Opus Colorado

For me, it is hard to believe that ten years have passed since the construction of the Newman Center. But I have received a press release listing some concerts to celebrate just that event: the Tenth Anniversary of the Newman Center. All of the performances listed below are sure to be outstanding; however, the one that draws my immediate attention is the performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony Nr. 2, The Resurrection. How many of you readers have heard a live performance of this massive work?

I will quote from the press release:

The University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music will present a series of signature concerts to close the 2013-14 season celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Perfoming Arts.

Two performances of the Annual Musical Theatre Cabaret lead up to a very special Tenth Anniversary performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony. All three performances are part of Lamont’s 250 Concerts on Us series presenting free concerts throughout the year celebrating the tenth anniversary.

Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 at 7:30pm in Hamilton Recital Hall, Musical Theatre students will ask audiences to pack their bags and travel to Wonderland, Neverland and Camelot. In “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” Lamont Musical Theatre Cabaret destinations also include Evita’s Argentina, West Side Story’s “America” and, in a preview of next fall’s newly announced Lamont Musical, the sweeping plains of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic American musical Oklahoma! (October 31 – November 3). Catherine Kasch is the Director of Lamont Musical Theatre Cabaret.

Ten seasons of performances in the beautiful Newman Center for the Performing Arts will be celebrated in the final concert of the season. The Lamont Symphony Orchestra will join with the combined voices of the Lamont Chorale, Lamont Women’s Chorus and Lamont Men’s Choir to perform Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony, The Resurrection at 7:30pm on Thursday, May 30 in June Swaner Gates Concert Hall. The Resurrection Symphony was Austrian composer Mahler’s first use of voices and lyrics with an orchestra. The result was this grandly scaled work that brought him fame following its 1895 premiere in Berlin. The Lamont performance will include nearly 250 instrumentalists and vocalists. Lawrence Golan is Conductor and Musical Director of the Symphony, Catherine Sailer conducts the Chorale and Women’s Chorus, and Kyle Fleming conducts the Men’s Choir.

The following concerts are part of the 250 Concerts on Us. A FREE Ticket Required

WHAT: Concert – Third Annual Lamont Musical Theatre Cabaret, 7:30pm, Hamilton Hall. A showcase for Musical Theatre Emphasis vocal majors, Lamont Music Theatre Cabaret presents Broadway’s most promising future stars.
WHEN: Thursday and Friday, May 23, 24

WHAT: Concert – Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lamont Chorale, Men’s Choir, Women’s Chorus, 7:30pm, Gates Hall. In commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, a special performance of Mahler: Symphony No. 2 Resurrection
WHEN: Thursday, May 30

The following Guest Artist and Faculty Recital require a $10 Ticket.

WHAT: Faculty Recital – DU Jazz Faculty Combo
Jazz is the musical style and the ever popular members of the DU Jazz Faculty Combo provide the outstanding performances for an informal and very “cool” evening concert.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 15, 7:30pm, Hamilton Hall.

WHAT: Guest Artist – The Playground. Brought back by popular demand! The Playground is a group of professional musicians and composers dedicated to presenting classical music as a living art form, expanding perceptions of both contemporary music and the chamber ensemble.
WHEN: Friday, May 17, 7:30pm, Hamilton Hall.

Parking is complimentary for all four events.

The Tenth Anniversary Concert and Lamont Musical Theatre Cabaret are both free events, however, tickets are required. To reserve free tickets, please contact the Newman Center Box Office online at http://www.NewmanTix.com, call 303.871.7720, or visit the box office in the Newman Center, open 10:00am to 4:00pm Monday – Friday, and 12noon to 4:00pm on Saturday. Parking is complimentary in the Newman Center garage.

For more information and a complete list of concerts, master classes and events, please visit the Lamont School of Music website at http://www.du.edu/lamont. For updated weekly information call the Concert Line at 303.871.6412.

University of Denver Contact: Kim DeVigil
Email: Kim.DeVigil@du.edu
Phone: (303) 871-2775

The University of Denver is committed to improving the human condition and engaging students and faculty in tackling the major issues of our day. The University ranks among the top 100 national universities in the U.S. For additional information, subscribe to The University of Denver Newsfeed or follow the University on Facebook and Twitter.

