PRESS RELEASES
Please email us if you would like to begin receiving our press releases.
announcements coming...
early April: PHILHARMONIC ANNOUNCES WINNER OF CONCERTO COMPETITION
late April: PHILHARMONIC ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR 104th SEASON
PHILHARMONIC UNLEASHES PERFECT STORM
Concert features renowned soloist, profound concerto, powerful violin
MANCHESTER NH, March 11, 2008 – A renowned area soloist joins the New Hampshire Philharmonic for its concert on Saturday, May 3rd.
The New Hampshire Philharmonic welcomes renowned New Hampshire violinist Elliott Markow to the stage. The violinist joins forces with the Philharmonic to present the profound Violin Concerto of Johannes Brahms. The soloist performs the work on a significant violin on the world stage, crafted in 1707 by the Italian violinmaker Rogeri.
The evening’s soloist is of considerable artistic stature. Violinist Elliott Markow began his professional performing career at age eleven as a soloist performing a Mozart Concerto with the Boston Pops. As a young man, Mr. Markow studied for two years with legendary violinist Jascha Heifetz.
Mr. Markow is much in demand around New Hampshire. Mr. Markow serves as concertmaster of the Nashua Symphony Orchestra, the Granite State Symphony Orchestra, the Granite State Opera Orchestra, and the Great Waters Music Festival Orchestra, as well as serving as concertmaster of the New Hampshire Philharmonic. He also serves on the faculty of the Manchester Community Music School, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and Saint Paul’s School in Concord. Mr. Markow has appeared extensively in solo, chamber music and orchestral performances in New England, Florida/Gulf Coast, Southern California and New Orleans.
Mr. Markow spoke recently about the upcoming performance. “The Brahms violin concerto is a powerful work emotionally, a lyrical outpouring. The piece joins two sides of Brahms – Brahms was one of the greatest song composers of the nineteenth century and he was one of the great symphonists. So it is really a song for violin on a symphonic scale.”
This will be the third solo appearance in seven years by Elliott Markow with Music Director Anthony Princiotti. Mr. Markow commented on revisiting the collaboration with the conductor of the New Hampshire Philharmonic. “Tony is extremely musical, quick-minded and sharp. He is intuitive and spontaneous in how he senses and reacts to the musical ideas of a soloist. There is a tacit give and take.”
Mr. Markow will perform the work on a violin of some significance, made in 1707 by Giovanni Battista Rogeri. Mr. Markow commented on his violin. “Rogeri studied with Amati and Stradivarius, so it has considerable lineage. It is a powerful instrument, with a wide range of dynamics and colors. It is not necessarily an easy instrument to play. But once one makes the effort, it has a magnificent sound.”
(For the complete text of this interview, visit Elliott Markow’s bio on the Philharmonic website. Go to www.nhphil.org and click twice on the photo of Mr. Markow.)
Leading the orchestra is long-time Music Director Anthony Princiotti, who is in his eighth year with the Philharmonic. Princiotti is a graduate of Juilliard, Tanglewood and Yale, and studied conducting with both Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa. Anthony Princiotti closes the evening by leading the orchestra in a performance of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky in the standard orchestration by Maurice Ravel.
Reached at his home in Walpole, Mr. Princiotti spoke about the appeal of Pictures at an Exhibition. "What has always made this piece appealing to me is the incredible variety of sounds Ravel's orchestration draws out of Mussorgsky's music. It certainly has its spectacular moments, from the noble opening "Promenade" through the awe-inspiring chords of "The Great Gate of Kiev", yet in some ways the thing I love most in this music is the affection and intimacy it expresses. Mussorgsky was inspired to write Pictures after attending an exhibition of works by his friend Viktor Hartman, who had recently passed away. In addition to all the fireworks, this piece is also a fine tribute to a dear friend.”
Music Director Anthony Princiotti leads the Philharmonic in concert on Saturday, May 3 (8 pm) at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. Tickets are available through the Palace box office at 603/668-5588. Complete information about the 103rd season of the New Hampshire Philharmonic can be found at www.nhphil.org.
FINE PHOTO PORTRAITS OF SOLOIST AND MUSIC DIRECTOR AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
………………………………………………………..
Established in 1905, the Philharmonic is the state’s premier training orchestra. The Philharmonic serves as a living laboratory, bringing together the most accomplished students, amateurs and professionals from around the state in compelling concerts of the core repertoire.
