cast Members Including World-Renowned Soprano Dawn Upshaw

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony presents Spotlight Composer Osvaldo Golijov's spectacular one-act opera Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears in concert format May 23-24. The Arizona premiere of the Grammy Award-winning work features members of the original cast reprising their roles, including legendary soprano Dawn Upshaw as Margarita Xirgu and mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor as Federico García Lorca. The opera will be sung in Spanish with English surtitles projected above the stage during the performance. The two evening performances under the direction of Music Director Michael Christie begin at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Ainadamar tells the compelling story of martyred Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca and his muse Margarita Xirgu. Lorca, the famous poet and dramatist, was murdered in 1936 during the first few months of the Spanish Civil War. His works and ideals lived on through individuals such as actress Margarita Xirgu, a close friend and confidante who frequently collaborated with Lorca on a number of works. The opera dramatically depicts Xirgu's memories of Lorca including a vision of his harrowing death at the hands of the Nationalist Militia.

Golijov, working in partnership with librettist David Henry Hwang, incorporated a variety of musical influences, including prerecorded sounds such as flowing water and flamenco rhythms, as well as Jewish and Arabic idioms that reflect the cultural diversity of Spain. The drama of the opera unfolds accompanied by an electric score featuring symphony orchestra, flamenco guitar and an outstanding cast of vocalists.

Ainadamar premiered at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2003 and has received critical and public acclaim since its stunning debut. The Deutsche Grammophon recording of the work performed by the Atlanta Symphony won two Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Classical Composition and Best Opera Recording of 2006. The Phoenix Symphony performances will feature original cast members soprano Dawn Upshaw and mezzo soprano Kelley O'Connor from the Tanglewood premiere and the Grammy Award-winning recording--reprising their riveting roles in Ainadamar. The cast also includes soprano Emily Albrink as Nuria, Jesús Montoya as Ruiz Alonso as well as members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus.

Tickets to hear The Phoenix Symphony perform Ainadamar with Dawn Upshaw range from $25-$74 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

These concerts mark the conclusion of The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Classics Season. Season tickets are now on sale for the 2008-09 Classics Season featuring Spotlight Composers Franz Joseph Haydn, Igor Stravinsky and Jennifer Higdon. Visit www.phoenixsymphony.org for more information.

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About composer Osvaldo Golijov: Osvaldo Golijov grew up in an Eastern European Jewish household in La Plata, Argentina. Born to a piano teacher mother and a physician father, Golijov was raised surrounded by chamber classical music, Jewish liturgical and klezmer music, and the new tango of Astor Piazzolla. After studying piano at the local conservatory and composition with Gerardo Gandini, he moved to Israel in 1983, where he studied with Mark Kopytman at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy and immersed himself in the colliding musical traditions of that city. Upon moving to the United States in 1986, Golijov earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied with George Crumb, and was a fellow at Tanglewood, studying with Oliver Knussen. Golijov has received numerous commissions from major ensembles and institutions in the U.S. and Europe. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, among many other awards. In addition, he collaborates closely with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony, with whom he is currently recording several works for Deutsche Grammophon, as well as the Boston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and eighth blackbird. Golijov is an Associate Professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where he has taught since 1991, and is also on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory. For more information visit osvaldogolijov.com.

About soprano Dawn Upshaw: Acclaimed soprano Dawn Upshaw has achieved worldwide celebrity as a singer of opera and concert repertoire, ranging from the sacred works of Bach to the sounds of today. Her acclaimed performances on the opera stage comprise the great Mozart roles well as modern works by Stravinsky, Poulenc and Messiaen. Ms. Upshaw has also championed numerous new works created for her including Osvaldo Golijov's chamber opera Ainadamar and song cycle Ayre. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Dawn Upshaw is featured on more than 50 recordings, including the million-selling Symphony No. 3 by Henryk Gorecki. Her most recent release on Deutsche Grammophon is Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra, the third in a series of acclaimed recordings of Osvaldo Golijov's music. Dawn Upshaw holds honorary doctorate degrees from Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, Allegheny College and Illinois Wesleyan University. She began her career as a 1984 winner of the Young Concert Artists auditions and the 1985 Walter W. Naumburg Competition, and was a member of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artists Development Program. In fall 2007, Dawn Upshaw was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation, popularly known as the "genius grant," acknowledging her as "a new model of a performer who is directly involved in the creation of contemporary music."

About mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor: Kelley O'Connor's "dark, low mezzo-soprano and expressive stage presence are those of a riveting singer emerged, not emerging..." is how the Los Angeles Times describes this young artist who is receiving international critical acclaim portraying Federico García Lorca in Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar. Ms. O'Connor created the role for the world premiere at Tanglewood under the baton of Robert Spano and reprised her portrayal of Lorca in the world premiere of the revised edition of Ainadamar at the Santa Fe Opera in 2005. Opera Now recognized Ms. O'Connor on its annual "Young Artists: Who's Hot?" list of 2006. She has appeared with the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles and New York. She previously appeared with The Phoenix Symphony in 2006 for a concert performance of Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel. Ms. O'Connor earned her bachelor's degree from USC and received her Masters degree from UCLA while studying with Nina Hinson.

About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie continues in his third season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2007-08 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.

The 76-member 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, along with a variety of symphonic and community performances in Mesa, Prescott, Scottsdale, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

DAWN UPSHAW IN AINADAMAR
Symphony Classics Concert No. 16

May 23 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
May 24 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Dawn Upshaw, soprano (as Margarita Xirgu)
Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano (as Federico García Lorca)
Emily Albrink, soprano (as Nuria)
Members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus

GOLIJOV Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears
(opera in concert performance)
Sung in Spanish with English subtitles

Ainadamar tells the story of martyred Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca and his actress muse Margarita Xirgu during the Fascist regime. With arias of languid beauty and melodies that shiver with sensual intervals, the sun-drenched nostalgia and soul of Spain come to life in exuberant outbursts of rhythm and orchestral color.

TICKETS: $25, $35, $45, $54, $64, $74

Symphony for the Schools Brings Art Forms Together in "Let’s Dance!"

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:25:23 GMT

Symphony for the Schools Brings Art Forms Together in "Let's Dance!"

Concerts Feature Young Artists' Visual and Performance Art

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony's popular daytime educational program Symphony for the Schools continues with "Let's Dance!" May 7-8. These concerts focus on music inspired by or depicting dance, and, coupled with the Symphony's annual Paint, Poetry, and Movement to Music Contest, bring several forms of art together to create a unique educational experience. The Wednesday and Thursday morning performances under the direction of Assistant Conductor Kayoko Dan begin at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and are sold out.

The selections on the program are drawn from a variety of styles, yet share the common thread of being inspired by dance. Selections such as the "Mazurka" from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Falla's "Dance of the Miller's Wife" from Three-Cornered Hat and the exciting "Sabre Dance" from Khachaturian's Gayane were originally written as part of ballets, while Brahms' mighty Hungarian Dance No. 1 orchestrally depicts a vibrant dance scene. Students will also hear familiar works such as Joplin's The Entertainer and Rimsky-Korsakov's playful "Dance of the Buffoons" from The Snow Maiden.

The Phoenix Symphony's annual Paint, Poetry, and Movement to Music Contest continues this year, encouraging students to respond to classical music in paint, words and dance. Winners selected from the hundreds of submissions in the painting category will have their work projected above the orchestra during the performance and will be displayed in exhibits throughout Arizona as part of a touring gallery with Young Arts Arizona Ltd. Winning poets will recite their works and winning dancers will perform as part of the concerts.

By the end of the end of the season, more than 28,000 children will have experienced a live symphonic performance by The Phoenix Symphony. The Phoenix Symphony Education office provides participating schools with Concert Education Guides that include information and suggest pre- and post-concert curricular activities specific to the concert's program. These teacher resources integrate the concert experience with the Arts and Academics Standards developed by the Arizona Department of Education. The Symphony for the Schools concerts are sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from The Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Convention and Theatrical Facilities Department.

For additional information about any of these educational programs, visit The Phoenix Symphony website at www.phoenixsymphony.org, contact the Education Office via email at education@phoenixsymphony.org, or by phone at 602-495-1117, ext. 470.

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About Phoenix Symphony Education programs: The Phoenix Symphony's education and community programs are designed to provide rich cultural experiences of symphonic music for children, students, and adults from around the Valley and greater Arizona. Through The Phoenix Symphony's Education and Community activities, The Phoenix Symphony engages over 85,000 students and adults each year, at over 275 schools valley-wide, and in over 35 cities state-wide. The Phoenix Symphony's Education Programs include "Symphony for the Schools," Classroom Concerts, 21st Century Community Learning Center Program, and a variety of other requested school visits and speaking engagements. Other education initiatives include Student Rush Tickets, Student Discounts, Student Group Rates, and Target Family Concerts. Other community education opportunities include One Nation, Music Mentors, ¡Abraze La Música!, Armonía, Community Ticket Programs, Summer Radio Broadcasts on KBAQ, People's Pops Concerts, and "Musically Speaking."

