Today, October 22, at 4 p.m., the Virginia G. Piper Theater lights will dim slightly, then return to full energy.
After several coughs from the audience, a confident conductor appears on stage to enthusiastic applause.
The music begins when the conductor nods to the audience, taps the music stand with his baton, and signals the percussion.
Talented and experienced musicians who live just a short drive from the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center venue fill the venue with exhilarating music dreamed up centuries ago by Copland, Mozart, Grieg, Elgar, and Beethoven. Masu.
It will be the same thing as years ago.
Just different.
The Scottsdale Philharmonic, which debuted at Scottsdale Arts 10 years ago, has left the building.
So, who will play Piper today?
Introducing the all-new (drumroll please)…Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra.
“We truly are Scottsdale’s hometown orchestra,” said Dennis Wilson, orchestra board president and oboist.
“That’s a big responsibility.”
Timing is important in classical music. The same is true in life.
Meribeth Reeves, managing director of the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center, said her organization is “always willing to support community-based organizations in Scottsdale. They approached us with a core of members, dedicated donors, and dedicated musicians.
“Their timing was perfect for scheduling, as the Scottsdale Philharmonic’s previous dates had just been announced,” Reeves added.
“The Scottsdale Philharmonic has informed me that they have decided not to renew my contract for next season,” Reeves said.The Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra was in perfect tune.
“They said they needed a larger seating capacity for their performance. We wish them all the best.”
In its first public performance, the 65-member Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra performed a concert entitled “New Beginnings” under the direction of guest conductor John Massaro, principal conductor of Phoenix Opera. conduct.
The Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra’s Dec. 10 holiday concert will be conducted by Charlotte Ruth Harrison.
Livia Goh will be the guest conductor for “Afternoon of Romance” on February 18th, and Desmond Siu will conduct the orchestra’s “America” on March 24th.
Wilson emphasized the new group’s genuine democracy.
“We let the musicians choose a permanent music conductor,” she said.
“We heard that message loud and clear. Our musicians want to be involved in bringing great classical music to the community, not just by sitting in the orchestra and playing, but by bringing their ideas to the table.” There is.”
Wilson said most of the members of the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra are like her, classically trained musicians who were sidetracked by careers outside of music.
She is a pilot who runs Jet Agent, a private airplane purchasing broker in North Scottsdale, but she never lost her passion for Mozart, Beethoven, and their friends.
Now, even when playing music that’s centuries old, they’re “tailored to be part of something new, something that’s growing, something that they can help build,” Wilson says. He spoke passionately.
“So there’s this energy. There’s energy in every single one of our rehearsals.”
Wilson said members of the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra range in age from 18 to 65 and have extensive experience as professional sports musicians on their resumes.
Asked whether audiences should have low expectations given that this is the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra’s debut, the oboist insisted, at the risk of blowing his own woodwind.
People who go to a “New Beginnings” concert “should expect a top-notch performance,” Wilson said.
“I think everyone who comes to the concert this Sunday will be very happy and surprised at what an amazing orchestra this is.”
tune in
Tickets start at $15 for the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra’s program today at 4 p.m., which includes Mozart’s “Magic Flute” and Beethoven’s “Pastoral Symphony.”
ticket: scottsdale symphony orchestra.
Meanwhile, the Scottsdale Philharmonic moved to the larger La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, which seats 1,700 to 2,400 people.
The Philharmonic’s fall concert is scheduled for November 12th and will feature music by Mozart and Brahms.
information: scottsdalephilharmonic.com.
Today (October 22nd): “A new beginning”
Guest conductor John Massaro
Featuring music from:
Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common People”. Mozart’s “Magic Flute Overture”. Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”. Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6.
December 10th: “Holiday Cheer!”
Guest conductor Charlotte Ruth Harrison
“A traditional holiday concert featuring everyone’s holiday favorites, both popular and classic.”
February 18th: “Afternoon of Romance”
Guest conductor Livia Go
Violin Soloist – Esther Witherell
Featuring Romantic composers Rossini, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms.
March 24th: “America”
Guest conductor Desmond Siu
Representative works by American composers and composers who wrote about America – Bernstein, William Grant Still, Florence Price, William White, and Dvorak.
The concert begins at 4 p.m. in the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center’s Virginia G. Piper Theater, 7380 E. 2nd St.
ticket: scottsdale symphony orchestra.
player
flute, Debbie Hutson. Piccolo, Nancy Sours. oboe, Dennis Wilson, Maya Dinger; clarinet, Heather Van Beek, Alana Benoit; Bassoon, Gina Stevens, Raimund Fromm, Marty Haub (Contra). Trumpet, Leah Hodge-Hughes, Teddy English, Robert Tarchik.
Horn, Donald Harvey, Gail Rittenhouse, Ted LeSueur, Chuck Stewart. trombone, Leslie Nock, Peter Cain, Eric Ketcherside; Tuba, Stephen Healy.
violinStarring: Stephen Helms Tillery, Lauren Evans, Claire Sievers, Joanne Heitzinger, Sonya Pritchko, Rubina Saunders, Wei (Wendy) Chin, Allen Lee, Choimei Lao, Sarah Mathias.
second violinStarring: Alicia Martin, Anna Clermont, Barbara Moss, Robbie Kuhlman, Amy Schroeder, Katrina Becker, Hansa McGee, Karin Josephine Osorio, Alicia Rojas.
viola: Carolyn Blow, Alexis Pillow, Christoph Fromm, Petra Fromm, Sarina Mountcastle, Thomas Davey, Rebecca Lane, April Acosta.
celloStarring: Rob Willis, Renee Rechlin, Diana Yusupov, Katie Carmer, Charlie Bullen, Dennis Yee, Ben Schwert, Max Tarchik.
double base: Emily Meyer, Erin Lewis, Mary Kelly, Adriana Pretorius.
timpani, Ronnie Slauson. Percussion by Marty Haub and Cathy Jones.