The Philharmonic’s 103rd season is made possible through the generous support of the members of the Philharmonic Society, and Peerless Insurance, the Frederick Smyth Institute for Music, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional support comes from Graphicast, Target, Delta Dental, Hinckley Allen Snyder, the Bean Foundation, the Benz Trust, the Byrne Foundation, the Penates Foundation.
###
Contact: Paul Hoffman
Executive Director 603-647-6476
info@nhphil.org
CONCERTO COMPETITION FINALISTS SELECTED BY PHILHARMONIC
MANCHESTER, NH, February 7, 2008 -- The New Hampshire Philharmonic has announced student finalists for its sixth annual youth concerto competition.
The seven finalists are:
Laurel Gagnon of Hooksett, violin
Rebecca Haynes of Hanover, cello
Ian MacKay of Francestown, violin
Jacob MacKay of Francestown, cello
Kate Merges of Bow, violin
Thomas Philbrick of Candia, violin
Alexa Sanfilippo of Atkinson, violin
The competition takes place on April 12, 2008 before a panel of professional music educators.
The winner of the competition will be invited to perform with the New Hampshire Philharmonic at Holiday Pops in November 2008.
The annual youth concerto competition is the capstone of the Philharmonic's youth education programs. The Philharmonic is also in the midst of presenting its annual family concerts, at the Capitol Center for the Arts Concord and the Music Hall Portsmouth, in mid February. This year the performance features Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, narrated by Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio. .
The Philharmonic is the state's oldest orchestra, tracing its roots to 1905. The orchestra serves as a living laboratory, bringing together the finest student, amateur and professional musicians from around the state in engaging performances of the core repertoire.
Executive Director Paul Hoffman commented on the level of interest he is seeing in this year's competition. "Each year it gets a bit harder to make the finals. The Philharmonic's competition has become a destination event; kids from all around the state seek us out. And the level of accomplishment gets higher and higher with each year that we hold this competition."
Winners in previous years have come from Hanover, Lyme, Derry, Manchester and Durham, and have included oboe, violin, flute and cello.
Crucial funding for the Philharmonic comes from the Frederick Smyth Institute and Peerless Insurance, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, Byrne Foundation and the individual members of the Philharmonic Society. Music lovers are invited to visit the New Hampshire Philharmonic online at www.nhphil.org.
More information, including instructions for the illustrated story book, is available at the Philharmonic website at www.nhphil.org.
.............
Note to Editors: Photos are available electronically.
###
Contact: Paul Hoffman
Executive Director 603-647-6476
info@nhphil.org
STRONG STUDENT RESPONSE TO THE PHILHARMONIC’S DRAWN TO THE MUSIC
NHPR’s Laura Knoy to narrate the family concert
MANCHESTER, NH, January 30, 2008 -- The New Hampshire Philharmonic has received strong response from schoolchildren around the state for the orchestra’s collaborative music and drawing project Drawn to the Music.
The orchestra has received more than 750 illustrations from schoolchildren from across southern and central New Hampshire. The artwork was created by students in kindergarten through 6th grade. Approximately 100 of these images will be displayed as an integral part of the Philharmonic’s concert performances in February.
Twelve schools will have student artwork represented at the concert:
Antrim Elementary, Antrim
Broad Street Elementary, Nashua
East Kingston Elementary and Middle Schools, East Kingston
Highland/Goffes Falls, Manchester
Jacques Memorial, Milford
Main Dunstable, Nashua
McDonough Elementary, Manchester
Parker-Varney Elementary, Manchester
Rumford School, Concord
Seabrook Elementary, Seabrook
Webster Elementary, Manchester
Woodland Community, Bethlehem
As a capstone to this collaborative project, the New Hampshire Philharmonic will present Drawn to the Music to the public, in a concert for families narrated by Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio.
The family concerts are designed for children ages 6 to 11 and their parents, grandparents and teachers. The concerts take place on February 17 at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord and on February 24 at the Music Hall in Portsmouth.
The concert features Pictures at an Exhibition, the ever popular work of musical imagery, with music of Modest Mussorgsky and Maurice Ravel, and original illustrations by schoolchildren from around the state.
