NEWS RELEASE
LONGMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
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The Longmont Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce a complete season of in-person concerts and events, with on-demand streaming and virtual event options as well. Single tickets are available beginning September 18, subscription packages are available now.
Simon Woods, president of the League of American Orchestras recently said “Orchestras are already thinking deeply about the implications of the post-COVID world, and not only those in major urban areas. In smaller cities, as well as suburban and rural areas, orchestras can release the power of music to aid in our communal healing.”
After a challenging 18 months of navigating public performance restrictions, your Longmont Symphony Orchestra is back for a full season of live concerts. The entire season of Mainstage, Chamber Orchestra, Family, Pops, and Holiday concerts will be offered in person. Building on the innovative 20-21 online season, LSO performances will also be available through an on-demand streaming format further extending the symphonic experience to the community regardless of ability to attend in person.
The new season officially kicks off with a district-wide All-State band and orchestra clinic for St Vrain Valley high school students where LSO musician educators will work directly with students to help them prepare their auditions. In the week following is an evening zoom chat with guest soloist Hsing-ay Hsu, Music Director Elliot Moore, and the Asian-Pacific Association of Longmont, and just one week later the Season Opener concert at Vance Brand Civic Auditorium. “For the musicians of the LSO to gather again as an orchestra is phenomenal, but for our community to once again have the awesome impact of our full orchestra creating shared experiences that touch, inspire, and uplift, is monumental”, remarked Moore.
Join the LSO beginning October 2nd, 7:30pm from Vance Brand Civic Auditorium stage with a fantastic season opener concert featuring the music of Brahms, Mozart, and Schumann plus returning piano soloist, Artist Ambassador, and Steinway Artist Hsing-ay Hsu.
The full season lineup also includes guest cellist Matthew Zalkind - First Prize winner of the Washington International Competition, soprano Leberta Lorál – special guest performer at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, NASA scientist Dr. Angela des Jardins – whose mission is “to use the ability of space to ignite the human sense of wonder”, percussionist Anthony Di Sanza – international performer and educator, and of course your fabulous Longmont Symphony Musicians led by Music Director Elliot Moore. Together they will perform timeless classics as well as great music of our time.
This past June, when the LSO was able to gather together as a full orchestra for the first time since March 2020, the excitement was palpable. Executive Director Catherine Beeson, brought on in January at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was meeting some of the musicians and patrons for the first time as well.
“This is such a challenging time of reflection and flexibility for all of us. Seeing the resilience and spirit of the LSO musicians after this difficult year was a great reminder of the power of music to lift us out of our every day and remind us of our shared human experience.” Now with the entire orchestra, staff, board, and volunteers vaccinated and ready to share a new season of concerts, LSO principal violist Chue Yeng Vue sums it up best “So much joy playing with the LSO. This is one step closer to normal. The room is just buzzing with energy!”
“Kaleidoscope of Sound: Music That Unites” celebrates diversity, the power of nature, and the wonderment of human artistic expression including the music of Ludwig van Beethoven (“Pastoral” Symphony #6), Samuel Barber (“Knoxville: Summer of 1915”), Jessie Montgomery (“Starburst”), Mason Bates (“Undistant”), John Williams (“Star Wars: Main Title”), Claude Debussy (“Clair de lune”), Igor Stravinsky (“The Firebird” Suite) and a world premiere by Michael Udow (“Ancient Echoes”) among others.
“Ancient Echoes” is especially powerful, considering it’s a real ‘made in Longmont’ story. Inspired by Longmont-based archaeologist Marilyn Martorano’s 2013 discovery of a set of ancient lithophones (a sort of xylophone made of stones), Longmont-based composer Michael Udow wrote music for orchestra and a replica of these instruments to celebrate the musical connection we have with the people who lived here 6,000 years ago. “Ancient Echoes” for percussion and full orchestra will have its world premiere with the LSO on April 23rd, 2022.