The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Golan as its new Music Director and Conductor. Golan succeeds Adam Flatt to become the DPO’s fifth Music Director since its founding in 1948.

Golan is currently in his twelfth year as Conductor of the University of Denver’s Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre. He is the winner of many national and international awards including nine ASCAP Awards, five Global Music Awards, two Prestige Music Awards and two DownBeat Magazine Awards. In 2012, Golan was named Grand Prize Winner of The American Prize for Orchestral Programming.

The DPO’s outgoing Music Director and Conductor, Adam Flatt, served with the orchestra from 2010–2013. “The orchestra and board are grateful to Adam for his strong and dynamic leadership and for increasing the artistic quality of the orchestra during his tenure,” says DPO Board President Jon Olafson. Although Flatt is transitioning away from the DPO due to other commitments, he will continue to be a great friend to the orchestra and will guest conduct the DPO’s 2013 Holiday Concert in December.

About his DPO appointment, Golan says he is “delighted to be working with these talented and energetic musicians” and he “looks forward to sharing the wonderful music that we make with the Denver community.” Golan adds, “In addition, I am excited about continuing and even strengthening the ties that the Denver Philharmonic has with the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music—another cultural gem of our great city.”

“On behalf of myself, the musicians and board, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Golan as our next Music Director and Conductor,” states Olafson. “Dr. Golan is an outstanding musician, a strong leader on the podium and an inventive and creative programmer. We know he will find unique and interesting pieces to challenge our musicians and excite our audiences!”

In addition to his work in Denver, Golan is in his third season as Music Director of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, in Washington, where he has helped to dramatically raise the artistic level of the orchestra and to increase ticket sales and donations to all-time highs. Previously, Golan was Resident Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony. That orchestra’s Music Director, Michael Christie, praised Golan as “a programmer of virtually unprecedented creativity and scope.” Golan will also continue to guest conduct professional orchestras, as well as opera and ballet companies, across the United States and around the world.

Lawrence Golan and his wife, Cecilia, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, reside in Denver. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Giovanna. Golan’s numerous recordings and publications are available at retailers including iTunes and Amazon.com. Golan is represented by William Reinert Associates in New York. To learn more about Lawrence Golan, go to: http://www.LawrenceGolan.com or http://www.WilliamReinert.com.

About the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in 1948, the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra is dedicated to ensuring that the world’s great symphonic compositions (both old and new) are performed, heard, felt, understood, appreciated, and valued – and that they are available to the Metro Denver community at an affordable price.

The winner of the Young Artist Piano Competition, Elise Solberg, will join the Parker Symphony Orchestra in the final performance of the season performing George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Ms. Solberg is a very promising young pianist who has won many awards.

WHAT:
Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue, Elise Solberg, piano
Wagner – Overture to Die Meistersinger
Glass – Facades
Debussy – Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun
Haydn - Symphony 100 “Military”

WHEN:
Friday, May 17, 2013, 7:30 pm

WHERE:
Parker Arts, Culture and Events (PACE) Center
20000 Pikes Peak Ave.
Parker, CO 80138
303.805.6800
Map and Directions

ADMISSION: Tickets begin at $11 and are available through the PACE Center’s web site here.

ELISE SOLBERG
Elise started piano study at age 4 in Tokyo, and after moving to Colorado, studied piano with Dr. Fifi Hut. Elise currently studies piano with Mr. Richard Holbrook. She has won awards including 3rd place in the 2010 and 2011 Advanced Competitive Division of the Yamaha-Wells Music Piano Competitions and received a 3rd place award in the 2011 Steinway Concerto Competition. She was a finalist in the Colorado Piano Festival in 2011. In 2012 Elise was chosen as an alternate for the Young Musicians Foundation. Elise is a Junior at ThunderRidge High School where she has been a featured soloist with the TRHS Wind Ensemble and was principal flutist with the Continental League Band and a member of the All-State band this year. She enjoys composing music, studying history, playing with her dog Neo, and is excited to be playing her first orchestral performance with the Parker Symphony Orchestra.