The story will be narrated by NHPR radio host Laura Knoy. Knoy recently commented on her involvement in the project. "This will be the third year in a row that I've done a family concert with the Phil. It's such a pleasure to join forces with them again, and this time to create something entirely new, as this collaborative performance will be."
Knoy described her upcoming narration. "The music describes a walk through an art museum, looking at pictures on the wall. I'll be setting the scene for each musical image. Each image is distinctive - an oxcart loaded with furniture creaking along a snowy road, a witch flying through the air in a teacup, the triumphant arrival at the gates of a great city. And the music really captures these clear images."
Music Director Anthony Princiotti spoke about the appeal of the music itself. "What has always made this piece appealing to me is the incredibly variety of sounds Ravel's orchestration draws out of Mussorgsky's music. It certainly has its spectacular moments, from the noble opening "Promenade" through the awe-inspiring chords of "The Great Gate of Kiev", yet in some ways the thing I love most in this music is the affection and intimacy it expresses. Mussorgsky was inspired to write "Pictures" after attending an exhibition of works by his friend Viktor Hartman, who had recently passed away. In addition to all the fireworks, this piece is also a fine tribute to a dear friend.”
As a core part of the experience, the Philharmonic has developed a collaborative project with schoolchildren across the state, Drawn to the Music. Hundreds of schoolchildren have sent in their illustrated versions of the music. Selected illustrations will be projected above the orchestra as it plays. The result will be a unique performance of the music, created in collaboration with the schoolchildren of New Hampshire. Selected images will also appear on the Philharmonic’s website.
The Philharmonic’s Executive Director Paul Hoffman spoke about the importance of the images to the experience. “The illustrations provide a way for the children to weave themselves into the music. My own kids often doodle with crayons when music is on – it’s a way for them to shut out the unimportant and really focus on the music. The end product will of course be fun – the projected images, the website. But what’s really important is the process for each child, whether at home or at school, of engaging with the music.”
Instructions for participating in the collaborative art project, Drawn to the Music, can be found at the Philharmonic’s website at http://www.nhphil.org/Education/DrawnToTheMusic.html
As a bonus, at the end of the concert, children will be invited to participate in an instrument petting zoo. Under the close supervision of orchestra members scattered about the performance hall and on stage, children will have the chance to hold and play the various instruments of the orchestra. Hoffman noted, “The instrument petting zoos at the end of our family concerts are some of the most popular events of our season. Many of the musicians of the orchestra began playing at quite an early age, so they are delighted to see the joy of these young kids getting an equally young start.” Depending on the crowd size, a number of the more patient children have been known to try out nearly every instrument by the end of the half-hour ‘zoo’.
The family concerts are made possible by the sponsors of the Philharmonic’s educational programs: Northeast Delta Dental, Target Stores, the Bean Foundation, the Benz Trust, the Manchester Rotary Club, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.
Funding for the Philharmonic’s season comes from the Frederick Smyth Institute, Peerless Insurance, Graphicast, Hinckley Allen Snyder, the Byrne Foundation and the members of the Philharmonic Society. Music lovers are invited to visit the New Hampshire Philharmonic online at www.nhphil.org.
Tickets for the concerts, priced at $8 for children and $13 for adults, are available from the box offices of the Music Hall (603) 436-2400 and the Capitol Center for the Arts (603) 225-1111. The concerts are Sunday afternoons at 2 pm, February 17 (Concord) and February 24 (Portsmouth).
More information, including instructions for the illustrated story book, is available at the Philharmonic website at www.nhphil.org.
…………………………………
The New Hampshire Philharmonic connects people to the power of classical music, through compelling performances and educational programs. The Philharmonic is the state’s oldest orchestra, tracing its roots to 1905. The orchestra serves as a living laboratory, bringing together the finest student, amateur and professional musicians from around the state in engaging performances of the core repertoire. A capstone of the Philharmonic’s youth education programs is its annual youth concerto competition.
Note to Editors: Photos are available electronically.
###
Contact: Paul Hoffman
Executive Director 603-647-6476
info@nhphil.org
………………………………………………………..
THE PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS DRAWN TO THE MUSIC
NHPR’s Laura Knoy narrates the family concert
Student illustrations accompany the music
MANCHESTER, NH, January 14, 2008 -- The New Hampshire Philharmonic presents Drawn to the Music, a concert for families narrated by Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio.