Season package subscriptions are now available. Single tickets are available beginning 9/18. Make your purchase or reservation at longmontsymphony.org or call our box office at 303-772-5796 Mon-Thur 11am-2pm. Please note: all patrons will be required to wear masks while indoors, and all patrons 12+ will be required to show proof of vaccination or medical exemption at the venue. We are committed to your health and safety as we are for our LSO musicians and guest artists. Free access to on-demand streaming is included with every ticket and season package.
A full concert listing for the 2021/22 Season can be found at longmontsymphony.org, with fall highlights including:
SEASON OPENER: MOZART PIANO CONCERTO NO. 12 WITH HSING-AY HSU
October 2
Elliot Moore, conductor
Hsing-ay Hsu, piano
JOHANNES BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture
WA MOZART Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K. 414
ROBERT SCHUMANN Symphony #4 in D minor, Op. 120
After 18 months away from live audiences, Music Director Elliot Moore leads your Longmont Symphony Orchestra in their highly anticipated return to the Vance Brand stage showcasing the talents of the LSO musicians together with returning piano soloist and Artist Ambassador Hsing-ay Hsu. Ms. Hsu, described by the Washington Post as full of “power, authority, and self-assurance” has garnered a reputation for engaging audiences of all ages and backgrounds both on and off stage with her commitment to education, health and wellness, and arts stewardship. She is a Steinway Artist, and a multiple competition winner, and splits her time between New York and Colorado. This program featuring three of classical music’s most revered composers will bring a smile to every listener’s heart.
Vance Brand Civic Auditorium
Saturday, October 2, 2021, 7:30 p.m.
And on-demand streaming beginning October 8
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Haydn’s “Miracle”
October 16 & 17
Elliot Moore, conductor
Matthew Zalkind, cello
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Starburst
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra
RICHARD STRAUSS Serenade for 13 Winds
FJ HAYDN Symphony No. 96, “The Miracle”
Anchored by the charming and energetic “Miracle” symphony of Franz Joseph “Papa” Haydn, this chamber orchestra program presents a set of delights to please all ears. Young composer on the rise Jessie Montgomery starts listeners off with a feature for the LSO string section. Ms. Montgomery’s “Starburst” is a bright explosion of sound and rhythm, and has been an audience favorite on major stages everywhere. Continuing the string sound celebration, award winning cello soloist Matthew Zalkind will join the LSO for Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s beloved “Rococo Variations”. This piece of music deftly weaves late Romantic era and mid 18th century compositional styles into something that remains fresh and engaging to our 21st century ears. The LSO wind section will launch us into yet another tone color world with Richard Strauss’ Serenade for 13 winds before the full chamber orchestra gathers on stage for Haydn’s 96th symphony. All of this from the beautiful and intimate setting of Stewart Auditorium at the Longmont Museum makes for a memorable concert experience.
Stewart Auditorium
Saturday, October 16, 2021, 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 17, 2021, 4 p.m.
And on-demand streaming beginning October 22
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American Nostalgia
November 13
Elliot Moore, conductor
Leberta Lorál, soprano
SAMUEL BARBER Knoxville: Summer of 1915
ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”
Antonin Dvořák’s beloved “New World Symphony”, composed in 1893 while touring and teaching in New York and Iowa, incorporates Native American musical rhythms and African-American spiritual influences. Dvořák’s call to action for young composers to create a distinctly American sound was to learn and promote the music being created by these communities. The simple elegant melody from the Largo movement of the symphony was later set to words and is now widely known as “Goin’ Home”.
Samuel Barber composed “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” in 1947 and based on a text by James Agee from 1938. It is one of the most beautiful and stirring pieces of music for soprano and full orchestra, filled with imagery of a growing America finding its way through the observations of a child in a small town community.
“Simply phenomenal” soprano Leberta Lorál, fresh from a special Presidential Inauguration performance, joins the LSO to further elevate this American Nostalgia program.
Vance Brand Civic Auditorium
Saturday, November 13, 2021, 7:30 p.m.
And on-demand streaming beginning November 19
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