About Assistant Conductor Kayoko Dan: A versatile conductor, Kayoko Dan is active in the field of orchestra, ballet, and opera. In 2003, Ms. Dan was awarded the David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the Chautauqua Institute, and in 2007 was a recipient of the 2007 Karajan Fellowship for Young Conductors, mentored by the Vienna Philharmonic. She has participated in numerous conducting workshops including the International Bartok Festival, American Symphony Orchestra League's Donald Thulean Conducting Workshop, Conductor's Guild Workshop, and was invited by Maestro Kurt Masur to participate in a seminar at the Manhattan School of Music. Recently she was invited by Maestro Leonard Slatkin as a Debut Conductor to participate in the National Conducting Institute, where she led the National Symphony Orchestra in a live performance in June 2007. Additionally, she was showcased at the 2007 Bruno Walter Conductors' Preview in Florida. A native of Japan, Ms. Dan holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University, and her teachers have included Timothy Russell, Timothy Muffitt and William Reber.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, 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 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

LET'S DANCE
Wells Fargo Symphony for the Schools

May 7 - Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.
May 8 - Thursday morning at 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY

Kayoko Dan, conductor

Form, Beauty, Grace - music and dance share many Traits. Great dance works, including Falla's "Dance of the Miller's Wife," Sabre Dance from Gayane and Joplin's The Entertainer, illustrate how music can move us! Is the student in your life attending? Contact their teacher today to find out!

The Phoenix Symphony Performs the Music of John Williams in "Big Screen Legends"

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:30:01 GMT

The Phoenix Symphony Performs the Music of John Williams in "Big Screen Legends"

Pops Weekend Concerts Feature Celebrated Scores from Hollywood's Blockbuster Movies

PHOENIX - Acclaimed conductor and Library of Congress scholar Loras John Schissel leads The Phoenix Symphony in "Big Screen Legends Featuring the Music of John Williams" May 9-10. The program features the memorable theme music from such blockbuster hits as E.T., Harry Potter, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars, as well as selections from other classic film scores. The Friday and Saturday evening concerts, proudly sponsored by APS, both begin at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Mr. Schissel created "Big Screen Legends" to feature the music of audience favorite and pop culture icon John Williams. The recipient of five Academy Awards, numerous Golden Globes and Grammy awards, and the 2004 Kennedy Center Honors, John Williams is one of the musical giants of our time. Also on the program are several of Williams' contemporaries, as well as music from Richard Rodgers' Carousel and Franz Waxman's classic score from Prince Valiant, offering movie music lovers a whirlwind tour through the highlights of film music.

Tickets to hear "Big Screen Legends" range from $25-$74, and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or by visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org.

This weekend of concerts is the final concert in the Pops Series during The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Season. The Phoenix Symphony has announced its new 2008-09 Season, including such Pops highlights as Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster and Doc Severinsen's return to The Phoenix Symphony. Call the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 for more information.

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About Loras John Schissel: A senior musicologist at the Library of Congress, Loras John Schissel has traveled throughout North America, Europe and Asia leading a broad range of ensembles and serves as music director of the Blossom Festival Band. Mr. Schissel is also the founder and music director of the Arlington-based Virginia Grand Military Band. As a composer and orchestrator, he has created an extensive catalogue for more than 400 works for orchestra and symphonic wind band, and as a musicologist is considered a leading authority on the music of Percy Grainger, Aaron Copland, Roger Sessions and Serge Koussevitzky. Co-author of The Complete Literary and Musical Works of John Philip Sousa with Paul E. Bierley, Mr. Schissel appeared in the award-winning PBS documentary "If You Knew Sousa" for the American Experience series. Mr. Schissel studied brass instruments and conducting with Carlton Stewart, Frederick Fennell and John Paynter.

The 76-member 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, in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

BIG SCREEN LEGENDS FEATURING
THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
Pops Concert No. 7

May 9 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
May 10 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY

Loras John Schissel, conductor

The golden sounds of the Silver Screen come to life in this program created by acclaimed conductor and historian Loras John Schissel. With a gallant salute to John Williams and the battle-cry composers who came before him, you'll hear music from Prince Valiant, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter, and, of course, Star Wars!

The Phoenix Symphony Pops Series is sponsored by APS.

TICKETS: $25, $35, $45, $54, $64, $74