The family concerts are designed for children ages 6 to 11 and their parents, grandparents and teachers. The concerts take place on February 17 at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord and on February 24 at the Music Hall in Portsmouth.
The concert features Pictures at an Exhibition, the ever popular work of musical imagery, with music of Modest Mussorgsky and Maurice Ravel, and original illustrations by schoolchildren from around the state.
The story will be narrated by NHPR radio host Laura Knoy. Knoy recently commented on her involvement in the project. "This will be the third year in a row that I've done a family concert with the Phil. It's such a pleasure to join forces with them again, and this time to create something entirely new, as this collaborative performance will be."
Knoy described her upcoming narration. "The music describes a walk through an art museum, looking at pictures on the wall. I'll be setting the scene for each musical image. Each image is distinctive - an oxcart loaded with furniture creaking along a snowy road, a witch flying through the air in a teacup, the triumphant arrival at the gates of a great city. And the music really captures these clear images."
Music Director Anthony Princiotti spoke about the appeal of the music itself. "What has always made this piece appealing to me is the incredibly variety of sounds Ravel's orchestration draws out of Mussorgsky's music. It certainly has its spectacular moments, from the noble opening "Promenade" through the awe-inspiring chords of "The Great Gate of Kiev", yet in some ways the thing I love most in this music is the affection and intimacy it expresses. Mussorgsky was inspired to write "Pictures" after attending an exhibition of works by his friend Viktor Hartman, who had recently passed away. In addition to all the fireworks, this piece is also a fine tribute to a dear friend.”
As a core part of the experience, the Philharmonic has developed a collaborative project with schoolchildren across the state, Drawn to the Music. Hundreds of schoolchildren are sending in their illustrated versions of the music. Selected illustrations will be projected above the orchestra as it plays. The result will be a unique performance of the music, created in collaboration with the schoolchildren of New Hampshire. Selected images will also appear on the Philharmonic’s website.
The Philharmonic’s Executive Director Paul Hoffman spoke about the importance of the images to the experience. “The illustrations provide a way for the children to weave themselves into the music. My own kids often doodle with crayons when music is on – it’s a way for them to shut out the unimportant and really focus on the music. The end product will of course be fun – the projected images, the website. But what’s really important is the process for each child, whether at home or at school, of engaging with the music.”
Instructions for participating in the collaborative art project, Drawn to the Music, can be found at the Philharmonic’s website at http://www.nhphil.org/Education/DrawnToTheMusic.html
As a bonus, at the end of the concert, children will be invited to participate in an instrument petting zoo. Under the close supervision of orchestra members scattered about the performance hall and on stage, children will have the chance to hold and play the various instruments of the orchestra. Hoffman noted, “The instrument petting zoos at the end of our family concerts are some of the most popular events of our season. Many of the musicians of the orchestra began playing at quite an early age, so they are delighted to see the joy of these young kids getting an equally young start.” Depending on the crowd size, a number of the more patient children have been known to try out nearly every instrument by the end of the half-hour ‘zoo’.
The family concerts are made possible by the sponsors of the Philharmonic’s educational programs: Northeast Delta Dental, Target Stores, the Bean Foundation, the Benz Trust, the Manchester Rotary Club, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.
Funding for the Philharmonic’s season comes from the Frederick Smyth Institute, Peerless Insurance, Graphicast, Hinckley Allen Snyder, the Byrne Foundation and the members of the Philharmonic Society. Music lovers are invited to visit the New Hampshire Philharmonic online at www.nhphil.org.
Tickets for the concerts, priced at $8 for children and $13 for adults, are available from the box offices of the Music Hall (603) 436-2400 and the Capitol Center for the Arts (603) 225-1111. The concerts are Sunday afternoons at 2 pm, February 17 (Concord) and February 24 (Portsmouth).
More information, including instructions for the illustrated story book, is available at the Philharmonic website at www.nhphil.org.
…………………………………
The New Hampshire Philharmonic connects people to the power of classical music, through compelling performances and educational programs. The Philharmonic is the state’s oldest orchestra, tracing its roots to 1905. The orchestra serves as a living laboratory, bringing together the finest student, amateur and professional musicians from around the state in engaging performances of the core repertoire. A capstone of the Philharmonic’s youth education programs is its annual youth concerto competition.