MAESTRO RENÉ KNETSCH
Since receiving his Master of Music degree in violin performance from Wichita State University in 1976, René has made his living in music, as a performing violinist, teacher, and conductor. Before moving to Denver in 1994, he was a violinist with several professional orchestras, including Oklahoma, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Birmingham. His first job after college was at Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas, where he taught violin and viola, and conducted the university’s orchestra. While living in Birmingham, Alabama in the early 90′s, where he played in the Alabama Symphony, René had the opportunity to be the music director of the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, a community orchestra in many ways similar to the Parker Symphony Orchestra. It was this group that made him come to understand the important role that community orchestras play in providing opportunities for musical expression to many who would otherwise not have that chance. René is also the concert master for the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra.

The Parker Symphony Orchestra (formerly the South Suburban Community Orchestra) was established in 1994. Our mission is to perform orchestra music that will educate, entertain and inspire the people of Parker, Colorado and the surrounding communities.

Under the direction of René Knetsch, our inaugural season as the Parker Symphony (2011-2012) was a rousing success with performances of works such as Mozart’s “Magic Flute” overture, a collaboration with the Legend High School Choir in December, Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” narrated by Parker’s mayor. Our season finale of Russian music included Stravinsky’s “Berceuse and Finale from the Firebird suite” and Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” for children and more.

An all-volunteer orchestra, the PSO auditions new musicians in the summer and throughout the year. Each of our seventy five performers is dedicated to continual excellence and growth as a musician. Our goal is to offer interesting and entertaining performances with a wide variety of musical genres to tempt everyone’s musical palate. In our 2012-2013 season we will collaborate with Voice of the Wood, an internationally known cello quartet, Parker’s own Parker Chorale and we will present a young artist piano competition as well as a number of other outstanding symphonic works.

Performing in the beautiful PACE Center Theater, the acoustics are outstanding and every seat has a clear view of the stage. As a PACE Artistic Partner, we have made it our goal to add to the enjoyment of the fine art of symphonic music to our patrons. Our Parker audiences are as thrilled to have their very own orchestra in town, as we are to call Parker our home.

I have just received word that Maestro Devin Patrick Hughes has been named conductor of the Arapahoe Philharmonic orchestra. He will continue to conduct the Boulder Symphony Orchestra as well. Below, I quote from the Arapahoe Philharmonic website, as well as the Boulder Symphony website:

“Maestro Hughes was recently one of only twelve conductors worldwide to be selected for the Toscanini Conducting Competition in Italy, was also a conducting fellow at the Aspen School of Music, and will continue as Music Director and Conductor of the Boulder Symphony. He holds graduate degrees from the Lamont School of Music in Denver and Ithaca College in New York, and has studied at the Vienna Conservatory of Music. Maestro Hughes conducted the Arapahoe Philharmonic September concert (Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony) as his audition. He will begin his tenure at our next concert on May 10th (Mahler’s 1st Symphony). Full of energy and enthusiasm, Devin will lead us into our Next Chapter and our 60th Anniversary Season. Please join us in congratulating Maestro Hughes on his appointment!

“As an advocate of music serving a greater societal purpose and proponent of music education, Devin has held benefit concerts raising money for organizations such as the Red Cross, Oxfam International, Cultures in Harmony, the Colorado Haiti Project, C.Y.M.B.A.L. (Colorado Youth in Music Benefits Academic Learning) through the Pro Players Association, Transition Colorado and has served as an AmeriCorps tutor, mentor and coach for Nothing but Achievers and the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony, where he arranged African-American spirituals for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. He has also served as clinician for the Saint Vrain Valley All-District Orchestra Festival, adjudicator for the Colorado State Music Teachers Association’s annual Concerto Competition, and has taught courses at the Denver Academy for Lifelong Learning and the Music Schools of the University of Denver and Ithaca College in New York.

