Orchestra kicks off season with 'Czars'

This weekend the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra kicks off their exciting 1999-2000 season with the concert "Czars and Commissars."

The concert marks the beginning of a season of many changes for the Ann Arbor Orchestra. Conductor, Sam Wong will be leaving the orchestra after seven years. The 1999-2000 season will have a series of guest conductors to precede Wong. The opening concert features guest conductor Arthur Post. Post, currently the resident conductor of the New World Symphony in Florida, will lead the orchestra and piano soloist Rob Conway in Borodin's "Prince Igor Overture," Rachmaninoff's "A Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and Shastakovich's "Symphony Number Five."

Along with the search for the new director, the orchestra has planned many other events for this year. The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra has made a conscience effort to work with the University to bring the arts into the community. This season, the orchestra will collaborate with the University's Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies.

With the help of Judith Becker, the director of the Gamalon Ensemble, Bonnie Brereton education director, and Charlie Sullivan, education and grants coordinator, the Gamelan Ensemble and the Ann Arbor Orchestra will perform a Japanese percussion work written by graduate student Gabriel Ian Gould for the two ensembles.

Part of this performance includes community outreach. The performance will be given for secondary school students along with a lesson in Asian culture and music. The curriculum was co-written by developers for education for the orchestra and members of the Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies program.

Along with working with the University, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra remains active in its outreach programs. With a goal of presenting the arts to everyone, the Orchestra involves itself in the community. Through activities ranging from mentorship of a high school musicians, programs in senior centers, youth concerts and free tickets for those who can not afford to hear the orchestra, the symphony tries to introduce the symphony to the entire population.

09-24-99