Note to Editors: Photos are available electronically.
###
Contact: Paul Hoffman
Executive Director 603-647-6476
info@nhphil.org
SCOTT SPRADLING TO HOST HOLIDAY POPS WITH THE PHILHARMONIC
Governor Lynch to take the baton
MANCHESTER, NH, November 3, 2007 -- The New Hampshire Philharmonic will be kicking off the holiday season with its annual holiday pops concert at the Palace Theatre on November 24.
The evening provides a way for concertgoers to step into the holiday season with an evening of pleasing musical chestnuts. The concert will take place on Saturday, November 24 at 8 pm in Manchester’s historic Palace Theatre.
Area journalist Scott Spradling hosts the festivities. Well-known for his role as anchor of WMUR news 9 at 5:00, Mr. Spradling covers politics throughout the year. Mr. Spradling will be providing engaging commentary on the pieces performed throughout the evening.
The evening provides an international musical tour of holiday favorites. The first half is oriented towards light classical works, and the second half is devoted to pops favorites. The first half of the festive evening includes Sleigh Ride by New England native Leroy Anderson, the tuneful Skater’s Waltz by Waldteusel, and selections from the Messiah by George Frederick Handel.
Music Director Anthony Princiotti commented on the program. “There is a lot of music commonly described as "popular" that is of very high quality, and the classical repertoire is filled with pieces that are utterly accessible and entertaining. We program both types of music on our Pops concerts, and I think that's why they've traditionally been so successful. Pops concerts are a wonderful part of the Philharmonic's musical offerings because they allow us to reach out to new audiences.”
The youthful voices of the Pinkerton Academy Chorale will join the Philharmonic in the first half for choral selections from the Messiah, and return in the second half for a medley of light-hearted Christmas pops songs. The Pinkerton Academy Chorale is being prepared for the concert by Thomas Quigley, with Melanie Whitney and Sandra Clarke.
The Pinkerton Academy Chorale has previously sung with the New Hampshire Symphony and the Nashua Symphony Orchestra, and at the New Hampshire Education Awards, the NH Martin Luther King Celebration, and for various local and regional venues. In 1994, the choir was selected to represent the State of New Hampshire for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day celebrations in Washington, D.C., the premier of the Zulu mass in April of 2007, and last May members of the Chorale represented New Hampshire singing with the 400th Jamestown, Virginia Anniversary Festival Chorus. In addition to these performances the Chorale has consistently achieved Superior Awards at national choral festivals
After intermission, the second half of the program will include a new favorite of Holiday Pops audiences – Brazilian Sleigh Bells, and the all-time American favorite White Christmas by Irving Berlin. A highlight of the evening will be the ever-popular Carol Sing-along. “Audience members tell us that the sing-along is in many ways their favorite part of the evening,” Executive Director Paul Hoffman commented. “When else do you get to sing along with both a full choir and a full orchestra?” Words to these favored carols will be provided in the program book, which will also feature the Philharmonic’s amusing holiday word search puzzles.
An enticing auction in the hour before the concert will give concert-goers the chance to get a jump on their holiday shopping. Confirmed items that should attract spirited bidding include coffee with the Governor, a cruise on the Mt Washington Cruise Line, a variety of dining packages at fine local restaurants, and tickets to a wide range of sports and arts events.
Also featured on the program will be the winner of the Philharmonic’s fifth annual youth concerto competition, a talented young violinist from Durham. Abe McWilliams will be playing a movement from the Violin Concerto in D by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mr. McWilliams is already well known around the state by music educators for his accomplished playing.
The Philharmonic’s holiday concerts typically end with the crowd-pleasing encore Jingle Bells Forever, a blending of the melody of James Pierpont’s popular Christmas song with a John Phillip Sousa march. Sources close to the orchestra report that the musicians are ready to play the piece should the crowd request it, and that Governor John Lynch has agreed to take the baton for the brief work.
Note to Editors: Photos are available electronically.
###
The concert takes place on Saturday, November 24 (8 pm) at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. Tickets range in price from $25 to $50 and are available through the Palace box office at 603/668-5588. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups. Complete information about the 103rd season of the New Hampshire Philharmonic can be found at www.nhphil.org.
………………………………………………………..