“Devin has conducted many orchestras across the United States, Canada and Europe including the Colorado Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Green Bay Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Winnipeg Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Muncie Symphony, American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Orchestra, Idaho Falls Symphony, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini (Italy), Oradea Philharmonic (Romania) and the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic). At the Lamont School of Music he was the recipient of the Leon Guide Conducting Award, the Harry Albertson Scholarship and was granted the Jeff Bradley Musical Development Award numerous times. Â He currently resides in Denver with his wife Molly and cat/daughter Chakra.
Founded in 1954, the Arapahoe Philharmonic is amongst the most long-established of Colorado’s musical resources, presenting concerts nearly every month throughout a fall/winter/spring performance season. Our 2012-2013 season will showcase four exceptional guest conductors, one of which will be chosen to continue the vision set by Maestro Parks and Maestro LaGuardia. Most of the orchestra’s musicians are volunteers, playing for the love of music, though there is a core professional staff to provide performance leadership and ensure the excellence of the product. Repertoire includes the greatest names of classical music, ranging through centuries of master composers, yet not neglecting those of more recent times. In fact, when resources allow, the [Arapahoe] Philharmonic commissions current composers to write new music for the orchestra. Our geographic base (currently performing at Mission Hills Church just West of Broadway and North of C470 in Littleton) allows music lovers to experience high quality performances without the drudgery and expense of a drive downtown.

“In addition to the adult orchestra’s performances, the Philharmonic is very much invested in our future generations, presenting annual children’s concerts and sponsoring the Arapahoe Philharmonic outreach to elementary and middle schools including clinics, concerts coaching and side-by-side workshops. Whether or not they choose a career in music, that they grow and work together toward the collective goal of a concert is important to intellectual and emotional development. With many school districts cutting back on music programs, the outreach programs offer an experience that some would have no other means of exploring. In addition to the youth outreach program, there is also the annual T. Gordon Parks Memorial Collegiate Competition for college age musicians, the winner of which will receive a cash award and be the featured soloist with the Arapahoe Philharmonic on a regular subscription concert.”

I have just received a press release from the Boulder Symphony Orchestra announcing their final concert of the season. I have quoted their press release below, but I would like to draw attention to a couple of items. The first is the performance of Robert Schumann’s Symphony Nr. 1, which carries the nickname Spring. This is a beautiful work that is not performed as much as it should be. The second item is the arrangement of J.S. Bach’s Chaconne from the Partita for Unaccompanied Violin D minor. The arrangement was done by Joachim Raff (1822-1882), another example of a composer who was very well known during his life, but upon passing, somehow fell off Mount Parnassus. He was the first Director of the Frankfurt Hochschule für Musik. While in that position he employed many prominent musicians as teachers. Raff caused a bit of consternation when he hired the famous pianist Clara Schumann (who was also a composer) to teach women who wanted to be composers. Keep in mind that this was a time when women who could read always caused surprise, and they were certainly not supposed to compose music.

Here is the press release:

WHAT: The Boulder Symphony presents “Celebrations of Spring”, our final symphony concert of the 2012/2013 season.

WHEN: Friday, May 17th at 7:00 pm

WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 1820 15th St., Boulder

ADMISSION: Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (60+), $5 for college students with ID, and free for K-12 students with paid adult. Additional information is available at http://www.bouldersymphony.org or at 970-577-1550.

“The Boulder Symphony, in collaboration with the Boulder Chorale and the First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, present ‘Celebrations of Spring’ on Friday, May 17th at 7 pm in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Boulder.

“Our glorious season finale will send plenty of magnificently cool spring energy into the universe, as we feature the fresh and revitalizing Spring Symphony No. 1 of Robert Schumann, possibly his most optimistic and exciting venture into the genre. We are also joined by the Boulder Chorale and Chancel Choir of the First Presbyterian Church as we play two gorgeous sacred works with more than 300 performers – Bruckner’s Psalm 150 and Haydn’s Te Deum for the Empress Maria Teresa. Rounding out the program is the magnificent arrangement of J.S. Bach’s most beloved solo violin work, the Chaconne from the D minor Partita, arranged by Joachim Raff, for the rich and colorful orchestra of the late nineteenth century.”

This week, the St. Martin’s Chamber Choir will present Eric Plutz, organist, will present a concert at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral on Washington Street. This promises to be a concert worth hearing because he is a very fine organist. In addition, he is performing a work by the Russian romantic composer, Alexander Gretchaninov. This is a beautiful piece that has not been performed in Denver for at least fifteen years.