Established in 1905, the Philharmonic is the state’s premier training orchestra. The Philharmonic serves as a living laboratory, bringing together the most accomplished students, amateurs and professionals from around the state in compelling concerts of the core repertoire.
The Philharmonic’s 103rd season is being made possible through the generous support of Peerless Insurance, the Frederick Smyth Institute for Music, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Graphicast, and the Philharmonic Society.
Additional support comes from Target Stores, Northeast Delta Dental, the Bean Foundation and Rotary.
###
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR EDUCATORS AND PARENTS –
DRAWN TO THE MUSIC PROJECT
October 1, 2007 - Schoolchildren from across New Hampshire are invited to participate in a collaboration with the New Hampshire Philharmonic, bringing together story-telling, music and drawing.
Schoolchildren from around the state will create an original, illustrated version of the engrossing orchestral work Pictures at an Exhibition, in collaboration with the musicians of the New Hampshire Philharmonic. The piece, by the great Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky, describes a walk through an art museum, with stops to look at ten distinctive paintings, each envisioned colorfully in the music.
The student illustrations chosen will be projected over the stage as the orchestra of the New Hampshire Philharmonic performs this great orchestral work. A slide show of the illustrations will be posted on the Philharmonic’s website.
Schoolchildren from kindergarten through 6th grade are invited to create drawings of scenes from Pictures at an Exhibition. The scenes are listed below.
Parents or teachers are asked to send in their child’s color drawing on a white sheet of paper 8.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide. (For child safety, the name of the child will be withheld from all media unless parental approval is granted in writing.) Artwork is due at the Philharmonic offices by noon on January 23, 2008.
It is likely that during the performance as many as 70 illustrations will be shown. It is the intention of the Philharmonic to select at least one illustration from every grade level submitted.
The Philharmonic performs Pictures at an Exhibition on February 17 and February 24 at the Music Hall Portsmouth and the Capitol Center for the Arts Concord. This narrated and condensed performance of Pictures at an Exhibition will last approximately 25 minutes. An original narration will accompany the orchestra’s performance, narrated by Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio.
The Philharmonic’s project Drawn to the Music is in its second year of collaboration through music, storytelling and drawing. Last year’s edition focused on Peter and the Wolf. A visual record of the lively illustrations from that creation can be seen at www.nhphil.org/Education/DrawnToTheMusic.html.
This year the project is underwritten by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Target and Delta Dental.
For more information about this multi-year project, please visit the website of the New Hampshire Philharmonic at www.nhphil.org or call the Philharmonic at 603/647-6476.
DRAWN TO THE MUSIC - WHAT TO DO
Create a color drawing of any of the ten scenes listed below. (Please use a sheet of white paper 8.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide.) You may want to listen to a recording of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky while you draw. Send us your illustration by January 23, 2008. Approximately 70 illustrations will be chosen to tell the story of Pictures at an Exhibition.
CHOOSE A SCENE TO ILLUSTRATE
Pictures at an Exhibition is about a child exploring an art museum. Along the way, the child sees ten different paintings, each described by the composer using distinctive and brief pieces of music.
Picture 1 – Spooky creature. A small, strange gnome creeps about in the dark.
Picture 2 – Pining away. Beneath the balcony of an old abandoned castle, a young man calmly strums his guitar and sings about how much he misses his sweetheart.
Picture 3 – Garden games. Children run and play in a garden. (One of the boys gets a scolding from his mother.)
Picture 4 – Searching for home. Creaking along in a huge oxcart piled high with belongings, a family searches for a new home. They pass through a dark, winter landscape.
Picture 5 – Hatchlings. Little birds hatch out of their shells, and dance about like ballerinas, their legs sticking right through the shells.
Picture 6 – Rich man/poor man. A loud, rich man is mean to a poor man. The poor man is sad.
Picture 7 – Shopping! Shoppers compete wildly with each for bargains at the market.
Picture 8 – Haunted burial ground. The dark, damp corridors of the catacombs are filled with cobwebs and old bones. (But it’s a quiet and peaceful resting place.)
Picture 9 – The witch. A witch with chicken legs swoops down in a giant tea cup to take her victims away.
Picture 10 – Triumph! Monumental city gates tower above us as we arrive at the grand, ancient city.
LABEL YOUR DRAWING: On the back of the drawing, please list:
Child’s name – Picture number – School – Grade level – Art teacher – Music teacher – Parent – Address – Phone – Email. Children are encouraged to submit illustrations for more than one ‘Picture’.
PARENT CONSENT: By sending in an illustration, the parent gives permission for the illustration to be used by the Philharmonic in multiple media. Note that in the interest of your child's safety, your child's name will not appear publicly.
MAIL IT IN: Send the illustration or illustrations by January 23, 2008 to: Drawn to the Music, The New Hampshire Philharmonic, 83 Hanover Street, Manchester NH 03101. You can also email a pdf or jpeg to info@nhphil.org.
New Hampshire Philharmonic opens season with Boston Symphony Orchestra soloist
MANCHESTER NH, September 21, 2007 – A soloist from the renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra will be joining the New Hampshire Philharmonic for its concert on Oct 27th. The concert at the Palace Theatre opens the 103rd season of the Philharmonic.
To open its hundred-and-third season, the New Hampshire Philharmonic welcomes Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young to the stage. The esteemed cellist will join forces with the Philharmonic to present Schumann’s Cello Concerto. This lovely solo for cello with orchestra shows off the lyricism and warmth so typical of the music of that composer from the Romantic era.
The soloist from the Boston Symphony Orchestra is of considerable artistic stature. Cellist Owen Young is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Mr. Young has appeared as a concert soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, Racine Symphony Orchestra, and San Antonio Chamber Orchestra. A frequent collaborator in chamber music concerts and festivals, he has appeared at Tanglewood, the Banff Centre for the Arts, Brevard Music Center, and the Aspen, Davos, Sunflower, Gateway, and St. Barth’s music festivals. He is a founding member of the innovative chamber ensemble Innuendo and performs chamber music and recitals in the United States and abroad. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio, WQED in Pittsburgh, WITF in Harrisburg, and WGBH in Boston. He has performed frequently with singer/songwriter James Taylor, including the nationally televised recorded concert "James Taylor Live at the Beacon Theatre" in New York City.
Owen Young’s teachers included Eleanor Osborn, Michael Grebanier, Anne Martindale Williams, and Aldo Parisot. Mr. Young is a cum laude graduate of Yale University, where he received both bachelor's and master's degrees. In 1986 and 1987, he was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Mr. Young is recently returned from a successful European tour as a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Returning to lead the orchestra for its 103rd season is long-time Music Director Anthony Princiotti, who will be in his eighth year with the Philharmonic. Princiotti is a graduate of Juilliard, Tanglewood and Yale, and studied conducting with both Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa.
Music Director Anthony Princiotti opens the concert with the Peer Gynt Suite (no. 1) of Grieg, the captivating musical tale based on Norse legend. It includes the reverie of Morning Sunrise, and the bumptious, troll-filled Hall of the Mountain Kings. The second half of the program features the engrossing Symphony no. 9 by the Soviet master Dmitri Shostakovich. The work is Shostakovich’s surprising musical response to the great Soviet victory in World War II, and is informed by the political repression rampant during the reign of the Soviet dictator Stalin. The energetic final movement in particular is likely to bring the concert to a rousing conclusion.
Reached at his home in Walpole, Mr. Princiotti commented on the musical choices that he made for the upcoming performance. “For this concert we are going after a certain tone. For the autumn, I was looking for things that would draw us together, stimulating us in a deep sense. We want it to be accessible, but also something with some real depth to it.
“The Schumann [cello concerto] is a wonderful choice, particularly for the autumn, because it has such a soulful quality. We’re very pleased to be able to work with the gifted artist Owen Young in this piece.
“The Grieg, while it is wonderfully melodic, all the same has some music that is very, very moody. And the well-known Hall of the Mountain King is really downright scary. We thought that that movement in particular would make a fun connection to Halloween.
“And then there’s the Shostakovich.
“It’s crucial to remember that this is an artist writing in the midst of profound political struggle, during the era of the Soviet dictator Stalin. The piece is defiant and deflates the importance of Stalin, at the time a very dangerous attitude to communicate. But it would be doing a disservice to brand this piece as a mere historic curiosity from the Cold War. The moods and emotions are directly relevant to modern concertgoers.