Who: St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, with guest artist Eric Plutz, Princeton University Organist
What: “Festive Flourishes: Glorious Music for Choir and Organ”
When: Friday, June 7, 2013, 7:30 PM
Where: Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1350 Washington St, Denver, CO 80203
Admission: $35 Premium, $24 General Admission / $5 Student

Program: “Solus ad Victimam” Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988)
“Crucifixus pro nobis” Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988)
“The Beatitudes” Arvo Part (b. 1935)
“Missa Festiva” Alexander Gretchaninov (1864-1956)

About Eric Plutz:
Mr. Plutz, University Organist at Princeton University, is a graduate of Westminster Choir College (Rider University) in Princeton, and holds a master of music degree from Eastman School of Music. He has studied with David Higgs and Marie-Louise Langlais. He previously served at Church of the Epiphany in Washington DC and Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver.

Acclaimed as “an intrepid player” by James Hildreth (The American Organist), Mr. Plutz has made two solo organ CD recordings on the E.M. Skinner/Mander organ at Princeton Chapel, “Musique Heroique” and “Carnival. He has performed solo recitals at the Franziskanerkirche in Salzburg, Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center and the Wanamaker Organ at Macy’s, both in Philadelphia, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, St. Ignatius Loyola Church and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, Washington National Cathedral, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and the Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point NY. He appears frequently at conventions and on radio broadcasts. The 96-rank Platt Rogers Kimball organ, built in 1938, was re-dedicated in 2011 after a two-and-a-half year cleaning and reconditioning by the Spencer Organ Co. in Waltham MA. The instrument, with its 5,949 pipes ranging in size from about that of a drinking straw to 32 feet in height, is among about 400 American organs designated as having exceptional historic merit by the Organ Historical Society.

Info & Tickets: http://www.stmartinschamberchoir.org or 303-298-1970

This has been a weekend for much news in music. The following is a quote from a press release that I have received from the Denver Young Artist Orchestra.

“The Denver Young Artists Orchestra Association (DYAO), Colorado’s premier youth orchestra, announced today that Wes Kenney has been appointed as the organization’s new Music Director.

“Kenney is a tenured professor of music at Colorado State University and also serves as Music Director for the Fort Collins Symphony and Opera Fort Collins. Beginning in the 2013-2014 season, he will oversee all music programming at DYAO and serve as the rehearsal and performance conductor for its lead orchestra of young musicians.

“‘We’re delighted to be announcing Wes Kenney’s appointment,’ said Paul Keebler, president of the DYAO board of directors. ‘For more than 35 years, DYAO has been providing young musicians in the Denver area and beyond the opportunity to experience the joys of orchestral classical music, with a focus on both learning and performance excellence. Wes has a tremendous record of achievement as a conductor of both adult and youth orchestras and he is uniquely well qualified to take over this critically important role for our organization.’”

“Kenney is Director of Orchestras and teaches graduate conducting at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He has been Music Director of the Fort Collins Symphony for 10 years and in the same position with Opera Fort Collins since 2004. Previously, he was Associate Conductor for the Virginia Symphony in Norfolk, Virginia and Director of Orchestras at the College of William and Mary and San Francisco State University. He also spent seven years as Music Director for the Oakland Youth Symphony in Oakland, California taking that ensemble on tour to both Central Europe and China.

“Kenney is also a past president of the Conductors Guild, a professional organization whose membership includes more than 1,600 conductors worldwide. Kenney holds degrees from the University of Southern California and San Francisco State University and has been the recipient of numerous professional and teaching awards. He also served as a guest conductor for DYAO during the 2012-2013 season.

“‘DYAO has established a strong position as one of the top youth orchestras in the country,’ Kenney said. ‘As a DYAO guest conductor this year, I have experienced first-hand the extraordinary level of talent this orchestra enjoys, as well as an outstanding commitment to excellence amongst all its young musicians. I look forward to working with DYAO’s board and staff to deliver an outstanding educational experience for these wonderful young people.’”

“Kenney is the 11th music director in the 36-year history of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. DYAO was founded by Music Director Carl Topilow in 1977. Other music directors are Charles Ansbacher, Horst Buchholz, Thomas Cockrell, Jurgen de Lemos, David Lockington, Lawrence Loh, Adam Flatt, Scott O’Neil, and Matthew Switzer.”