“The piece presents a profound emotional journey. The piece gradually takes the listener from a mood of sarcastic defiance towards the prevailing regime, and moves through music that expresses a profound sense of loneliness and isolation. At a crucial point late in the piece there is an extended solo in the bassoon - it reminds me of a cantor, grieving through his singing, and I've found myself wondering if this is Shostakovich's response to the Holocaust, the full scope of which was just becoming known when he was writing this Symphony. After that, the final movement is this long process of building, building, until you reach a place where the strength is just unbelievable. At the end there is exultation, but there’s also something horrifying about it.
“Really, is there any other composer who writes like that?”
Music Director Anthony Princiotti leads the Philharmonic in concert on Saturday, October 27 (8 pm) at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. Tickets are available through the Palace box office at 603/668-5588. Complete information about the 103rd season of the New Hampshire Philharmonic can be found at www.nhphil.org.
FINE PHOTO PORTRAITS OF SOLOIST AND MUSIC DIRECTOR AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
………………………………………………………..
Established in 1905, the Philharmonic is the state’s premier training orchestra. The Philharmonic serves as a living laboratory, bringing together the most accomplished students, amateurs and professionals from around the state in compelling concerts of the core repertoire.
The Philharmonic’s 103rd season is made possible through the generous support of the members of the Philharmonic Society, and Peerless Insurance, the Frederick Smyth Institute for Music, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional support comes from Graphicast, Target, Delta Dental, the Byrne Foundation, the Bean Foundation and Rotary.
###
Announcement of Sixth Annual Youth Concerto Competition - The New Hampshire Philharmonic
The New Hampshire Philharmonic will hold its sixth annual youth concerto competition on April 5, 2008. This competition is open to any student who is no older than the junior year in high school for the academic year 2007-2008, and who is also a New Hampshire resident. The winner will be asked to perform at a concert during the 2008-2009 season of the New Hampshire Philharmonic. The competition is state-wide; recent finalists have come from Hanover, Lyme, Plymouth, Bow, Concord, Strafford, Bedford, Manchester, Hollis, Derry, Salem and Durham.
The Philharmonic
Tracing its roots to 1895, the New Hampshire Philharmonic is the oldest orchestra in the state, playing continuously since 1905. The orchestra serves as a living laboratory for the finest student, amateur and professional musicians to present engaging performances of western art music. The Philharmonic serves communities across New Hampshire. An important part of the orchestra’s mission is educational outreach. For more background on our organization, please visit us at our website at www.nhphil.org.
The Competition
The juried competition will take place at the Manchester Community Music School, 2291 Elm Street, Manchester, NH, on April 5, 2008. The winner will be chosen by a jury consisting of the Philharmonic music director and a select number of accomplished judges from the professional music educator community of New Hampshire.
The Schedule
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is noon on Thursday, January 17, 2008. This deadline is absolute; applications that arrive after that date and time will not be considered. Staff members are generally not on site to sign for delivered packages. Completed applications will receive an initial screening in mid January. Invitations to the juried event will be emailed by January 29, 2008. If you are chosen to compete in April, your invitation will state an approximate time to play for the jury. For the fifth annual competition, six finalists were chosen from twelve qualified applications.
The Repertoire
The applicant should prepare a work for solo instrument with orchestra. (While any solo instrument is welcomed, please note that for less typical instrument choice, the range of performance repertoire available will be a factor in the adjudication process.) The piece presented should be either a work for your instrument with orchestra, or a movement from a concerto. The applicant is strongly encouraged to present a work that falls well within his or her technical abilities, and above all a work that would provide the listener with a satisfying musical experience. Applicants should assume no more than 10 minutes of playing time during the audition. In light of the repertoire requirements of the orchestra’s season, the music director will consult with the winner on the date and piece to be played during the 2008-2009 season. Typically the work performed will be less than ten minutes. It is possible that the piece eventually performed during the 2008-2009 season could be different from the piece played in the audition.
Age and Residency Requirements
The competition is open to students of all ages through junior year in high school during the 2007-2008 academic year. Because the concert will take place in the 2008-2009 season, the competition is not open to students who are already seniors in high school for the 2007-2008 academic year. Applicants must be residents of the state of New Hampshire. Unfortunately, the competition is not open to boarding school students whose home address is outside of New Hampshire; the competition is open to boarding school students whose home address is in New Hampshire.
Application - Copies of the application are available at our website www.nhphil.org.
powerful, live performance
The New Hampshire Philharmonic
